Tag: summer reading

Six Books To Get You Through Any School Scenario

Posted on by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

I know school still seems pretty far off and some of you may even be done with school (me!) but there’s still time for some summer reading and what better to read then some books that will actually help you survive in school. Whether you’re in middle school, high school, or college you’ll probably face at least one of these situations. Here’s six books to help you with six different school scenarios. Good luck!

1. Mean girls

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Got some mean girls trying to bring you down? The haters are still hating? Don’t fear because Reed Brennan has been there. In the Private series she goes through some terrible hazing just to fit in with the Billings Girls, the most popular group of girls at her new boarding school. Even better, however, she learns how to beat them at their own game and become a boss herself. Plus, she also solves some murders but hopefully that’s not something you’ll have to deal with.

2. New year, new you

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You’re tired of not being seen and you’re read to make a splash. You want to be noticed and you’re willing to do what it takes to get there. Lexi gets that. She’s ready for her long time crush, Logan, to finally notice her and she’s ready to play the beauty game to get what she wants. Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality will give you tips on your makeover while also reminding you that looks aren’t everything and maybe you’re perfect just the way you are. But some lipstick never hurts, right?

3. New student

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Being the new kid can be the worst. You have to make new friends, learn your way around the halls, and try to fit in with a new crowd. Well imagine trying to do all that while having a crazy ghost roaming the halls of your high school. Yeah, your situation sounds much better now, doesn’t it? In The Mediator series Suze Simon is a mediator with a lot on her plate. It’s her job to get ghosts onto their next step (whatever that is) and she still has to pass all her classes. Add in a hot ghost roommate and Suze’s new girl status is the least of her problems. Still, Suze’s boss attitude to facing a new environment is one you can learn from before you enter your new school.

4. Getting over a crush

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Unrequited love is the worst and you’re over it. You’re sick of crushing and being let down. You want to move on and start this year off right, leaving that crush in the past. Sadie feels your pain. She’s had a crush on her best friend, Garrett, for far too long and now she’s done. She’s ready to move on and she’s got a plan to do it. Consider Getting Over Garrett Delaney as your guide to letting go and finding your own happiness. You got this!

5. First year of college

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Leaving home for the first time? Staying home but all your friends are leaving? Trying the long distance relationship thing with your high school significant other? Yolo deals with all this and more. If you’ve never read the TTYL series I’d definitely recommend it before reading this one (plus there’s great advice in those as well). Besties Angela, Zoe, and Maddie have been friends all through high school but now that they’re going off to separate colleges they each face their own struggles and problems that almost any freshman will face. Lauren Myracle leaves no stone unturned and all the advice you’ll ever need to get you prepared (and excited) about college is in this novel.

6. First relationship

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Falling in love for the first time can be hard. Especially when you’re a secret spy and the guy you’re dating has no idea. Of course, that’s probably not an issue for you. It is however, for Cammie Morgan, a spy in training who falls for Josh, a normal boy who knows nothing about the spy world. Although Cammie can speak multiple languages, kill someone with her bare hands, and track someone perfectly, when it comes to dating she doesn’t have a clue. In I’d Teel You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You, follow Cammie as she learns the ins and outs of flirting, kissing, and first dates. You may even pick up some dating tips and you’ll definitely relate to her first date woes. What do I wear???

Want more books to fit your school woes? Comment a problem or scenario you’re worried about facing this school year and I’ll recommend a book for you. Try me!

Book Review: Summer and the City

Posted on by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

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Synopsis from Amazon:

Meet teenage Carrie Bradshaw as she hits the bright lights, big city of New York for the very first time! Find out how Carrie transforms from country girl to super-cool fashionista in the second explosive CARRIE DIARIES novel from the globally bestselling author of SEX AND THE CITY. Summer is a magical time in New York City and Carrie is in love with all of it – the crazy characters in her neighbourhood, the vintage-clothing boutiques, the wild parties and the glamorous man who has swept her off her feet. Best of all, she’s finally in a real writing class, taking her first steps toward fulfilling her dream. This sequel to THE CARRIE DIARIES brings surprising revelations as Carrie learns to navigate her way around the Big Apple, going from being a country “sparrow” – as Samantha Jones dubs her – to the person she always wanted to be. But as it becomes increasingly difficult to reconcile her past with her future, Carrie realises that making it in New York is much more complicated than she ever imagined. With her signature wit and sparkling humour, Candace Bushnell reveals the irresistible story of how Carrie met Samantha and Miranda, and what turned a small-town girl into one of the New York City’s most unforgettable icons, Carrie Bradshaw.

