All We Have Is Now by Lisa Shroeder
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Publication Date: July 28th, 2015
Pages: 272
Song I Played While Reading: None
Rating: 2 stars

What do you do with your last day on earth?
Just over twenty-four hours are left until an asteroid strikes North America, and for Emerson and everyone else who didn’t leave, the world will end. But Emerson’s world already ended when she ran away from home. Since then, she has lived on the streets, relying on her wits and on her friend Vince to help her find places to sleep and food to eat.
The city’s quieter now that most people are gone, and no one seems to know what to do as the end approaches. But then Emerson and Vince meet Carl, who tells them he has been granting people’s wishes—and gives them his wallet full of money.
Suddenly, this last day seems full of possibility. Emerson and Vince can grant a lot of wishes in one last day—maybe even their own. 

I've never read a "what would you do on your last day of Earth" type of book before where it's actually the last day of Earth. And I'm scared to read anymore because, god help me, this book was terrible. I listened to the last page and could barely hold back the eye-roll.
All We Have Is Now was unoriginal and boring. I hate how harsh that sounds, because I usually like to keep my reviews pretty polite, but those are seriously the only adjectives I could come up with. Everything was dull, from the characters and their banter, to the people they meet, and to the "life lessons" we learn. 
Everything the characters go through and do all seemed to childish and immature. Not in the way they handled it, but in what they did. This story is definitely aimed more towards a younger crowd. I would almost give this a PG rating but the main character swears sometimes. The ending was predictable and abrupt, barely giving us any closure with our characters. I wish we had gotten more so I could have felt even a little bit of affection towards them. Instead, I felt annoyed. An ending can really make or break a book for me, and this got knocked a full star because of that. 
Overall, if you're looking for an easy read with fluffy characters, then I suggest picking this up. Just because this wasn't my type of book doesn't mean it can't be yours!



(Picture and summary from Goodreads)

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Top Ten Author Duo's I'd LOVE To See Write A Book Together

This meme is hosted by the lovely ladies at The Broke and the Bookish :)

1. Lauren Oliver & Jandy Nelson

PRAISE JESUS. I would NOT live through this book. It would definitely have to be a contemporary, but besides that I could care less what it would be about. All I know is that it would be magical and amazing and breathtaking. 

2. Sarah J. Maas & Leigh Bardugo

These two epic fantasy writers would create the most amazing world together, with heart-stopping action, strong characters, and swoon-worthy men. I NEED THIS NON-EXISTANT BOOK NOW.

3. Maggie Stiefvater & Markus Zusak

I've called these two the King and Queen of writing. If you've read any of their books (specifically, The Raven Boys Cycle and The Book Thief) then you know how incredible their writing is. I can't even begin to describe how, because I don't even understand it myself, but IT IS. Take my word for it. Or don't. BUT, know that this book would most likely become my favorite book ever. 

4. Sara Raasch & Laini Taylor

Another fantastic fantasy duo that would probably have me kissing the ground they walk on. Plus these two have colored hair. As in, pink and purple. IT'S MEANT TO BE.

5. Morgan Matson & Jenny Han

It would be contemporary heaven. I'd be drowning in the cutesy feels!

6. Tahereh Mafi & Ransom Riggs

The powerhouse couple of YA. IT'S A GIVEN.

6 was the best I could do! I didn't just want to start randomly putting people together. I really, really, REALLY think these duo's wold be perfect together. 

What duo's made it onto your list?? Link your post down in the comments! :)

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Underhyped Book Recommendation: The Wrong Side of Right

Kate Quinn’s mom died last year, leaving Kate parentless and reeling. So when the unexpected shows up in her living room, Kate must confront another reality she never thought possible—or thought of at all. Kate does have a father. He’s a powerful politician. And he’s running for U.S. President. Suddenly, Kate’s moving in with a family she never knew she had, joining a campaign in support of a man she hardly knows, and falling for a rebellious boy who may not have the purest motives. This is Kate’s new life. But who is Kate? When what she truly believes flies in the face of the campaign’s talking points, she must decide. Does she turn to the family she barely knows, the boy she knows but doesn’t necessarily trust, or face a third, even scarier option?

Set against a backdrop of politics, family, and first love, this is a story of personal responsibility, complicated romance, and trying to discover who you are even as everyone tells you who you should be.




The first thing that comes to mind whenever I think of this book is the raised hands emoji.

This signifies how right this book was. Everything was flawlessly done, from the characters, to the plot, to the writing, to the drama, to the intrigue over all of this political drama.
If there's one thing I don't read much of, its that. And it's odd because I find that sort of stuff fascinating. Seeing what it's really like to be a senator? Or a President? Or a King? Or really anyone in high authority? Pass it over! I (obviously) don't know what that's like, so this behind-the-scenes look at the ups and downs of it was intriguing.
The romance took a backseat to the more important issues Thorne tackled in here (which she also did PERFECTLY), but it was present enough that it made your heart burst with joy. I LOVED Andy. He was the perfect gentlemen, with a swoon-worthy dry sense of humor. Both him and Kate had strong morals, making them not only the perfect powerhouse couple, but the perfect characters that were able to stand on their own. They stood by their beliefs, never once wavering, even if it caused a lot of problems.
I was completely swept up in the story, loving how Thorne managed to balance all different aspects of life in here. Theres something for everyone; first love, family dynamics, political hot topics, personal discoveries, death, and the always wonderful coming-of-age storyline. I can't recommend this enough!

(Picture and summary from Goodreads) 

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Top Ten (Er, Five) Books I Recently DNF

This week's post was ten bookish things I want to quit, and one of the examples was books you recently DNF, so I choose that. This meme is hosted by the lovely ladies at The Broke and the Bookish :)

My Soul Immortal by Jen Printy
DNF'ing this book was a very difficult decision for me. It was an author request, and I couldn't fathom telling the wonderful woman that I couldn't finish her story. I mean, ouch?! But after sticking through almost half the book (which took about a week to do), I realized I was severely neglecting my other books and my blog, plus I knew that if this wasn't an author request I would've dropped it already. So I finally sucked it up, figuring Printy would appreciate the honesty.

The Secret History by Donna Tart

Talk about hype!! I was crazy excited to read this book because people were raving about it, and it sounded intriguing. "Under the influence of their charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at an elite New England college discover a way of thinking and living that is a world away from the humdrum existence of their contemporaries. But when they go beyond the boundaries of normal morality they slip gradually from obsession to corruption and betrayal, and at last - inexorably - into evil."

Does that not sound amazing?! Sadly, I was severely disappointed. I pushed through 150 pages before I had to raise the white flag. Never have I ever been so bored while reading before, nor have I ever read such unimportant nonsense. I'm all for reading about someones day and what they do, because I find it interesting. But this was a legitimate day-by-date account of someone who, not only was unimaginative and pitiful, but who also lived a life that lived up to those two characteristics. I wanted to pull my hair out. Plus, even 150 pages in, we only got the barest hints of what was to come. Nothing was happening, or even beginning too. I wanted some excitement!

The Vacationers by Emma Straub

This was a promising story, one that had mixed reviews, so I was interested to see how I would perceive it. I got to maybe... page 30? I was bored, plus couldn't stand how snotty the mother was. She was a privileged brat. 

The Young Elites by Marie Lu

DONT HURT ME. I'm definitely going to pick this up again, since I'm dying to know how the ending turned out. People are always raving about how insane it was and I MUST KNOW. But at the time this book just wasn't holding my interest. It took me a week to get through half of it, and I finally decided to put it aside until a time when I would be interested in it. Hopefully that will be soon!

Your Voice is All I Hear by Leah Scheier

I couldn't stand how childish the main character was being about her boyfriend being schizophrenic. She outright refused to believe it, even though it was blantly obvious. Instead of getting him help so he could have recovered faster, they had to suffer through weeks of dramatic episodes that were harmful to himself and the people around him. Pretending it isn't happening isn't going to solve anything; it just makes the whole situation worse until it explodes in your face. 

