Isla and the Happily Ever After

Isla and the Happily Ever After 
by Stephanie Perkins
Anna and the French Kiss, book three

Hopeless romantic Isla has had a crush on introspective cartoonist Josh since their first year at the School of America in Paris. And after a chance encounter in Manhattan over the summer, romance might be closer than Isla imagined. But as they begin their senior year back in France, Isla and Josh are forced to confront the challenges every young couple must face, including family drama, uncertainty about their college futures, and the very real possibility of being apart. (Description from Goodreads.com)

Though my favorite book in this trilogy is still Lola and the Boy Next Door (go Cricket!!), I sincerely recommend this series, any book in the series, ALL the books in the series, to anyone looking for a romantic and joyous read.  

Each book has it's very serious moments, because no real relationship is all sunshine and roses, but you can have confidence that things will work out beautifully in the end.  There's realism and the type of romance we all hope and dream of here. In fact, while  this book focuses primarily on Isla and Josh's romance, the cameos that Anna, Etienne, Lola, and Cricket make are fabulous...and the final reason for their trip to France will leave readers of the entire series beaming! I shed a few happy tears myself. 

What I love best about Perkins' books is that ability to give me as the reader both a light, yet serious read.  The knowledge that there will certainly be sigh-worthy moments, but also ones that will reflect my own life, my own journey to figuring out not only who I was/am as a person, but what I wanted in life.  The questions that I had to answer to find (and keep) the love of my life.  You can feel the full and complex nature of Perkins' characters, relate to them, and cheer them on as they make their major life choices.  

Wonderfully done.  I wish there were more coming, but I will definitely read whatever Stephanie Perkins does next. 

Full disclosure: Borrowed from my Library 

Fangirl

Fangirl
by Rainbow Rowell

Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan... But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere. Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind? (Description from Goodreads.com) 

As a fangirl, myself...though I don't write fanfiction...I really loved and connected to Cath.  Not only did I love her geeking out and feeling compelled to be an active part of the fandom, but I also really connected to her as I remembered what it was like to start college.  Thank goodness I met my friends, now my best friends, in the dorms in the first few months, and just like Raegan pulled Cath out of her room and made her interact, my friends encouraged me to do the same.  Without them, my college experience could have been totally different. Quiet, full of nothing but homework, boring... 

This is actually the first Rainbow Rowell book that I've read and I really enjoyed it.  It was sweet and well done in its own right and then had all these nods to fandoms that added an extra layer of fun.  My only complaints were that A - We don't actually get to read "Carry On, Simon" now and B - That even though the fictitious author makes a slight nod to Cath's fanfiction in basically refuting it, there wasn't a more direct sort of acknowledgment of all her hard work.  I know it's not realistic, but honestly I would have loved if Gemma had actually acknowledged Cath in some fashion... 

Now, I REALLY need to read Eleanor and Park, which I've heard is EVEN better! 

Full disclosure: Audio Book borrowed from my Library, eBook purchased for my Nook

Roomies

Roomies 
by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando

When Elizabeth receives her freshman-year roommate assignment at the beginning of summer, she shoots off an email to coordinate the basics: TV, microwave, mini-fridge. She can't wait to escape her New Jersey beach town, and her mom, and start life over in California.

The first note to Lauren in San Francisco comes as a surprise; she had requested a single. But if Lauren's learned anything from being the oldest of six, it's that you can't always get what you want, especially when what you want is privacy.

Soon the girls are emailing back and forth, sharing secrets even though they've never met. With family relationships and childhood friendships strained by change, it suddenly seems that the only people Elizabeth and Lauren can rely on are the complicated new boys in their lives...and each other. (description from Amazon.com) 

I LOVE the concept for this book. It's a great and interesting way to look at that time period when so many teens' lives go through a really significant change. Leaving high school and starting college is terrifying in some ways and having to try and adjust and make new friends can be totally intimidating.  Add into all of that, some personal drama and you've got a great storyline for a book.  

