Art Girls Are Easy by Julie Klausner

Fifteen-year-old Indigo Hamlisch is an art prodigy looking forward to her last summer at the Silver Springs Academy for Fine and Performing Arts for Girls. But her BFF Lucy Serrano is a C.I.T. this year, and that means she doesn't have to hang out with Indigo and the other campers anymore: she can mingle with the counselors -- including Indigo's scandalous and unrequited crush, paint-splattered art instructor Nick Estep. But it's not like anything is going to happen between Lucy and Nick... right?
As Indy becomes more and more paranoid about what's going on between her best friend and her favorite counselor, Indy's life -- and her work -- spin hilariously out of control. Funny and bold, Art Girls Are Easy is a comedy of errors filtered through the wry, satirical eyes of a girl who's been there, done that, and is just looking for a little inspiration.

Oh, this book. Art Girls Are Easy was one of those books that I come out of thinking it is so good, and then after awhile the actual story starts to sink in- and I notice some of the not so good parts. While I was reading it, I really liked Art Girls Are Easy. It took awhile for me to get into it, but ultimately I enjoyed the story and the writing.

However, my biggest problem with Art Girls Are Easy appears when talking about the characters. Though I found Indigo to be quite spunky, which I like, she also appeared to be whiny and really immature. She was resilient when it came to boys, however, when it came to art- something she’s been passionate about her whole life, she was willing to give it up over basically nothing. Indigo came off moodier than what would have been realistic, and her personality seemed a bit artificial. Despite these things, I did admire her spunk and individuality.

I previously mentioned that I enjoyed the story and writing in Art Girls Are Easy. Despite my distain for Indigo, I genuinely did enjoy the story. I liked that it had to do with art- specifically an art related summer camp. Indigo’s struggle to maintain motivated while producing her art work was something that people can relate to, even if they aren’t artists. The writing in Art Girls Are Easy was good in a catchy way. The characters weren’t very realistic or developed, but the writing kept me hooked.

Though I wouldn’t necessarily recommend Art Girls Are Easy to everybody, I do think that it will appeal to some people.

FTC- Received via Netgalley.

GoogleReader is Closing!

Okay, so I feel like I should make one of these posts because (1) everybody is (2) GoogleReader is closing and I really want you all to continue reading Zoe’s Book Reviews, despite that (3) I re-organized the sidebar to *hopefully* make following Zoe’s Book Reviews easier.

I assume most of you have heard about the closing of GoogleReader (it closes July 1st, for those who didn’t know). I’m also assuming that a lot of you probably follow my blog, and other blogs using GoogleReader. Since it’s no longer going to be around, I thought I would let you know about other ways you can follow Zoe’s Book Reviews.

1. Bloglovin’- I’ve been using Bloglovin’ for a few weeks now, and I absolutely love it. It makes reading blog posts super easy and I’ve found it’s easier to go to the actual source of the blogs and comment (so personally, I’ve been commenting more an blogs. Yay!). Out of all the blog-following websites I’ve looked at and tried out over the past month, this is definitely the one I would recommend. You can follow me on Bloglovin’ by clicking the Bloglovin’ widget in the sidebar.

2. RSS – There are a lot of different types of reader’s that follow via RSS feed. I don’t know a whole lot about RSS feeds and how they work, but I know you can totally follow Zoe’s Book Reviews via RSS if you want.

3. Email - There is a little box on the sidebar where you can enter your email to get Zoe’s Book Reviews posts emailed to you, if you want. Sidenote- I also LOVE receiving emails. It’s one of my favorite things. So, you know, if you ever feel like emailing someone to talk about books, life, BBC shows, or anything else- you can totally email me.

4. Social Networking Websites - I am super active on twitter, and I’m always tweeting about reviews I’ve posted or giveaways I’m having. Zoe’s Book Reviews also has a Facebook page. I try and update this as much as possible. Sometimes I forget, but usually the Facebook page is updated. I don’t post links to reviews and giveaways here, but you can also friend me on Goodreads if you want to see what books I’m reading.

