Swoon Thursday (#62): The Last Best Kiss by Claire LaZebnik

Swoon Thursday is a hot meme hosted by the fabulous ladies at YA Bound!

- From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering

- Try to make the swoon excerpt 140 characters (or less), if you are going to tweet about it. Use the hashtag #YABOUND when tweeting

This week, my swoon is from The Last Best Kiss by Claire LaZebnik!

We said good-bye at the front door, and he hesitated, then abruptly leaned toward me. He had been so quiet since our conversation that, when I titled my face up to his, I expected a quick, dismissive peck. Instead his arms went around me and tightened heard as his lips crushed mine in a way that was hungrier and more demanding - and more wonderful - than any kiss we'd had before. I was glad his arms were pinning me against him, because it felt like my legs were dissolving underneath me. 

- eARC, 6%

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Read my review HERE.

I know, I know, two YA contemporary novels in a row, and I enjoyed them both immensely. This is coming from the girl that usually really dislikes contemporary novels O_O

Excerpt Promo: All Lined Up by Cora Carmack

Welcome to the exclusive excerpt reveal for All Lined Up by Cora Carmack! I don't know too much about this new novel by Ms. Carmack, but I've heard that it's even better than the previous novels by this author! So, check it out!

All Lined Up by Cora Carmack

Book One of the Rusk University series

Publisher: William Morrow & Company

Publication Date: May 13, 2014

Official Summary:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cora Carmack follows up her trio of hits—Losing It, Faking It, and Finding It—with this thrilling first novel in an explosive series bursting with the Texas flavor, edge, and steamy romance of Friday Night Lights.

In Texas, two things are cherished above all else—football and gossip. My life has always been ruled by both.

Dallas Cole loathes football. That's what happens when you spend your whole childhood coming in second to a sport. College is her time to step out of the bleachers, and put the playing field (and the players) in her past.

But life doesn't always go as planned. As if going to the same college as her football star ex wasn't bad enough, her father, a Texas high school coaching phenom, has decided to make the jump to college ball… as the new head coach at Rusk University. Dallas finds herself in the shadows of her father and football all over again.

Carson McClain is determined to go from second-string quarterback to the starting line-up. He needs the scholarship and the future that football provides. But when a beautiful redhead literally falls into his life, his focus is more than tested. It's obliterated.

Dallas doesn't know Carson is on the team. Carson doesn't know that Dallas is his new coach's daughter.

And neither of them know how to walk away from the attraction they feel.

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About the Author:

Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.

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The Excerpt:

Excerpt Reveal: All Lined Up by Cora Carmack by WilliamMorrowBooks

Waiting on Wednesday (#66): The Queen of Zombie Hearts by Gena Showalter

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm featuring:

The Queen of Zombie Hearts by Gena Showalter

Book Three of the White Rabbit chronicles

Publisher: Harlequin TEEN

Publication Date: September 30, 2014

Summary (from Goodreads):

I have a plan.

We'll either destroy them for good, or they'll destroy us.

Either way, only one of us is walking away.

In the stunning conclusion to the wildly popular White Rabbit Chronicles, Alice 'Ali' Bell thinks the worst is behind her. She's ready to take the next step with boyfriend Cole Holland, the leader of the zombie slayers; until Anima Industries, the agency controlling the zombies, launches a sneak attack, killing four of her friends. It's then she realizes that humans can be more dangerous than monsters; and the worst has only begun.

As the surviving slayers prepare for war, Ali discovers she, too, can control the zombies and she isn't the girl she thought she was. She's connected to the woman responsible for killing and turning Cole's mother. How can their relationship endure? As secrets come to light, and more slayers are taken or killed, Ali will fight harder than ever to bring down Anima even sacrificing her own life for those she loves.

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YAY book three! I admit, I'm not a HUGE fan of the cover. But. I read the first two books of this series in September (2013), and I loved them. I cannot wait to see how it all ends!

Review: The Taking by Kimberly Derting

The Taking by Kimberly Derting

Book One of The Taking series

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication Date: April 29, 2014

Rating: 3 stars

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads):

A flash of white light . . . and then . . . nothing. 

When sixteen-year-old Kyra Agnew wakes up behind a Dumpster at the Gas ’n’ Sip, she has no memory of how she got there. With a terrible headache and a major case of déjà vu, she heads home only to discover that five years have passed . . . yet she hasn’t aged a day. 

