Thursday, January 28, 2010

The Curse of Addy McMahon


Author: Katie Davis
Pages: 256
Published: Greenwillow Books, May 2008
Genre: Middle-grade contemporary fiction
Cover Score: A-
Overall Grade: B+

Summary: Addy McMahon is cursed. Her mother's g-ross boyfriend is moving in, and to make matters in her life worse, she was spotted by her arch nemesis shopping for a bra! Luckily, Addy has her autobiogra-stip to turn to: her graphic diary that she can write all of her secrets in. It's the first step in her dream of becoming a writer. But when her diary gets in the wrong hands, Addy's relationship with her best friend is in danger. Can Addy break the curse before their friendship is O-V-E-R?
My thoughts: The best part of The Curse of Addy McMahon was not the strong, spunky main character. It was not the humorous narration or the realistic dialogue. The best part of this book by far was the original comic strips that make up Addy's "autobiogra-strip", illustrated throughout the novel. Reflecting her life in a fun and creative way, the comic strips broke up the large amount of words and gave the storyline something fresh and unique.
The Curse of Addy McMahon is a fairly simple book. The plot is easy to understand, and Addy is a great, relatable narrator (although a bit whiny at times). Aimed at younger readers, this is just the type of book I would've loved to read in 4-6 grade. There was age-appropriate humor and lots of different situations that Addy goes through that other kids experience: friendship drama, big dreams, the loss of a parent, a remarriage, and setbacks.
However, the book was extremely slow at first, and I started getting bored. Luckily, after the whole Marsha/Jackie ordeal, the book picked up the pace until the end. Also, Addy was slightly annoying at times, as was her pushy mother, who wanted her kids to accept the fact that they needed to move on after their dad's death.
Cute and enjoyable, I would easily recommend The Curse of Addy McMahon to younger readers, and I might even request a copy for my public library, too.

Must-Read!! Check it Out Don't Bother

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Celebrity Cover Lookalikes, Part 2

Do you sometimes see a book cover and think, That model looks just like (a certain celebrity)!? Welcome to Celebrity Cover Lookalikes, and meme that I host that alternates with my other book-cover meme, Cover Love.
Comment below with your opinion of the best lookalike between the two covers!

First up, we've got the upcoming Demon Princess: Reign Check by Michelle Rowen, whose cover model is a dead ringer for Kim Cattrall:
--->

...And the model for Meg Cabot's Airhead greatly resembles Kate Bosworth (thanks to Callie for pointing this one out!):

--->

Do you have a book cover in mind that features a celebrity-lookalike model? Comment below with your suggestion, and your cover-twin might end up above!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

The Monday Muse: Interview with Libby Schmais


Today's muse (on a Tuesday): Libby Schmais
Author of: The Pillow Book of Lotus Lowenstein (review here)
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Bookworm: Bienvenue, Libby (that's "welcome" to you non-French speakers)! Let's begin with the classic starter--what was the inspiration for The Pillow Book?
Libby: I had discovered The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon, which is a Japanese diary book written over a thousand years ago, which has all these wonderful lists, like infuriating things or things that make you feel nostalgic. I thought it would be cool to have a young girl in Brooklyn write he own Pillow Book entries, as Lotus does for her English class. I was also inspired by a biography I had recently read about the relationship between Jean Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, which was quite complicated, and I wondered how it would be to date an existentialist who believed in free love.

Bookworm: Have you ever been to France? What are your favorite memories there?
Libby: I actually spent a semester abroad when I was in college, in Brittany, on the coast of France. Some of my favorite memories from that time are definitely of food, because they make these delicious buckwheat crepes there, and these amazing butter cookies, and, of course, I remember falling in love.

Bookworm: Do you consider yourself to be an existentialist like Lotus?
Libby: I don't consider myself an existentialist but I do have my moment where everything does seem kind of meaningless. I think I'm probably too cynical to follow any one philosophy or religion. Which reminds me of one of my favorite quotes of Jean Paul Sartre which kind of sums up my belief system: "She believed in noting; only her skepticism kept her from being an atheist."

Bookworm: How are you and Lotus alike, and how are you different?
Lotus: Lotus and I are both a little offbeat, and speak our minds, but she has much more confidence than I do. We both love food and fashion, although she wears much wilder outfits that I would ever dare to.

