Anna and the French Kiss (by Stephanie Perkins)

Goodreads Synopsys

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend. 

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?

Review

I give  ★★★★★

I suppose, every cheesy, typical girly-girl would dream of this book to actually happen. Guess what, folks, guess what? I hate cheesy, or at least I thought I did until I read this book. I kept a smile on my face from the very moment I started this book. Why, you ask? Because I can relate to this character beyond my imagination. I did not know  "Oui'" is spelt that way, I didn't think it is spelt w-e-e either, I just never thought of french. YES I Would skip lunch, breakfast and dinner if I didn't know how to communicate, but it is an American school in Paris, so that was in fact kinda silly considering they must know English. But Anna is such a real protagonist to me, seeing everything from her perspective just made it perfect. Perfect to me because I saw how she adapted, learned about her friends, and tried to be the right person in all situations. But she was also human, and made mistakes I could see myself making. 



Yes it is a shame that our perfect man in the story is in fact short. So what? That's alright. You'll learn to appreciate his sense of humor, pretty face and cool hairstyle. With those in the package, nothing else matters. Coming from a height-obsessed-weirdo. Not to mention that I have not been to Paris and this book made me want to crave a journey, a new place, and sometimes even a new life. To start over like Anna did. However, the only thing lacking in this story was loyalty. There's a simple rule when it comes to friends and boyfriends and that is exactly what I absolutely hoped wouldn't happen. Anna stealing her friend's boyfriend. Why. Of course, we are once again reminded that friendships between a gal and guy will always develop to something more. YAY. That's what I call the best kind of love story. 

Considering how I've always wanted to study abroad but never got the chance to (yet) and seeing what the experience would be like from Anna's perspective was satisfying since a lot of people aren't quite specific on the details on the new language and the new people. That whole idea was really thought through in this novel. I would definitely recommend it to those with some kind of fear of moving to another country, going to a new school/university/college. This book will definitely ease out your fears.

The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines, #4 by Richelle Mead)

The struggle isn't over for Sydney. As she navigates the aftermath of her life-changing decision, she still finds herself pulled in too many directions at once. Her sister Zoe has arrived, and while Sydney longs to grow closer to her, there's still so much she must keep secret. Working with Marcus has changed the way she views the Alchemists, and Sydney must tread a careful path as she harnesses her profound magical ability to undermine the way of life she was raised to defend. Consumed by passion and vengeance, Sydney struggles to keep her secret life under wraps as the threat of exposure — and re-education — looms larger than ever.

Review: 

I am beyond frustrated.

At myself. 

For not ordering the 5th book already. 

I should have. I can't wait. I can't wait so long for the next book to arrive, I didn't even order it. 

This book was amazing, the only reason why it took me so long to read it (approximately a week) was because I wanted to find every reason not to finish the book. I knew it would result in suffering if I had to wait for the next book. And here I am, suffering. 

Zoe's the real bitch, I so, so, so expected her to turn her back on her sister. If Sydney forgives her, I won't approve, I'll be mad. Mad! Angry! Frustrated at the world!

God, Eddie is such a sweetheart, I'm so happy that Jill learnt something from Adrian. That kiss should've happened earlier. 

Those Alchemists are ruining everything! GET A LIFE PEOPLE! Let Sydrian live. 

I couldn't believe Adrian has a POV, I loved being in his head, and I wonder, how did Richelle Mead successfully wrote parts of the book from a guy's point of view. How would anyone understand what goes on in guys' heads. It was a first for me. A guy's POV, and I could not have imagined it to be better. 

I absolutely love Adrian and Sydney, best couple of the vampire world. 

"It's specific gravity and perfect cleavage go a long way too."

The only part of that I understood was "perfect cleavage," but I had a feeling we weren't thinking the same thing. "So, uh, what's the summary?" 

-Dies- 

I loved that. It was so Adrian, I can't even put into words how much a thought to small in a whole book can create a character so amazing. 

"I was once part of a large regiment of guardians protecting a royal family when two Strigoi decided to attack," he said. 

"Two Strigoi against a whole group of guardians, huh? Wow. That's pretty hard core."

Adrian does it again. That tone, in the voice I imagine he has, once again makes me die.

I worte: I never doubted. Would you believe I made a breakthrough with charms too?

Her response came fast. Of course I believe it. When do you get back?

Early evening. Can you come over?

I'll try. We need to celebrate.