Everything else about Kyra’s old life is different. Her parents are divorced, her boyfriend, Austin, is in college and dating her best friend, and her dad has changed from an uptight neat-freak to a drunken conspiracy theorist who blames her five-year disappearance on little green men. 

Confused and lost, Kyra isn’t sure how to move forward unless she uncovers the truth. With Austin gone, she turns to Tyler, Austin’s annoying kid brother, who is now seventeen and who she has a sudden undeniable attraction to. As Tyler and Kyra retrace her steps from the fateful night of her disappearance, they discover strange phenomena that no one can explain, and they begin to wonder if Kyra’s father is not as crazy as he seems. There are others like her who have been taken . . . and returned. Kyra races to find an explanation and reclaim the life she once had, but what if the life she wants back is not her own?

What I Liked:

While my rating of this book isn't super high, I enjoyed the story! I honestly didn't know much about this book before reading or even downloading it - I just saw the author's name and clicked it. I've read a few of Derting's novels, and while I didn't love them, I didn't hate them. I usually enjoyed them, but really had no desire to keep reading the series. Unfortunately, this book fell under the same spell as the other books of Derting's that I've read. I enjoyed it, but I really don't care enough to keep reading the series. We'll see - if I can get a review copy, then maybe I'll read the sequel.

Kyra disappeared for five years, without a trace - but to her, it was only a day. She hasn't aged to twenty-one, as she still physically looks and feel sixteen. Everything is the same for her, except life moved on. Her mother and father are no longer together. Her mother has a new family. Her father is a raving lunatic and drunkard. Her best friend and boyfriend are faithfully together now. The younger brother of her boyfriend (ex-boyfriend, Austin) who is Tyler is now seventeen and incredibly attractive. But Kyra wants - no, needs - to know what happened that night, why she still seems the same, except not the same...

I was a little scared that I'd be bored for some reason, but the good thing was that I basically zipped through this novel. The plot isn't anything extraordinary, and in fact, it was a bit predictable, but it was a pretty enjoyable story. It seemed like a lot of it focused on the romance, between Kyra and Tyler. But then, a good portion dealt with Kyra's adjustment to five-years-later life.

That is something that I think Derting really hit on the head - Kyra's adjustment to life that left her behind. I kept trying to put myself and Kyra's shoes, and Derting made it easy for readers. It seemed very realistic and plausible, the way Kyra reacted to all of the changes - especially considering that Kyra is a teenager. She hates her mom's new family. She hates her best friend and ex-boyfriend. She can't stand the questions. Somehow, Derting really brings out Kyra's (teenage) reactions to everything, without over- or under-doing things. This was well done.

My second favorite part of this novel was definitely the romance. I loved seeing sparks fly between Tyler and Kyra, in a really subtle, adorable way. Of course, I think Tyler is entirely too perfect, but maybe it seems that way because he has been in love with her for so long, and he has had time to perfect ways to seduce her. Or something. Either way, I liked the romance. I like that Kyra got a second (better) chance at romance, even if the rest of her life was a mess.

Other than Kyra's reactions and the romance, there wasn't anything super remarkable about this novel. It's your typical "superpower" novel, in my opinion, with an alien twist. It didn't seem very original to me, but that's my opinion. See more below.

What I Did Not Like:

Some things that bothered me: the overall story seemed unoriginal, the plot was predictable, the love interest was entirely too perfect, the climax and ending was confusing.

I'll start with the overall story seeming unoriginal. Maybe I've read many, many science fiction stories that deal with something causing teenagers to have incredible powers. Or some unnatural event that makes them superhuman, and so on. Take Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Actually, now that I think about it, this book (The Taking) is very similar to that of Armentrout, with the exception of the actual "taking" part. It's just so unoriginal, the alien thing, the superpower thing, the unnatural event that causes all of it. I'm not saying that other topics in literature AREN'T unoriginal, but this bothered me, in this book. I guess I expected better - which is funny because I didn't know much about this book before reading it.