Bookworm: Do you keep a diary?
Lotus: I don't actually keep a diary at the moment, although I used to. I am always buying beautiful journals and notebooks and thinking I'm going to write in them and then I find all these sad unfinished books years later. I'll probably be buying another notebook any day now.

Bookworm: Do you like to travel? If so, what places have you visited?
Libby: I like being in a place, but I actually hate traveling. I hate packing and flying and worrying about getting somewhere, but once I'm in another country or city, I'm happy. I've been to Europe several time and I love Venice, which is a magical city, and Paris, bien sur. I've been to the Caribbean several times. I love islands--I also love Block Island, Tulum, Mexico, and Montreal. Right now, I'd love to get out of New York and go somewhere warm but I'm not sure it's going to happen.

Bookworm: Are you going to continue writing for the YA genre?
Libby: Well, just this week, I finished my second YA novel, which is about a teen obsessed with Tudor England, so as of now, I'm still writing YA. As far as what comes after this book, I honestly have no idea. It's kind of a scary feeling for a writer to be between projects, but also really exciting, because it could go in any number of different directions.
Sounds awesome--I can't wait to check it out! (:
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Thanks so much for stopping by, Libby! Visit Libby (and Lotus) online at their awesome website here
The Pillow Book of Lotus Lowenstein was released by Delacorte on December 8, 2009. It's available on Amazon here

Monday, January 25, 2010

Confessions of A Triple Shot Betty


Author: Jody Gehrman
Pages: 255
Published: Dial, 2008
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Cover Score: A (double points for scratch-and-sniff)
Overall Grade: A-

Summary: Geena can't wait to spend summer vacation with her two best girls: her friend Amber and her cousin Hero. All three are working at the Triple Shot Betty coffee shop together in Sonoma Valley, California, but the moment Amber and Hero meet, the claws come out. Geena's dreams of a girl-bonding summer with her two besties fly out the window, and then threaten to disappear completely when a few cute guys come along to woo the Bettys. But all is not what it seems, and in a story of mistaken identities, crazy summer highjinks, romance, and more, Geena and her friends learn that when the Bettys unite, they can take on the most powerful forces in their world: guys, friendship, revenge, and what may be possibly the best summer of their lives...
My thoughts: If you're bored on a summer day, go and pick up a copy of Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty. Jody Gehrman's first novel for young adults is bursting with flavors of summer love, jobs, best friends, and is infused with a strong shot of girl power. Delicious!
First, the characters in Confessions were realistic and lovable: down-to-earth Geena, good girl Hero, and rebellious Amber made a perfect trio of friends that set the stage for drama, fun, and humor.
The dialogue between the characters was spot-on for a group of 16 year olds: readers that are teenage girls themselves will feel right at home amongst the pages of Confessions. I was surprised to later learn that the book's plot was based on Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, which gave it a bit of a deeper meaning. Even though the plot is relatively light and breezy, the writing is impressive and fast-paced. However, Ms. Gehrman doesn't skimp on details, with the end result being a realistic storyline.
An engrossing, light, and hilarious read that is perfect for the poolside, Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty will inspire summer fun and will invoke laughter. (And who can resist that yummy coffee-scented scratch n' sniff cover?). I recommend Confessions to girls 14 and older, due to some strong language in the book. Take a sip and enjoy! (:

Must-Read!! Check it out! Don't Bother

Sunday, January 24, 2010

In My Mailbox

Thanks to the Story Siren for creating this awesome meme! It was yet another awesome week, bookwise. Thanks so much to Random House and author Julie Bowe! (Sorry about the awkward sideways picture...)

Very LeFreak by Rachel Cohn (January 12, 2010)
Dream Life by Lauren Mechling (January 12, 2010)
Dizzy in Your Eyes: Poems About Love by Pat Mora (January 12, 2010)
My Best Frenemy by Julie Bowe (May 13, 2010)

...Sorry for my lack of posts this week, it's been a busy one! Expect an author interview and some various reviews coming this next week! (:

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Secrets of A Lab Rat Contest


The winners of the I So Don't Do Spooky contest are Lindsay's Photographys and Diana Dang. I have emailed you both, congratulations and thank you to everyone who entered!!

New contest alert! I am giving away a signed hardcover copy of Trudi Trueit's latest book for middle-grade readers, Secrets of A Lab Rat: No Girls Allowed (Dogs Okay). Just to spice it up a bit, Trudi's also throwing in a copy of the audio book! A library must-have, this is one contest you don't want to miss! (:

Here's how to enter:
- Leave a comment below with your email address so I can contact you if you win!
+1 follow Bookworm Readers
+1 follow Trudi's blog here
+2 Share a link via Facebook, Twitter, your blog....whatever! (leave the link)

This contest is open to US residents only. I will announce the winners on February 10, 2010. Good luck!

Monday, January 18, 2010

The Monday Muse: Interview with Lindsay Eland


Today's muse: Lindsay Eland
Author of: Scones and Sensibility (review here)
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Bookworm: Welcome, Lindsay! To start off, will you please tell us where the inspiration for Polly's story came from?
Lindsay: The inspiration came from my love of LM Montgomery, Jane Austen, and romance in general! I also wanted to create something different for the middle grade audience...something I hadn't seen done before.

Bookworm: Do you and Polly share any similarities?
Lindsay: Indeed we do! I'm overly romantic like her, I'd like a wardrobe filled with elegant dresses, and I love to bake!

Bookworm: Have you ever played matchmaker in real life?
Lindsay: Thankfully never! Though I wouldn't be opposed to matching for canines since they don't have very many requirements.

Bookworm: Are you a Jane Austen fan yourself?
Lindsay: Very much so! My favorite is Pride and Prejudice though I adore Persuasion as well!

Bookworm: What's your favorite pastry?
Lindsay: Ooo, this is a delicious question! I'd have to say chocolate éclairs and chocolate chip scones dusted with powdered sugar!

Bookworm: If you could go back in time, which era would you visit?
Lindsay: Why the Regency Era, of course! Though I'd have to bring alone some deodorant, good toothpaste, and some hand sanitizer cause I do NOT want to smell bad when I meet Mr. Darcy or Captain Wentworth (my dad's a dentist to I have obsessive dental habits, and I hate it when my hands are dirty or
sticky...is that weird?).

Bookworm: What's next for Polly, or, will there be a sequel?
Lindsay: I'm not sure what's next for Polly. She has definitely persuaded me into thinking that her story could continue, though I'm not quite sure if it will. There's no sequel planned yet, though I have lots of ideas if it should come up!

Bookworm: Are you going to continue writing for the MG/YA genres?
Lindsay: Yes, yes, yes!! I adore both MG and YA, so I don't see myself ever writing for another genre.

Bookworm: What is one question that I didn't ask you that you want to answer?
Lindsay: Yes, I do sometimes wish that I had a goat. (: Because if I did have one, I know I would always be laughing.
-----------------------
Thank you so much, Lindsay, for stopping by! Lindsay can be found online here, at her fab website!
Scones and Sensibility was released from Egmont USA on December 22, 2009, and is available from Amazon here.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

In My Mailbox

Thanks to the Story Siren for creating this meme!

Captivate by Carrie Jones
Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey
The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg
The Vinyl Princess by Yvonne Prinz
They Never Came Back by Caroline Cooney
The Less-Dead by April Lurie
All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab

Thank you so much to Random House, Bloomsbury, and Walker Books! Have a great three-day weekend, everyone!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

The Pillow Book of Lotus Lowenstein


Author: Libby Schmais
Pages: 288 pages
Published: December 8 2009, Delacorte Press
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Cover Score: B+
Overall Grade: A-

