Waiting On Wednesdays (8)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Obsidian (Lux #1)

Author: Jennifer Armentrout

Publication Date: December 6, 2011

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Genre/Category: Young Adult, Fantasy

Summary on Goodreads:

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring…. until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don’t kill him first, that is.

Book Review: LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR by Stephanie Perkins

Lola and the Boy Next Door
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Published Date: September 29, 2011
Published By: Dutton
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit

Summary from Goodreads:

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

I have three simple wishes. They’re really not too much to ask.
The first is to attend the winter formal dressed like Marie Antoinette…
The second is for my parents to approve of my boyfriend. They hate him.
And my third wish?
To never ever see the Bell twins ever again. Ever. -Lola

My Thoughts:

Do you remember your childhood buddies? your first crush? or your first kiss? Ask Lola.

For Dolores "Lola" Nolan, there is nothing more painful (and oh-so-exciting) than seeing (again) her neighbors--the Bell Twins--the beautiful Calliope Bell and her super nice twin brother Cricket Bell. Cricket is her first crush, her first kiss, and the guy who broke her heart. 

I can't tell you how much I LOVE and LOVE and LOVE this book (ok, that's too much, but that's exactly how I feel). Stephanie Perkins knows perfectly how to captivate her readers with her stories. Anna and the French Kiss totally blew my heart away and she did it again with Lola and the Boy Next Door! It's amazing how she had written such a wonderful story blended with a beautiful setting, an amazing plot, and awesome characters that you will definitely love and adore! If you love Anna, you'll love Lola! If you love Etienne, you'll love Cricket! Maybe even more! (I'm confused here! I can't even choose!). How could Stephanie crafted such WHOLE AWESOMENESS into these characters especially to these two irresistible guys? Etienne St. Clair and Cricket Bell are nothing but hotness! Lola and Anna may not be the same, but you'll love Lola just as you love Anna. She's cool, funny, bubbly and always a sunshine! She doesn't believe in fashion and she wears a costume every single day! Lola is as colorful as her wigs, as shiny as her accessories, and as dazzling as her dresses. She loves to create and wear costumes that makes her personality so unique and interesting. Cricket is the smart and super nice BOY NEXT DOOR who will sweep you off your feet! He has good taste in fashion and he's incredibly astonishing! Cricket is like a galaxy of stars whom you wish to reach and not just to look up to. Lola and Cricket has the striking qualities that made them adorable and lovable. They're aware of their imperfections, and their flaws made them perfect for each other. They are so fun and exciting to read about. No boring moment at all. The flow of the story is carefully written, not too slow, never too fast. It's just perfect! 

If you think that you had enough of Anna and St. Clair, then you're wrong! Seeing them with Lola and Cricket is totally overwhelming! I didn't realized how much I missed these two until I get to read them again in this book. They are as fun and exciting as ever and seeing them together makes me want to read Anna and the French Kiss again... and again.

What more can I say, this book is just pure awesomeness! There are heartbreaking moments which are balanced with funny ones. It's deliciously romantic without being cheesy. I love everything about it! Anna and the French Kiss gave me the whole Paris, Lola and the Boy Next Door gave me the stars and the moon! Stephanie Perkins' writing is brilliant and splendid as ever! You'll never ask for something different at all, you'll want more of them! 

Think of upstairs window overlooking your neighbor's bedroom window. Think of the moon, and the stars, and rubberbands... and colorful costumes and wigs... and think of the "boy next door". This is Lola's world. Beautiful and engaging, this book will take you to a romantic journey that will remind you of your sweet and unforgettable teenage memories. I can't help but SMILE every time I look at this book. Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door are two delightful books that I will always hold close to my heart.

"I know you aren’t perfect. But it’s a person’s imperfections that make them perfect for someone else." -Cricket Graham Bell

My Rating:

Book Review: DREAMHUNTER by Elizabeth Knox

Dreamhunter (The Dreamhunter Duet #1)
Author: Elizabeth Knox
Published Date: February 17, 2009 (first published 2005)
Published By: Square Fish
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Summary from Goodreads:

Laura comes from a world similar to our own except for one difference: it is next to the Place, an unfathomable land that fosters dreams of every kind and is inaccessible to all but a select few, the Dreamhunters. These are individuals with special gifts: the ability to catch larger-than-life dreams and relay them to audiences in the magnificent dream palace, the Rainbow Opera. People travel from all around to experience the benefits of the hunters' unique visions. Now fifteen-year-old Laura and her cousin Rose, daughters of Dreamhunters, are eligible to test themselves at the Place and find out whether they qualify for the passage. But nothing can prepare them for what they are about to discover. For within the Place lies a horrific secret kept hidden by corrupt members of the government. And when Laura's father, the man who discovered the Place, disappears, she realizes that this secret has the power to destroy everyone she loves . . .

My Thoughts:

This book has been on my shelf for a very long time, and I'm glad that I've finally finished it. This book is about Laura and Rose, cousins and daughters of the two best Dreamhunters in the world next to the Place. They're cousins, and they are finally ready to take the qualifying test for future Dreamhunters. But when Laura's father disappeared, she is determined to find him. And as she search for traces and clues, she'll soon discover the horrible secrets that is hidden in the Place, something that is connected to her father's disappearance. 

Dreamhunter is the first book in the Dreamhunter Duet, and I'd say that the premise is really good and intriguing. It has a beautiful setting and the story is quite unique. Two years ago, I was very excited to read this book. I started it before but somehow I couldn't get into it. I'd already put a lot of effort in this book but just like before, I couldn't invest myself into the story no matter how much I tried to. I actually re-read a couple of pages while hoping that I could still enjoy it. But the plot dragged on... it was very slow and I was left confused all the time. The characters are not that impressive, I couldn't feel the emotions and it was hard to connect with them. They don't seem real to me. I'd say that it was a struggle to finish this book, and I ended up even more confused when I'm done. The writing is deep and strong, but it didn't worked out for me. Sadly, I can't tell you more about it, because I honestly didn't understand the story.  This book is not for me and I don't think I'd be eager enough to read the sequel (which I already own).

My Rating: