Review: A Darkness Strange and Lovely by Susan Dennard

Title: A Darkness Strange and Lovely (Something Strange & Deadly #2)
Author: Susan Dennard
Release Date: July 23rd, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Page Count: 406
Source: ARC from BEA2013
Rating: More perfection for the most perfect series of perfection.

Following an all-out battle with the walking Dead, the Spirit Hunters have fled Philadelphia, leaving Eleanor alone to cope with the devastating aftermath. But there’s more trouble ahead—the evil necromancer Marcus has returned, and his diabolical advances have Eleanor escaping to Paris to seek the help of Joseph, Jie, and the infuriatingly handsome Daniel once again. When she arrives, however, she finds a whole new darkness lurking in this City of Light. As harrowing events unfold, Eleanor is forced to make a deadly decision that will mean life or death for everyone.

[Summary Source: Goodreads]

THE REVIEW

Things for Eleanor haven't been going well. Her family life sucks, Allison Wilcox is very, very mad and there are creepy things chasing Eleanor around town. But when the creepy things get more and more threatening and even start coming after her mother, Eleanor decides the only way to fix things is go find the Spirit-Hunters in Paris. So Eleanor takes a boat to Paris and creepy zombie/Necromancer things begin to take place abroad.

Let's break this down:

HOLY SAY WHAT NOW!?

Just when I thought there was nothing that could make me love this series more, Susan Dennard decides to set Book 2 in Paris. PARIS. AKA basically my most favorite place I've ever been.

So okay, I loved this book because it's set in Paris, but also because of Eleanor. In Book 1, Eleanor's brother goes missing and so Eleanor does everything she has to - including dumping all the nonsense she put up with from her friends and family, as well as society - in order to get him back. As a result of dumping everything she'd ever known, she ends joining up with the Spirit-Hunters. They become her normal. But in Book 2, Eleanor is questioning them, just as she questioned everything else in Book 1.

I think it all boils down to her relationship with her brother, Elijah, just as it did in book one. Since Necromancy powers seem to run in the family, Eleanor also has the abilities her brother has. At first she's afraid of them. She doesn't want anything to do with them - which Joseph agrees with. But then Oliver shows up and things begin to change. Oliver presents a whole series of reasons why Eleanor has to embrace Necromancy. Compelling reasons. Life or death reasons. Reasons that Joseph, Jie and Daniel can't seem to understand.

And that's why I think this book is so important. Without this book we (the reader) wouldn't understand Eleanor's conflict. We'd just think: Spirit-Hunters = Good and Necromancer = Bad and then place Eleanor with the good guys and walk away from all of this. But most things in real life aren't quite so black and white, nor are there ever only two options. Which is something I think Eleanor figures out in this book. She doesn't side with the Spirit-Hunter or Oliver or anything attached to either of these groups. By the end of the book she's kind of doing her own thing, with one goal in mind for the moment and the intention to figure out the rest maybe after.

What I'm trying to explain here is that this whole thing is insanely complex and kind of has me running around like a headless chicken. I couldn't tell you who to trust. And that includes Eleanor.

Yeah. You heard me. I don't trust my own narrator.

[But I do really like her. Especially when she ditches the corset, eats all the food and remains a mega badass.]

I also still really love how this book is less about the zombies and romance and more about the characters. Yeah, there's a kiss or two (and those kisses are pure brilliance when they occur) but this 'ship is complicated and a slow-build kind. Although I am hoping this simmer will turn into a full out boil but the end of Book 3. In a really big way.

Oh, and speaking of endings, I couldn't guess the big baddie of the book in this one the way I could in the first book. And I have no idea and zero guesses as to where this whole thing is going. I just know I'm definitely going to love every second of it.

The long and short of it?

Plot: The continued brilliance of this plot is so pleasing to my reading addicted soul.
World Building: All ideas of who's right and who's wrong are completely shattered. The grey area created in this book is so vast and stunning that I honestly have no idea how this book is going to end, but I know the options developed by the world building in this book are going to make it VERY interesting.
Character Development: The good remain the good, the bad are suddenly somehow less bad and Eleanor is struggling to figure it all out with an insane amount of grace.
Prose: Another high point of this book is the narration. Eleanor wouldn't be half the character she is without Susan Dennard's brilliant prose.
Would I Recommend This Book?: When I reviewed Something Strange and Deadly I noted that "If you like steampunk or paranormal, this is a book for you. Also, if you love character driven books, you really need pick this one up immediately. Finally, if you're into tension filled romance, you're definitely going to want to give this one a read." All of this still stands. Also: PARIS.

