Book Review: Since Forever Ago by Olivia Besse

Author: Olivia Besse
Release Date: May 13th 2014
Publisher: Wunderland Press

Pages: 316
Rating: 2.5 stars
Buy on: Amazon
Add to Goodreads

Fresh off the heels of a devastating breakup, Riley Benson is a mess. But with her ingenious plan to become a ball-busting heartbreaker herself, she’s pretty sure she’ll survive. After all, what better way is there to get revenge than to move on?

Riley’s determined to become the perfect bachelorette—she’s going to drink like a bro, belch like a beast and swear so much that she’ll make even the most seasoned sailors blush. After all, those are the qualities that every guy’s secretly looking for…. aren’t they?

Max Fletcher is in love with the girl who gave him chicken pox and his first broken leg. When his best friend seems to finally be out of the picture, he can’t help but want to keep Riley all to himself. And, after coaching her with the very best of the very worst love advice, it seems as if he might actually get what he's wanted after all those years. But just as the two come to the realization that they're actually kind of perfect for each other, along comes a secret that threatens to tear them apart.

My Thoughts: 

This ARC was provided by Wunderland Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really tried to like this book. I heard that it was different from any other New Adult books but I was so disappointed and annoyed.

Meet Riley, she just broke up with her 6 year boyfriend because he was cheating on her and the author through a 3rd person POV takes us in a journey with the most annoying, clueless, immature 21-year-old out there. Yes. Amazing.

To quote the author from her comment on goodreads :

“Hey everyone! I'm not trying to make any excuses, but I DID want to provide an explanation in regards to the manner in which I approached this project. My ultimate goal was to write a NA novel with characters who were relatable and realistic, and early reviews have [hopefully] confirmed this!
Unfortunately, many reviewers have provided feedback that they could not stand the characters in this story due to their being whiny, immature and a little bit clueless. In my opinion, however, all of these attributes define a large proportion of the current 20-something population, and I wanted the characters in my book to portray what new adults are actually like. ”

So, the new adults that she portrays in her book act like clueless 16 year olds that think the end of the world is upon them because they just broke up with their boyfriend. The condemn themselves to a series of dates just because they want to get back into game and because they want to gain the experience they never had in this field? Like seriously?

I saw the entire story unfold in front of my eyes without even reaching the middle of the book (I dropped it at 25%), it was so common and predictable. In my opinion I would prefer if the book was targeted for YA rather than NA. What guy (20 something y.o.) would wait and make such a plan in order to confess to the girl he likes? None. I think he would already hooked up with her because thats how 20 y.o's act these days. There are immature people out there but not like that and they are not this annoying and so so so so CLUELESS.

I felt that the emotions portrayed in Since Forever Ago were flat, situations passed over and not explained enough, and the break up which is one of the major events and what triggered the entire plot is not described appropriately and we don't see the aftermath. The emotional effect it had on Riley is almost not there.

This book is a waste of time and totally not worth it. The 2.5 stars are for the little humor and the esoteric monologues that I had some time to read a book with them.

Efterpi

Angel Evolution by David Estes (book review by Eleni)

Author: David Estes
Release Date: October 17th 2011
Publisher: Smashwords
Series: Evolution Trilogy 1
Pages: 263
Rating: 1 star
Buy on: Amazon 

Angel Evolution- the first book in the young adult fantasy trilogy: The Evolution Trilogy... When Taylor meets Gabriel at college, she is in awe of the subtle glow that surrounds him. No one else, not even her best friend, seems to notice. Something about him scares her. Is all as it appears? While Taylor struggles for answers, she finds herself in the middle of a century old war centered on one miraculous revelation: evolution.


Review:

What the Hell was I thinking? I spend like 2 days of my entire life just to read this book -which by the way I didn't finish- for like 100 and something pages. I regret everything.

I wasn't expecting much from this book , it reminded me of the Hush Hush trilogy which by the way is awesome ,so I picked it up and started reading it. The first thing that actually hit me were the dialogues.
To me they seemed really really forced and unnatural and sooooooooooooooo freaking cliche. The characters themselves did not have a solid background and I could not ''bond'' with them the way I or any other reader should. They show emotions so superficial that made me wonder if they just pretend to be depressed , in love or whatever. 

Let's go over to the aspect of romance...where it is none! When Taylor meets Gabriel you will expect some romance. Instead Gabriel reveals some shit to her and she plays it off cool and thats it..they move on with their ''romance''. Even Bella reacted with the fact that Edward was a fucking vampire and the fact that she was irrevocably and irresistibly in love with him -and Twilight was romance. In this book what you get is a ''TWO MONTHS LATER'' title and that's it. Basically I thought the author was bored enough to just get into the art of writing and developing a solid relationship between the main heroes of the book.

Apart from that the whole story with Angels and Demons and Gods etc was pretty interesting and it would be more if the writing was a little bit better. Thus the one star. 

