Winger

Winger

By Andrew Smith

I decided to read this book after seeing so many posts on instagram about it. I wasn't disappointed. So many people had said it was fabulous or recommended it to be read so I went in with a hope that it would be just as good as they said. I had absolutely no idea what the book was about before I began to read it other than the amazing front and matching back cover.

Winger is about a young boy Ryan Dean West who is only 14, two years younger than any other student in his classes. His a starting player on the schools rugby team, the Winger, hence the nickname. Just before school started in his eleventh year Ryan Dean got into a bit of trouble meaning he got moved to Opportunity Hall, rooming with the very large and very scary teammate Chas. Winger's best friend Annie is 'smoking hot' as too is every girl Winger lays eyes on. Winger's besties JP and Seanie are on the rugby team as well. Unfortunately, Winger and JP have a falling out due to Annie being the rose in both their eyes. Winger makes an unusual friend in captain Joey who is also known as the out of the closet gay kid at Pine Mountain boarding school. Ryan begins the year as a scrawny no body who doesn't even know what a girl is to someone who has kissed multiple girls, cheated on his roomie, ruined a friendship, gained a new one and is known to have the biggest balls out of anyone in the school at the end of the year.

This book made me laugh uncontrollably all the way through, so much so my friends thought I was going crazy. The comics are hilarious as are the bar charts. They definitely provide for light reading that will make you feel happy no matter what is going on. The ending however! Wow! I did not see that coming. In fact it was so unbelievably depressing and mood deflating I don't know whether it was literary genius or destruction. The book almost ended on a sour note. My favourite character throughout the story had to be Joey (cry) and I did like the sexual tension and witty humour between Annie and Winger. From now on anyone who posts on instagram about Winger, well I will now be able to reply with comments because I too have read the book and know what you are talking about.

Loved it! Very funny! Great drawings! Horrible ending (horrible in a good way, maybe)! A recommended light read.

All Fall Down

All Fall Down

By Ally Carter

 

Image from my instagram account @onelittleopinion

I'm a huge fan of Ally Carter and the Gallagher Girls series so I went in to reading this book with high hopes. I was not let down.
All fall down is about a young girl named Grace who, after 3 years, is returning to her home in the US Embassy on Embassy Row. She hasn't been back since her mother's death, a death she believes is murder but no one will believe her. Unfortunately for her not much has changed since she left. Her grandfather is still a powerful ambassador, the Russian boy next door, Alexei, wont leave her alone due to a promise he made to her brother and her old friend Megan is still hanging around. Grace is forced to make new friends and new alliances in order to uncover the truth over her mother's death. What they discover is not what Grace hoped and could have devastation consequences.
I enjoyed this book due to the fact it's not something you see every day. Embassy Row was not something I had seen included in a story before and the inclusion of Grace being an 'unstable,' 'crazy,' 'army brat' was an intriguing design. I wish the story of Grace and Noah was developed more as well as Grace and Alexei. The book was simple in some areas, which I suppose is okay due to the target audience, however, I wish it has a little more sophistication. Saying that I loved reading it and will be one of the first to buy and read the next book in the series. If your an Ally Carter fan you'll love the book and if you want something unlike whats popular at the moment (vampires and werewolves) then I suggest this book.
All in all, a great book.

All I Need

All I Need

By Susane Colasanti

 

This book was one of the cheesy classic romance stories. It is about a girl called Skye and a boy called Seth. Skye is a hopeless romantic, wanting to meet the boy of her dreams. Seth is just getting over a messy break up but when the two meet their instant connection is uncanny. Both teens feel as though they've known each other their whole lives and spend a romantic couple of days together. Seth leaves for college unexpectedly and the two are unable to share contact details. The question is whether or not they'll see each other again, surprise surprise they do, and whether or not their long distance relationship will last.

Usually I'm a fan of Susane Colasanti and her easy light reads, however, All I Need has a little too much cheese even for me. The way the book is written is very in the now #yolo, but I feel as though that takes away from what would be a great storyline otherwise.

If you have time it's a nice light, easy breezy book to read but it was not one of my favourites. Something Like Fate was a much better novel by Susane Colasanti and if I were you I'd read it over All I Need.

Overall, a 2-3/5 - leaning more towards a 2.



The Rapunzel Dilemma

The Rapunzel Dilemma

By Jennifer Kloester

I read this book in the relaxing fresh air by the Murray River. The Rapunzel Dilemma is about a young girl, Lily, whose dream is to be an actor. In order to get there Lily's needs to attend the London Drama Academy. With hard work and help from her uber rich family Lily is accepted into the Academy but it doesn't come without costs. Lily's not used to a life where everything doesn't go her way, so when she starts to get bad critiques and students who do not like her she doesn't know how to handle it. Coupled with the fact Lily has to keep a huge secret from her best friend due to her dad's unreasonable needs, she slowly starts to lose her way. She finds an out of bounds tower where she hides away night after night - the connection to the title of the book. She can't stay locked in the tower, however, and when she meets a mysterious Ronan Carver Lily's not sure she wants to hide away alone forever.
I enjoyed this book due to the romance between Lily and Ronan. Even though their parents and family don't believe they belong together, they know their own hearts. Lily is a spoilt rich kid and Ronan's mysterious past make the novel that much more intriguing. From the beginning I had my suspicions about Lily's new bestie Max at the academy and some were right. I always thought he was the bad guy, however, there is a definite twist at the end that I did not see coming. And can I say, oh how I wish Charlotte's older brother was not gay. He is a total heart throb in my opinion <3
The book was amazing and I recommend it should be read. Love!

