Bout of Books 8.0 Wrap Up

Bout of Book's Blog

Bout of Books took place during a busy last week of summer. The last bout of books was during my last week of high. Sadly this time I didn't even have class and still got less reading done. Overall I had a fun last week of summer and my college life is getting off to a good start although I wish making friends was a little bit easier. 

I read a total of 275 pages in 9 hours and 48 minutes over the course of 7 days. That is approximately 39 pages per day. 

Book Finished: 

Book Started:

Book Review: The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen (no spoilers)

Book: The Moon and More
Author: Sarah Dessen
Publication: June 4th, 2013
Source: Local Library
Rating: 5/5 stars

Luke is the perfect boyfriend: handsome, kind, fun. He and Emaline have been together all through high school in Colby, the beach town where they both grew up. But now, in the summer before college, Emaline wonders if perfect is good enough.

 Enter Theo, a super-ambitious outsider, a New Yorker assisting on a documentary film about a reclusive local artist. Theo's sophisticated, exciting, and, best of all, he thinks Emaline is much too smart for Colby.

 Emaline's mostly-absentee father, too, thinks Emaline should have a bigger life, and he's convinced that an Ivy League education is the only route to realizing her potential. Emaline is attracted to the bright future that Theo and her father promise. But she also clings to the deep roots of her loving mother, stepfather, and sisters. Can she ignore the pull of the happily familiar world of Colby?

 Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going?

 Sarah Dessen's devoted fans will welcome this story of romance, yearning, and, finally, empowerment. It could only happen in the summer.

My Thoughts:
Sarah Dessen has written another amazing novel. I'm sad I had to wait almost 3 whole months to read this book, but with college I just didn't have the time. Come August I had the time again to really indulge in reading and I'm glad I took the time to sit back and relax and enjoy The Moon and More.

First off I have to gush about Emaline's name. I really loved the name choice and I think it fit her perfectly. It probably doesn't help that I have always been in love with the name Emma so I fell in love with Emaline instantly just for that fact alone. I also loved Emaline's personality. Emaline has a strong personality and isn't afraid to tell you how it is.

I related to Emaline in a lot of ways. Emaline is going off to college at the end of summer and although her college is close like mine she still is worried about change. That is what I'm having the hardest time coming to terms with right now is how much my life if going to change. Everything changes for Emaline over the summer when her relationships get complicated and her father comes to town with her little brother Benji.

Luke's character was great. I imagined Luke as a down home country gentlemen. He was really hot in my mind which probably helped me like him. I saw in Luke that he was a guy that was polite and he was willing to go out of his way for his long time girlfriend Emaline.

I liked Theo also although he was much more nerdier in my mind. I think he was a great addition to the novel and he kept things interesting. You need to read this book for Ivy alone. She was a different character and kept the novel interesting.

The Moon and More had the great relaxed feeling of all of Sarah Dessen's book. I felt like when I picked up this book I was having lunch with a friend. I really related the this novel more than I have related to some of her other novels. The Moon and More was an amazing novel and I recommend that everybody read this novel now. It had such a great story and I couldn't get over how much I loved the characters.

Thanks


Rachael

The Book Chat Chick Lit

Hosted by Sweet Green Tangerine

This week I'm the cohost of The Book Chat and this week we are talking about Chick Lit. 

I have been a fan of Chick Lit for Years. I love Chick Lit for the fact that it is about real life. 

My favorite chick lit authors are: 

Kristin Hannah

Sarah Dessen

Emily Giffin

Debbie Macomber

My favorite book by Kristin Hannah is easily Firefly Lane and its squeal Fly Away. I can't stop talking about those amazing books. 

I actually just finished Sarah Dessen's newest book The Moon and More and it was amazing. Some of my other favorite books by Sarah Dessen are Just Listen, Lock and Key, Someone Like You, Dreamland, The Truth about Forever, and Along for the ride. I have only hated one book by Dessen and that was Keeping the Moon otherwise I love her as an author. 

I literally can't even pick a favorite book by Emily Giffin. She has wrote 6 amazing books. 

Debbie Macomber is a romance, chick lit author. I really like her Cedar Cove series and her Christmas novels. 

4. And the rules are here.  If you could just copy and paste these at the bottom of your post before the link widget.

To join in...

1. Please follow the host and co-host

2. Visit a few other book chat links and show some support.

3. Link back here in your post.  Or use the button provided.

4. Old posts are always welcome if you have blogged on the topic before.

Book Review: All I Need by Susane Colasanti (no spoilers)

Book: All I Need
Author: Susane Colasanti
Publication: May 21st, 2013
Source: Local Library
Rating: 3/5 stars
Summary (from Goodreads):

The last night of summer is only the beginning.

Skye wants to meet the boy who will change her life forever. Seth feels their instant connection the second he sees her. When Seth starts talking to Skye at the last beach party of the summer, it’s obvious to both of them that this is something real. But when Seth leaves for college before they exchange contact info, Skye wonders if he felt the same way she did—and if she will ever see him again. Even if they find their way back to each other, can they make a long-distance relationship work despite trust issues, ex drama, and some serious background differences?

 Teen favorite Susane Colasanti returns to the alternating-voice style of her beloved debut When It Happens in this Serendipity-inspired story about summer, soul mates, and the moments that change our lives forever.

My Thoughts:
I went into this book not expecting much. I was just looking for a great summer book. I have read a couple other books by Susane Colasanti and I always come away feeling somewhere in the middle. I didn't hate the book, but I didn't love it either. All I Need was unfortunately no different. If I could pick one word to describe this book it would be Cheesy. If I could pick one word to describe my feelings about this book it would be disappointed.

I started this book as a break from Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen when the book was going through a rough, slow patch. I figured All I Need would be a quick read because it would be so good, but I found myself struggling with this book also. Skye and Seth were not the best characters. I just felt that they were both really flat and boring. I think they both needed some major development because I felt no connection to either one of them.

Skye and Seth's relationship was a big part of why this book was so cheesy. They got to together really quickly after meeting and it was like they were suddenly in love. Instant Love all the way with this one.

I will recommend All I Need, but as I discussed above this book is very cheesy. I could recommend many more contemporary fiction where you will feel so much more connected with the characters and invested in their story rather than how I felt through this book. I felt like I was reading the book just for the sake of reading it. I liked this book, but didn't love it.

Thanks


Rachael

Fairy Tale Read-a-Thon Sign Up

I'm so excited to announce my participation in this read-a-thon. I hope this time I'm actually reading fairy tales books. Hopefully Robin Hood Themed for Classics Retold. 

This read-a-thon is going to take place from Sunday September 1st until Saturday September 7th. That is 7 full days of fairy tale reading. 

I will be in class that week, but I know I will have time to squeeze some amount of reading in so click on the picture and head on over to Debz Bookshelf to join. 

Rachael