The Forgetting Curve,

The Forgetting Curve, by Angie Smibert
(Memento Nora, #2)
Author Info: Website / Facebook / Twitter
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish
Release Date: May 1, 2012
e-Galley: 202 pages
Genre: Young Adult - Dystopian
Buy: Amazon
Read it in: 1 day
Source: Netgalley
Challenge: Dystopian, Sophomore, TBR Pile
Rating: ★★★
To learn more about my rating badges, click here!

Aiden Nomura likes to open doors—especially using his skills as a hacker—to see what’s hidden inside. He believes everything is part of a greater system: the universe. The universe shows him the doors, and he keeps pulling until one cracks open. Aiden exposes the flaw, and the universe—or someone else—will fix it. It’s like a game.
Until it isn’t.
When a TFC opens in Bern, Switzerland, where Aiden is attending boarding school, he knows things are changing. Shortly after, bombs go off within quiet, safe Bern. Then Aiden learns that his cousin Winter, back in the States, has had a mental breakdown. He returns to the US immediately.
But when he arrives home in Hamilton, Winter’s mental state isn’t the only thing that’s different. The city is becoming even stricter, and an underground movement is growing.
Along with Winter’s friend, Velvet, Aiden slowly cracks open doors in this new world. But behind those doors are things Aiden doesn’t want to see—things about his society, his city, even his own family. And this time Aiden may be the only one who can fix things... before someone else gets hurt.

 After finishing Memento Nora last year, I was extremely excited for this sequel to come out. I really thought the story line was intriguing and unique and I was going crazy waiting for it. Over the months while waiting for it, I completely forgot that the character's points-of-view were different than it's predecessor. In The Forgetting Curve, you follow Aiden, Winter, and Velvet. I really missed hearing about Norah and Micah, but following Aiden, Winter, and Velvet was still enjoyable.

A lot has changed since the first book in their world. There are new chips coming out that is mandatory and they work with the new mobiles that Aiden's father's company is coming out with, to help work a lot like the TFC pills do; help people forget something that may have happened to them.

But a lot of people are finding out they have the new chip without ever remembering getting it, and forgetting a lot of memories they wouldn't have wanted to forget. Things that would have made them very suspicious of the government.

The underground movements are growing and the government is really cracking down after finding out about the Memento comics Micah, Norah and Winter were creating. I really missed hearing about the new issues of Memento, but it was still mentioned once in a while throughout the story.

Also, there is a new underground radio station that lasts only a few minutes and the talker is someone who calls herself Meme girl, which you figure out who she is later in the story.

Overall, it wasn't as great as the first book, but still enjoyable. It was a fast read, not very long. Only a little over 200 pages, so I read it in one day on my Kindle. I'd recommend this series if you want to read a fast, enjoyable dystopian series.

Read my review for the first book:

The Vespertine, by Saundra Mitchell

The Vespertine, by Saundra Mitchell
(The Vespertine, #1)
Author Info:Website | Twitter | Youtube
Publisher: Harcourt Children's
Release Date: March 7, 2011
ARC: 293 pages
Genre: Young Adult - Historical Fiction
Buy: Amazon
Read it in: 5 days
Source: Own
Challenge: Off the Shelf, TBR Pile, ABC Reading,
Rating: 
To learn more about my rating badges, click here!

It’s the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him. When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia’s world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause. 

Although I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, and I really liked it, but I didn't love it. It is definitely a very intriguing book, but it wasn't one that I'm very excited to say, "OMG, this was amazing!". I find this book very hard to review and definitely very hard to rate. I was stuck in between rating is 3 and 4 stars, so maybe this book is really a 3.5.

The plotline was very intriguing. A historical romance with a twist of something that is paranormal. The main character, Amelia, can see into the future at sunset; or as she calls them, Vespers. I found it kind of confusing at times, because it would show her in Baltimore with Zora, but then it would switch--forward?--to her back with her brother, August, and her being ruined. It was confusing, but then in the end I think I got it.

But the characters were really interesting. I liked Amelia and Zora, though half the time I was like, "Go get Nathanial and Thomas already!!" but with their society, they couldn't exactly do that. That would suck living in their time! But at the same time, it's so romantic!

Nathanial was kind of weird. He was there, and then he was gone, POOF! Which was explained after a little while, but I never really understood how he did that. Another paranormal twist? I really liked Thomas, though, he was sweet and proper.