I think I covered the various ways you can follow Zoe’s Book Reviews. If you have any questions, or the links don’t work, tell me in the comments or email me and I’ll see what I can do. I have links to all of the things I’ve listed, in the sidebar.

Happy Reading!

Giveaway: The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

Yay! Giveaway time!
One of you will have the chance to win a signed hardcover copy of The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler. You can enter by filling out the Rafflecopter form at the end of this post. Sorry to those who live internationallyy, but this giveaway will be US entries only.
Though I don’t offer extra entries for following Zoe’s Book Reviews, I would greatly appreciate it. Since GoogleReader is no longer going to be active, you can follow me through Bloglovin’, RSS feed, and by email (links to do all of those things are in the sidebar). You can read my review of The Book of Broken Hearts here. 
Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.
Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?
Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong?
Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Transparent by Natalie Whipple

Plenty of teenagers feel invisible. Fiona McClean actually is.
An invisible girl is a priceless weapon. Fiona’s own father has been forcing her to do his dirty work for years—everything from spying on people to stealing cars to breaking into bank vaults.
After sixteen years, Fiona’s had enough. She and her mother flee to a small town, and for the first time in her life, Fiona feels like a normal life is within reach. But Fiona’s father isn’t giving up that easily.
Of course, he should know better than anyone: never underestimate an invisible girl.

I have been anticipating Natalie Whipple’s debut novel for a long time. So when I finally got my hands on a copy, I read it immediately. Transparent is a fast-paced novel that captured my attention from the very beginning.  The world building is impeccable. I’ve never felt so immersed in a book world before. Whipple is a master world crafter. I would love to be a part of the world in Transparent. Everything seems extremely realistic and dramatic and entertaining.

I liked that the people in Transparent didn’t have to keep their powers completely a secret. It was refreshing that there weren’t bunch of secrets relating to character powers. They were able to be open about their powers, and therefore- readers were able to get a better understanding of the character and their involvement in the story. Fiona is fantastic. She is strong willed and totally badass, and she stands out as one of the most memorable characters that I’ve read recently. Her brothers were both individual while also still acting like they were brothers. Though there were many characters in this story, the character development didn’t suffer. Each character was well written, and it was easy to get a full understanding of them.

Transparent is a fantastic novel. Whipple nailed her debut, and I can’t wait to read what she has coming out next. Transparent is a book that I would gladly reread over and over again. Natalie Whipple is an extremely talented writer. Transparent will appear to readers of all genres.

FTC- Received as an eGalley for review.

How My Summer Went Up in Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski

Rosie’s always been impulsive. She didn’t intend to set her cheating ex-boyfriend’s car on fire. And she never thought her attempts to make amends could be considered stalking. So when she’s served with a temporary restraining order on the first day of summer vacation, she’s heartbroken—and furious.
To put distance between Rosie and her ex, Rosie’s parents send her on a cross-country road trip with responsible, reliable neighbor Matty and his two friends. Forget freedom of the road, Rosie wants to hitchhike home and win back her ex. But her determination starts to dwindle with each passing mile. Because Rosie’s spark of anger? It may have just ignited a romance with someone new…

I admit it, the cover is what first drew me to How My Summer Went Up in Flames. It’s an adorable cover, and mixed with the title- made the book seem super appealing. However, the story was appealing as well. Though the beginning was a bit slow, I couldn’t help but get sucked in to Rosie’s story. It wasn’t completely relatable, but it was entertaining.

It was difficult to read about Rosie sometimes. She was too set in her ways, and at times I found her annoying. However, by the end of the book I really liked her. The relationships she made with the secondary characters helped her morph her attitude about life into something more manageable. The secondary characters were impeccably written. Their character development didn’t suffer because they were secondary characters- which is one thing in particular that stood out to me while reading. Part of me was concerned at the beginning of the book, because I thought that there was going to be a love triangle. Though there was an essence of one, it was easy to figure out which boy Rosie would end up with, so the triangle didn’t really distract from the story.