The best part of this book, though, is really the format.  The alternating chapters reveal what's happening in each girl's life as the summer progresses and through their emails to one another, they filter their stories into the versions they want to tell each other. I love that the book ends right as they actually meet in person at school for the first time!

So many topics get covered in this book. Family, friendships, romance, pressure to have sex, homosexuality, truth/lies, and pressures about where life is going... This book touches on all these topics in a lighthearted and yet very authentic feeling way. I would recommend this book to just about anyone. 

Full disclosure: eARC received from Netgalley

What's On My Hold List?

Picture from YaBookNerd's blog,
because, though, I started this meme
she created a much cuter pic for it!

Welcome to the January 2014 edition

of

"What's on My Hold List?"

One of the most beautiful things about working in a Library is that I have the ability to put lots of things on hold and read them *before* I buy!! These are some of the books that I'm currently waiting for, though I may buy one or two of them after reading, as well.

So, here's what I'm waiting for right now:

Frozen 
by Melissa De La Cruz
and Michael Johnston
Heart of Dread, book one

The Offering 
by Kimberly Derting
The Pledge, book three

P.K. Pinkerton and the Petrified Man
by Caroline Lawrence
Western Mysteries, book two

Roomies
by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando

Unleashing Mr. Darcy
by Teri Wilson

You can click on each title to go to their Amazon page for a description...

So, these are the books I'm waiting anxiously to get my hands on...what are you waiting for??

Blog Tour - One and Only with Giveaways!!

Today, I'm SUPER excited to be part of Viv Daniels' blog tour for her debut book, ONE AND ONLY. It's the first book in the new Canton series; great NA contemporary romances set at the fictional Canton College.

One night they can't forget...

Tess McMann lives her life according to the secrets she's sworn to keep: the father who won't acknowledge her, the sister who doesn't know she exists, and the mother who's content playing mistress to a prominent
businessman. When she meets the distractingly cute Dylan Kingsley at a prestigious summer program and falls in love, Tess allows herself to imagine a life beyond these secrets. But when summer ends, so does their relationship -- Dylan heads off to Canton College while Tess enrolls at the state university.

One love they can't ignore...

Two years later, a scholarship brings Tess to Canton and back into Dylan's life. Their attraction is as strong as ever, but Dylan has a girlfriend…who also happens to be Tess's legitimate half-sister. Tess refuses to follow in her mother's footsteps, which leaves her only one choice: break the rules she’s always followed, or allow Dylan to slip away for a second time.

...And only one chance to get things right

Now, if that doesn't already sound enticing enough for you, Viv was sweet enough to give me a little teaser for you to read...

...hot, right? I would melt if someone said that to me!

Which sets the tone perfectly for my review.  As soon as I finished ONE AND ONLY, I tweeted to Viv (@vivdaniels) asking when the second book might be coming out (the answer's in the spring, BTW). This book was the most perfect kind of romance. 

Perfect for me in the fact that it both was and wasn't perfect. Tess' life is messed up. She's got some serious bone-deep trust issues and with her family situation, you can't really blame her.  Then she meets a guy. A cute, smart, self-assured, yet not cocky...pretty much perfect guy.  Dylan is amazing and she can't handle the prospect of trying to add a relationship into her life. 

When she leaves Dylan, she believes that she's leaving that chance for happiness behind forever. Two years later when she has the chance to reconnect, the worst possible thing happens. He's dating her sister. The perfect, rich blonde sister who doesn't even know she exists. 

What follows is a delicate dance of two people trying to come together in the worst possible circumstances.  This is where the book really flew above a lot of its peers for me. Daniels was unafraid to have both of her main characters be strong, moral, SMART characters that loved and admired those very qualities in each other.  Yes, they absolutely had a sweet, hot romance that left me smiling and just on the verge of blushing in a few scenes, but they also dealt with each other like real adults.  

While both Tess and Dylan desperately wanted to be together, they each respected each other. When Tess refused to be the "other woman," not only did she stand her ground throughout, but Dylan also took her at her word.  Yes, the tension got hot and heavy, Dylan let her know that they were meant to be together, but if Tess said, "No," Dylan said, "Okay."  That is a REAL man.  A most swoon-worthy love interest.  

