The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

I've been eying this book up for ages and finally caved and bought it and I only regret not getting it sooner. I've heard many mixed reviews for this book so was on the fence for a quite a while, and I can see where both sides are coming from. This novel offers very generic usual teen fluff but has surprising twists and turns that make them entirely acceptable (in my humble opinion). From the start I wasn't much of a fun of Mara, she gets relatively annoying an extremely predictable at parts along with her love interest Noah, he's your usual bad boy with a broken past but that sucks everyone in and if you disagree, you're lying. Six feet tall with an English accent, he is the boy you wished had been in your high school but only existed in books, with his beautiful eyes and mercurial attitude. All that aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am itching for book two.

Mara Dyer has awoken in a hospital bed with no memory of the events that led up to it, but finds she has survived a horrible accident and that her friends weren't quite as lucky. Her loving parents, to help cope with her stress, move the entire family a few states away from Rhode Island to Miami. Mara finds out that no matter how far you run, you can escape the past. Materializing in way of nightmares and daily hallucinations Mara thinks she's going insane from PTSD. At her new school she meets local heart breaking legend Noah Shaw who can't seem to stay away from her, seemingly equally lost and broken the two find themselves inseparable almost immediately. As their relationship progresses they start to learn more and more about each other while a multitude of accidents begin to occur around them. They begin to dig deeper and see what it is that has drawn them so closely together, something much bigger than either could have ever imagined.

As you can see by my above synopsis, predictable, average teen novel that pulls you in and throws you curve ball after curve ball. Just when you think you've got the story down pat Hodkin gets you with a zinger. I avoided the series for a while due to similar information being given to me before, but I wholeheartedly can say to put that aside and read this novel because it truly delivers. I really considered for about 5 minutes throwing on my coat and shoes and flying up to my job to pick up book two, that's how much of a need I have to continue the story. I am very excited to see how this can carry forward with another two books and don't expect to be disappointed. With real life properties, fantasy and romance all mingling together in this book, it has something to offer even the pickiest YA reader.

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All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

If you enjoy teen books with real depth, emotion and pain, you need to purchase this book with the utmost of haste. When I started this book, my heart broke for Violet and Finch, your high school student main characters, their pain and sorrow make its way into your own bones and force you to feel it. If you have ever struggled with loss, darkness, fear, these two will be kindred spirits and if you have been lucky enough to avoid such tragedy, they will open your eyes to the battle others go through. I am a big encourager of teens reading books that not only make them feel and think, but also open them up to consequences. Every single day so many people throw out cruel words at another human and laugh, whether alone or with a group, we are each and every one guilty. So many people though, forget that what they do and say affect others outside themselves. This is without a doubt, going to be the book (and then film!) of the year.

First is Finch, chaotic, uncontrollable, volatile, Finch. Awake, as he calls it, for the first time in weeks we meet him up on the bell tower of his school. As he stands upon the edge, contemplating life, looking at the people milling about below, he turns and sees Violet. Violet's story is less of a mystery, a few months ago she was in a car crash that caused the death of her sister and left her lingering with a heavy dose of survival guilt. Finch climbs over and coaxes her down from the ledge, but Violet his too popular for that kind of stigma so Finch protects her by allowing everyone to believe she went up and saved him, Crazy Finch. In their shared class of US Geography, Finch makes Violet be his partner for a project of visiting and documenting the beautiful sights of Indiana. In no time at all, Finch is in love (normally in a teen book this is where I'd groan and yell ALREADY?! but from what we've seen of erratic Theodore Finch, it is the exactly correct time frame for him to fall for someone) and carting Violet all over Indiana, compelling her to get back into living her life, instead of wasting away in her room fading away. As the book goes on and fills you with bubbly happiness and joy for these love struck teens, you start to notice a shift in Finch. Small things you pass over start to sit in the back of your brain and remind you what Finch fights each day. Finch begins to live solely out of his bedroom closet and that is when you start to accept, these are not quirks but a deep issue plaguing a brilliant boy. Violet finally begins to see the red flags and begs him to seek help and tries sending help to him when he refuses. Then, just like that, Finch is gone. Violet is receiving strange text messages and finds their project isn't as complete as she thought.

Painfully beautiful this book really opens your eyes and your heart. I have bawled and screamed and begged and pleaded with this book, praying the words would change but knowing this could not have been more perfectly written. If you were a fan of The Fault in Our Stars, you will be blown away by All the Bright Places. So many people, especially teens, hide away in shame if they know they are different. People that struggle with depression, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, even OCD, hang their heads in shame because in our society if it can't show up with a thermometer, it isn't real. All the Bright Places will help people to make changes, don't call someone fat, freak, stupid, weird, see how much brighter each day is. I will be showing this book to everyone the moment it shows up at my job and I can not wait for the film adaptation so those who don't want to read 400 pages can still get the beautiful message from this masterpiece.