Should I get champagne and cake ready?

Get your bed ready.

Wear the black bra.

I didn't plan on wearing one. 

"God help me," I murmured, earning a surprised glance from Neil.

I LOVE THIS!

Call me crazy, but despite how I'm not even sure how to describe it, it's aaah... 

I couldn't help but smile to the end of the chapter  after I read that. 

ADDRIAN AGAIN!

"You actually have a subject?" I looked around to see if I'd missed somebody, but it was just the three of us. "One of the cats?" I asked.

That earned a long, loud laugh from me. 

I woke in the morning, happier than I'd been in a long time, and saw she was standing at the window in nothing but my T-shirt. It was so mind-blowingly sexy that all coherent thought stopped for a moment.

This is a major cliche, one I was happy to find in this book. This needed to happen, because unlike other romantic cliches, this one is different. Their relationship is so complex and secretive that just makes my mind explode with dizzy, happy, super high butterflies. 

The center will hold.

Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2, by Richelle Mead) Review

Blurb

Sydney would love to go to college, but instead, she’s been sent into hiding at a posh boarding school in Palm Springs, California–tasked with protecting Moroi princess Jill Dragomir from assassins who want to throw the Moroi court into civil war. Formerly in disgrace, Sydney is now praised for her loyalty and obedience, and held up as the model of an exemplary Alchemist.

But the closer she grows to Jill, Eddie, and especially Adrian, the more she finds herself questioning her age–old Alchemist beliefs, her idea of family, and the sense of what it means to truly belong. When a shocking secret threatens to tear the vampire world apart, Sydney’s loyalties are suddenly tested more than ever before. She wonders how she's supposed to strike a balance between the principles and dogmas she's been taught, and what her instincts are now telling her.

Should she trust the Alchemists—or her heart?

Review

No, no, no. The book was not supposed to finish like that, I wanted to put a stop to my obsession, it seems like I failed. 

So first things first, what is up with Brayden? I'm sure as hell that Sydney is way smarter than I am, so it should have been easy to spot what an idiot he is. And if Brayden was that smart, he should have done a brief check on what girls like: COMPLIMENTS (I think they tend to just make situations more awkward, but whatever.) But still, Sydney's the best he'll ever strike. 

Second: If I were to take a sip at every mention on Sydney's car 'Latte', I think I would have drowned in a dozen gallons of LATTE. I couldn't bear to keep myself away from coffee while reading. Unluckily for me, when I was reading the first book, I was fasting (No food, no water) and occasionally found myself craving a cup of coffee. 

Third:  I was so, so, so happy at the fact that Adrian's character came floating on the surface compared to the other characters. I got to know him better, Sydney got to know him better, and well I might've gotten more attached to him than she did, but I believe it's what made the book so great. No Adrian, no goody goody stuff. 

Fourth: I absolutely liked the fact that Sydney was so confused as to what she was supposed to feel when she got kissed, when she went on a date, what was appropriate, and I just might've related to her in so many ways at that point, which is very rare because all characters in the books I read seem to magically have a past of boyfriends and whatnot. 

Speaking of magic... I KNEW IT! I knew she was going to use the blind spell, hell, I guessed it from the moment it was mentioned, also I knew about the tattoo and it's significance on Trey's back, I knew he was evil, I think the author intentionally made sure the readers wouldn't get too attached to him, just enough so they would not be disappointed by revealing the sad truth about Trey. 

I like the twist involving Eddie, Angeline and Jill, that love triangle, thankfully it's two girls against a guy instead of the typical stuff with two guys, one girl, despite the fact that, that might have also been there with Mikah and Eddie, however it didn't exactly get to the point of it being annoying, Eddie's decisions were reasonable and I came to appreciate his loyalty and admiration towards Jill, overall I found it cute. 

Vampire hunters?! What- 

That was a bit surprising, not completely, after the way the last book ended, I actually believed this whole idea of a vampire-hunters group would just fade away, clearly it played a major part, and it was different however I wanted more action, maybe Adrian should learn how to throw some punches and start defending Sydney for a change, she's got magic on her side, what's he got? Art skills, which as an artist myself, have come to appreciate that I share so many things in common with him. So yeah, I expected that to be an excuse for the both of them to start learning how to fight, but the sign up classes with Wolfe was a good bonus to their abilities. 

OVERALL: Don't be surprised but I LOVED IT! 