Each of the characters in the book, in fact, were multi-faceted adults who showed range of emotion, grew through their interactions with each other, and dealt with their true, not necessarily "happy" endings.  In fact, the next book in the series, SWEET AND WILD (2014) follows Tess' sister, Hannah...a book I cannot wait to get in my hot little hands!

So, now that you know that I absolutely loved this book...I know you'll want to read it! Not only is Viv giving away copies of the book itself, but I also have a great swag pack to giveaway to one of you! Here's the rafflecopters so you can enter both giveaways:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Good Luck!!  

Want to learn more about Viv Daniels and ONE AND ONLY?

You can visit the following places:

Viv Daniels' Website
Viv Daniels' Facebook
Viv Daniels' Twitter
ONE AND ONLY on Goodreads

Don't forget you can also purchase ONE AND ONLY at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, or Smashwords!

Full disclosure: Review copy received from author for blog tour

Blog Tour - Little Fish

I am excited to be part of the LITTLE FISH blog tour today!  As some of you know, I've been trying to foray more into the world of graphic novels and this one sounded like one that I could get behind.  AND I WAS RIGHT! 

Ramsey Beyer was a teenager from a small town in Michigan, looking forward to her first year living in a city far away from home. She chronicled that year in a seres of zines featuring personalized lists (such as "things I can't wait for" and "top 10 worst sounds") alongside comic illustrations. Through her blog, Ramsey also reflected on her struggles with loneliness, friendship and potential romance. Her new book, Little Fish: A Memoir from A Different Kind of Year, weaves all of these materials into a poignant, beautifully illustrated, and deeply reflective graphic memory detailing her transformation to an eighteen-year-old city dwelling art student. Little Fish perfectly captures that time in a young person's life when the past feels abandoned, the future seems totally open, and every day is a revelation.

This book is perfect for whomever you may have in your life that is entering college for the first time or even just a going through a totally new phase in their life. It's easy to read, easy to relate to, and made me laugh out loud in spots.  Ramsey chronicles her first year in college through lists, journal entries, and zine articles.  Each page felt as new and different and exciting as Ramsey's foray into Baltimore...her very first city experience.  

As some one who occasionally has trouble following comics or graphic novels, I'm very pleased to report I had no trouble at all with this one.  Each character is distinguishable from the others and are introduced in ways that make them pretty easy to remember.  It's just like making new friends in real life. In fact, I found myself heartbroken to leave them all behind at the end of the year...and I'd actually love to read about Ramsey's sophomore year to catch up with them again!! 

As a book set in college, this is not a book for younger readers (there is some foul language and discussion about sexual activity) but I think that older high school readers, those already in college, and even full-blown adults will relate to and thoroughly enjoy this one! 

photo credit: Michael Cantor

Want to learn more about Ramsey Beyer and LITTLE FISH?

You can visit the following places:

Little Fish on Goodreads
Ramsey Beyer's blog: http://news.everydaypants.com
Ramsey Beyer's photoblog: http://www.everydaypants.com/photoblog/
Ramsey Beyer on Tumblr: http://everydaypants.tumblr.com/
Ramsey Beyer on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ramsey.beyer
Ramsey Beyer on Twitter: https://twitter.com/everydaypants
Zest Books website or facebook page

Lastly, don't forget to check out all the other stops on the LITTLE FISH blog tour and if you think you might be interested in purchasing LITTLE FISH you can get it from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Despository or IndieBound. 

Full disclosure: Book received from publisher for blog tour

The Dark Between

The Dark Between
by Sonia Gensler

Publication Date: August 27, 2013.

At the turn of the twentieth century, Spiritualism and séances are all the rage—even in the scholarly town of Cambridge, England. While mediums dupe the grief-stricken, a group of local fringe scientists seeks to bridge the gap to the spirit world by investigating the dark corners of the human mind.