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Meow if it's Murder by T.C. LoTempio

For the two years I have worked as a bookseller, I have avoided the mystery section of my store like the plague. I have never had a tolerance for novels following the brooding, damaged detective main character as they solve crimes and have a drinking problem. I have a lot of old ladies tendencies, but I swore reading cozies would never be one of them. Well, clearly I lied to myself because the moment I saw the cover and description, I knew I had to own this book. Filled with wit, humor, a handsome cat and constant plot twists (plus a steamy little romance) this book had my full attention from the moment I picked it up.

Our main character Nora Charles has just returned to he hometown of Cruz, California from Chicago to take over her mother's sandwich shop, since she'd just passed away. Having been a crime reporter, specializing in mob stories, Nora's new quiet life lasts a whopping 15 minutes before she's diving head first in a cold case involving her late mother's good friend. As the questions begin piling up with little end in sight, Nora is surprised by a chubby tuxedo cat showing up at her shop. Welcoming himself into her life (as most cats do) Nora finds herself a very reluctant cat owner, until she discovers he once belonged to a PI and may have some detective skills up his sleeve. With a shocking ability of communication, Nick literally spells out clues for Nora using scrabble tiles when she just needs a little extra nudge. Right when it seems like Nora will never be able to figure out just who dun' it, everything wraps up and ties together with a neat little bow.

For my first cozy, I have to say it was amazing. Being anti-mystery genre, I was shocked to find myself entirely submerged and loving this novel. I've got so many questions left about our little sleuth kitty Nick and am already dying for the next installment. The author is coming to my store on Tuesday, December 2nd and I've gotta remember to ask her how I can teach my cat to play scrabble too. Hilarious, witty, intriguing and exciting this beguiling read will definitely entertain a variety of readers, even those that aren't big cat fans. This is bar none my recommendation for anyone looking for a neat mystery not focused entirely on a police force or detective.

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Conversion by Katherine Howe

The first book I read by Katherine Howe was The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, I had been floored by this novel as I am a massive fan of Salem witches and well written fiction. When I saw that she was coming out with a teen book I knew I'd be all over it. Distractions mounted and I only just got around to reading this gem and am slightly mad at myself for taking so long. Ripped into the two worlds you go between through chapters, I found myself unable to walk away, constantly looking at my bookmark, itching to pick it back up. Based on true events, Arthur Miller's Crucible, and realistic day to day teen girl struggles Conversion is sure to please just about any reader.

Colleen Rowley is your main character in 2012, an attendee of St. Joans elite private girls high school, she is in a battle for valedictorian when things around her start to crumble. Girls are falling ill in class, seizure like spasms, hair falling out, coughing up pins, inexplicable tragedies befalling everyone Colleen knows. Jump to 1706 and follow around Ann Putnam, the character omitted from Arthur Miller's crucible, but the young woman to finger 40 witches in the sleepy town of Salem Village. Colleen's home town of Danvers turns out to be originally know as Salem Village where so many women were hanged hundreds of years before, could the town be cursed? Perhaps the strange ailments that bewitched a group of young women in the 1700's is back and grabbing a new batch of girls? Maybe it's just a group of stressed out, over worked young girls reaching out for attention, filled with so many twists and turns Conversion will keeping you second guessing what you think is right the entire way.

Weaving together two equally captivating stories Conversion is an intense book you won't be able to walk away from. With deeply developed characters, emotional plot twists and mind boggling discoveries this is definitely a great novel to pick up for any YA fan. I really think this would make an awesome holiday gift for the avid reader, it'll occupy a decent amount of time and leave the reader feeling very relieved at the end and a little bit questioning. As I said before, I definitely regret taking so long to finally pick this book up, but I am thrilled to have finally read such a great book by a renowned author with such clear skill and passion for her trade.

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The Thickety by J.A. White

I was introduced to The Thickety by pure chance at work when a really neat looking envelope arrived in the mail. I found myself constantly looking at the artwork and took it home at the end of my shift, fast forward a few hours later and I'd completed the book and sent a fan-girling email to the author. The moment I started the book I knew how phenomenal it was going to be, filled with vivid imagery and skill boosting vocabulary, this book is awesome for the intended age range of 8-12 and even better for all humans that like to read at all. In the time this book has been released I have sold just about 60 copies to readers ranging from 8-53 years old. Filled with beautiful scenery, terrifying beasts, laughter and heart ache The Thickety is a captivating read for any fan of the Harry Potter series.