I'm really still off swooning somewhere as far as this book is concerned. Leave your comments in the comments below. I'll be sure to continue trying to convince you to read this series.

Recommending Books to Friends

Fact: I don't like coffee. I just like saying Coffee Clutch in my best and deepest New York accent. Considering I'm a New Yorker, I'm pretty freaking good at it. So I've got my tea and I hope you have your heated beverage of choice, because it's time to gab the day away.

About a month ago, my incredibly clever blogger friend Amanda wrote a post on why she's striking the term "must read" from her vocabulary. I obviously agree with this point, mostly because everyone I know is so incredibly different and even though I think a book is made of brilliance, I GUARANTEE you I can find at least five people in my life who don't agree.

Now, I don't think that's because those five people don't like YA. I mean, they might not. But, guys, a story is a story. If it's really good, or really suits a person, it doesn't matter if the main character is 13 or 30 (I think Jennifer Garner proved that one to all of us when her character was both 13 and 30 in one movie and you really did care at both ages - DON'T LIE AND SAY YOU DIDN'T).

So instead of shoving my most favoritest YA books at them, I'll ask these five people a couple of questions.

1. What have you read recently that you loved?

Like Nicholas Sparks? Perhaps you'll like Sarah Dessen, or maybe Susane Colasanti. Hell, you might even like these two authors BETTER. (Because I know I do.) Did you enjoy The Hunger Games? Divergent by Veronica Roth might work for you.

2. Haven't read anything recently? What TV shows/movies are you watching?

Do you like Sliding Doors scenarios? Maybe try Parallel by Lauren Miller or Just Like Fate by Cat Patrick and Suzanne Young. Like Criminal Minds? Well there's this book called I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga about the son of a serial killer! How about the news? You're into current events, right? Well, Pretty Girl-13 by Liz Coley is based on the Elizabeth Smart abduction. 

3. Maybe your/my friend is particularly difficult and also doesn't watch TV (not that I really want to know what this person does with their free time anymore)? Now is the time to figure out what their general likes and dislikes are.

Like Greek Mythology? Here, have some Percy Jackson. Do you like controversial books/being in the know? Obviously not reading everything by Stephanie Meyer/Cassandra Clare is a big mistake - get in on the conversation and do it knowledgeably, please. Are you a major feminist? Not reading everything by Tamora Pierce is a HUGE oversight on your part.

At this point you'll probably have a tower stack of books to drop in front of your friend who quite possibly didn't actually ask for a recommendation - you're just making trouble because that's what you do as a bookish person. Please note, these hand-picked recommendations might not be the most popular books. They might be books you disliked - maybe even books you haven't read yet/have no intention of reading. But THAT'S OKAY. I mean, better to not recommend Harry Potter if you KNOW they're gonna hate it and you're gonna have to stop talking to them, right?

Or just give whoever you're recommending books to a copy of Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan and call it a day. (I don't CARE if you don't like it, it's too important not to read so sit down, shut up and read the freaking book.)

Hopefully you all agree with Amanda and I about MUST READ books not existing. Otherwise you probably hated this post. But if you DO agree, be sure to tell me what tactics YOU use to help your friends pick books in the comments below!

Review: Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard

Title: Something Strange and Deadly (Something Strange & Deadly #1)
Author: Susan Dennard
Release Date: July 24th, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Page Count: 388
Source: Finished copy from BEA2013
Rating: I would like every book I ever read for the rest of my life to emulate the awesome of this book. Thanks in advance, world.

The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.

[Summary Source: Goodreads]

THE REVIEW

The story starts with Eleanor Fitt trying to figure out where her brother, Elijah, is and why he hasn't come home yet. Instead she encounters these zombies (The Dead) that have started popping up in Philadelphia. But these zombies aren't just zombies, they're the dead being reanimated by a Necromancer - a Necromancer Eleanor believes has kidnapped Elijah. Not knowing what else to do, Eleanor keeps what she's found out about her brother's whereabouts from her mother and goes to the Spirit-Hunters for help. Greatness ensues.

Let's break this down:

So normally I don't like paranormal books but A) this one's also steampunk B) the paranormal aspect of this book is magic/fantasy-based because of the whole Necromancer angle and C) this book is made of pure awesome, so it doesn't really matter what genre it falls under.

Let us now talk about this pure awesome.