Although this book has it’s faults, the fact that it shows how the famous Sex and the City group came to be makes this book worth the buy. If you haven’t read The Carrie Diaries yet and don’t want to be spoiled stop reading here. You’ve been warned.

This book picks up right around where we left off. Carrie’s getting her bearings in NYC with Samantha Jones as her sophisticated mentor. Additionally, the purse that Carrie lost at the end of The Carries Diaries is found by Miranda Hobbes, leading to the start of another beautiful friendship. Young Samantha Jones and Miranda Hobbes made this book for me. Samantha is struggling to become the woman her fiancé wants her to be and Miranda is a fiery feminist who makes a lot of valid points.

The novel is a slew of new characters and only a few appearances by the people in Carrie’s “past life.” Although I’d usually be against a sequel that completely drops the characters of the first novel, Candace Bushnell makes the right choice here. Carrie’s family and high school friends just don’t fit Carrie’s NYC narrative and the parts where they do show up were my least favorite.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. Carrie’s gone from naive, suburban teen, to an arrogant young adult. Although she annoyed be from time to time I much preferred Carrie’s confidence to her pushover lifestyle. Additionally there were so many characters to love in this novel. Besides the Sex and the City crew there’s Carrie’s classmates including Lil’, who turns out to be way more interesting than I first thought, Capote, the know it all, and Ryan, the flirt with a model fiancé.  There’s also Carrie’s professor who has a strange mustache that Carrie names Waldo, and Carrie’s quirky city friends including a famous playwright who turns out to be more trouble than he’s worth.

My only issue with the novel is it’s very focused on sex and Carrie losing her virginity. This in it of itself isn’t the problem for me. The problem is that if that’s the focus of the novel I don’t appreciate when it’s finally Carrie’s time to find out what the big deal is about sex the scene is skipped over and then talked about in the past tense. Why not give it to me in the present? Why have her wake up and say, “Oh yeah that happened.” I understand this is a children’s book and I’m not looking for anything on a Fifty Shades level, I was just expecting more from this moment that was so built up in this book and the last.

Despite that, I still really liked this novel and definitely think it’s worth your money and time.

Borrow or Buy: Buy! It’s a keeper!

Favorite Line:

“Just because something doesn’t last forever, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t meaningful while it did last. It doesn’t mean it wasn’t important.”

Stars:

4 stars

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POLL: YA or Adult Novels?

Posted on by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

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I’m a big fan of both young adult and adult novels. Even so, I often tend to lean towards young adult. Maybe it’s because I am one or maybe it’s because I just truly prefer them. Either way I love both types of novels but I want to know if you have a preference. Vote in the poll below and let me know in the comments why you’re more of a YA fan or a strictly adult novels person.

Results of last week’s poll:

How do you prefer to read?

With 60% of the votes, paperbacks were the winner. Paperbacks or the perfect books because you can fold them over and bend them any which way while still having the comfort of holding an actual book in your hands. It’s a win-win.

Book Review: City of Bones

Posted on by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

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Synopsis from Amazon:

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It’s hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing—not even a smear of blood—to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It’s also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace’s world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know…

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare’s ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

I’m hooked. I didn’t want to be hooked because I don’t have time to be hooked on another series but here I am hooked.

Clary Fray is a great protagonist. I won’t go into much detail about why I think so highly of her here because I did that yesterday. What I will say is I loved her and Jace’s chemistry. Jace is sarcastic and cocky from the start. He knows he’s good looking and a great Shadowhunter and he’s proud. I really want them to be together but … well I won’t spoil it for you. What I will say is it’s not over until I finish the last book.

Moving on, the other characters were also spectacular. Clary’s best friend, Simon, is adorkable, Isabelle and Alec, the Lightwood siblings and basically Jace’s family, are very different but also similar in an interesting way. I like Isabelle’s tough girl attitude and I really like Alec and his whole story line. I’m excited to see where that goes in the next books.

The adults are also great and have their own crazy back stories. Hodge, Alec, Isabelle, and Jace’s guardian, is basically the chill godfather who loves his garden and herbs. Kind of like a hippie but can also take you out if you try anything. Luke, Clary’s godfather type figure, is a boss. Period. I don’t want to spoil it so I’ll leave it that. I’m just a really big fan of Luke. Clary’s mom isn’t really relevant but from what we learn about her I wasn’t a fan. To be fair she’s not in the majority of the book so I really can’t pass judgement. Even so, I could do with less of her.

As for the plot I was never bored. There’s an air of mystery to the novel as well as some plot twists (some expected, some not). Overall, as the first book in The Mortal Instruments series, Cassandra Clare did a really good job of laying the foundation for this world without it being boring. Well done. I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

Borrow or Buy: This was a tough call and I went back and forth on it. On the one hand I really did enjoy this book. On the other hand I just couldn’t imagine actually buying it. It was good but it just wasn’t that good.

Favorite Line:

“Don’t.” Clary raised a warning hand. “I’m not really in the mood right now.”
“That’s got to be the first time a girl’s ever said that to me,” Jace mused.”

Stars:

4 stars

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Book Review: The Carrie Diaries

Posted on by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

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*This book is part of my POPSUGAR 2015 Reading Challenge*

Synopsis from Amazon:

The Carrie Diaries is the coming-of-age story of one of the most iconic characters of our generation.

Before Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw was a small-town girl who knew she wanted more. She’s ready for real life to start, but first she must navigate her senior year of high school. Up until now, Carrie and her friends have been inseparable. Then Sebastian Kydd comes into the picture, and a friend’s betrayal makes her question everything.

With an unforgettable cast of characters, The Carrie Diaries is the story of how a regular girl learns to think for herself and evolves into a sharp, insightful writer. Through adventures both audacious and poignant, we’ll see what brings Carrie to her beloved New York City, where her new life begins.

Don’t let the borrow stamp fool you, this was actually a really good book. It was funny and witty and I’m excited to read the next one. However, I just can’t see myself rereading this book. Here’s why.

Carrie, although she is smart, funny, and quirky, her naivety is annoying. Her obsessive love for Sebastian is infuriating and although I’m usually all for putting others before yourself, Carrie wasn’t really selfless as much as she was a push over. All I wanted from Carrie during this book was stand up for herself and I think we get more of that towards the end but throughout the book I was constantly frustrated because I could tell what was happening but Carrie was in deep denial.

Even so, I did like this book. I think I probably would’ve enjoyed it more if I watched Sex and the City beforehand but I thought it was well written and well thought out and it was interesting seeing where Carrie Bradshaw got her start. I can’t wait to find out what happens next (although I guess I kind of already do but you know what I mean).

Borrow or Buy: Borrow. I liked it a lot but I didn’t love it.

Favorite Line: 

“What if I’m a princess on another planet? And no one on this planet knows it?”

Stars:

4 stars

Other Reviews

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Book Review: Something True

Posted on by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

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*This book is part of my POPSUGAR 2015 Reading Challenge*

Synopsis from Goodreads.com:

Will the love of her life distract True from reuniting with…the love of her life? Find out in the third book in Kieran Scott’s delightful series that blends ancient mythology with contemporary romance.

True Olympia is in the home stretch. After being banished to Earth without her powers as punishment for falling in love with a mortal, True was tasked with matching three couples before she could return home. Now, with two couples fully in love, she is ready for her time in New Jersey to come to an end.

But as easy as it should be to match one more couple, things are complicated by her immortal love Orion (who also appeared on Earth, just without the memory of their love). He’s dating another girl, but can’t seem to avoid spending time with True. Something about her finally seems familiar to him. But if True wants to get back with Orion for real, she needs to focus. Just one more couple, one more couple…

After not being very impressed with Complete Nothing I was surprised by how much I really enjoyed this book. As the last book in the True Love trilogy this book tied up every lose end in a really nice way. I’m not saying this was the next great American novel or anything but it was a nice fun read, especially after just finishing Gone Girl.

Following the same outline as the last two books, Something True follows True trying to match her last couple. One small difference, however, was rather than show True and the two people she’s trying to set up point of views this novel showed True, Orion, and Darla, Orion’s girlfriend’s, point of views. This set up makes sense for the story since these are really the three main characters of this book but it is worth pointing out that this book went a little off script.

The appearance of Orion in True’s mortal world is definitely both a positive and negative for True. Add in Artemis and Apollo as mortals and True finds herself in some very sticky situations. Having to juggle her love for Orion while watching him date another girl and try to make sure her last couple gets together before it’s too late is a lot for one goddess to handle.

But that’s what makes this book so fun. There was so much drama, so much love, and so many moments that made my heart swoon. It was a cheesy, fun, romantic novel that I will probably reread when I want to believe in love again. A great end to a trilogy.

Borrow or Buy: Buy! This may seem strange after I said to just borrow Complete Nothing because who buys one book in a trilogy? However, I stand by both of my choices and honestly I think you can read these books as stand alone’s so you don’t really need all three. And this one is definitely my favorite of the trilogy.

Favorite Line:

This was it. This was where I was supposed to be.

Stars: 

4 stars

Book Review: Gone Girl

Posted on by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books to Buy

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*This book is part of my POPSUGAR 2015 Reading Challenge*

Synopsis from Gillian-Flynn.com:

Marriage can be a real killer. One of the most critically acclaimed suspense writers of our time, New York Times bestseller Gillian Flynn, takes that statement to its darkest place in this unputdownable masterpiece about a marriage gone terribly, terribly wrong. As The Washington Post proclaimed, her work “draws you in and keeps you reading with the force of a pure but nasty addiction.” Gone Girl’s toxic mix of sharp-edged wit with deliciously chilling prose creates a nerve-fraying thriller that confounds you at every turn.

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick Dunne’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick Dunne isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but hearing from Amy through flashbacks in her diary reveal the perky perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer? As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister Margo at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was left in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

Employing her trademark razor-sharp writing and assured psychological insight, Gillian Flynn delivers a fast-paced, devilishly dark, and ingeniously plotted thriller that confirms her status as one of the hottest writers around.

This book was crazier than I expected it to be, which is saying a lot because I thought it was going to be crazy. I heard from multiple people that I needed to read this book and that I “wasn’t ready.” They were all right. I was not prepared for this.

I don’t want to spoil this book for anyone because this is a book that just shouldn’t be spoiled. What I will say is both Nick and his wife Amy are very interesting characters. I liked the use of both of their point of views and how the book was split into three different parts.

Gillian Flynn did an excellent job of keeping the suspense throughout the whole book. I wasn’t sure who to believe or who to trust. I wasn’t sure if Amy was dead, if Nick had killed her, or if something entirely different was happening. I’ve read a few mysteries/suspense novels in the past and I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that caught me as off guard as this book did. I wasn’t expecting any of the twists and certainly was not expecting the ending.

I haven’t watched the movie just because I felt like I needed some time to recover from the book before I tried to actually watch this book come to life. Even so, I’m excited to watch it and see how they take the book to film because the way the book is set up I think it is crucial to the plot development.

If you haven’t had a chance to read this bestseller yet please make the time. You won’t regret it.

Borrow or Buy: Buy! Once you finish it you’ll want to go back and look for clues. The library already took my copy back and I’m upset. Don’t make my mistake.

Favorite Line: 

There’s a difference between really loving someone and loving the idea of her.

Stars: 5 out of 5. The book was brilliant. The ending was perplexing but I still liked it.

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The Best Silver Shadows Reactions

Posted on by Zakiya N. Jamal in Books

Having read Silver Shadows a little whiles back I am so excited to have so many people to fangirl with. This book was my favorite in the series so far and I’m so glad so many people loved it as much as I did. Here’s some of the best reactions to the book I’ve seen so far. Obviously, beware the spoilers.

Many fans were ecstatic.

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Many were in tears

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Others just can’t let go

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Some were angry (but in the “How could you write this awesome book and then leave me hanging?” way)

 

Others learned a few things

And a few just didn’t know how to feel

If you haven’t read this book yet, what are you waiting for? It’s a good one. Also make sure to check out my review of the book and let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Book Review: Silver Shadows

Posted on by Zakiya N. Jamal in Books

8709524 Synopsis from Amazon:

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

In The Fiery Heart, Sydney risked everything to follow her gut, walking a dangerous line to keep her feelings hidden from the Alchemists.