Though it isn’t one of my favorites, I did enjoy How My Summer Went Up in Flames. It was a quick, adorable novel. Jennifer Salvato Doktorski wrote a really interesting story, that is perfect to read on a hot (or cold) summer’s day.

FTC- Received from publisher.

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The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.
Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?
Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong?
Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking.

I swear, every single Sarah Ockler book takes my breath away in ways I can never even begin to imagine before I start reading. The Book of Broken Hearts made me laugh, cry, and swoon like no other book. From the very first page, I connected with the story (and characters). Ockler sculpted a wonderfully addicting story that is difficult to put down.

In addition to being having an adorable romance, The Book of Broken Hearts also deals with more serious subjects. Jude has to learn how to come to terms with her father’s declining health, while still keeping her sanity. Though the summary of the novel offers a glimpse into the familial aspect of the story, I don’t think it does that part of the book justice. Jude’s family (especially her father) play a huge part in the story. The non-romantic relationships in The Book of Broken Hearts make it even more special. They add depth to the characters, and to the story.

Jude, the novel’s main character, is fantastically written. A lot of the times in Contemporary YA Romance books, the main character is not very memorable and lacks a strong personality. Jude, however, is neither of these things. She’s headstrong and intelligent. She is impeccably caring and family-oriented. Emilio, the adorable swoon-worthy love interest in this novel is well written also. He’s cute, but also intelligent and genuinely caring towards Jude. Their relationship is complicated, yet they make it work.

The Book of Broken Hearts is one of my favorite contemporary novels (along with Ockler’s other novels), and is something I’ve reread multiple times. Ockler’s writing is beautiful, well-paced, and unforgettable. These characters will capture your heart from the very beginning. The Book of Broken Hearts is a must-read for anybody, especially those looking for a meaningful yet cute summer read.

FTC- I received a copy from the publisher, however, I also purchased a final copy.

Our Song by Jordanna Fraiberg

Olive Bell has spent her entire life in the beautiful suburb of Vista Valley, with a picture-perfect home, a loving family, and a seemingly perfect boyfriend. But after a near-fatal car accident, she’s haunted by a broken heart and a melody that she cannot place.
Then Olive meets Nick. He’s dark, handsome, mysterious . . . and Olive feels connected to him in a way she can’t explain. Is there such a thing as fate? The two embark on a whirlwind romance—until Nick makes a troubling confession.
Heartbroken, Olive pieces together what really happened the night of her accident and arrives at a startling revelation. Only by facing the truth can she uncover the mystery behind the song and the power of what it means to love someone.

This is the first of Fraiberg’s books that I’ve read, and it won’t be the last. Our Song was a quick read that left me wanting more. This novel, though a good summer read, isn’t necessarily a “light” one. Our Song deals with more serious issues, however, the issues are blanketed by a beautiful romance.

This book is more character-driven than plot-driven, so it’s important that the characters were well developed. In the beginning of the novel, Olive struck me as being kind of weak- to the point where it was annoying me. She was hung up on her boyfriend who wasn’t talking to her, and she didn’t want to move on with her life. As the novel progresses, she ends up moving past all of that, and becomes a more likeable character. Nick was wonderfully dark and mysterious. He also annoyed me a bit (because of all the mysterious brooding), but it worked for him. Oliver and Nick’s relationship was fantastic. They both helped each other come to terms with things in their past, and assisted each other in the process of moving on. I loved it.

Our Song is a beautiful, touching, haunting novel that you won’t be able to put down. Jordanna Fraiberg is an extremely talented author. She nailed her sophomore novel. I haven’t read her first book, In Your Room. But after reading Our Song, I definitely want to get my hands on a copy of her first book.

FTC- Received from publisher.

All I Need by Susane Colasanti

The last night of summer is only the beginning.
Skye wants to meet the boy who will change her life forever. Seth feels their instant connection the second he sees her. When Seth starts talking to Skye at the last beach party of the summer, it’s obvious to both of them that this is something real. But when Seth leaves for college before they exchange contact info, Skye wonders if he felt the same way she did—and if she will ever see him again. Even if they find their way back to each other, can they make a long-distance relationship work despite trust issues, ex drama, and some serious background differences?