The humor, the characters, story, and as some things may have come off as mysteries, either I'm a genius or they were too obvious. I could be taking into account every little detail, so that could be it.

Bloodlines (Bloodlines series #1 by Richelle Mead) Review

Blurb

Sydney belongs to a secret group who dabble in magic and surf to bridge the world of humans and vampires. But when Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, she fears she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. What unfolds is far worse. The sister of moroi Queen Lisa Dragomir is in mortal danger, and goes into hiding. Now Sydney must act as her protector. The last thing Sydney wants is to be accused of sympathizing with vampires. And now she has to live with one. 

Closer review on Bloodlines Series' first book

23 Hours, sleep not included, so that makes it... 14 hours of reading, possibly constant reading, small gaps in between, perhaps no more than 3 hours. That's how long it took me to finish the book. I'd say it was a record, I can't remember finishing a book so fast before.
Meaning... I liked it, perhaps exactly just about how much I wanted to like it.
Despite the boring introduction and everything, it seemed to me like the story progressed quite slowly, but that was just the beginning of it, and then as she had finally moved to Palm Springs, it felt like the story had finally begun.

I loved Adrian's remarks throughout the whole story, the beginning when he opened their door to that mansion, that moment was just AMAZING!

"They're waiting for you. Go on in." Adrian leaned close to Keith's ear and spoke in an ominous voice. 

"If. You. Dare." He poked Keith's shoulder and gave a "Muhahaha" kind of monster laugh. Keith nearly leapt ten feet in the air.

I would ruin it for you if you haven't read the book, so maybe I'll keep those "moments" to myself and laugh out loud at just how hilarious they are so I won't list any of them, just that first one that got me super attached to the rest of the book.

So the story's told from Sydney's point of view, which was something I did NOT expect, I actually thought it would be from Adrian's point of view, and by the time I finished the 'Last Sacrifice', the last book from the Vampire Academy series, I was worried that Adrian would go on and on and on about how sorry he felt for himself that Rose chose -SPOILER- Dimitri over him, that's hardly a spoiler alert because we all expected that-DUH! But what got me super furious was that it kinda seemed like the world revolved around Jill. WHY DOES EVERYONE HAVE TO FREAKING FALL FOR HER?! Okay, so if I'm going to be a professional reviewer, perhaps capitalizing how furious I was with Jill's character would be a bad move. She is exactly the perfect description of the most difficult and infuriating teenager I will ever read about. I was fifteen once. like two years ago, and I do not remember being so desperate to be out there, much less be all over this whole idea of wanting to get a boyfriend, or be involved in all this romance-y-stuff. So maybe that kinda almost got me to throw the book out the window, if Adrian would have fallen for her as well, I might've as well burnt the book to ashes, Adrian is for Sydney and that's that. I hope.

So, more infuriating characters... Well the twist at the end with Lee really got me surprised, shocked, all words to describe that emotion. It was crazy and it covered all the missing "climaxes" in the story, which I seemed to not have noticed.

Keith.. if there is any character I could not hate more, it would be Keith, I wanted to cry just as much as Sydney wanted to every time he pissed her-off-excuse my language- but how can he be so ANNOYING and MEAN and RUDE and how in the world could he get away with RAPE?! I would have pinned him near a very-awake-volcano on a stick and let him burn from the increased temperature-he deserves to BURN!

Sydney is the ideal character for this series, I kind of doubted I'd enjoy reading and well seeing everything from her perspective considering how I haven't given her much attention in the Vampire Academy series, to be honest, I hardly noticed the fact that she feared vampires so much. Anyways, the story was interesting BECAUSE she was so scared and despised them. This was no I-hate-them-because-it-is-a-cliche-to-love-them, loving them would be almost like a sin to herself. She was raised to hate them and because of that I came to appreciate her effort at getting closer to them, even though it was not in her job-description to do so, if anything, it was against everything The Alchemists did. Perhaps falling in love with one will be beyond complicated. I can't to find out.

I couldn't help but notice the excess mention of COFFEE. I craved coffee while reading the book, and since it's Ramadan, I could not drink ANYTHING. I kept dreaming of a cold Frappuccino, or a freaking Latte, because her car HAD to be named LATTE! Of course, after the eating hours I made myself a Latte, now, I can't sleep.

Overall the book was amazing and I'll be very likely to read it again, once I'm done with the Goodreads challenge, with reading 30 books in the rest remaining months of 2014.

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