Top Ten Books I’ve Read in 2014 so Far

Burial Rites – Hannah Kent
Set against Iceland’s stark landscape, Hannah Kent brings to vivid life the story of Agnes, who, charged with the brutal murder of her former master, is sent to an isolated farm to await execution.
The Humans – Matt Haig
The Humans is a funny, compulsively readable novel about alien abduction, mathematics and that most interesting subject of all: ourselves.

Throne of Glass – Sarah j. Maas
In the dark filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen year-old-girl is serving a life sentence. However, young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament.

Grave Mercy – Robin LaFevers
Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the Gods of old. Here she learns that the God of Death himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts – and a violent destiny.

Lost Lake – Sarah Addison Allen
Suley, Georgia, is home to Lost Lake Cottages and not much else. Which is why it’s the perfect place for newly-widowed Kate and her eccentric eight-year-old daughter Devin to heal.
Sea of Shadows – Kelley Armstrong
In the forest of the Dead, where the empires worse criminals are exiled, twin sisters Moria and Ashyn are charged with a dangerous task. For they are the Keeper and the Seeker, and each year must quiet the enraged souls of the damned.

The Program – Suzanne Young
Sloane knows better than to cry infront of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in the program, the only proven course of treatment.
Scarlet – Marissa Meyer (The Lunar Chronicles #2)
Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison – even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealths most wanted fugitive. Halfway around the world, Scarlet Beniot’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother of the grave danger she has lived in her whole life.
Cress – Marissa Meyer (The Lunar Chronicles #3)
In the third book in the Lunar Chronicles, Cinder and Captain Throne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army. Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl imprisoned on a satellite since childhood who has only ever had her netscreens as company.

What Happened to Goodbye – Sarah Dessen
Since her parents’ bitter divorce, Mclean and her dad, a restaurant consultant, have been on the move – four towns in two years. Estranged from her mother and her mothers new family, Mclean has followed her dad in leaving the unhappy past behind. And each place gives her a chance to try out a new persona: from cheerleader to drama diva, but now for the first time, Mclean discovers the desire to stay in the same place and just be herself.

Book Review: Lock & Key

Lock & Key
Sarah Dessen
Young Adult Contemporary
5/5

 

                Ruby knows that the game is up. For the past few months, she’s been on her own in the yellow house, managing somehow, knowing that her mother will probably never return. That’s how she comes to live with Cora, the sister she hasn’t seen in ten years, and Cora’s husband Jamie, whose down-to-earth demeanor makes it hard for Ruby to believe he founded the most popular networking Web site around. A luxurious house, fancy private school, a new wardrobe, the promise of college and a future—it’s a dream come true. So why is Ruby such a reluctant Cinderella, wary and defensive? And why is Nate, the genial boy next door with some secrets of his own, unable to accept the help that Ruby is just learning to give?

 

                I really enjoyed this book a whole lot. The plot and the characters really came alive to me and spoke me to me in a way that young adult fiction hasn’t spoken in a while. It awakened a part of my soul, a part of my heart to my 15 year old self who would have enjoyed this book a lot more than I enjoyed it now in my early twenties.  I even stayed up super ridiculously late instead of sleeping to read and finish this book last night which meant for a groggy coffee filled Friday today, but I don’t regret it.
                I really liked Ruby’s character; I thought she was really well developed and believable. I have read in other reviews that they thought she was predictable but aren’t we all in away? It was like she was a friend and she was telling you her story or something. I thought all the characters were believable in their natures and personalities and their predictability. I don’t think there is anything such thing as not being predictable… the story line however was on the predictable side I will give them that much. However, I loved the story for what it was. Edgy, dark, and yet somehow light and fluffy showing you that life has so many different sides to it and that just because you think you know something about a situation or about someone you may be wrong and you probably are.
                I liked how the relationship developed between Cora and Ruby, it wasn’t too fast and it was very touching. Two people who seemed like they knew each other a life time ago came together and figured out how to put their shattered lives together and continue to heal and become better people. Also really loved Ruby and Nate, I was extremely thankful they didn’t happen all at once and that he wasn’t perfect himself. I loved that their romance was kind of natural and not in your face mushy. Not in your face mushy are these kinds of romances in books I enjoy.
                I basically liked all of the characters, all of their relationships, and how they interacted with each other. I liked Jamie’s big family and how completely and utterly sweet and loving he is towards Cora and how giving he is. I just really loved everyone… well except for Ruby’s mother but you couldn’t help but feel bad for her. She herself was the most tragic part of this and I hope that she eventually gets better and everyone in this book gets along and they all live happily ever after…then again life (Even in books) isn’t a fairy tale.
                I almost felt like this could be a ‘young adult’ version of White Oleander written by Janet Fitch just less dark…a lot less dark. Also, kind of in the mood to reread White Oleander now… Which I just may do because I enjoy that book so dang much!