Spies and Prejudice by Talia Vance

Fields’ Rule #1: Don’t fall for the enemy.
Berry Fields is not looking for a boyfriend. She’s busy trailing cheaters and liars in her job as a private investigator, collecting evidence of the affairs she’s sure all men commit. And thanks to a pepper spray incident during an eighth grade game of spin the bottle, the guys at her school are not exactly lining up to date her, either.
So when arrogant—and gorgeous—Tanner Halston rolls into town and calls her “nothing amazing,” it’s no loss for Berry. She’ll forget him in no time. She’s more concerned with the questions surfacing about her mother’s death.
But why does Tanner seem to pop up everywhere in her investigation, always getting in her way? Is he trying to stop her from discovering the truth, or protecting her from an unknown threat? And why can’t Berry remember to hate him when he looks into her eyes?

For some reason, despite the fact that I’ve never actually read Pride and Prejudice, the various adaptations of it fascinate me. Because of this fascination, I jumped on the opportunity to read Spies and Prejudice. There are a lot of Pride and Prejudice adaptations, and this one was one of the better young adult ones. This book is like if Veronica Mars and Jane Austen had a baby. Fantastic.

Berry is a total badass. I loved her. She was a no-holds-barred type of character, and an excellent spy. I loved how devoted she was to the business she was in, and how strong of a character she was. Berry is the type of character that I want to read about all the time. She isn’t afraid to do what she wants or be herself. Then there’s Tanner. Tanner, Tanner, Tanner. I’m not even going to attempt to cover up my love for him. I love Tanner Halston, because he is dark and brooding and basically a horribly irresistible YA love interest. I loved the banter between him and Berry- it was one of my favorite parts of the whole book.

Spies and Prejudice is a novel that will capture you from the very beginning. It’s well written, addicting, and has spies. What’s not to love? Talia Vance is a writer that I’ll definitely be reading in the future. I love her writing style, and the way she sculpts her stories. Spies and Prejudice isn’t an Austen re-make that you’ll soon forget.

FTC- Received from publisher.

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.