I'm pretty sure my favorite part of the book is the bad-assery. Eleanor starts off the book as this lady who isn't quite happy with her lot in life but as long as she has her brother, she can handle whatever's to come. But then she find out she doesn't have her brother because he's been kidnapped. This is when Eleanor stops being who she's expected to be and does whatever she has to do to get her brother back - even if it means hunting down and hanging around with Spirit-Hunters (AKA the lowest class of people you can hang around, apparently).

I love how independent, stubborn and very unafraid Eleanor is. Or rather, I think she is afraid but she doesn't let that fear stop her from reaching her end goal. Instead it kind of pushes her to her end goal. And even though what happens when she reaches that end is pretty obvious to me from early on (I really think the more I read the better I get at figuring out the answers to the mysteries books present me) the way Eleanor handles it is pretty outstanding to me.

Basically, what I'm saying is that Eleanor is the freaking best.

But Eleanor isn't the only awesome character in this story. There's also Clarence Wilcox, who I love, hate and feel sorry for all in one book. Allison Wilcox is entertaining in her own right. Eleanor's mother is EXACTLY who you'd expect her to be and you can't fault her for that. Jie Chen is the most perfect sidekick there ever was - like, not even the slightest bit dramatic, taking names and kicking ass. I also love Joseph, who's the brains of the Spirit-Hunter operation. Throughout the entire book I kept thinking he was much older which, based off reading Book 2, I don't think he actually is that much older than the rest, but I like that it seems like he is.

And then, obviously, there's Daniel Sheridan. Sure, Clarence is the love interest for a bit in Book 1, but the sun clearly revolves around Daniel. He's the most wonderful character: tortured, sullen, rough and yet somehow kind. Obviously the tension between Daniel and Eleanor is off the charts and it's the tension I love best so PLEASE, keep that coming.

Based on everything I said above, I think it's pretty clear that I love this book because of how character driven it is. Yeah, there's a lot of action and the plot is just dripping with secrets and intrigue, but the characters are so solid and consistent that I honestly believe in everything they do and say.

The long and short of it?

Plot: A fun, steampunk-y romp.
World Building: I'm not totally sure I could draw you a map of what Susan Dennard's 1876 Philadelphia looks like but I honestly don't care - this book is too brilliant to care about the landscape.
Character Development: The characters are what carry this book and they do it wonderfully.
Prose: The prose is just the right mix of Victorian/Steampunk and modern to keep me so very engaged for 388 pages.
Would I Recommend This Book?: If you like steampunk or paranormal, this is a book for you. Also, if you love character driven books, you really need pick this one up immediately. Finally, if you're into tension filled romance, you're definitely going to want to give this one a read.

I'm sorry, I'm off swooning over Daniel Sheridan (AKA the newest addition to my Book Boyfriend List). Please leave your thoughts in the comments below and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. 

Cover Reveal + Giveaway: Aspen by Rebekah Crane

So. I'm excited.

I mean, I'm excited because this is my first ever cover reveal. And because I really love helping you guys win free stuff. I also really enjoyed Rebekah Crane's debut novel, PLAYING NICE. (I interviewed Rebekah on the blog earlier this year AND reviewed PLAYING NICE on the blog, so you guys should check that out.) Anyway, when Rebekah asked me if I wanted to take part in the ASPEN cover reveal, I was all "YES! PLEASE."

See? Excited.

And since I'm excited, you should be excited too. (I'm demanding like that.)

Now, since I want you to REMAIN excited and not get annoyed at my rambling, HERE IS THE GOOD STUFF.

Title: Aspen
Author: Rebekah Crane
Release Date: January 2014
Category: YA contemporary
Publisher: In This Together Media

One quiet night in Boulder, Colorado, Aspen Yellow-Sunrise Taylor made a mistake.

In the next instant, her life changed forever.

Aspen doesn't want to remember when Katelyn Ryan, a sleek-haired popular soccer player, crossed the yellow line in her car and smashed into Aspen's. But forgetting is pretty hard- because Katelyn may have died - but she didn't leave. Her ghost is following Aspen around, and heading into senior year, it's kind of a problem. Especially when Katelyn's gorgeous former boyfriend Ben appears to be the only person at school with a clue as to how Aspen feels.