The plot was predictable. I guess this goes along with an unoriginal story. I could see what was coming way before those things happened. There weren't many twists and turns in this book, which didn't help with the predictability. The predictable plot and unoriginal didn't quite hold my attention as much as I had hoped it would. As a university student, I need books that will grab my attention and not let go - therefore, the less attention-grabbing books are a little painful to read. It wasn't boring, but it wasn't super interesting, either.

I already mentioned that I thought that Tyler was a little too perfect. It seemed like he was the perfect Don Juan, except he only has eyes for Kyra. He is the nerdy type, so his attempts at seduction and flirtation seemed adorable and a bit awkward at times. Don't get me wrong, I really like Tyler. But I feel like he had very little depth. His purpose seems to be ONLY to chase Kyra (as a love interest). It doesn't seem like he is more than that - it doesn't seem like he is an actual person with a purpose in this book (except to whisper sweet nothings in Kyra's ear). No thank you.

The climax and the ending was confusing. I feel like the pacing was off - it all happened very, very quickly. That sounds super cliche, but you know what I mean. The author threw events at the reader and expected us to keep up with what was going on. I couldn't figure out what was happening - I'm not entirely sure what happened with the river, and directly before that. You'll know what I mean if you read the book. It was confusing. And I don't exactly know what happened in the ending. I won't spoil anything, but it ends in a sort-of cliffhanger. Just warning you. 

Would I Recommend It:

Hmm, this is difficult to say. On the one hand, I enjoyed the story (for the most part). On the other hand, it didn't seem super original or attention-keeping (whatever the phrase is). I'm a science fiction fan, yet this one still didn't really appeal to me. So, I suppose if you like this author's other books, check this one out. But otherwise, skip it. 

Rating:

3 stars. I might look into reading the sequel when it comes (or review copies are available). It's not a priority, but I'll definitely consider it (assuming my 2015 review and TBR lists aren't overflowing with fabulous titles). 

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Release Day Blitz and Giveaway: Four Seconds To Lose by K.A. Tucker

Welcome to the release day blitz for Four Seconds To Lose by K.A. Tucker! Happy release day, Ms. Tucker! I hope you all enjoy the post, and good luck with the giveaway!

Four Seconds To Lose by K.A. Tucker

Book Three of the Ten Tiny Breaths series

Publisher: Atria Books

Publication Date: April 1, 2014

Official Summary:

Owning a strip club isn’t the fantasy most guys expect it to be. With long hours, a staff with enough issues to keep a psych ward in business, and the police regularly on his case, twenty-nine year old Cain is starting to second guess his unspoken mission to save the women he employs. And then blond, brown-eyed Charlie Rourke walks through his door, and things get really complicated. Cain abides by a strict “no sleeping with the staff” rule. But being around Charlie challenges Cain’s self-control…and it’s been a long time since any woman has done that.

Twenty-two-year old Charlie Rourke needs a lot of money, really fast, in order to vanish before it’s too late. Taking her clothes off for men makes her stomach curl but Charlie tells herself that at least she’s putting her acting and dancing skills to good use. And though her fellow dancers seem eager to nab their sexy, sophisticated, and genuinely caring boss, she’s not interested. After all, Charlie Rourke doesn’t really exist—and the girl pretending to be her doesn't need to complicate her life with romance.

Unfortunately, Charlie soon discovers that developing feelings for Cain is inevitable, that those feelings may not be unrequited—but losing him when he finds out what she’s involved with will be more painful than any other sentence awaiting her.

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About the Author:

Born in small-town Ontario, Kathleen published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader and the farthest thing from a genre-snob, loving everything from High Fantasy to Chick Lit. Kathleen currently resides in a quaint small town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.

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The Excerpt:

Charlie

The small exhale escapes my lips before I can stop it. When I came up with this plan two weeks ago, I wasn't fully aware of the inner workings at these clubs. But you can find anything on the internet. I found out that many owners charge a high stage fee, so the girls actually earn their money working hard on the floor and in the private rooms. Rumor has it that, though illegal, many of them do “extras,” on top of the lap dances. The idea of stripping on a stage in front of people is a giant pill to swallow for me. But lap dances . . .

I’ll do it.

I have to do it, I remind myself.

When I ran out of Sin City that day, I was sure that my plan was dead in the water. I mean, how was I going to perform daily lap dances when I couldn't even get through my interview!

But Ginger told me that Penny’s is different. That Cain is different. That no one in the private rooms will be taking their pants off, and that doing “extras” is one of the only ways that you get fired at Penny’s.