Each running from a shadowed past, Kate, Asher, and Elsie take refuge within the walls of Summerfield College. But their peace is soon shattered by the discovery of a dead body nearby. Is this the work of a flesh-and-blood villain, or is something otherworldly at play? This unlikely trio must illuminate what the scientists have not, and open a window to secrets taken to the grave—or risk joining the spirit world themselves. (Description from Amazon.com)

I loved the atmosphere of this book. Set in the early 1900's in England, spiritualism is all the rage.  Combined with the development of early sciences, the three teens find themselves caught in a mystery that finds at its heart the question...are there really ghosts or is everything just an illusion of the otherworld?  The pseudo-sciences explored were fascinating and the way that Gensler ties everything together totally sucked me in to the story.  

While I had my suspicions about who was really involved with what and why, I found myself absolutely captivated watching the characters figure it all out.  A great supernatural mystery for historical fans. 

Full disclosure: Review copy received from SLJ

Monday's Movie and TV Talk! (6)

 

Welcome to Monday's Movie and TV Talk! I don't know if I'll do this every Monday, or just sporadically on Mondays, but I LOVE TV and movies, so I figured why not add some of that to the blog for fun?? It'll be especially awesome when I can tie things into the YA book world...

Okay, so I don't know where you all live...but I'm in Connecticut and this past weekend we were hit with a super-fun blizzard. It also happened that my brother-in-law was here from Arizona, so on a weekend when I could have been snuggled up and reading, instead I spent a TON of time cooking, cleaning, entertaining, and yup...shoveling. 

 

Anyway, you'd think I might have watched some TV or movies in there, but not really... I did see the newest Ice Age movie finally, but today, I'm actually going to talk about the two movies I watched the week before because I think they go together really well for a post. 

 

So, first, I watched PITCH PERFECT, which I LOVED!!

 

First off, as a Gleek, I had to love that this movie covered the same sort-of random bursting into song moments that Glee does.  This was the slightly raunchier (at times) college version, which I loved, as well.  Even with the naughty bits, this movie still had not only great girl-power type friendships, but also a sweet romance. *sigh*

 

I ended up watching this movie twice before bringing it back to the library, which is something I almost never do...and a great indicator that I eventually need to own this one. :)

 

Then, I watched the newest dance movie in the Step Up series, STEP UP REVOLUTION.

Man, do these movies make me want to take dance classes!  This one was set in Miami, which I desperately want to visit, and actually featured a pretty cool (though mostly unrealistic) plotline.  Boy heads up flash mob dance group...meets hot dancer girl...discovers her father is head of the hotel chain that wants to destroy his neighborhood...they band together to set up "protest" dance mobs to get hotel plan nixed.  As I said, not really realistic, but super fun to watch and root for!!

 

I loved the flash mob aspect of this movie and thought they got to exhibit a lot of really cool types of dances based on the locations where they appeared.  I liked the sense of neighborhood loyalty and being true to yourself that were big themes in this movie. 

 

I also LOVED that this DVD version let you just watch the dance sequences again in the special features, too!!

 

All in all, it was a musical, upbeat sort of week.  The kind that leaves me smiling and dancing my way through doing the dishes or folding laundry...

 

Any thoughts on either movie?

Struck by Lightning: The Carson Phillips Journal

Struck by Lightning: The Carson Phillips Journal

by Chris Colfer

 

Publication date: November 20, 2012

 

Struck By Lightning: The Carson Phillips Journal follows the story of outcast high school senior Carson Phillips who blackmails the most popular students in his school into contributing to his literary journal to bolster his college application; his goal in life is to get into Northwestern and eventually become the editor of The New Yorker.

At once laugh-out-loud funny, deliciously dark, and remarkably smart, Struck By Lightning unearths the dirt that lies just below the surface of high school. (description from Amazon.com)

Funny. Snarky. Oh, and did I mention that if you get the audio book version Chris Colfer narrates? Yes! You heard me right...four hours of Chris reading a hilarious book to YOU. *sigh* It was great.  I loved this book. It felt very authentic, even in its over-the-top moments.   Even as I was snarfing and trying not to laugh out loud, you had to acknowledge the dark moments...

I would definitely recommend this book for high school students and adults just because of the language, but oh, who are we kidding?  With Chris Colfer's name on it and the movie version coming out in regular theaters in January, soon even middle schoolers will be asking for it, LOL. 