Popularity, college, Homecoming Court, hot guys - none of these things ever mattered to Aspen. She's been busy trying to rein in her giant mass of blonde curls, keep her stoner mother Ninny away from Toaster, her mom's awful bongo drumming boyfriend, and prevent her best friends Kim and Cass from killing - or kissing - one another. But with Ben sitting next to her in Physics looking all too gorgeous, Katelyn's spirit dogging her steps, and her obsessive snow-globe collecting therapist begging her to remember all the things she wants to forget, Aspen is thrust into a vivid, challenging world she can't control… and doesn't want to.

A darkly funny, emotionally gripping story of opening up, letting go, and moving on, ASPEN is about the best-worst accident of your life... and what comes next.

Of course, an awesome cover reveal isn’t complete without an equally AWESOME GIVEAWAY. Here are all of the things you can win:

10 eARCs of ASPEN!
1 tie-dye shirt from Moe’s Broadway Bagels in Boulder, CO (an actual restaurant in the story!)
2 Grateful Dead bumper stickers! Groovy!
5 Friendship bracelets because WHY NOT?!
1 hacky sack! Rad!
3 flower stickers you can stick to your laptop or desk or wherever! Peace, man!

Just enter the Rafflecopter below and you’re on your way to getting some awesome swag! The giveaway closes a week from today.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Rebekah Crane:

Rebekah Crane fell in love with YA literature while studying Secondary English Education at Ohio University, but it wasn't until ten years and two daughters later that she started to write it. Inspired by her past students, growing up in Cleveland with its fabulous musical theater community, and music of all kinds (particularly the Avett Brothers), she created PLAYING NICE. It is her first published novel, but having an unbridled imagination, it's not the only fantasy world she's lived in (just ask her husband). ASPEN, her second YA creation, is set to release in January 2014. She now lives in Colorado, where the altitude only enhances the experience.

Find Rebekah on:
TWITTER | FACEBOOK | TUMBLR

ARE YOU GUYS EXCITED YET? Don't deny it. You know you are.

World of Books: Alexa + The Philippines

Everyone has their neighborhood bookstore or their local library they call home. Maybe both even. I know I do - in TWO different cities. World of Books if a bi-weekly feature that allows me - and any of YOU - to share the bookstores and libraries you love so much. If you want to be featured on World of Books too, make sure to go HERE and fill out the contact form!

This week on WORLD OF BOOKS, I bring you Alexa. She's going to tell us alllll about the bookstores she loves in the Philippines.

I’m thrilled to be a part of Gaby’s feature, as it gives me a chance to take you to one of my favorite countries: the Philippines. While I was born in the USA, my family moved back to the Philippines in 1998, and I lived here for a very big part of my life. It’s going to be such a joy to be able to share some of my favorite places with you all – including the bookstore where the boy proposed to me!

Powerbooks 

It’s got a great selection of foreign books and magazines, and they’ve recently started to sell school supplies. While I don’t visit it nearly as often as the others, it’s still a pretty nice place to go and relax and grab a book or two, particularly when I’m in the middle of a shopping trip.

 (photo source)

National Bookstore

This used to be my go-to store for school supplies, mostly because it’s got affordable, cute stuff. I also used to go crazy over the scrapbooking stuff in there too! But now, it’s also become an awesome place to find bargain-priced books. Just a few weeks ago, I found a copy of Daughter of Smoke and Bone for 100pesos (which is roughly around $2.50). It’s definitely one store that my family and I frequent often! 

(photo source)

Fully Booked 

There are multiple branches of this bookstore in the Philippines, but my favorite is the one located on Bonifacio High Street. Why? Well, it’s four floors of books, complete with café, event spaces and a big record area. This was a store I regularly visited for my book fix back in college, and still visit frequently up until this day. The selection of books in this place is honestly amazing, as it’s a mix of books from the US, UK and Australia. Plus, if you can’t find what you want, it’s highly likely they can order the book for you! (This is also where my fiancé proposed to me.) 

(photo source)

Thanks for joining me on my journey to the Philippines! I hope you enjoyed seeing all these places that I frequented back when I was still living here. I’ve been to visit all of them since I got back at the start of August, and it’s been a lot of fun. Hopefully, when you guys have a chance to visit, you’ll take my advice and visit one of them to grab a new book or two!

Do you have a personal connection to a bookstore? If so, I'm sure Alexa and I would love to hear about it in the comments below!

Veronica Mars Watch-Along Week 18

[Graphic designed by the lovely Judith of Paper Riot]

So, how does this work, super sleuths? Go check out the Watch-Along kick off post for the skinny. I'll give you a second just in case...

All caught up? Good.

