[Books] Leaving Paradise #2 - Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles

Goodreads
Sept 2 - 10, 2013

Synopsis

Caleb Becker left Paradise eight months ago, taking with him the secret he promised to take to his grave. If the truth got out, it would ruin everything.

Maggie Armstrong tried to be strong after Caleb broke her heart and disappeared. Somehow, she managed to move on. She's determined to make a new life for herself.

But then Caleb and Maggie are forced together on a summer trip. They try ignoring their passion for each other, but buried feelings resurface. Caleb must face the truth about the night of Maggie's accident, or the secret that destroyed their relationship will forever stand between them. 

Review

Return to Paradise, the sequel to Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles, is about teenage drama, family drama, the typical love that a man and woman fight for. 

I started this book right after I finished writing the review for the first book (Leaving Paradise). I wanted to know what would happen next because I hate cliff hangers so much.

The book started off with the reckless Caleb and what his life has been since he left Paradise. I was okay with Caleb in the first book, he was like a lost confused puppy who doesn't know what he wants and doesn't know how to deal with his life after he got released. 

In this sequel, I have to say that I'm very proud of Caleb and how he's grown from a coward who runs away (literally runs away) instead of facing his problems head on into a mature independent man that would do anything for his girl. 

Maggie, I also have to say that I'm super duper proud of Maggie and how much confidence she grew. She's no longer the Maggie that was scared and hated how she looked because of her disability. She's stronger, proud and way more confident in herself. 

I enjoyed this book much more than the first. It made me giggle from the very beginning and that one person who made me burst out giggling (either than Mrs Reynolds, RIP) was Lenny. I found him gross at first, but I've grown to like him. He's so random and laid back. I love characters like him and Mrs Reynolds, they can always brighten up a book like this one. 

I am so happy that Elkeles wrote a sequel to Leaving Paradise.

This is a mild YA novel, it's a great book for when you just want to read something small that's out of your genre. It is filled with young adult drama, runaways, and lets not forget the thriving hormones (don't worry it's clean). It is also funny and heartwarming! 

[Books] Leaving Paradise #1 - Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles

Goodreads

August 25 - September 1, 2013

Synopsis

Nothing has been the same since Caleb Becker left a party drunk, got behind the wheel, and hit Maggie Armstrong. Even after months of painful physical therapy, Maggie walks with a limp. Her social life is nil and a scholarship to study abroad—her chance to escape everyone and their pitying stares—has been canceled.

After a year in juvenile jail, Caleb’s free . . . if freedom means endless nagging from a transition coach and the prying eyes of the entire town. Coming home should feel good, but his family and ex-girlfriend seem like strangers.

Caleb and Maggie are outsiders, pigeon-holed as "criminal" and "freak." Then the truth emerges about what really happened the night of the accident and, once again, everything changes. It’s a bleak and tortuous journey for Caleb and Maggie, yet they end up finding comfort and strength from a surprising source: each other.

Review

Drunk driving, teenage angst and drama, but as always, with a tiny pinch of humor on the side. 

Simone Elkeles is one of my favorite authors after I read the Perfect Chemistry series. I had some high hopes for this one. 

Maggie's leg was damaged in the car accident that was caused by Caleb. Which made her incapable of walking normally. She lacks so much confidence in herself that makes me want to slap her in the face and make her realize that she's good enough just the way she is despite her minor disabilities.

While Caleb, I honestly think Caleb is (excuse my language) majorly fucked up. He can be such a sweet boy with a good heart, but he's persistent and has major anger issues that needs to be resolved. As for his messed up family, they all need to have a family meeting for a couple of hours and talk it all out. 

Throughout the entire book, I only smiled about once or twice. Humor in books is one of the things that I look forward to when I start reading. Maggie was too depressing and Caleb was too confusing. The only character that I loved in this novel was Mrs Reynolds. She was such a sweet old lady who speaks her mind. It was Mrs Reynolds who made me giggle and also made me shed a tear or two. 

All in all. The book was alright. A little bit too angsty and depressing for my taste. 

I recommend this to those who enjoy reading Young Adult Teenage angst with a splash of family drama. 

[Books] 2013 TBR Challenge

Orignal Post @ Bookish

Hey readers!

The To-be-read Pile Reading Challenge of 2013 has been announced.

Yeah, I kind of failed or lost that 2012 reading challenge because I kind of added and reduced some books, and completely forgetting about the rules of the challenge.
Hopefully, this time I'll try to remember the rules and regulations. xD

Here are the details !

Challenge Guidelines:

1. This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2013 - Dec 31, 2013.
2. Anyone can enter! You don't have to be a blogger, as long as you review the book you've read! (On your blog, Amazon or Goodreads/Shelfari!)
3. Any genre, length or format of book counts, as long as it is a book that's been sitting on your shelf for some time now. Only books released in 2012 and earlier! NO 2013 ARCs and 2013 fresh-off-the-press releases allowed!
4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.
5. When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the 2013 TBR PILE Reading Challenge. (If you don't have a blog, post about it on Facebook or Tweet!)
6. You can move up levels, but no moving down.
7. Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2013, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.
8. On the 20th of each month one of the hosts will post a wrap-up. Every wrap-up will have it's unique theme, a mini-challenge, a giveaway and place for you to link up your reviews from this month. For each review you link up, you will get one entry in a drawing of one book of choice from Book Depository.It's open to INTERNATIONALS. The giveaway will be open until the next wrap up post goes up! (i.e. the entire month)
9. If you miss a wrap-up post + giveaway, you can link up your reviews next month. Do not, however, try to link up one review twice - we will be checking ;) 
10. December is a wrap-up for the whole year. All the book reviews you linked up January-November + the ones you'll link up in December will be entered into a HUGE giveaway - a box of books. 
11. You don't have to follow all the hosts to join the challenge, but you do have to follow all of us to be entered in giveaways!