Summary: Lotus Lowenstein, age almost-16, prefers cafe au lait over your average frappucino and berets over beanies. The ultimate lover of French culture and vintage clothing (primarily Chanel, if it can be found at Brooklyn thrift stores), her dreams of visiting Paris are the only bright spot in her life (along with her BFF Joni and her loyal "pillow book" diary), amid working at a hippie wellness center and being the family member of a New-Agey mom, a moody playwright dad, and a chess-playing genius little brother. But things start to get more interesting (and complicated) when cute, French philosophy-loving Sean joins Joni and Lotus's newly-formed French club at school. But when both girls start falling for the same guy, not even the philosophies of Jean-Paul Sartre can save Lotus now...can a trip to Montreal bring the best friends back together?
My thoughts: I was so, so excited when Random House sent me a copy of The Pillow Book for review. It looked so cute, funny, whimsical, and unique. And thank goodness, my expectations were met. First off, Lotus was a humorous, relatable, and lovable protagonist. She was quirky and was totally relatable. The first-person narration and diary format really helped me get inside Lotus's beret-topped head.
All the French culture inserted into the novel was also a fun bonus. It gave the story oomph and personality, making The Pillow Book a must-read for any Frankophile. I've had bad luck with underdeveloped diary stories, but even though the plot was the teensiest bit flat in this one, I enjoyed the different layers of the story: Lotus's French diet, her family life, the Sean/Joni ordeal, and the trip to Montreal.
Overall, I would definitely recommend The Pillow Book as a cute, hilarious, quirky, and tres elegante read to girls 13 and older.

Must-Read Check it Out!!! Don't Bother

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Contest Winners Announced!

So, remember that contest that I introduced long, long ago? The holiday time one where I was giving away 3 awesome Random House YA books (Fallen, Going Bovine, and The Maze Runner)? Well, the holidays are over, and we've got a winner (sorry for my extreme sluggishness in posting the results)!

For our first winner (first pick from the 3-book pool), we've got SloMo2639. Winner #2, who has the next choice from the remaining two books, is Ultimate YA Creator, and the 3rd winner, who receives the final, remaining book is Shooting Stars Mag. I've emailed you all, so please respond soon!

Congratulations, everyone, and thanks so much for entering! A belated Happy Holidays to all. (;
I also need five more entries to the I SO Don't Do Spooky contest (two copies up for grabs!), so go enter here before January 20th!

Saturday, January 9, 2010

I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone


Author: Stephanie Kuehnert
Pages: 340
Published: July 2008, MTV Books
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Cover Score: B
Overall Grade: B+
Source: Publisher

Summary: Punk rock is in Emily Black's blood. Her mother, Louisa, hit the road to follow the incendiary music scene when Emily was four months old and never came back. Now Emily's all grown up with a punk band of her own, determined to follow the tune that will bring her mother home. Because if Louisa really is following the music, shouldn't it lead her right back to Emily?
My thoughts: Music is a strong aspect of I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone, and that's exactly what the story was: musical. With lyrical writing and poetic description of one girl's journey to her long-lost mother, I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone was a gritty, edgy punk rock ballad.
I loved the strong, bold characters of the novel, particularly Emily, the protagonist. Even though at times I got a bit annoyed with her, her narration was sincere and thought-provoking. I was rooting for her the entire time.
I'm not a big fan of punk-rock music, so I wasn't sure how I could relate to this book, or how much I would like it. But the fast-paced, rhythmic storytelling pulled me in and didn't lose my focus until the ending.
Overall, an impressive debut chock-full of family, loss, love, drugs, and rock n' roll. Go, Stephanie, go!

Must-Read!! Check it out Don't Bother

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

The Cupcake Queen


Author: Heather Hepler
Pages: 242
Published: Dutton, 2009
Genre: Contemporary fiction
Cover score: A
Overall Grade: B+

Summary: When 14 year old Penny Lane (yes, like the Beatles song) learns that she and her recently-separated mother are moving from the bright lights of New York City to quiet, rustic Hog's Hollow to open a quaint bakeshop, she is anything but thrilled. As if starting high school as the new girl isn't bad enough, the queen bee of Hog's Hollow High has it out for Penny, and it looks like divorce is on the horizon for Penny's parents. But then Tally meets funny, quirky, Tally and shy, cute Marcus who runs on the beach, and things start looking up...until Penny's parents drop a huge decision on her...
My thoughts: I was greatly looking forward to reading The Cupcake Queen. How could you go wrong with cupcakes? There were a lot of aspects that I liked in the story: the friendship, Penny's strong, relatable point of view; Tally's humor and quirkiness, the realistic aspect of divorce, the fast paced plot, and the smooth, nearly-poetic writing style.
However, I found that several parts of the book were choppy. I felt that many details were missing, and Penny's character was underdeveloped. Plus, there was no real purpose to the book. The Charity problem wasn't resolved, and the divorce aspect felt open-ended. Sure, the story was about Penny's progress and fitting in, but she sometimes came off as whiny and repetitive.
I would've liked to have seen more pageant aspects, which I think would've given the plot more structure and depth. Still, a cute, fast confection that is heart-wearming and sweet as a cupcake.
Must-Read!! Check it out Don't Bother

Monday, January 4, 2010

The Monday Muse: Interview with Rhonda Stapleton



This week's muse: Rhonda Stapleton
Author of: Stupid Cupid (review here)
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Bookworm: Welcome, Rhonda, my first author interview of 2010! To start, will you please tell us what your inspiration was for Stupid Cupid?
Rhonda: I decided it would be fun to have a heroine who had a really unusual job. I think being a cupid qualifies under that.