Cain sounded too good to be true.

Setting my chin with steely determination, I say, “Both, please.” Swallowing the revulsion bubbling up in my throat, I clarify with a struggle, “I want to work the private rooms as well as the stage.”

Cain blows air out of his mouth, one hand on his hip while the other pushes through perfectly styled, slightly wavy dark hair as he stares hard at me. There’s an inexplicable look in his eyes, but I know he’s trying to read me. I wonder if he’s deciding whether to ask me for a demonstration. My gaze drifts to the couch again and my stomach tightens. Somehow I think giving this guy an interview lap dance might be harder than doing one for a sleazeball.

Because if I could get past the embarrassment and nerves, I might enjoy it.

But he doesn't ask me to demonstrate. Instead, he asks me, “Have you ever bartended before?”

 I shake my head, frowning.

“I have too many girls working the private rooms right now. But working behind the bar would bring your earnings up significantly. It’s what another stage dancer of mine used to do.” He continues, more to himself, “Maybe we see how that works out first.”

I came in here expecting the worst—that I’d be grinding on guys’ laps by the weekend because I have to. And yet, now, the relief is pouring out of me.

“Why are you in this profession?” he suddenly asks, lifting his eyes to bore into me once again.

One question I did expect. I meet his stare and hold it as I explain, “Because I’m good at it, I've got a decent body, and have no interest in serving French fries for minimum wage while I figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life.” I deliver that as I practiced it—calmly, clearly, convincingly. It’s a good answer. One that creates no doubt.And so far from the truth. I know exactly what I want to do with my life.

End it and begin a new one.

He nods slowly, his lip pressed together in a grimace. I don’t know if that means I’m hired or not, so I bite my tongue and wait for a concrete verdict. I’m still waiting for Cain’s decision when his cell phone rings. I watch with fingers laced together in front of me while he answers with a gruff, “Yup.” He listens, his free hand absently rubbing a small tattoo behind his ear. A second later he barks, “No! I’m on my way.” Hanging up, he digs into a drawer and comes out with a handful of papers. “Fill these out, please. Bring a copy of your driver’s license tomorrow night with you.” Whatever gentleness crept into his voice before has vanished. It’s all business now, as he slides the sheets across his desk with hands that look strong and muscular but incapable to soothe. “If the crowd likes you, you've got a job.” Turning those eyes my way once more and pausing for a moment, he adds, “Fair?”

“Absolutely. Thank you,” I say with a nod and what I hope is a courteous smile as I collect the forms.

With that, he turns and crouches down behind his desk. I hear something metal slam that reminds me of my stepdad’s safe door. When Cain stands again, it’s to fit a holster and gun on him, startling me. It’s not the first time I've seen a gun. I have a gun. I've used a gun. But seeing Cain with one right here, right now, was unexpected. Why does he even need one?

Throwing a light jacket over himself to conceal it—he’ll die wearing that in the summer heat, but concealing your weapon is a law in Florida and I guess Cain is a law-abiding citizen—he walks over and, with one hand on the small of my back, ushers me toward the door. It’s not exactly rude, but it’s also far from polite. With me in the hall, he pulls his office door shut and marches out the back exit, not turning once.

I’m left standing alone, inhaling the faint scent of beer, my ears catching someone testing the sound system. The one that will play music that I strip to tomorrow night.

I take a deep breath as a rash of butterflies swirl through my stomach, the sudden urge to let loose my bladder overwhelming.

It’s not a big deal.

Mom did this.

I can do this. 

After everything I've done, that I've been accomplice to, taking my top off in front of a bunch of drunks is nothing. I deserve to suffer a bit.

I glance down at the paperwork in my hand. He said he wants a copy of my license. That’s fine. The only accurate thing on it is my picture.

The Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: It Takes A Scandal by Caroline Linden

It Takes A Scandal by Caroline Linden

Book Two of the Scandals series

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: April 29, 2014

Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Summary (from Goodreads):

Sometimes It Takes a Scandal...

Abigail Weston has everything: beauty, wit, and one of the largest dowries in England. Her parents hope she'll wed an earl. Abigail hopes for a man who wants her desperately and passionately. But the money seems to blind every man she meets—except one.