What bookish things did you want to quit? Link your post down in the comments! :)

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Happy Monday!

Hi pals! I'm currently in LA visiting my friend at school. Thanks to my boss I've gotten into audiobooks, and was able to listen to one on my trip down here! Since I knew I never read whenever I'm with friends, especially away at school, I figured I could get some reading in during my drive. I listened to All We Have is Now by Lisa Schroeder and finished it before I even got to LA, since it was only 5 hours long. If I have time I'll post my review some time this week, but it'll probably come out next week!

Read Last Week
Hopeless by Colleen Hoover
All We Have is Now by Lisa Schroeder

My audiobook for the ride back
The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

Happy readings :)

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Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication Date: December 19th, 2012
Pages: 406
Song I Played While Reading: Coming Down by Halsey
Rating: 5 stars

Would you rather know a truth that makes you feel hopeless, or keep believing the lies?

Sky, a senior in high school, meets Dean Holder, a guy with a promiscuous reputation that rivals her own. From their very first encounter, he terrifies and captivates her. Something about him sparks memories of her deeply troubled past, a time she's tried so hard to bury. Though Sky is determined to stay far away from him, his unwavering pursuit and enigmatic smile break down her defenses and the intensity of the bond between them grows. But the mysterious Holder has been keeping secretes of his own, and once they are revealed, Sky is changed forever and her ability to trust may be the casualty of the truth. 
Only by courageously facing the stark revelations can Sky and Holder hope to heal their emotional scars and find a way to live and love without boundaries. 

I had been itching to read another CoHo book since Maybe Someday. I've heard so, so, so many incredible things about the rest of her books, and knew it was only a matter of time before I snagged 'em. My goal is to read them all by the end of this year.
Hopeless is the story of my twin, Sky, navigating her first year at public school, which also happens to be her senior year. She's been homeschooled her whole life, and only with the help of her best friend, Six, was she able to persuade her mother to let her go. And when I say she's my twin, I mean we're the exact same person. She loves to read, she loves chocolate (especially Snickers), she has a great relationship with her mom, she doesn't give a crap about what other people think about her, and she has a super dry sense of humor. I mean, it was freaky! But I also loved it because I was able to connect with her on a whole different level.
Dean Holder, even with all his flaws and secrets, was absolutely stunning. I knew from the moment we met him that he was a keeper. Sure, he was iffy and dodged around some things and acted a little crazy at some points, but... he was broken. And god damn it, if I don't have a weakness for broken bad boys. As the book progressed and the revelations started pouring in, Holder stepped up to the plate. I've never, in my life, seen a more supportive boyfriend. He was amazing. He was kind, and sweet, and caring, and patient, and so understanding it was insane. Half of the reason why I cried so hard during this book was because of him. My expectations for my future boyfriend are so damn high, it'll be a straight up miracle if I actually find someone.
And then the other half of the reason why I cried was because this book was so sad. I wasn't prepared for it. At all. Not only because, holy plot twist, but because this got shockingly personal for me. I wish I had gotten a warning beforehand just so I could have braced myself for it. One half of me understands why people don't add a trigger warning in their review, because then the whole secret/shock appeal would be ruined, but then the other half of me is angry because this is serious topic and you really never know what can set a person off. I was torn up on if I should say what it was in this review, but I decided against it, even though I'm itching to just type it out. If any of you are curious and don't mind being spoiled, then you can contact me on any of my social media accounts and I'll tell you what it is.
Hoover's writing, AS USUAL, was flawless. I still have trouble putting into words how it is, in fact, flawless, but I'm going to try here.
You know how Jandy Nelson and Lauren Oliver have very lyrical, magical writing? (I used those two because those are who come to mind first, but if you have a different author with that type of writing then just think of him/her!") Hoover is the complete opposite. Her writing is super straight-forward and blunt. There's no frilly, foo foo crap with a bunch of similes and metaphors. It's so insanely real, and raw, and gritty that it just touches you. She's able to completely nail every single emotion in her books, and it amazes me but also confuses me a little because hOW??
If I had to rate all of my CoHo books from least favorite to favorite, it would be Ugly Love, Maybe Someday, and then Hopeless. This book has touched a part of my soul that no other story has done before, and Hoover managed to do it realistically but beautifully. Life can be ugly and cruel and it can feel like everyone and everything is against you. But sometimes, if you find the right person or even the right cause, you can gain the strength to stand up again and come out a better person. I'm not saying anyone deserves to go through what Sky and millions of other girls have gone through (hell to the no), but I personally think, with the right amount of guidance and unconditional love, you can come out of that dark cloud with more understanding and peace than you ever thought possible.