Bookworm: Have you ever played matchmaker in real life?
Rhonda: Oh, heck no--I am so awful at that kind of thing...it's much better for the safety of mankind if I don't interfere in that stuff.

Bookworm: Were any of the characters in Stupid Cupid based off of real-life people?
Rhonda: The brother Rob was based off of my mom's friend's brother. He'd pull his sister over all the time and ask her to babysit. I had to put him in my story!

Bookworm: What was your favorite match in the story to create?
Rhonda: Oooh good question! Probably Mallory and Bobby--haha. They were fun to write.

Bookworm: Can you give us a sneak peek into what's going to go on in the sequel, Flirting with Disaster?
Rhonda: Poor Felicity--the drama never ends for her. In this book, she decides to get over Derek the only way she knows how...by matching him up with someone else. But she accidentally cc's the entire school on the email. D'oh!

Bookworm: Which YA book have you read recently and loved?
Rhonda: Oooooh I recently read Shiver and LOOOOVED this one. I'm not a big werewolf fan, but this book turned me into a believer. LOL.

Bookworm: Tell us something that's unique/crazy/funny about you!
Rhonda: Oh man, where to start? I hate blue food. I'm obsessed with Q-tips and cleaning my ears. I slather on ChapStick about every 2 minutes. I think I'll leave it at that...
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Thanks so much, Rhonda!
Rhonda's debut novel, Stupid Cupid, was released on December 22, 2009. You can buy it here on Amazon.
Visit Rhonda online at her website.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Books Read in in 2010!

January
Secrets of a Lab Rat by Trudi Trueit
The Cupcake Queen by Heather Hepler
The Pillow Book of Lotus Lowenstein by Libby Schmais
The Curse of Addy McMahon by Katie Davis

February
Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey
Alphas by Lisi Harrison
The Espressologist by Kristina Springer
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

March
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
Cashing In by Susan Colebank
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Miss Match by Wendy Toliver

April
The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy
The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet by Erin Dionne
The Teen Vogue Handbook
I SO Don't Do Makeup by Barrie Summy
Gimme A Call by Sarah Mlynowski

May
My Best Frenemy by Julie Bowe
My Best Friend, the Atlantic Ocean, and Other Great Bodies Standing Between Me and my Life with Giulio by Jane Harrington
Maus I by Art Spiegelman
Maus II by Art Spiegelman

June
Deception: A Haunting Emma novel by Lee Nichols
The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells
The Sisters Grimm: The Inside Story by Michael Buckley
Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev
Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey
The Wide-Awake Princess by E.D. Baker

July
Little Blog on the Prairie by Cathleen Davitt Bell
Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt
My Cup Runneth Over by Cherry Whytock
Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison
Sleepless by Terri Clark
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Huge by Sasha Paley
Flawless by Sara Shepard
Manifest by Artist Arthur
Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

August
Perfect by Sara Shepard
TMI by Sarah Quigley
Confessions of a First Daughter by Cassidy Calloway
Nothing but the Truth (and a few white lies) by Justina Chen Headley

September
The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball by Risa Green
Fallen by Lauren Kate
Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin
The Twin's Daughter by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

October
The Ivy by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur
Enchanted Ivy by Sarah Beth Durst
Classy by Derek Blasberg

November
The Explosionist by Jenny Davidson
Invisible Things by Jenny Davidson

December
Vixen by Jillian Larkin
The Karma Club by Jessica Brody
The Aristobrats by Jennifer Solow

Secrets of a Lab Rat: No Girls Allowed (Dogs Okay)


Author: Trudi Trueit
Pages: 118
Published: Aladdin, 2009
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Source: Author
Target Audience: Boys, Grades 3-5
Cover Score: B
Overall Grade: A-