Trust Me, I'm Lying

Trust Me, I'm Lying

By Mary Elizabeth Summer

The title very much alludes to the theme of the book. The protagonist, Julep Dupree, is a grifter. "For the newbies out there, a grifter is a person who specializes in selling people something that doesn't exist" or in other words someone who fixes something. Julep uses her talents to fix her peers problems at school whilst making money in order to pay for her school fees. The business runs in the family. Julep comes home from school one day to find her apartment trashed, her dad missing, and suddenly the school hottie Tyler Richland, offering his help. Julep has to follow the clues her dad left behind through a maze of creepy stalkers, hit attempts and family secrets. Julep uses everything in her book of tricks, friends and favours in order to find her dad before his marks finds her. A job is never left unfinished because that would be criminal.
Trust Me, I'm Lying is not your usual romantic novel with happy endings. In fact the ending is so shocking and so unpredictable, yet so very predictable at the same time that you have to read as fast as you can just to see it. I read the book in a day because it was so exciting, full of twists and turns at every chapter. Following Julep's story, Julep not even being her own name, makes you want to become a grifter in your own life. Even the little act of never paying for a coffee, even though she drinks multiple per day, is so intriguing. Of course the predictable love triangle between best friend Sam and new and amazing senior Tyler occurs, however, the subtle changes Mary Elizabeth Summer makes adds to the unknown of the whole story. There was no tingly feelings or squeals of delight when reading the book but the mystery and sleuthing made up for that.
Loved the book and recommend if you have time do read it.

Four: A Divergent Collection

Four: A Divergent Collection

By Veronica Roth

Four is a spin off to the Divergent series by Veronica Roth. The book is written in the view of Four and half way through connects to the story that is Divergent. In Divergent we learn a little of Four's past and his life in Abnegation, however, in this novel we learn all the nitty gritty details. The book begins two years before Beatrice Prior transfers from Abnegation to Dauntless, the same choice that Four made 2 years before. Four must fight for his way into Dauntless, learning how to fight, make new friends, stand up for himself and overcome his fears. As Four learns more about Dauntless and the alliance they have with Erudite the less confident he is in his decision to become Dauntless in the first place. His decision to stand by and watch or whether to act will change the whole faction system. Two years later, Four has denied a leadership position and is training the new initiates when he meets the first Abnegation transfer since himself. The more he cares for her the more his world becomes turned upside down and once again he feels like he can become Tobias Eden, son of Abnegation leader Marcus Eden.
I did enjoy reading this book and learning the history of Tobias Eden, however, the Divergent series is a much more engaging read. The Divergent series is a must read, yet, Four is something you can probably survive without reading. Hard core Veronica Roth lovers will love the book though.
On a side note, I saw Insurgent last night at the movies, in Gold Class none the less, and can I say it was a-maz-ing!! I thought it was even better then the first movie, a hard thing to achieve. I'm not sure how closely they followed the novel though. At points I was confused if that happened in Insurgent or occurred in Allegiant. To be sure I'll have to re-read Insurgent, but either way the movie was fabulous. Recommend go see it, even if it's not in Gold Class.
Divergent series - Must read.
Four - Read at your choice
Divergent and Insurgent movies - Must see.

On the fence

On the Fence 

By Kasie West

 

Can I just say I am unbelievably obsessed with Kasie West at the moment. Those cheesy friends-becoming-lovers clique just sounds brand new in her words. In 'On the Fence' the main character Charlotte Reynolds, aka Charlie, is a modern day girl. She has 3 older brothers, 4 counting her hottie next door neighbour Braden who she's known for 12 years, and loves watching and playing all types of sports. She has no clue about clothes or makeup as she lost her mother at a young age and is clearly living in a male dominated house. As Charlie gets a new job at a chichi boutique she becomes thrown into a world of fashion, new friends of the female gender and boys. As an overwhelming sense of 'run' takes over her body, Charlie finds refuge in midnight talks with Braden over the fence separating their two worlds. One thing the talks cannot help is Charlie's growing love for Braden. The harder she falls the more complicated Charlie's world becomes.
Personally I thought the combination of protective brothers, crazed sporting superstars and the underlying love Charlie and Braden have for one another made a captivating read. I started the book at 9pm and read for 3 hours straight, finally succumbing to sleep. That of course didn't stop me from picking it up straight away in the morning and finishing the book in a record 5 hours. A sign of a good book is when the reader laughs out loud, is near tears and visibly cringes at the tension created. Tick, tick, tick. The awkward moment in the middle of the book where Charlie almost confesses her feelings for Braden was when I was truly at my peak, squealing with the awkwardness of the situation and momentarily unable to continue.
On the fence is a must read! Love, love, love!