Sebastian Vane has nothing. He came home from war with a shattered leg to find his father mad and his inheritance gone. He's not a fit suitor for anyone, let alone an heiress. But Abigail lights up his world like a comet, bright and beautiful and able to see him instead of his ruined reputation. And it might end happily ever after...

To Reveal Your Heart's Desire

...Until Benedict Lennox begins courting Abigail. Ben is everything Sebastian isn't—wealthy, charming, heir to an earl. Sebastian won't give up the only girl he's ever loved without a fight, but Abigail must choose between the penniless gentleman who moves her heart, and the suitor who is everything her parents want.

What I Liked:

I haven't read many adult books for the year so far, which makes me a little sad, because I usually read a good amount of historical romance adult books. I love historical romance books, but I guess it's not the season for them yet? Well, in at any rate, I really enjoyed this book. The first book in the series was great, and this second book was AWESOME!

Sebastian is a young but injured war veteran with no money, no father, no wife, nothing. His father was a raving madman who disappeared, and everyone thinks that Sebastian killed him. They also think that Sebastian stole money from Lord Stratford, a rich lord whose son was friends with Sebastian. Sebastian is reserved and calm, but everyone thinks that he is reclusive and guilty. 

Abigail and her recently rich family moves to Richmond for the summer. Abigail and Penelope (sisters) want romance and passion. Abigail meets the brooding and mysterious Sebastian, and becomes fascinated with him. They are strangely alike, despite the fact that she is bubbly and innocent, and he is mysterious and dark. I LOVE the dynamic between the two of them - they are night and day. That seems really cliche, but I love this relationship. I feel like that's how I am - vivacious and bubbly - and the guy I like? He has a really great sense of humor, but he also has a "bad", sexy side. Love.

Sebastian is seriously the best part of this book. I LOVE him so much. He is dark, mysterious, brooding, and actually really honorable. I love his perspectives, and I love how Abigail sees him. She is fascinated by him, but she also cares for him greatly. I love how gradual and beautiful it is, the development of their relationship. Sebastian is just about perfect in a completely non-perfect way. His story is tragic and horrible, but he demonstrates true honor and respect throughout the book.

So I loved the romance. I loved the story of this book - it deals with the development of the relationship between Abigail and Sebastian, but also Abigail's personal life with her family, and who her parents want her to marry. I was quite intrigued with the story, even if it seemed a little bit long. The mystery of the book - what happened to Sebastian's father, where is the money, what happened with Sebastian and Samantha, what Benedict would do with Abigail... there were so many unknowns in this book, and I wanted to figure out everything! I love it when a historical romance novel does that - it's not just about the romance. Although, the romance is seriously breathtaking.

Basically, I really enjoyed this book. I loved Linden's first book in this series, and I'm really happy that the second book in the series lives up to the first book - in fact, to me, it's even better than the first book!

What I Did Not Like:

I can't think of any specific that I didn't like about this book. I really liked it! It's getting four stars from me, but it's definitely going to be a favorite historical romance novel of the year.

Would I Recommend It:

YES! I really enjoyed the first book, and I enjoyed the second book even more! Granted, they both got the same rating, but I seriously liked this book a lot. The male protagonist was definitely the best part of this book, and yet the book itself was simply wonderful. If you love historical romance novels, then you should DEFINITELY check out this book! This will most likely make my top ten of 2014, in terms of historical romance novels. 

Rating:

4 stars. This was a really wonderful book! I haven't read a historical romance book in a while, so this one was a welcome change. And it was seriously great!

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Review: The Last Best Kiss by Claire LaZebnik

The Last Best Kiss by Claire LaZebnik

Publisher: HarperTeen 

Publication Date: April 22, 2014

Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads): 

Anna Eliot is tired of worrying about what other people think. After all, that was how she lost the only guy she ever really liked, Finn Westbrook.

Now, three years after she broke his heart, the one who got away is back in her life.

All Anna wants is a chance to relive their last kiss again (and again and again). But Finn obviously hasn't forgotten how she treated him, and he’s made it clear he has no interest in having anything to do with her.

Anna keeps trying to persuade herself that she doesn't care about Finn either, but even though they've both changed since they first met, deep down she knows he’s the guy for her. Now if only she can get him to believe that, too....