Summary: Meet Scab McNally, a fourth grade lab rat. Part inventor, part daredevil, Scab is determined to get a dog, no matter what it takes (even if his goody-two-shoes twin sister Isabelle gets in the way). So when Scab's new invention (a sister-repellent called "Isabelle's Smell") becomes a hit with the fourth-grade guys, Scab starts to sell the spray to save up for his future dog. But then everything goes hilariously awry (involving a hazmat crew and an angry best friend), and it's up to Scab to set things right again...
My thoughts: I know that it's a problem to get younger boys to read sometimes, but Trudi Trueit's new Secrets of a Lab Rat series will have boys eagerly turning the pages. Equally funny, relatable, and slightly yucky, No Girls Allowed is a fast-paced, short, yet satisfying read.
The characters were well-designed, and Scab was a humorous, strong protagonist. I loved all of Jim Paillot's funky illustrations and all of the little tips and lists scattered throughout the text, it injected humor and gave Scab a boost of personality. The character of Isabelle (Scab's perfect twin sister) also makes the book appealing to girl readers and balanced out all of the boy humor in the book. I loved the way the siblings interacted, it was very realistic (perhaps based off of the author's memories?)
My one problem was that the book was very predictable, but then again it is geared towards younger readers.
Age-appropriate and simple to read, Secrets of a Lab Rat is a school library essential!
Must-Read! Check it Out Don't Bother

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Books to Look Forward to in 2010

2009 was a great year. I now have over 300 followers. I interviewed 22 authors and reviewed countless books. But what am I most looking forward to in 2010? Prepare yourself, '10 is going to be an epic year in YA books! Here's what I'm the most excited for:
  • Bedeviled: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Dress by Shani Petroff (Jan 7)
  • Heist Society by Ally Carter (Feb 9)
  • Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins (Mar 2)
  • Secrets of my Hollywood Life: Broadway Lights by Jen Calonita (Mar 3)
  • The Clique: These Boots are Made for Stalking by Lisi Harrison (Mar 9)
  • Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt (Mar 16)
  • Alphas: Movers and Fakers by Lisi Harrison (Apr 6)
  • Boys, Bears, and A Serious Pair of Hiking Boots (Apr 13)
  • The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy (Apr 13)
  • The Sisters Grimm: The Inside Story by Michael Buckley (May 1)
  • I So Don't Do Makeup by Barrie Summy (May 11)
  • Perchance to Dream (The Theatre Illuminata #2) by Lisa Mantchev (May 25)
  • Demon Princess: Reign Check by Michelle Rowen (May 25)
  • Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs (Jun 1)
  • Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce (Jun 7)
  • Reality Check by Jen Calonita (Jun 14)
  • You Wish by Mandy Hubbard (Aug 5)
..and that's only half the year! What are you most anticipating, bookwise, this year? And once again, a very happy 2010 to all! (:

Friday, January 1, 2010

Top Nine Books of 2009!

All in all, a great year in books! This year, I achieved my goal of reading 50+ books (I read 57 total!). Here are my top nine of 2009 (what an awesome year!):

9. Violet on the Runway by Melissa Walker
A clever, witty read about believing in yourself and the darker side of the fashion modeling world.
8. Why I Let My Hair Grow Out by Maryrose Wood
A lively, vivid, and hilarious romp through Ireland and its ancient world of faeries.
7. The Possibilities of Sainthood by Donna Freitas
Full of personality, humor, and featuring a strong, relatable main character, The Possibilities of Sainthood was cute and featured religion without being preachy.
6. Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors
A creative, sweet confection with angels and coffee and charm, oh my!
5. Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley
A strong, sweet, delightful debut (even if slightly sappy).
4. Scones and Sensibility by Lindsay Eland
Charming, quaint, elegant and oh-so-fun, Scones is a lively debut tale that will win hearts! (Perfect with a scone and tea).
3. Front and Center by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
A bold, well-written, fast-paced conclusion to the Dairy Queen trilogy, perhaps the best in the series.
2. Demon Princess by Michelle Rowen
Demons are so the new vampires, and this new series' first book is a royal, clever success!

1. Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev
Fairies and magic books and pastries galore--my favorite of this year! Brava, Ms. Mantchev!