When Kara Westfall was five years old, her mother was convicted of the worst of all crimes: witchcraft. Years later, Kara and her little brother, Taff, are still shunned by the people of their village, who believe that nothing is more evil than magic. Especially the dark that emanates from a lush forest advancing on the village, known by many names, Sorydyr's Realm, The Dark Wood, but mostly the Thickety. Lured into it's shadows by a strange bird and promises of secrets revealed, young Kara stumbles upon the answers she has always sought, but uncovers even more than she bargained for. Finding a powerful book, that may have belonged to her mother, Kara is overwhelmed by the power to right the wrongs done unto her and her family. Kara's adventure leads her on a roller coaster of trials and tribulations teaching her life lessons she never thought she'd need to learn.

Fast paced and exciting from beginning to end The Thickety is a four book series that you can not miss. The characters will make you love them and as you make your way through the strange forest of Sordyr you find not everything is always as it may seem. Watch the shadows and listen carefully, there are many hidden truths to be found all around you. Easily my most recommended read at all times, I can not stress how well I believe this series has the power to do.

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The Cellar by Natasha Preston

I like to believe I am at least 90% dead inside, but while reading The Cellar the amount of times I cried confirmed, I am not. Filled with heart stopping suspense and soul gripping sadness this novel had a depth I was not expecting from a YA title. What I thought would be a creepy story about a stolen girl turned into a heart wrenching tale of Stockholm syndrome and a mother's worst fear.

A regular night out with friends turns into a garish nightmare for 16 year old Summer when she's kidnapped just blocks from her home. Taken by a man demanding to be called Clover, she is thrust into a cellar made up into a full on apartment with three other girls. Her named is immediately changed to Lily and we learn all the girls have been renamed to mimic beautiful flora, Rose, Poppy and Violet. Clover has collected his perfect family that he will gladly kill to protect, even if that means destroying a flower and replacing her with a new one. Under the guise that he is cleansing the world of filth, we learn that Clover is a deranged man that was broken by his mother at a young age and spent his life trying to make her proud by killing "whores" who ruin perfectly good families. As Summer slowly begins to fade into Lily over a course of time, begrudgingly sliding into her role to accept the horrors she must face on a daily basis. With one girl hopelessly in love with her capture, another praying for escape but too fearful to try and the last so desperately reckless, Lily begins to lose hope. As the chapters jump between Clover, Summer and her beloved boyfriend Lewis, we learn no one on the outside has given up a single shred of hope. Day in and day out Lewis and her family tirelessly hunt for her, tracking any clue no matter how futile. Until a gut decision turns Lewis in the right direction, you are kept on the edge of your seat fearing Clover is too clever to be figured out.

A truly terrifying tale for any young girl, parent, lover or sibling The Cellar opens our eyes to the madness that could be behind any corner. Though I would've loved even more insight to Clover's life with his Mommie Dearest, his villainous character had so many well developed sides and emotions, he was able to strike fear with any mercurial stare. You will grow to love the lowers you watch wither in their tomb and pray for their safety and happy ending. Any heavy suspense or thriller fan will definitely love his novel as much as I did.

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The Beast Within by Serena Valentino

I picked up The Beast Within the moment it arrived in the bookstore I work at and it has sat atop my ever growing pile waiting for the perfect moment to be read. That moment finally arrived on a Monday night and nothing was able to force me to put this book down. Upon completion of this novel I found myself even more viciously in love with Beast than I have been my entire life.  If you loved Beauty and The Beast and have always felt a longing for more about the beautiful, broken boy this is the book you need to pick up immediately.

The book starts with a slight difference to the Prince's downfall into the Beast visage he later dons by having it be the work of a family of witches that curse him fr breaking the heart of their gorgeous, beloved youngest sister. The Prince scoffs at their threats as idle words of worry and continues on in his search for a bride beautiful enough to be at his arm. When he finds a girl he deems worthy of his presence, he begins drifting into madness - noticing slight changes in his perfect appearance, a more haggard and drawn face, a clear cruelty and violence about his eyes his mean demeanor become more and more prominent. At last he recalls the words of the witched, true love's kiss having the ability to break this vile curse. So he treats his new lady with the utmost kindness and care until the perfect moment he may finally kiss her, only the curse speeds up so he lashes out, banishing the girl from his kingdom and driving her to extremes and destroying her family. Irate, he locks down the castle, refusing guests and keeping to his room until he becomes the Beast we all know so well. Enters Belle to take her father's place as his captive, and more of the story we have all grown to love, but this time with more insight to Beast's feelings and inner thoughts shining a light on the sweet scared boy he is. Ending of course with our fairytale kiss you ride a roller coaster of emotions leading up to that point with more story than one could have ever hoped for.

Putting my extreme adoration for this tale (as old as time HA) aside, it is a beautifully haunting novel delving farther into the psyche of this man than ever before. Even if you weren't previously a large fan of Beauty and The Beast this book weaves a story of romance that will melt any frozen heart and quell any skeptic beast. A quick read that is sure to take even the slowest reader just a short stint of time, it's a light novel that will uplift you and let you walk away feeling even better than before.

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