Quotes
"One of the things I love about books is being able to define and condense certain portions of a character's life into chapters. It's intriguing, because you can't do this with real life. You can't just end a chapter, then skip the things you don't want to live through, only to open it up to a chapter that better suits your mood. Life can't be divided into chapters... only minutes. The events of your life are all crammed together one minute right after the other without any time lapses or blank pages or chapter breaks because no matter what happens life just keeps going and moving forward and words keep flowing and truths keep spewing whether you like it or not and life never lets you pause and just catch your fucking breath.
I need one of those chapter breaks. I just want to catch my breath, but I have no idea how."

"He frowns. "First of all, track is one of the most individual sports you can join. Second, I though you said extra curricular activities was the reason why you were here."
"I don't know why I'm here," I say. "Maybe I feel like I need to witness a good dose of human nature at its worst before I enter the real world. It'll be less of a shock.
He points a celery stick at me and cocks an eyebrow. "This is true. A gradual introduction to the perils of society will help cushion the blow. We can't release you alone into the wild when you've been pampered in a zoo your whole life."

""What do you do when you’re bored? You don’t have internet or TV. Do you just sit around all day and think about how hot I am?
I roll my eyes. "I read," I say. "A lot. Sometimes I bake. Sometimes I run."
"Read, bake, and run. And fantasize about me. What a riveting life you lead."
"I like my life."
"I sort of like it, too," he says.

"And while I could sit here and feel sorry for myself, wondering why all of this happened to me... I'm not going to do it. I'm not going to wish for a perfect life. The things that knock you down in life are tests, forcing you to make a choice between giving in and remaining on the ground or wiping the dirt off and standing up even taller than you did before you were knocked down. I'm choosing to stand taller. I'll probably get kicked down a few more times before this life is through with me, but I can guarantee you I'll never stay on the ground."

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September Wrap-Up!

Hi guys! September straight up flew by. I mean seriously, where the hell did time go? Just yesterday it felt like I was starting my class and now I'm writing my midterm paper. WEIRD. This was also quite the whirlwind of a month for books, and I read some pretty damn fantastic ones. I also started listening to audiobooks, thanks to my boss. We get pretty bored at work (we work in a snack bar at a country club), and there's only so much cleaning and restocking you can do in your free time when there aren't at customers before you go stir crazy.
So let's get into what I read!

- Wonderland by Robert McKay 4 stars

- Loosing Lila by Sarah Alderson 4 stars

- Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas 3.5/4 stars (feelings are STILL all over the place)

- Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo 4 stars

- Down to You by M. Leighton 2.5 stars

- Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge 3.5 stars

- The Girl on the Train by Rosamund Hodge 3.5 stars

- Where They Found Her by Kimberly McCreight 4 stars

- DNF The Vacationers by Emma Straub

- Cinder by Marissa Meyer 3.5 stars

- Hopeless by Colleen Hoover 5 stars

My favorite is either Hopeless or Queen of Shadows. They're two such completely different stories, so it's hard to pick between the two. In terms of ratings... it's gotta be Hopeless. If you're curious as to why QoS isn't 5 stars (because c'mon, EVEN I'M STILL A LITTLE CONFUSED AS TO WHY), then you can head over to my review here. Be warned: it's long. And a little crazy. And VERY in depth. But if it's a little daunting and you only wanna know the parts I didn't like, then click here. That's my goodreads review and it's straight to the point on my issues. 

Happy readings :)

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