Susane Colasanti is one of those writers who, when their books come out, I run to the nearest bookstore and buy a copy. Her writing is always the perfect summer read. Because of this, I had super high expectations for All I Need. Unsurprisingly, those expectations were more than met.

Though All I Need deals with a little bit of heavier issues, they don’t bog down the story. In terms of characters, Seth seemed more developed. He was the character that really stood out to me. Skye was a fantastic main character, but she didn’t really have “it” to me. Seth, however, made up for what Skye lacked. That being said, their chemistry was spot on. I liked how each character had their own problems, and their point in the story wasn’t just to fall in love with each other. There was other stuff going on.

All I Need is the perfect summery read. It’s a light, charming read that will make you glow in the light of Skye and Seth’s romance. Though this isn’t my favorite of Colasanti’s work, it is definitely well written. I recommend this for people looking for a light, summer romance.

FTC- Received for review.

Cover Reveal: A Little Too Far by Lisa Desrochers

Whoo! Cover reveal time! Today I have the cover reveal for Lisa Desrochers’ New Adult novel A LITTLE TOO FAR. After the cover/summary reveal, there will be a Rafflecopter form to fill out for anyone who wants to win some ~swag~ related to A LITTLE TOO FAR.
Lisa wrote the super amazing Personal Demons series, and this is her first foray into writing New Adult. So without further to do, here is the cover and summary for A LITTLE TOO FAR.
(Because it’s New Adult, A Little Too Far is a bit racier than YA- so just a warning to all the younger kids who may be reading this.)

“I trace a finger along the lines of the tattoo over his heart—the kanji symbol for knowledge—as he grasps my thighs and rolls his hips underneath me.”
Have you ever gone just a little too far?
Lexie Banks has.
Yep. She just had mind-blowing sex with her stepbrother.In her defense, she was on the rebound, and it’s more of a my-dad-happened-to-marry-a-woman-with-a-super-hot-son situation. But still, he’s been her best friend and confidant for better part of the last few years…and is so off limits. It’s a good thing she’s leaving in two days for a year abroad in Rome.But even thousands of miles away, Lexie can’t seem to escape trouble. Raised Catholic, she goes to Confession in hopes of alleviating some of her guilt…and maybe not burning in hell. Instead, she stumbles out of the confessional right into Alessandro Moretti, a young and very easy on the eyes deacon…only eight months away from becoming a priest. As Lexie and Alessandro grow closer, and when Alessandro’s signals start changing despite his vow of celibacy, she doesn’t know what to think. She’s torn between falling in love with the man she shouldn’t want and the man she can’t have. And she isn’t sure how she can live with herself either way.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney

* I’m giving away a signed/personalized copy of When You Were Here. You can enter it by clicking here. *

Danny's mother lost her five-year battle with cancer three weeks before his graduation-the one day that she was hanging on to see.
Now Danny is left alone, with only his memories, his dog, and his heart-breaking ex-girlfriend for company. He doesn't know how to figure out what to do with her estate, what to say for his Valedictorian speech, let alone how to live or be happy anymore.
When he gets a letter from his mom's property manager in Tokyo, where she had been going for treatment, it shows a side of his mother he never knew. So, with no other sense of direction, Danny travels to Tokyo to connect with his mother's memory and make sense of her final months, which seemed filled with more joy than Danny ever knew. There, among the cherry blossoms, temples, and crowds, and with the help of an almost-but-definitely-not Harajuku girl, he begins to see how it may not have been ancient magic or mystical treatment that kept his mother going. Perhaps, the secret of how to live lies in how she died.

This book is fantastic. Daisy Whitney’s writing captured me from the very beginning. Everything about When You Were Here sucked me in, and got me interested. Danny’s story, his mom’s story, the dog. I loved it all. I’m a huge fan of Whitney’s previous books (The Mockingbirds and The Rivals), but I think my love for When You Were Here trumps them both. In this novel, Whitney’s writing is beautiful and literary. However, it doesn’t lose the feel of being a YA book.

