Friday, January 24, 2014

THE SCAR BOYS: LEN VLAHOS


Well written with a very strong voice, The Scar Boys is one of those books that isn't that easy to categorize as YA or adult. There should be a book genre called Adult Nostalgia. Because I can see adults enjoying this as much or more than an average teen since this takes place during the rise of Punk music.

Over the last while I have decided that I don't care for memoir books, but this felt like a really amazing memoir. It isn't full of manufactured emotions even though it could have felt that way with how dramatic this story is sometimes. It just felt real and honest and so observant of basic human behavior. This might be the most enjoyable time I have had being in the mind of a character that really hates himself, but doesn't really want to.

BOOK BLURB:
A severely burned teenager. A guitar. Punk rock. The chords of a rock 'n' roll road trip in a coming-of-age novel that is a must-read story about finding your place in the world...even if you carry scars inside and out.

In attempting to describe himself in his college application essay--help us to become acquainted with you beyond your courses, grades, and test scores--Harbinger (Harry) Jones goes way beyond the 250-word limit and gives a full account of his life.

The first defining moment: the day the neighborhood goons tied him to a tree during a lightning storm when he was 8 years old, and the tree was struck and caught fire. Harry was badly burned and has had to live with the physical and emotional scars, reactions from strangers, bullying, and loneliness that instantly became his everyday reality.

The second defining moment: the day in 8th grade when the handsome, charismatic Johnny rescued him from the bullies and then made the startling suggestion that they start a band together. Harry discovered that playing music transported him out of his nightmare of a world, and he finally had something that compelled people to look beyond his physical appearance. Harry's description of his life in his essay is both humorous and heart-wrenching. He had a steeper road to climb than the average kid, but he ends up learning something about personal power, friendship, first love, and how to fit in the world. While he's looking back at the moments that have shaped his life, most of this story takes place while Harry is in high school and the summer after he graduates.

Thanks to NetGalley for this read.



Friday, January 3, 2014

IT FELT LIKE A KISS: SARRA MANNING


So one of my best Christmas presents was from my mom. She snagged me an ARC of our favorite author's new book. Normally I would wait and be patient to read this closer to the release date, but I don't even know the US release date...so who cares right? Instant book gratification never hurt anyone that much.

It Felt Like A Kiss was great. It was a bit slow starting, but I was still enjoying it. The last half was almost impossible to put down. Also, I love love loved having cameos from my two favorite Manning characters Vaughn and Grace as well. 

BOOK BLURB:
Ellie manages a swank Mayfair gallery, but it’s her life that’s a real work of art. Great job, really good hair, loyal friends, loving family. It’s only her succession of lame duck boyfriends that ruin the picture.

Oh, and the world-famous rock-star father she’s never met, who won’t even acknowledge her existence.

Then Ellie’s perfect life is smashed to pieces when her secret is sold to the highest bidder and her name, face (and pictures of her bottom) are splashed across the tabloids. Suddenly everyone thinks she’s a gold-digging, sex-crazy, famewhore.

Enter David Gold. Charming and handsome David Gold. On paper he’s even more perfect than Ellie, if only he wasn’t her father’s ruthlessly ambitious lawyer whose job is to manage the crisis – and her. He certainly doesn’t think that Ellie’s the innocent party and she doesn’t trust him at all. So why is it that every time they’re alone together, damage limitation is the last thing on their minds?

So what are you going to do since this book isn't even out yet in the UK, which means who knows when you'll be able to get it in the US? I have a brilliant solution for you: Go to Amazon and either borrow Unsticky for free if you are an Amazon Prime member, or freaking buy it for $2.99. I'm sure you have bought worse books for that price.

After that you will be all caught up on Grace and Vaughn. If you can't wait for more Manning You Don't Have To Say You Love Me is also crazy cheap and available to borrow. These are two of my favorite books of all time people!

Sarra writes some sexy scenes in her books, but they are not glamorized romance novel type scenes. There is always a fair amount of character driven swearing as well. 

She is my favorite author of chick-lit and YA. End of. (That is my favorite British saying ;) )