The Shadowhunter's Codex by Cassandra Clare Book Review by Eleni

Author: Cassandra Clare
Release Date: October 29th 2013
Publisher: McElderly Books
Pages: 288
Rating: 2 stars
Buy at: Barnes and Noble, Amazon

Delve into the details of all things Shadowhunter with this illustrated guide to the knowledge and lore of the Shadowhunter world.

Since the thirteenth century, the Shadowhunter’s Codex has been the one and only manual for Shadowhunters looking to brush up on their demon languages, learn proper stele use, and discover just what exactly a pyxis is. Featured in both The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices, this guide is a necessity for any young Nephilim on their journey to becoming a Shadowhunter. Beautifully illustrated, the Codex contains images of the famous Shadowhunter homeland of Idris, as well as depictions of demons and other Downworlders.

Review:

Before you condemn me to the depths of Hell for the 2 stars that I gave to the book please let me tell you that I am a huge fan of the Mortal Instruments and the Infernal Devices. So what went wrong with this one? I will tell you.

I hated hated hated the fact that Clare decided to write this book. First of all, there is nothing new in this book expect the funny scribbles of Jace, Clary and Simon on the margins of the page. That made me laugh hence the two stars. Other than that I think the book was destined to be a merchandising trap for MI fans around the world. Clare spend those pages for things we already know and learned through the series. both ID and IM. 

I thought the book would be written in a more sophisticated way, it would be more stern and give the impression of something serious but it was exactly the opposite. The writing was not as I expected it to be and that was really bad because it ruined the whole experience with the Sacred Book of the Shadowhunters.

It gave me the feeling that it was written in a haste and that the author was two timing it with something else. I hated it and it left me dissapointed because I was looking forward to it.

So my opinion is dont read this book there is nothing new in there or something that you will need for the last book of the Mortal Instrument Series.

The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen Book Review by Eleni.

Author: Sarah Dessen
Publication Date: June 4th 2013
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Pages: 435
Rating: 3.5 stars
Buy at: Barnes and Noble, Amazon

Luke is the perfect boyfriend: handsome, kind, fun. He and Emaline have been together all through high school in Colby, the beach town where they both grew up. But now, in the summer before college, Emaline wonders if perfect is good enough.

Enter Theo, a super-ambitious outsider, a New Yorker assisting on a documentary film about a reclusive local artist. Theo's sophisticated, exciting, and, best of all, he thinks Emaline is much too smart for Colby.

Emaline's mostly-absentee father, too, thinks Emaline should have a bigger life, and he's convinced that an Ivy League education is the only route to realizing her potential. Emaline is attracted to the bright future that Theo and her father promise. But she also clings to the deep roots of her loving mother, stepfather, and sisters. Can she ignore the pull of the happily familiar world of Colby?

Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going?

Review:

     The book for me was a piece of art. Although I am not familiar with Dessen's novels I have to say that she did a great job when it comes to character development and realism.  All the characters have human traits and no one is perfect there is so much diversity that I believe anyone can relate himself to one. Not lot of authors have the ability to do that. 
      There is the girl that cares about all, the b*** who is also sentimental deep down, the overly attached - overly worrying mother and of course the awesome but douche boyfriend and the cool friends and sister. I found all the characters funny and clever (except a certain person who in the end turned 160 around) thus the book has a good sense of humor and i like funny books.
      What I didn't really like was the story. I saw the whole book but I continued reading because I went through a same phase when i was leaving for college a couple of years ago. I liked that Dessen showed how a departure of one person can change not only his life but others too. How everyone is start seeing this person and how they try to figure out how to treat him. As an adult or as a child? Through my experience this is the worst thing that can happen to a parent - the kid wants freedom the parent refuses to see that due to fear of what might change.
   The writing was really really good and I felt like i was walking around Colby and i liked that a lot!!!
I am sure the book will appeal to anyone that is ready to leave for college and also likes summer readings.

Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski

Author: Sarah Mlynowski
Release Date: June 7th 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 368
Rating: 3 stars
Buy At: Barnes and Noble , Amazon.com

2 girls + 3 guys + 1 house - parents = 10 things April and her friends did that they (definitely, maybe, probably) shouldn't have.

If given the opportunity, what sixteen-year-old wouldn't jump at the chance to move in with a friend and live parent-free? Although maybe "opportunity" isn't the right word, since April had to tell her dad a tiny little untruth to make it happen (see #1: "Lied to Our Parents"). But she and her housemate Vi are totally responsible and able to take care of themselves. How they ended up "Skipping School" (#3), "Throwing a Crazy Party" (#8), "Buying a Hot Tub" (#4), and, um, "Harboring a Fugitive" (#7) at all is kind of a mystery to them.

Review:

this is an easy to read book...i actually read it in one breath and it totally reminded me of my stupid teen years.

i enjoyed the book but come on why cant it be a coming of age book with a realistic plot. Many things that the protagonists did were unrealistic...nevermind the bad parenthood.

the author did a really good job writing about the relationships and how unimportant and small things seems so big at the eyes of a teenager and how they deal with that. as for the sex issue well it was great during the book but it ruined everything at the last chapters.

Nevertheless i would recommend this book.