In case you already know the basics and just forgot what episodes are up today, here's the list:

• "Donut Run"
• "Rashard and Wallace Go to White Castle"

And for NEXT WEEK:

• "Ain't No Magic Mountain High Enough" 
• "Versatile Toppings"

Time for the meat and potatoes of this post. 

THE NOIR

In the first episode this week, Veronica helps Duncan run away with his and Meg's baby. At first you're made to believe that Veronica and Duncan have broken up, y'know, given that Duncan had a baby with Meg and it looks like Duncan's sleeping with Kendall (Is he? Has he? I really don't know the answer to this, but I like to think he cheated that first time even if this second time was just a ruse.). But then it's just like BAM, Veronica (and Vinnie Van Lowe!!) are secretly helping Duncan get out of town. Obviously Keith catches on and he gets really upset, but WHAT DOES VERONICA CARE!?

If Andy's saying it, you know it's serious.

In the second episode we learn more about a lot of things:

1) Logan and Weevil's sleuthing attempts continue to be awesome, although the results are kind of disastrous for Weevil. I do like how Logan and Weevil kind of pull things together, though, even if Weevil gets beat up and dethroned. And yeah, Thumper is evil and blackmailed Weevil, but he is dealing with the Fitzpatricks, so I feel like he's definitely going to get his.

2) I like that Keith is taking the lead on the bus crash thing. Because he's the adult. And this is what he should be doing. Not Veronica. I also really enjoy the fact that Keith is taking the simple interpretation of the rat on the bus. Of COURSE Veronica would think it symbolizes something and that something is about her. Maybe it doesn't symbolize anything and, even if it does, maybe it's not about Veronica. Basically: VERONICA WHY IS EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU?! STOP IT.

3) This whole thing with Wallace was NUTS. I was a little worried Veronica wouldn't be able to make it happen, but I like how she used her random connection in the sheriff's office and Jackie to make this happen. I do hate Jackie a little less for sneaking around and being awesome, but she's still the worst (next to Duncan), so we'll see how this goes. 

PARENTAL PROBLEMS

Why are Duncan's parents the worst? Why would they, after hearing how terrible the Mannings can be, want to leave their grandchild with the crazies? THEIR GRANDCHILD NAMED LILLY AFTER THEIR DEAD DAUGHTER?! (Not that they knew that's what Duncan was going to rename Faith, but STILL.) I don't understand any of this. 

And then, Veronica is awful to her father. What is going wrong in this relationship that leads to these kinds of shenanigans? I honestly all kinds of upset at the deterioration of this relationship. 

Also, on a brighter note, I like how Wallace's dad is there for him. That's nice. 

BRING ON THE SNARK

Logan: "Hi ho."
Veronica: "What did you say?"
Logan: "Oh, your uniform. Hi-ho, it's off to work you go."
Veronica: "I guess that makes me Snow White."
LOGAN: "You must be on your way up to see Mopey."
Veronica: "How's he doing, Sleazy?"
Logan: "Wouldn't know, he doesn't come out of his room. Old Italian ladies don't grieve like this. Boy, he must've really loved Meg."
Veronica: "Well, then there's that other thing. You know, he can't see his baby."
Logan: "A baby? How'd that happen?"

This whole exchange is so amazing. I honestly can't imagine why anyone WOULDN'T love Logan and all his awesomeness.

Logan: "You're not real complicated, are you, Dick?"
Dick: "Try not to be."

Understatement of the century and dear GOD I love it.

THE BOYS

Oh dear. This is a GOOD WEEK.

• Duncan: BYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEE!
• Logan: You have worked so hard and been through so much and I don't think it's too much to ask Veronica to do you a favor with no strings attached. I don't. I. DON'T.
• Weevil: You've been so good, working with Logan. I am so sorry you have lost your place as leader of the PCHers. BUT GOOD THINGS WILL COME YOUR WAY. I KNOW IT. 
• Wallace: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING BACK. I love everything now that you're back.
• Dick: He really is a simple kinda guy. And even though he's a giant jerk, I kind of love it. 
• Vinnie Van Lowe: He doesn't really belong here, but I do like that he helped Duncan get away. Even though he only did it because Duncan paid more money than Celeste. But. Like. Whatever.

Two episodes of misdirection later and I'm loving this show even more. Are you still loving this show (and Logan) the way I am? Let me know in the comments below!