Danny’s character is brilliant. He was realistic and (for lack of a better word) beautiful. I loved reading about his journey in Japan. Throughout the novel, Danny goes from being a depressed “stick in the mud” kind of guy (I don’t blame him) to someone who’s happier and more comfortable with the life he’s been given. This story was very much about Danny’s personal growth, while trying to find out more information about his mom.

Daisy Whitney is an amazing writer. When You Were Here is original, beautiful, and unforgettable. I admit it, I cried. When You Were here is meaningful beyond belief. Every teenager should read it. Through Danny’s journey, readers are able to discover new things about themselves and the people around them. This tale of a boy trying to grapple with his past, while trying to conquer the future will tug at your heartstrings.

FTC- Received as an ARC from Netgalley.

Giveaway: When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney

Today I have another giveaway for you all!
You can enter to win 1 of 3 Signed/Personalized copies of WHEN YOU WERE HERE by Daisy Whitney! Whoo! You can enter by filling out the Rafflecopter form at the end of this blog post. The giveaway is open to US entries only. There aren't any extra entries for following Zoe's Book Reviews, however, I would appreciate it if you would. The summary of When You Were Here is-

Danny's mother lost her five-year battle with cancer three weeks before his graduation-the one day that she was hanging on to see.
Now Danny is left alone, with only his memories, his dog, and his heart-breaking ex-girlfriend for company. He doesn't know how to figure out what to do with her estate, what to say for his Valedictorian speech, let alone how to live or be happy anymore.
When he gets a letter from his mom's property manager in Tokyo, where she had been going for treatment, it shows a side of his mother he never knew. So, with no other sense of direction, Danny travels to Tokyo to connect with his mother's memory and make sense of her final months, which seemed filled with more joy than Danny ever knew. There, among the cherry blossoms, temples, and crowds, and with the help of an almost-but-definitely-not Harajuku girl, he begins to see how it may not have been ancient magic or mystical treatment that kept his mother going. Perhaps, the secret of how to live lies in how she died.
You Were Here is an amazing book. I read it awhile ago, and I’m still thinking about it. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Over You by Amy Reed

* You can win a copy of Over You by clicking here.* And you can read an interview I did with Amy here.*

Max would follow Sadie anywhere, so when Sadie decides to ditch her problems and escape to Nebraska for the summer, it’s only natural for Max to go along. She is Sadie’s confidante, her protector, and her best friend. This summer will be all about them. This summer will be perfect.
But that’s before they meet Dylan.
Dylan is dangerous and intoxicating, and he awakens something in Max that she never knew existed. No matter how much she wants to, she can’t back away.
But Sadie has her own intensity, and has never allowed Max to become close with anyone else. And Max doesn’t know who she is without Sadie.
There are some problems you just can’t escape.

Amy Reed never ceases to amaze me. Every single time I start one of her books, I think that it can’t possibly be as good as the last one. And every single time I’m wrong. Reed’s writing is consistently amazing. All of her books left me with a case of “oh my gosh, this book is so fantastic I can’t even articulate my feelings towards it”, and Over You isn’t any different.

Max is a headstrong character who is able to successfully carry her own during the story. Her best friend Sadie, however, is nearly the exact opposite. Sadie is the wild one. She doesn’t have a problem with partying and breaking the rules. Despite Sadie being unruly, Max can’t help but follow her to Nebraska. In Nebraska, Max starts to realize that she wants to try and distance herself from Sadie, and build her own life. To me, Over You is about Max trying to overcome her previous life as Sadie’s “sidekick”. She has to learn to make her own choices, not ones that revolve around Sadie. However, Sadie also has a chance to grow. Sadie has to learn how to treat Max better- and how to overall treat people with more respect.

Over You, though at times slow, was a great novel. I loved that it wasn’t all about romance and boys (despite what the summary leads you to believe). It was about two friends trying to balance out their relationship with each other, while also trying to navigate being a teenager (which, let’s face it- is a really awkward time in life). Reed is a fantastic writer. Her writing is lyrical and upfront. I would highly suggest Over You, along with the rest of Reed’s novels.