Levels:
(how many books you're planning to read for this challenge in 2013)

1-10 - A Firm Handshake
11-20 - A Friendly Hug <--- :3="" hug="" p="">21-30 - A Sweet Kiss
31-40 - Love At First Sight
41-50 - Married With Children


Schedule:

January 20th: Evie @Bookish (www.evie-bookish.blogspot.com)
February 20th: Rachel @Fiktshun (http://www.fiktshun.com)
March 20th: Justin @Justin's Book Blog (http://www.justinsbookblog.com/)
April 20th: Tiffany @Escaping.. One Book At A Time (http://escapingonebookatatime.blogspot.com/)
May 20th: Bonnie @Words At Home (www.wordsathome.ca/)
June 20th: Justin @Justin's Book Blog (http://www.justinsbookblog.com/)
July 20th: Emily @Doodle's Book Blog (doodlesbookblog.blogspot.com/)
August 20th: Tiffany @Escaping One Book At A Time (http://escapingonebookatatime.blogspot.com/)
September 20th: Rachel @Fiktshun (http://www.fiktshun.com)
October 20th: Emily @Doodle's Book Blog (doodlesbookblog.blogspot.com/)
November 20th: Bonnie @Words At Home (www.wordsathome.ca/)
December 20th: This one will be posted on all the blogs. There will also be a huge BOX OF BOOKS giveawayand this time you can link up ALL YOUR TBR Pile REVIEWS you wrote for the entire year!

~~~~~~~~~~~
This challenge, I'm not aiming for anything like Married with Children. I just want to really get these books off my shelf.

So my books that I will be reading next year are.

  

        

These books are literarily sitting on my table/shelf. Its just all piled up on top of each other and I don't have place to put anything. 

It'll be great to get these off my to-read list and my table/shelf.! xD

[Books, Review] Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles

OMG!!! The series is over!! T^T I want more!! 

This was an awesome book. It was an awesome series. It's one the series in which I read in less than a month. I love books that I finish fast because I know they are so good and it always has be itching for more. 

Luis Fuentes is the youngest Fuentes brother. It is his turn to get his perfect girl. Nikki Cruz is living the American dream, lives on the north-side of Fairfield, and has issues when it comes to boys. But when she meets Luis, everything changes...obviously. it always changes. 

The story line of this one is no different from the past two books, which is fine. I don't really mind that its not different, and I'm not complaining. It doesn't get me confused. The leading ladies of the Fuentes brothers always gets them out of trouble and gets them to see and think straight. I love the power their women have over them. 

I am happy that everyone gets along in the end, and I am hoping that all the Fuentes brothers kids, don't get into gang trouble when they get older. 

I just loved the covers of all the books, except Perfect Chemistry, I think they should have picked a different model to play Alex, or choose a different shot of him maybe. Rules of Attraction cover is awesome, I just loved it. It is like my favorite cover among all the 3. Chain Reaction cover is great. It goes in my number 2 below Rules of attraction. I love how these covers are scenes that happen in the book. I love it.

I love this series. I really really hope they will turn it into a movie. I want to Alex, Carlos, and Luis in the big screen. I WANT A MOVIE OF THIS! 

For the record, my favorite Fuentes would probably be Luis, He is both Smart and Sexy; may be similar to Alex, but I like Luis more... Sexy and Smart is always a jackpot. xD

This Dream cast will do. <3

★★★★★

[Books, Review] Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

Rules of attraction, the 2nd book of the Perfect Chemistry novel. 

I absolutely loved this book. Just like Perfect Chemistry, I couldn't put it down. 

Carlos Fuentes is forced to go back to America from Mexico, and stay with his brother, Alex, in Colorado. Alex decides to let him stay with one of the Professors that he knows from university. That's when Kiara comes into the picture. Kiara is the daughter of the Professor that Carlos will be living with, and Kiara has to be a tour guide for Carlos around school. Carlos enjoys annoying her, and Kiara enjoys pay back. 

I personally think that Kiara is a good girl who loves challenges, and isn't afraid of anything. She got out of her comfort zone and even though she stutters when she's nervous I admire her. She is a great heroin.
Carlos on the other hand, I just have to say his hot. I love how he runs after Kiara and how he loves her so deeply. aww...

I whole concept was great. I just love a book I cannot put down and I am just grateful no one dies in this book. I love a happy ending. I love this book, I cannot wait to read Chain Reaction after my exams.
I would absolutely recommend this book to those who love romances. Its a perfect YA romance novel.

★★★★★

I wish i could give it 10 stars. 

[Books, Review] Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

I absolutely loved this book! I LOVED IT! I feel like I can't say anything about it. 

It was the kind of books that you can't book down. I love reading books that make me do that. I would just go from page after page.

The books seems like a typical cliche, Bad boy date good perfect girl for a bet. It is a typical cliche, and some say that it's similar to grease. It of it, but I'm not complaining. 

Alejandro or Alex, the typical bad boy Latino.Brittany, the typical perfect smart blond. They are paired together as Chemistry partners. Now being partners in something seems pretty new to me. Among all the Contemporary books I've read, I've found this one the best. 

As I was reading, I would always have a translator with me for me to understand some of the words, since some are in Spanish. Thanks to this book, I learned new Spanish words. 

I loved all the Characters in the book except Colin and Darlene. They're so stuck up and jealous. Hate them. You will always have haters in every book. 

The cover is okay, it isn't really how I pictured Alejandro, I wished they picked a better Alejandro. But its a good cover.

This is my first Simone Elkeles and I found it utterly amazing and fantastic. It is easy to read and it's a book that will suck you in. 

I recommend it to everyone who enjoys contemporary romance and something good to just pick up and read. 

★★★★★