Overall, it is a great historical fiction novel. Not my favorite, but fun to read and very intriguing. I'm currently a chapter into the sequel now! I'm glad to be back in their world. I hope my review helped, though it was short and I couldn't really describe much! =)

The sequel is called The Springsweet. It was released on April 17, 2012. 

Gossip Girl, by Cecily von Ziegesar

Gossip Girl, by Cecily von Ziegesar
(Gossip Girl, #1)
Publisher: Warner Books
Release Date: April 1, 2002
Mass Market Paperback: 269 pages
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary/Chick Lit
Buy: Amazon
Source: Library
Challenge: TBR Pile
Rating: 
To learn more about my rating badges, click here!

Welcome to New York City's Upper East Side where my friends and I live, and go to school, and play, and sleep- sometimes with each other. We all live in huge apartments with our own bedrooms and bathrooms and phone lines. We're smart, we've inherited classic good looks, we have fantastic clothes, and we know how to party... Introducing Gossip Girl, a wickedly funny and risqu» paperback original novel about the provocative lives of New York City's most prestigious private school young adults. Gossip Girl herself is an anonymous narrator with the ultimate insider scoop on the inner-workings of this privileged society because she's one of them. Sharp wit, intriguing characters, and high stakes melodrama drive the action of this addictive novel that will make Gossip Girl the lit world's new "it" girl. In Gossip Girl, when the beautiful Serena van der Woodsen returns to private school after mysteriously getting kicked out of boarding school, the whole school is talking. All Blair Waldorf knows is that there's no freaking way Serena's going to just waltz back in with her Jimmy Choo mules and Kate Spade bag and steal everyone's heart again. But Serena's got other things on her mind, like college pressure and living up to everyone else's extreme expectations. Plus there's that Ryan Phillippe-looking guy who stands across the street and stares at her all the time. It's going to be a wild and wicked year, I can smell it. Love, Gossip Girl

 This is going to be a hard review to write! I started getting on Netflix about a month or two ago and I saw that the Gossip Girl TV show was on there and I got excited! I hadn't watched the show since the second season and had never seen the first season and I really wanted to catch up. So I started watching from the beginning and got majorly hooked. SERIOUSLY hooked. It's all I could think about and I'd devour at least  six episodes a night. Most of the time more! I got caught up before it came back on, but when I was caught up and was waiting around for it to come back on I decided I wanted to read the books. I couldn't find the first book in my library, but last week I finally did and was so very happy.

I heard that there are a lot of things different between the show and book, but I really had no idea what I was in for! There is so much that is different, but at the same time you see small or big parts taken out of the book and thrown into the show. Which is awesome. I'm still getting used to the differences, so that's why I gave it three starts.

Don't get me wrong, I really did enjoy reading this book. I am definitely going to pick up the second book soon, but it's just so weird. Do you know what I mean? And at times I got annoyed at the writing, it's hard to explain.

Overall, this is one of my new guilty pleasures. It really was an enjoyable, fast read. I do hope it gets better soon though. Not really sure what else to say about this book. But if you are a Gossip Girl fanatic, I would definitely read them. But beware of the differences! At times its HUGE.

The second book in this series is called You Know You Love Me. It was released on September 1, 2002. 

Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis

Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: September 1, 2009
Hardcover: 224 Pages
Age Group: Young Adult
Buy:Amazon
Source: library
Challenge: Support Your Local Library 
Overall:  

Moonlight can totally change your life. And it all starts so simply. You. Him. The moon. You’re toast.

Okay, so maybe Shelby has made a few mistakes with boys lately. But her stepmother totally overreacts when she packs Shelby off to brat camp. Suddenly, it’s good-bye, prom dress; hello, hiking boots.

Things start looking up, though, when Shelby meets fellow camper (and son of a rock star!) Austin Bridges III. But soon she realizes there’s more to Austin than crush material—his family has a dark secret, and he wants Shelby’s help guarding it. . . .

 Never Cry Werewolf is a short, fun read. It is pretty fast paced, but enjoyable. Shelby was a good character, but at the same time I didn't really connect with her full-heartily. All the characters were lacking a bit of depth, they were fun to read about, but didn't seem completely real. 