A little gem of a book. :)

Oh, and for fun...here's the movie trailer!

 

Full disclosure: Audio book received to review for AudioFile Magazine

Mindblind

Mindblind
by Jennifer Roy

Fourteen-year-old Nathaniel Clark lives in two worlds—the outside world of his family and friends and his own, special, inside Aspie world, where he’s not forced to interact with people or worry about wearing his clothes right-side out. The world where he can solve mathematical problems that elude even the brightest graduate students. The world where he feels he can find his own inner truth. People say he’s a genius, but Nathaniel thinks differently. According to a book he once read, a true genius uses his talent to make a contribution to the world. Nathaniel takes the definition literally, and begins his quest for genius status. (description from Amazon.com)

I really enjoyed this book.  I thought that it was a really accessible glimpse into the mind of someone with Asperger's Syndrome. Nathaniel's mind worked very differently from say, mine, but the author took pains to write so that it was not so foreign that it would be off-putting as a reader to try to understand.

Nathaniel was interesting and driven. I love that he truly strived to become a positive addition to society.  He longed for nothing more than to become the true definition of a "genius" - someone who produced something incredible. *Spoiler* I love that his passion drives him not only to become enrolled at MIT, but also to balance that with a "fun" part-time job at a grocery store. 

I loved that Nathaniel also had "normal" friends and that he was so high functioning.  Being in a band and going bowling or playing video games with friends seem to be things that a lot of autistic/Aspie kids can't do and it was heartwarming to see a character that was inspired to participate so much by his family.  I loved the relationship he and his mother had...and while I didn't like his relationship with his father, I understood how it could have developed and thought it was very realistic.  It was nice to see his loving stepmother, too. 

All in all, I thought this book was very well done and I recommend it anytime you are looking for something a little bit different!

If I Stay

If I Stay
by Gayle Forman

In the blink of an eye everything changes. Seventeen ­year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall what happened afterwards, watching her own damaged body being taken from the wreck. Little by little she struggles to put together the pieces- to figure out what she has lost, what she has left, and the very difficult choice she must make. (description from Amazon.com)

Oh! This is one of those books that I'm really kicking myself for not having read *ages* ago!! Not only was every review I ever read positive, but I got several personal recommendations (shout out to, hmmm...let's see, Danielle, Kim, the Roecker sisters, and Melanie!!) that couldn't stop crowing about how good it was...

I really need to start trusting my friends more.
Well, that and I really need to get over my *thing* about sad, contemporary fiction. 

It's true. I tend to knowingly stay away from really great books like If I Stay or Before I Die because I can't stand the idea of choosing to read something so realistic and heartbreaking.  And, yet, every time I do, they turn out to be fantastic reads!

Well...enough of that. On to this specific book... what can I say? I loved it.  It was sad. Heartwrenchingly sad.  I listened to the audio version of this and basically cried my way to and from work for three days.  Sucky on the makeup, but totally worth it!

I hadn't realized that this book takes place so much from Mia's point of view as she's in a coma.  It reminded me of The Lovely Bones, another *great* book.  I love getting to experience that kind of outsider perspective, but with tons of insider insight. It's a really neat device in stories.

Plot-wise, obviously this book is terribly gutwrenching.  I think that Forman managed to make the whole scenario even more devestating after she solidly introduces Mia's fantastic family.  They truly are one of the coolest families I've read about in YA in quite a while.  It was so sad to think of the tragedy that befell them. 

My one and only complaint about this book was how abruptly it ended.  Now, don't get me wrong. It was beautiful. It was right. *BUT* I immediately wanted more!! Thank goodness, not only do I know there's a sequel, but it's already out so I can read it ASAP!!

If You Like:Stories about Roommates

If You Like… is a feature highlighting blogger recommendations for books, authors, TV shows, movies, and music based on the things you already know and love. This week’s post includes recommendations for stories about roommates.