With her signature wit and expertly authentic teen voice, Claire LaZebnik (the author of fan favorites Epic Fail and The Trouble with Flirting) once again breathes new life into a perennially popular love story. Fans of Polly Shulman, Maureen Johnson, and, of course, Jane Austen will love this irresistibly funny and romantic tale of first loves and second chances.

What I Liked:

The first thing I thought when I finished reading this book: I really want to read Persuasion now. Honestly, I thought I had read Persuasion at some point - apparently not. But now I want to read it, so see from where this book got its roots. I absolutely adored this book! It's really cute and sad and wonderful and poignant and did I mention wonderful? It's worth repeating. I've never read any of this author's books, but I must say, I really liked this one!

Anna's love life is a bit of a disaster - in her freshman year, she broke Finn's heart, and he moved away with his family. Three years later, he and his family moved back, and he won't give her the time of day. Now she is heartbroken, and she knows it's her fault that he hates her. It's not his fault that she refused to dance with him three years ago, because she cared too much about what others thought. Or that, three years later, he becomes interested in one of her friends, Lily. Or that she wants him back, but there is nothing she can do about it.

I recently read To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han, and let me tell you, that book BLEW ME AWAY. I'm not one for contemporary novels, but that one was so good. It's amazing how I chose that one, and this one, as two of the spring contemporary novels that I would give a chance - and I ended up loving both of them. That made me really happy.

This one deals with Anna and her broken relationship with Finn, her relationship with her sisters, and her relationship with her father. I like how many sub-stories this book had - it made this book less about the romance (which is automatically the first thing that one thinks of when one looks at this book), and more about the story and journey of a girl. 

For the majority of this book, the relationship between Finn and Anna is not a happy one. It's not like Finn is particularly pleased with Anna - she broke his heart and made him look like a fool. And Anna knows better than to hope that he is not angry with her. Finn acts very polite but distant with her - nothing more personal than that. This was sad, but at the same time, I totally understand Finn.

And yet, I found the progression of the second-chance relationship really beautiful. It's very subtle - not much can really happen physically, when Finn is practically dating Lily (a friend of Anna), and Anna is trying not to show her continuing interest in Finn. But eventually, it becomes clear that Finn never really lost interest in Anna, despite the fact that he is interested in someone else.

As for characters, I really liked how well LaZebnik characterized and developed each one. There are SO MANY, but all of them were unique in their own way. Like, I'm able to tell you something different about each character - that's not always easy! My favorite was probably Lucy - I can relate to her the most, in terms of relationships and academics.

I like how LaZebnik has the family life as a major part of this book. Anna and her father are practically strangers. Her mother doesn't put much of an effort to be in her life. Anna's oldest sister, Molly, is in college, as is her second older sister, Lizzie. Molly is a great big sister, but Lizzie seems a bit shallow and preoccupied with silly things (in my opinion).

LaZebnik incorporates a very real and authentic teenage voice - her writing style really lends itself to how a teenager would seem in real life. Of course, every teenager has a different voice, but LaZebnik really captures a teenager's personality and being in this book. Honestly, I would never do some of the things that the teens in this book partake in (including Anna), such as smoking weed (oh, but how you've tried, Victor), but LaZebnik definitely has a good grasp what goes on in a typical teenager's mind. 

I'm pretty pleased with the plot of the story - I was never really bored or disinterested. I definitely want to check out Persuasion, after reading this book, to see how the two match up.

What I Did Not Like:

The only that sort of bothered me was the way how everything wrapped up perfectly. I can't say anything without giving away serious spoilers, so I'm not going to describe exactly what I had a problem with, but the climax and ending seemed a little too perfect, in terms of how things ended for Finn and Anna. Like, things happened a little too conveniently, right? Or maybe not, I don't know. Maybe it would have happened for Finn and Anna anyway.

Would I Recommend It:

Hmmm, well, this is another contemporary novel that I really enjoyed, so YES! I'm in a shock, a little, because I don't usually enjoy contemporary novels (and yes, I do read a good amount of them each year). Maybe the cute yet subtly deep ones are the ones I like. 

Rating:

4 stars. I'm so glad I chose this one, of all of Harper's spring contemporary novels! I told myself that I needed to take at least one contemporary novel from their uploaded spring contemporary titles.. This was the perfect one, in my opinion!

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