Shelby's step-mother really annoyed me, sometimes she seemed like she really cared, but then others you could tell it was mostly fake. She just wanted Shelby out of her and her new husband's life. I could tell Shelby really missed her mom. I felt really bad for her.  

She really annoyed me with the camp thing, I mean, to me it didn't sound too bad. I mean, it was a little annoying but it was a lot better than the desert camp her step-mother was wanting her to go to. So I really wish she wouldn't have been so whiny. 

Austin sounded hot! Seriously, hot accent, seemed kind of rocker boy style and he had a rocker dad! Awesome! I knew from the beginning about his dark secret, everything was a bit predictable. 

Overall, I don't really have much to say about this book other than it was an enjoyable read. It left me wanting to know more about what happened to Shelby and Austin after camp. There is a novella sequel on eBook called Sometimes By Moonlight. I might check it out when I can, I'm sad that she had to self publish it on eBook, it's only 92 pages! Oh well, maybe Harperteen will let her re-publish it through them on hardcopy and maybe she'll write a longer sequel. =) 

The cover is pretty, it fits the story well.

Sleepless by Cyn Balog

Sleepless by Cyn Balog

Series: --
Next book in series: --
Publisher: Delecorte Press for Young Readers
Release Date: July 13, 2010
Hardcover: 224 Pages
Age Group: Young Adult
Buy: Amazon
Source: BookDivas
Challenge: none
Overall: 3/5
Summary                                        
Eron DeMarchelle isn't supposed to feel this connection. He is a Sandman, a supernatural being whose purpose is to seduce his human charges to sleep. Though he can communicate with his charges in their dreams, he isn't encouraged to do so. After all, becoming too involved in one human's life could prevent him from helping others get their needed rest.

But he can't deny that he feels something for Julia, a lonely girl with fiery red hair and sad dreams. Just weeks ago, her boyfriend died in a car accident, and Eron can tell that she feels more alone than ever. Eron was human once too, many years ago, and he remembers how it felt to lose the one he loved. In the past, Eron has broken rules to protect Julia, but now, when she seems to need him more than ever, he can't reach her. Eron's time as a Sandman is coming to a close, and his replacement doesn't seem to care about his charges. Worse, Julia is facing dangers she doesn't recognize, and Eron, as he transitions back to being human, may be the only one who can save her. . . .

Even once they've become human again, Sandmen are forbidden to communicate with their charges. But Eron knows he won't be able to forget Julia. Will he risk everything for a chance to be with the girl he loves?
First Paragraph                                                                                   

Griffin Colburn knew something was wrong the moment he slid into the driver’s seat. 

My Review                                                                                         

When I received Sleepless in the mail for review from BookDivas, I was happy because I have wanted to read one of Balog’s books for a while.  I’m not really sure what I expected out of this book, I was kind of so-so with wanting to read Sleepless.

When I first started reading, it didn’t really catch a hold of me. I told myself I would give it 50 pages, it started to intrigue me a little bit after a while so I continued reading it. It’s not one of my favorites, but Sleepless was an okay book.  I would like to read another one of Balog’s books, but I really don’t know what to say about this one.

The writing was good, and the plot was unique, but it just didn’t do much for me.  I liked Eron and Julie, but Griffin, wow. I can’t really understand why Julie was with him. I mean, sure, he seems nice enough, but like one of those guys that has a REALLY mean side underneath.

Overall, it’s a very short read, and I guess I would recommend it to someone who wants something short and unique read.  I wish I could of gotten to know more about the sandmen and their history. It was a really cool aspect of this story.

Cover Love                                                                                     

It's pretty. But not one of my favorites. 

Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby

Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby


Series: --
Next book in series: --
Publisher: Speak/Penguin
Release Date: March 5, 2009
Paperback: 208 pages
Age Group: Young Adult
Buy: Amazon
Add to Goodreads
Source: Library
Challenge: A to Z, Support Your Local Library
Overall: 3/5
Summary                             
Quiet, unpopular, non-cheerleading Mia is blissfully happy. She is dating super hot football god Rob, and he actually likes her and asked her to prom! Enter Samantha - cheerleading goddess and miss popularity - who starts making a move for Rob. With prom in a few days, Mia needs to act fast. So she turns to her best friend, Candice, and decides to do a love spell on Rob. Unfortunately, she ends up inflicting a zombie virus onto her whole class, making herself their leader! At first she is flattered that everyone is treating her like a queen. But then zombie hunter hottie Chase explains they are actually fattening her up, because in a few days, Mia will be the first course in their new diet. She's sure she and Chase can figure something out, but she suggests that no one wear white to prom, because things could get very messy.
First Paragraph                                                                                         
Mia Everett was doomed. It was a fact she had known ever since Rob Ziggerman walked into biology class half an hour earlier. Instead of sitting next to her, as had been his habit for the last month, he'd made a beeline for Samantha Griffin. All of which meant the rumors were true.
My Thoughts                                                                                              
Zombie Queen of Newbury High was really good. It wasn't the best zombie book I've read, but it was really pretty fun to read. 


It's a very quick read, I finished it in one day (Which is hard for me to do nowadays with my son!). The writing was pretty good, I will definitely be reading more from Ashby sometime soon, hopefully. I kind of wish there was a sequel to this book because I want to know more about Mia and Chase, but I know that probably won't happen. Boo!


I absolutely LOVED Chase, I was rooting for him throughout the whole book! And ah, Candice. You gotta love her hypochondriac craziness; she's hilarious! I'd so get along with her if she was my best friend. =) Didn't really like much of the other characters, which doesn't completely matter since they weren't the main ones or anything. If that makes sense.


Every time I thought. "Woohoo! They've figured it out!" something else happened and it threw that thought away. I saw a few parts coming, but not all of them. Which was good. Sometimes people think that if you throw some sort of paranormal element, or creature, into a novel it has to be all serious. Don't get me wrong, though, I love a lot of the serious ones, but it is refreshing to read one that is just plain fun and not so serious. I mean, they are put into a crisis, but they still kind of have fun with it. 


Overall, it was a great read. I would recommend it to zombie fans, it's definitely another new take on zombies. But it wasn't a favorite. But I will remember it. 
Cover Love                                                                                             
Pretty cover! LOOOVE the dress and the lacy gloves! Goes pretty well for the story. =)

Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors

Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors


Series: --
Next book in series: none
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
Release Date: July 21, 2009
ARC: 288 Pages
Age Group: Young Adult
Buy: Amazon
Add to Goodreads
Source: Won from Contest
Challenge: none
Rating: 3/5

When Katrina sees a homeless guy sleeping in the alley behind her grandmother's coffee shop, she leaves him a cup of coffee, a bag of chocolate-covered coffee beans, and some pastries to tide him over, never expecting this random act of kindness to turn her life-upside down.

The adorable vagrant, Malcolm, is actually a real guardian angel on a break between missions, and now he won't leave until he can reward Katrina's selflessness by fullfilling her deepest desire.

Fame and fortune seem like the obvious requests, but after two botched wishes, Malcolm knows Katrina is hiding something from him. But how can she tell him the truth, when her heart's desire has become Malcolm himself?

First Paragraph: The first time I saw him, he was lying in the alley behind my grandmother's coffeehouse. I figured he was some sort of bum. 

Coffeehouse Angel was a pretty good read, but didn't make it to my favorite's list. Something really bugged me about this novel, and I can't really figure out what it was. It took me a little while to get into it, but by the end I was reading through it pretty fast and when the last chapter came, I wanted to know more.

Even though Katrina was the main character, she wasn't my favorite. She just didn't feel very developed as a character to me. I liked her family and friends, though. I really liked how Elizabeth was unique and seemed to dress kind of funky and was artistic.

Mr. Darling made me really mad! He frustrated me so bad with all the things he did. He was just so... evil! Makes me mad just thinking about him again. He seemed so heartless. His daughter wasn't as bad as Katrina thought, though.

The writing itself was pretty good. It really makes me want to read more from Selfors.

I love the fictional small town she created, based off the small town of Poulsobo, Washington. It really has me interested in Scandinavian customs. She has a pretty good bit of Scandinavian customs in the book, and you can tell she put a lot of research into it.

Overall, it was a pretty fast, cute, coming of age read. I really liked the cover, too. I love the heart at the top of the coffee. And boy do I love coffee in general!


I recommend this to anyone who would like a fast read. 


Cover: I like the ARC's cover, but I think I like the printed copy's cover better. It's a lot more simpler and the blue is very pretty. Book design is by Nicole Gastonguay.