I got to recommend some of my favorite book and TV series this week! Go check it out. :)

If You Like: Stories About New Adulthood

"If You Like…” is a feature highlighting blogger recommendations for books, authors, TV shows, movies, and music based on the things you already know and love.

This week's recommendations are all books, movies, TV shows, and music that feature "New Adulthood," the twenty-something years...the transition to college...becoming a real adult. A seriously underrepresented section in YA Literature! For our recommendations, check here!

Love Story

Love Story
by Jennifer Echols

SHE’S WRITING ABOUT HIM. HE’S WRITING ABOUT HER. AND EVERYBODY IS READING BETWEEN THE LINES.

For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions—it’s her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family’s racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin’s college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a local coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter . . . so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?

Then, on the day she’s sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He’s joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin’s heart with longing. Now she’s not just imagining what might have been. She’s writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter . . . except this story could come true. (description from Amazon.com)

Okay, I am officially a Jennifer Echols fan!

Her books are sexy. Not dirty, not gratuitous, but passionate and well, sexy. You can't help but root for the characters to just get together and admit their feelings go beyond the lust already!

There are also great, interesting storylines. I loved this concept of the writing within the book. Each story reflected what the character felt and wanted to say, but felt unable to say, so perfectly. The characters taunted each other, begged for forgiveness and asked each other for understanding.

These books may be short. They may look like they could be "fluff," but they are the furthest from... These are passionate stories with complex characters that are, well, just fun to read. I know when I open one of Jennifer Echols' books I better plan to not put it down again until the last page!

Full disclosure: Won from giveaway on Chick Lit Teens

The Alpha Bet

The Alpha Bet
by Stephanie Hale

Some teenagers use drugs or sex to escape overbearing parents. I used books.

All my life my mother has been hovering over me, afraid to let me experience ANYTHING. So I got really good grades, graduated from high school when I was sixteen, and escaped to a new life—my own life—at college.

To jump-start my social life, I decided to rush the Alphas, the most exclusive sorority on campus. Things started to get complicated when I told one little white lie. (Okay, maybe not so little.) Then one of the sisters invoked the Alpha Bet, a super-secret set of alphabetical tasks we pledges have to complete to prove our loyalty. Now, the Alpha Bet has taken over my life.

Can you spell B-E-T-R-A-Y-A-L? (description taken from Amazon.com)

This is an adorable new favorite! This is exactly the type of realistic fiction that I hope for everytime!! Grace Kelly is a WONDERFUL character. Not only is she cute, lovable, and ultimately relatable...really, who doesn't have that feeling of wanting to get away from their parents when they go to college and then panicking when you realize that you really miss them...but she is also one smart cookie!! As the girl previously known as a dork in a former life, (oh who am I kidding, I'm still a dork, but now I embrace it!!) I loved that not one person gave GK a hard time about being smart and that in fact, she attracts her boyfriend partially by being a science geek! AWESOME.

This book is also full of great secondary characters. An awesome new best friend, a warm and loving set of parents, a fun, respectful boyfriend, and great new "sisters." Hale knows how to write a whole, sweet, lovable package! Defintely a fun read for when you need a little pick-me-up!

Sophomore Switch

Sophomore Switch

by Abby McDonald

Take an administrative snafu, a bad breakup, and "The Hot-Tub Incident" and you've got two thoroughly unprepared sophomores on a semester abroad. For American party girl Tasha, an escape to Oxford may be a chance to ditch her fame as a tabloid temptress, but wading Uggs-deep in feminist theory is not her idea of a break. Meanwhile, the British half of the exchange, studious Emily, nurses an aching heart amid the bikinis and beer pong of U.C. Santa Barbara.

This was a great book! I really love stories where someone is thrust into a new bewildering situation and must basically adapt or perish! Now, this is obviously not life or death...more Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde, but it is both hilarious and touching.

I loved that both girls grow. They explore new facets of their personalities, turn to each other for social survival skills, and eventually learn to be true to themselves. Not to completely ditch the personalities that got them into trouble originally, not to just become the complete opposite, but to take all the different versions of themselves and incorporate them into a new, true self.

I laughed, I cried, and I wanted to read more.