Now in the aftermath of an event that ripped their world apart, Sydney and Adrian struggle to pick up the pieces and find their way back to each other. But first, they have to survive.

For Sydney, trapped and surrounded by adversaries, life becomes a daily struggle to hold on to her identity and the memories of those she loves. Meanwhile, Adrian clings to hope in the face of those who tell him Sydney is a lost cause, but the battle proves daunting as old demons and new temptations begin to seize hold of him. . . .

Their worst fears now a chilling reality, Sydney and Adrian face their darkest hour in this heart-pounding fifth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where all bets are off.

Anyone that knows me knows that I am absolutely in love with this series and the Vampire Academy series. Richelle Mead has this great skill of writing these strong, determined female characters that you always want to root for.

I’ve loved every book in this series so far and this one is no exception.

For anyone that has no clue what this series is about here’s some helpful terms:

  • Alchemist – a human who’s sole purpose is to hide the fact that vampires exist from humans; they have very strict and seemingly religious beliefs and although they work with vamps they by no way approve of them or even like them
  • Moroi – these are the more human like vampires; they’re essential the good vamps; they can live and walk around in the daylight just like humans although it does make them very tired and weary and they do still need to drink blood
  • Strigoi – the evil vamps; these are the vampires you here about in scary stories; they burn in the sun and have red eyes and will kill vamps or humans with no remorse (they don’t have a soul)
  • Dhampir – originally the product of humans and vamps getting together, however they cannot reproduce on their own and if a dhampir gets with a vampire it still just makes another dhampir; they don’t drink blood but have more super human abilities than regular humans; they act as body guards to the Moroi

The main character in this series is Sydney, an Alchemist, who used to drink the Alchemist kool-aid but has since learned that they’re a little excessive in their believes. She’s very cool with vamps and dhampirs now and has even fallen in love with one named Adrian.

In Silver Shadows Adrian and Sydney have been separated after the Alchemists kidnap Sydney and send her into reeducation. While Sydney attempts to cling on to her sanity, humanity, and love for Adrian and her other Moroi and dhampir friends, Adrian struggles with keeping his spirit magic in check and not completely losing his mind.

Keeping this review spoiler free I won’t give away too much. What I will say is this book is filled with love, drama, unexpected surprises, some of our favorite characters from Vampire Academy, and adventure with plenty of action.

The love between Adrian and Sydney is still very evident despite them being apart. I found it both inspiring and cute to read. Behind their love however are these very serious issues that they have to face. Besides the fact that Sydney is locked up she has to face the fact that if she does get free it comes at the cost of officially leaving behind everything she once believed and her family, possibly for good. Meanwhile Adrian is forced to face the darkness of spirit and has to make the hard decision between running from spirit or using it to find the love of his life.

Besides Adrian and Sydney all our other favorites including Jill, Eddie, Trey, Angeline, and Marcus show up and we also meet some new characters.

I greatly enjoyed this book and if I had the time I probably would’ve read it all in one sitting. The novel shifts between Adrian and Sydney point of views giving the reader so much to experience because they’re both going through so much. Also from chapter to chapter there’s so many mysteries that need be solved or crises that arise and it just makes you want to keep reading because you want to know what in the world are they going to do next?

Truthfully I’m a little sad I read this one early sense now I have to wait just a little longer for the final book in the series, The Ruby Circle (release date: February 10, 2015), to come out. And trust me you’ll be anxiously awaiting the sequel as well when you get to the end of this book (I have a love/hate relationship with cliff hangers). Still it was totally worth it and I’ll probably be rereading this book until February anyway.

Definitely a must read of the summer. Between all the funny quips, romance, action, adventures, and drama this book will have you on the edge of your seat all the way through. Or if you’re like me laughing (or crying) on the subway.

Favorite Line: Let me just say it was very hard to a) find one quote to use and b) find one that was spoiler free. Therefore I won’t say who said this line although if you’ve read the other books I think you can guess.

“I expected to see the most beautiful woman in the world, to feel my heart skip a beat in her presence, and to want to carry her off to bed for a night neither of us will forget. So to answer your question, I got exactly what I expected.”

Stars: 5 out of 5. I can’t say anymore how much I loved this book. I think it’s pretty obvious at this point.

Borrow or Buy: BUY!!! You will need to reread this. I guarantee you.