**ONE LAST REMINDER**
NEXT WEEK:

• "Ain't No Magic Mountain High Enough" 
• "Versatile Toppings"

Review: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Title: Fangirl
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Release Date: September 10th, 2013
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Page Count: 405
Source: ARC from BEA
Rating: Could this book be longer? Because I want more. Because this is probably one of my favorite books of all time.

A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love.
Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan...

But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?

Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?

And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

[Summary Source: Goodreads]

THE REVIEW

Cath is a major fangirl. Growing up, her twin sister Wren was too. But when they get to college, Wren decides not to live with Cath - she wants a different identity than just being a fangirl twin. Cath, on the other hand, isn't really ready to do that. This book is about what happens when a fangirl can't bring herself to leave her comfort zone but finds out she doesn't really have a choice because everything outside her comfort zone is coming for her and she can't stay away.

Let's break this down:

From the minute I heard about this book, I knew I was going to love it. I was actually a little reluctant to pick it up because I hyped it up so much for myself. But that was silly because I was RIGHT to hype it up for myself.

I have A LOT of personal reasons for loving this book. But, even though I loved this book so much largely because of personal reasons, I don't think that's really relevant to why I think you all should read this book.

So here's the attempt at an unbiased review.

What did I love about this book?

To start with, I love how this book revolves around fan fiction. Hell, the book is called FANGIRL. A lot of the time I feel like fan fiction isn't something I'm allowed to talk about in public. And I never do. Even some of my bookish friends don't understand why I read fan fiction. So it's hard to know who will and won't judge me if I admit to enjoying fan fiction. Which is why I say nothing - it's just kind of my dirty little secret. So it's really amazing to me that this book has a lot to do with something I never really feel comfortable talking about.

I also really loved that Rainbow Rowell wrote bits and pieces of the Simon Snow book and the fan fiction Cath and her sister write. It lets the reader get a feel for what's going on and why it was going on.

And then there are the relationships in this book. There's a lot of stuff going on - Cath really has a lot to deal with - but I really felt like everything was strung together seamlessly. There's honesty no one relationship I loved most. I mean, obviously I loved the romance between Levi and Cath, but Cath's relationship with her twin sister, Wren, was equally compelling and heartbreaking at times. And then there's Cath's issues with her mother and fears for her father than totally gutted me. I even couldn't wait to see how Cath's relationships with Reagan, Nick and even her creative writing professor progressed. Each of these people presented issues that pushed Cath throughout this book and forced her to grow as a character and for that I honestly couldn't say which dramatic situation gripped me the most.

Another thing I loved was the setting for this whole book. Technically this book is New Adult because it takes place in college. But this NA book is so much more like my college experience than any other NA book I've read (aside from maybe Just One Day by Gayle Forman). Obviously I know I'm not going to be able to relate to every book I read, but I feel like every NA book I hear about is about sex and drugs and, honestly, I just don't know that many virgin good girls who went to college and fell in love with a bad boy they managed to reform. Fangirl's version of college might be on the opposite end of the spectrum, but it least it gives an alternative - one that's way closer to my own experiences.

Finally, I'd like to get a LITTLE personal before I wrap up... y'know those advice columns in magazines? Dear Abby or whatever? I feel like I've sent a million questions to some unknown advice column inbox somewhere over the last, I don't know, 4-9 years of my life, and this book is is my answer. Even now that I'm finished with college, I know that this is a book I'm going to keep coming back to A) because it resonates with me so much and B) it's a book I think I can keep learning from, even though I'm 23 and out of college.

Oh. Also? Levi is my hero. I wish I could have one one of him in real life for so, so, so many reasons. (Sans the conflict in the middle of the book, of course.) Kay, thanks, bye.

The long and short of it?

Plot: I'm in love with everything that happened in this book. Even the bad stuff.
World Building: I wish this didn't sound so very much like my college experience, but it does.
Character Development: Obviously Cath grew enormously over the year this book narrates, but so do ALL of the other characters (except MAYBE Cath and Wren's mom) and that's yet another thing I love about this one.
Prose: This book is coated in Rainbow Rowell's particular brand of quirk and awesome. As always, I love.
Would I Recommend This Book?: I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves well developed characters and situations and is a little bit of a fangirl/boy. I also think that anyone who's ever felt like they need to hide the fact that they read/write/know what fan fiction is should pick this one. It's also a really good depiction of an introvert's college experience and, if you're a bit of an introvert yourself (like me), you might find a little bit of advice in this book as well as a brilliant story.

Did you relate to this one as much as I did? Or do you think you will when you finally get your hands on it? Be sure to let me know in the comments below!