Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson Review

From Goodreads: Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew--just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn't seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she's coming to terms with her father's death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road--diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards--this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself.

Rating: 5/5

Plot: 5/5

Characters: 5/5

Ending: 5/5

Favorite line: Too many great pages to choose from!

This is one of new favorite books! And one of my favorite contemporary novels. I loved the idea of a road trip, even though it seems cliche, the whole story line made it unlike any other road trip. Amy has lost her father and can't/won't open up to her family or friends. Roger is just a normal, college guy who's recently had his heart broken. This was not exactly a coming-of-age story, but I did feel like both Amy and Roger grew. Their romance was sweet but not overwhelming. I'm glad, like some books I've read, Amy's problems didn't go away or become suddenly solved just because she falls for a guy.

Another great thing about this book was the traveling. I loved the descriptions of the diners, the people, and all the places they went to. I felt like I was actually with them on their trip. At the end of the book, I felt like it was days after I started reading! Actually, the day after I read the book, I started thinking about this one scene from the book. But I didn't realize it was from this book, I thought it was a whole other book! That's how story-filled it is.

I love that Matson wrote a contemporary YA novel that wasn't shallow. As soon as I opened up the book I knew it was going to be good. How you ask?? By the font. I know, weird. But the font was small and that meant a lot of writing. Good writing considering the reaction I've heard around the blogosphere before I read it.

Tweet Heart by Elizabeth Rudnick Review

From Goodreads: Claire is a #hopelessromantic. Lottie is determined to set up her BFF with Mr. Perfect. Will wants his #secretcrush to finally notice him. Bennett is a man with a plan.

Claire can’t believe it when her dream guy starts following her on Twitter. She never thought he noticed her, and suddenly he seems to understand her better than almost anyone.

But the Twitterverse can be a confusing place, especially when friends act differently online than they do in person. Things get even more complicated when Claire realizes she’s falling for someone else, the last person she ever would have expected….

Told in an innovative format combining tweets, emails, and blogs, Tweet Heart is a contemporary romantic comedy that will set your heart atwitter.

Rating: 4/5

Plot: 4/5

Characters: 4/5

Ending: 4/5

Favorite line: nothing jumped out at me

I was excited to read this book because I knew I'd be different. I mean, what other book have you read that only consists of tweets, emails, and DMs?? None that I know of. When I heard of Tweet Heart I though the tweets might've made me miss some parts of the story, but surprisingly, the format of the book made me feel even more involved to the story. It wasn't as cheesy as I thought it'd be either, if not at all cheesy. I don't think you can get to know characters all that well over tweets and emails so I didn't expect to read this amazingly emotional novel. Although I don't wish all books in the future to become as up to date with technology as Elizabeth did with her book, it was refreshing to read something very light and breezy. I recommend it to anyone- I guarantee you'll love it!

Back To School + Giveaway @ Reading Teen!!

I got my schedule in the mail yesterday, so I feel like school is more real than ever. I start my junior year Sept. 7th, which means I have a WEEK to do ALL of my school work for the summer.... I know, I should've been more responsible but...I'm just not. I know I can knock out my summer reading and history shtuff, I just don;t know how long it'll take me to do my PA Pych stuff. Probably not too long I hope- I need to read! Unfortunately, I think I'm not going to be able to post as much as I want because of school. And it's not because of school work, it's because I'll be living with my mom instead of my dad and I don't know how much access I'll have to a computer. Plus, I'm hoping I get a job....It's so bittersweet.

Buutttt, to make going back to schoola little easier for everyone, Reading Teen is hosting a Back to School Giveaway Bash!! Yay! Here's what's up for grabs:

The Duff by Kody Keplinger

The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Pegasus by Robin McKinley

You by Charles Benoit

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

Other by Karen Kincy

Grace by Elizabeth Scott

Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl

Ascendant by Diana Peterfreund

The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler

Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan

Dark Song by Gail Giles

Kiss Me Deadly Anthology multiple authors

You can go enter Here! Good luck!

Book Blogger Hop: August 27-30!!!

It's blog hop time! I sadly missed last week because of my crappy laptop...ugh. On a better note, you can go join at Crazy For Books! This weeks question is: DO YOU USE A RATING SYSTEM FOR YOUR REVIEWS AND IF SO, WHAT IS IT AND WHY?

I do use a rating system- it's the same as the Goodreads system. I like the Goodreads system and Goodreads was where I was at (ghetto I know, sorry) all the time before I got my blog. I just sorta got used to it. Honestly though, I just rate books out of 5 based on what I think about it, but I couldn't articualte what exactly each rating meant. So I adapted their system. I just think about a number and whatever one feels right, I go with it!

Help! Calling All Bloggers!

I'm obviously a new blogger and would like some advice from my fellow, experienced bloggers. About blogs of course ;-) 

So I haven't done any giveaways or author interview but am going to soon. I'm the type of person that needs a ton of information when I'm doing something froegin to me. Even, if I know I don't need the extra info. I feel better know I have it. So, I'd just like to know if you guys have any advice, tips, what-to-do and what-not-to-dos, etc. Anything you can give me is helpful. Thanks!

Ugh

I haven't had been able to post in forever!!! It sucks. And now it might be a few more days until I can post again. I couldn't do my wrap-up post for the Read-A-Thon, I didn't get my IMM up, and I went to PAYA. I hope they do another one! I was so freakin shocked when I won, in my opinion, the best raffle prize they had! It was a Body Finder Raffle! It had so awesome shtuff, and I'll put up a pic of it later...if I get to it. I was a little nervous this time, but hopefully I'll have another year to get my confidence up. I was so sad though because they didn't have any more copies of Ballads of Surburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert. :-(

I'm also moving Saturday! Luckily, I won't have to help because I'll be at my dad's! Yay! I'm not strong enough to do that stuff anyway.

---------------EDIT---------------

Just, like is says above, this is an edit to this post. I somehow keep forgetting to mention my new blog design! I didn't have it specially designed or anything but I really like it. I loved my old layout but I was havng problems with my widgets and, beng no computer wiz, I couldn't find out how to fix it. But this seems to have done the trick!