 

FTC- Received as an eGalley from the publisher.

Giveaway: Over You by Amy Reed!

Today I have a giveaway for you all. Yay! The giveaway is for a hardcover copy of Over You by Amy Reed, and a paperback copy of Crazy by Amy Reed. It is open to US entries only.To enter, all you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below!
You can read more about Over You by clicking here. And you can learn about Crazy by clicking here. Both books are beyond amazing. So without further to do, you can enter to win Amy Reed’s books by filling out this Rafflecopter- a Rafflecopter giveaway

An Interview with Amy Reed

Today I have an interview with Amy Reed, author of various books, including the newly released Over You (well, it’s being released tomorrow). Yay!

1. Do you ave a favorite book of yours that you've written? And if you don't, which book was the easiest/hardest to write?

It's impossible to choose a favorite--I could pick any of them, really. Beautiful because it was my first and most emotionally raw. Clean because it is the one that seems to have reached people the deepest. Crazy because it was the first time I ever really wrote about love. Over You because I got to have so much fun with mythology. So far, I'd say Over You was the hardest to write, only because I had six months to write it. The easiest was definitely Crazy. I think, because it is essentially a conversation between two characters, everything flowed really naturally. I also felt like I knew the characters really well right away.

 

2. What personal experiences, if any, helped contribute to the writing of Over You?

I had a best friend who went to go live with her mom and step-dad in Iowa after a rough year getting in trouble in Seattle. While they didn't live on a commune, they were definitely hippies and were part of a very counter-culture spiritual community. They lived on a small farm that included a pond. I spent the summer there between seventh and eighth grade after my own rough year in Seattle, during which we spent a lot of time in the pond and getting in trouble with local boys. My college roommate grew up on a commune and I have another friend who runs an organic farm, so I think all of those things contributed to the world of Over You.

3. What advice do you have for people who are in a similar situation as Max?

One of the main themes of Over You is losing yourself in a relationship and putting another person's needs and interests before your own. Max has to find the strength to assert herself and start to believe that she can be safe and strong on her own. I think people in similar one-sided relationships, whether friendships, romantic, family or otherwise, can start by asserting their independence first to themselves, figuring out what they believe in, what they truly enjoy and love and value, on their own, without the other's influence. That self-knowledge and inner strength will naturally lead to behavior and action.

4. Do you have a book/author recommendation for people who have read and enjoyed all of your books?

One of my favorite YA books that really inspired me is Laurie Halse Anderson's Wintergirls. I think fans of my work would love that book. While not necessarily edgy, I think John Green's book have a similar emotional intensity and are just so damn well-written everyone should read him. I also think Courtney Summers is an excellent contemporary YA author. If you want something really dark and literary, Adam Rapp's books are brilliant, especially Punkzilla.

5. Can you tell us anything about your next project?

I like to do a little something different with each of my books, and the next one is probably the most different of all. It's the first time i've ever included a paranormal element, though it's very much rooted in the psychological. I think it still reads like the edgy, contemporary novels my fans are used to, but with an added twist.

The Program by Suzanne Young

In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.
Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.
Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

This book. Woah. I read it in one sitting, and nothing could get me to stop reading. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a book by Suzanne Young, but The Program made me remember just how much I love her writing. From the very first page, The Program had me hooked. The world that Young set up is unforgettable. The characters are extremely well written. And the story keeps you on the edge of your seat. Also, I cried SO MUCH.

I felt so bad for Sloane. Not only is she in a society where suicide is trivialized, she has also been dealt a really bad hand in life. Despite this, she stays headstrong and keeps her goal of trying to beat The Program. James was an equally awesome character. Though at times slightly annoying, I still liked him. It was easy to understand why he acted the way he did, even though I didn’t always necessarily agree with him. Because of this, I was able to appreciate the character more. He was kind towards Sloane, despite being a guarded person.

The Program is an amazing book. I couldn’t stop reading it, and even now- weeks after I finished it, Sloane and James are still in my head. Young is an impeccable writer, and I can’t wait to read the second book in the series. You need to read this book.

FTC- Bought