Book Review: Finding Home by Lauren K. McKellar

Title: Finding Home
Author: Lauren K. McKellar
Published on: October 1, 2013
Publisher: Escape Publishing
Contemporary | Young Adult

When Amy’s mum dies, the last thing she expects is to be kicked off her dad’s music tour all the way to her Aunt Lou in a depressing hole of a seaside town. But it’s okay — Amy learned how to cope with the best, and soon finds a hard-drinking, party-loving crowd to help ease the pain.

The only solace is her music class, but even there she can’t seem to keep it together, sabotaging her grade and her one chance at a meaningful relationship. It takes a hard truth from her only friend before Amy realises that she has to come to terms with her past, before she destroys her future.

Finding Home tackles some really tough subjects such as alcohol abuse and sexual assault. This book was okay but I really had a problem with the main character.

Let’s discuss.

Amy, the main character, annoyed me. She’s very naive, selfish, self-destructive and she doesn’t listen. First of all, I have no problem with characters who drinks but this girl, she knows no boundaries. I get it that she’s grieving a lot for her mother and also for her father, for abandoning her for the sake of his career but that’s not the right way to cope and handle things. If life has been rough on you then beat it, don’t let it get on you. Don’t let a problem ruin your life, there are hundred ways to solve the fuck of it. There’s this part of the book that I almost wanted to ditch it because Amy let herself drown to alcohol  because the whole school already knows her secret, that her father is famous singer. WTF. Seriously. Also, her character came really desperate for Luke’s attention. Even though Luke already has a girlfriend. I don’t know if I should feel bad for what happened to her and Luke. She wanted it, there she goes, she loss her virginity to some asshole. The only character I liked in this book is Lily, Amy’s friend. She brought some sense into Amy’s thick head. Nick, the other love interest, he’s likable but I do wish I got to know him more. For me, his exposure felt short. Although, I’m glad that he’s not a total asshole like Luke.

I was definitely sure that I’d give this book a one or two rating star.

HOWEVER..

When Amy finally came to her senses. It was really touching. She finally accepted the truth about her mother’s death and  she fixed her relationship with her father and aunt and also to those around her, like Nick and Lily.

Amy’s character development is awe-inspiring. I’m happy for her, I’m happy that she truly found her home with the people she loves.

Finding Home is about self-discovery and acceptance. All in all, it was a good, decent read.

*I received an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

What about you? What are your thoughts about this book? Leave a comment! xo

Links: Goodreads | Amazon

Book Review: The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Title: The Distance Between Us
Author: Kasie West
Published on: July 2, 2013
Publisher: Harper Teen
Contemporary | Young Adult

Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.

So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she’s beginning to enjoy his company.

She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.

Er.. Okay, I loved the cover! It’s cute, simple, lovely. The plot intrigued me, I thought that kind of plot is only for telenovelas.

Let’s meet the characters. Okay?

Caymen, the ,main protagonist, I liked her immediately. Although sometimes she frustrates me! She’s sarcastic, very, I found myself laughing every time she opened her mouth. She and her mother, Susan runs a Doll store. Oh,  they are poor and that store is the only thing they have. Caymen’s father left Susan when she was pregnant with Caymen, because her father is a rich bastard and her grandparents disapproved with Susan and Caymen’s father relationship. Meanwhile, Xander, her love interest. He’s super duper rich and Caymen, at first, was skeptical about him because he’s rich just like her father and she knew that her mother would not approve of their relationship and blah blah.

So, now, let me address my issues with this book.

First, Kasie West didn’t tell why Xander suddenly started having an interest with Caymen. (well, maybe she did) but, no, really. Halfway through the book, surprise, still nothing. He just started appearing out of the blue with an already sipped-hot-chocolate on his hand and asking a lot of questions to Caymen and oh my god, isn’t that sweet? (I’m being sarcastic here)

Second, why is Xander hates his father? Why. Oh, yes, his father wants him to, what, run the hotel, be successful. That’s it? Yes, that’s it.Telling me, Kasie West, is not enough. You have to show me.

Third, I didn’t like the way everything was resolved. The ending left me hangin’ with a LOT of questions. Yes, it’s a happily ever after. But, no, that’s not the proper way to end a book! Just because the damn problem has been resolved (in a poor way) it doesn’t mean that you have to end it right away. I need closure. I need answers to my questions. Where the hell is Caymen’s father, what really happened to him and Susan, and the list goes on. Seriously. What kind of ending was that? For a second I thought there’s a second book.

Inspite of that, Kasie West. I have to give you some slack with that twist. You, witty, clever girl. I did not saw that coming.

All in all, even though it has a LOT of flaws, I enjoyed it. For real. Only read it on one seating. However, I’m not going to recommend it. The Distance Between Us has a lot of potential, however, the lack of character development and the story itself was really dissapointing. I really thought the story was going to be tragic. I expected too much from this book because a LOT of book bloggers are raving about how good it is.  *sigh* Still, the cover is really, really cute.

“Sometimes it’s the little things that bring that special someone back to us in some small way.”

What about you? What are your thoughts about this book? Leave a comment! xo

Links: Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Book Review: Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Title: Deadly Little Secret (Touch #1)
Author: Laurie Faria Stolarz
Publication Date: December 23rd 2008
Publisher: Hyperion
Paranormal | Mystery | Young Adult

Some secrets shouldn’t be kept…

Up until three months ago, everything in sixteen-year-old Camelia’s life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job at the art studio downtown. But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school, Camelia’s life becomes anything but ordinary.

Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend’s accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She’s reluctant to believe the rumors, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. She’s inexplicably drawn to Ben and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he can help-but can he be trusted? She knows he’s hiding something… but he’s not the only one with a secret.

Deadly Little Secret was good, well, it was not entirely great. There are flaws and of course, a little bit of cliché, was written all over the book. I’m almost definitely sure that I’d give this book a 2 stars rating because of the two characters.  Camelia, dear god, woman. She can’t stop thinking about ben because of blah blah blah cliché cliché and there’s this I-like-you-but-for-some-reasons-it’s-like-we-can’t-be-together-but-hey-i-like-you thing going on and it was annoying.

What saved this book from me giving it a 2 freaking stars was, Camelia’s friends, Kimmie and Wes, they are hilarious and of course the suspense and mystery that’s surrounding it. There’s these extra entries between chapters written by the stalker, it was creepy as fuck and it  will leave you guessing. When I found out who the stalker is, I was shocked. Honestly, it never even crossed my mind.

Well, over all, it was a good read. Even though there were times when I wanted to punch Camelia and Ben  on the face. The suspense and mystery were really engrossing, it will keep you on turning the pages.

Oh there’s a second book, will you read it? Hm, maybe. The ending kinda left me hangin’ and I want to know more what will happen next.

If you almost gave it a two stars, Would you still recommend it? Yes, If you’re into YA Mystery, this book is clearly for you. Like I said the mystery was engrossing.

What about you? What are your thoughts about Deadly Little Secret? Leave a comment! x

Links: Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads