Book Review: The Problem With Forever

Title: The Problem With Forever
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publication Date: June 01, 2016
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary
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For some people, silence is a weapon. For Mallory "Mouse" Dodge, it's a shield. Growing up, she learned that the best way to survive was to say nothing. And even though it's been four years since her nightmare ended, she's beginning to worry that the fear that holds her back will last a lifetime.

Now, after years of homeschooling with loving adoptive parents, Mallory must face a new milestone—spending her senior year at public high school. But of all the terrifying and exhilarating scenarios she's imagined, there's one she never dreamed of—that she'd run into Rider Stark, the friend and protector she hasn't seen since childhood, on her very first day.

It doesn't take long for Mallory to realize that the connection she shared with Rider never really faded. Yet the deeper their bond grows, the more it becomes apparent that she's not the only one grappling with lingering scars from the past. And as she watches Rider's life spiral out of control, Mallory must make a choice between staying silent and speaking out—for the people she loves, the life she wants and the truths that need to be heard.

MY THOUGHTS
As heartbreaking as this was, it was sadly too predictable for me. I'm emphasizing the "too" because this was like Perfect Chemistry (Simone Elkeles) meets Until Friday Night (by Abbi Glines) but even without those two books, it's still something I felt like I've already read before that I can already tell what's going to happen next. I didn't also feel the romance much in this book? Like it didn't spark something in me though I did find some of their moments precious and as the story goes on, it does progress.

Despite how I was kind of let down by this book, still, props to the author for tackling neglect and abuse through a girl perspective who's now moving on with her life and looking forward to a bright future. I can't say it was perfect executed but I like how our protagonist is trying her best. It was good reading what goes through her mind when she wants to speak like she's trying to tell herself that it's okay and when she does, she cheers herself up. It was actually cute and heartfelt that this girl with a rough past is not backing down--though she has her moments of wanting to speak but unable to, I still find her determination to be admirable.

I still recommend The Problem With Forever because I'm sure some people will likely be touched by the story.

MY RATING

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Book Review: Be With Me by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Be With Me
Series: Wait For You, #2 (companion)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publication Date: February 04, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary
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Teresa Hamilton is having a rough year—she’s in love with her big brother’s best friend, but he hasn’t spoken to her since they shared a truly amazing, mind-blowing, change-your-life kiss. She got out of a terrible relationship. And now an injury is threatening to end her dance career for good. It’s time for Plan B – college. And maybe a chance to convince Jase that what they have together is real.

Jase Winstead has a huge secret that he’s not telling anyone. Especially not his best friend’s incredibly beautiful sister. Even though he and Teresa shared the hottest kiss of his life, he knows that his responsibilities must take priority. He certainly doesn’t have time for a relationship. But it doesn’t help that all he can think about kissing the one girl who could ruin everything for him.

As they’re thrown together more and more, Jase and Tess can’t keep denying their feelings for each other. But a familiar danger looms and tragedy strikes. As the campus recovers, the star-crossed couple must decide what they’re willing to risk to be together, and what they’re willing to lose if they’re not…

My Thoughts

When Cam's best friend, Jase, and little sister, Teresa, shared the most passionate and intensifying kiss they ever had, things got a bit awkward and different after that. College was another option Teresa had after an injury that caused her to take a break from the thing she loved most: dancing. However, college wasn't as easy as it seems knowing Jase is just around. Ever since their kiss, Teresa had been feeling something for her big brother's best friend. But to Jase, he can't have her no matter how much he wanted to. He's persistent to look at her as "Cam's little sister" and nothing more.

The romance between Jase and Teresa was a bit frustrating because they have this on and off kind relationship. But they're not in a relationship just yet. That's the issue. I love Teresa's character, though. She's brave, understanding and she's the kind of friend you'd want to have. Jase, whoever, put me off a bit. I feel bad for Tess whenever she deals with him. He did have his secrets and heartbreaks but it was definitely not nice to have Tess live up for the love she thinks he might return because he's just like a switch. On and Off settings. But when they're together, they were definitely cute and hot. Though there was the absence of the spark I had when I read Cam and Avery's. Bonus points for the cupcake. Jase is a sweetheart though, despite how much the "put off" thing he made me feel. Other scenes were pretty dark. If you're uncomfortable and sensitive towards dark themes like violence and suicide, I wouldn't recommend you to read this.

Be With Me breathes a very different atmosphere than Wait for You, and I can't help comparing the two no matter how much I find it unfair because these are two different books, different stories and different characters despite the same setting. I enjoyed reading this but I had to admit that it can't ever top Wait for You for me. In Wait for You, I savored every moment but in Be With Me, the moments I like are very selective and not really that memorable. I'm even surprised that even if they're not the main characters anymore, Cam and Avery's moments were the ones I look forward to the most. And my favorite scene? Something between Cam and Avery that I'm sure the readers who love them, including me, would burst in tears mentally due to happiness. One of the few reasons why I gave this book four stars.

I don't know if I would look forward to the next book because it's gonna be Calla's, Teresa's friend. I was hoping for Ollie and Brit because there were definite signs between the two since the first book. Though it was very nice to have a story with them in the Fifty First Times anthology but sadly, so sadly, it's very short. I hope they'd get their own book. Ollie's POV was fun and he's got this softness in him that he shows to Brit.

My Rating:

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Novella Review: Trust in Me

Title: Trust in Me
Series: Wait for You, #1.5
Author: J. Lynn
Publication Date: October 22, 2013
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Cameron Hamilton is used to getting what he wants, especially when it comes to women. But when Avery Morgansten comes crashing into his life – literally – he finally meets the one person who can resist his soulful baby blues. But Cam’s not ready to give up. He can’t get the feisty and intriguing girl out of his head.

Avery has secrets, secrets that keep her from admitting the feelings Cam knows she has for him. Will persistence (and some delicious homemade cookies) help him break down her barriers and gain her trust? Or will he be shut out of Avery's life, losing his first real shot at the kind of love that lasts forever?


My Thoughts:

I wasn't expecting this one to be a sequel like what other people did and they ended up disappointed. I still loved this as much as I loved Wait for You. It was nice to get into Cam's head while he was separated with Avery and this one's a pretty quick read as well. Cam's one heck of a nice guy but the overly perfect kind of character some books depict on their male protagonists which sometimes get irritating because they hardly have flaws.

In his POV, we get to see more of Jase and Ollie. They're Cam's friends and Ollie's his roommate. These two grew on me like Brit and Jacob did in Wait for You. They're the kind of friends you want to hang out and keep forever. They also made me laugh and I'm really liking Jase. Ollie's the funny one while Jase is the understanding one. I also like Cam's family and he's one protective yet a very sweet big brother. His relationship with his little sister was adorable.

Cam and Avery's love story still makes me smile and sigh happily even if it's only a repeat of events but in another person's POV. I was hoping to read more of their future though but sadly, my hopes kinda died down. But I'm still happy with this one and it was good to have me laughing at their bantering moments again.

My Rating:

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Book Review: Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Origin
Series: Lux Series, #4
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publication Date: August 27, 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
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Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys?

Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on?
And will they even be together?

My Thoughts

This was absolutely worth it the wait. And it was by far so good that I had to get a grip on myself. I had a ton of "I didn't see that one coming" reactions. Daemon and Katy are just..too much to handle (in a good and sweet way) and I miss their banter.

This book makes you see what Daedalus are capable of doing and how bad they really are. I've never liked them and I know that I'll never like the people working also. They're a bunch of crazy people. Except Archer, new character, though I won't be filling out lots of details about him except for the fact that I like him.

I had a rough time reading the first parts with Katy's POV. I just feel so bad for her. Opal's ending made me nervous but I'm prepared for the worst that I'll be reading in Origin. Reading what they did to Katy made me loathe Daedalus. Daemon never lost his charm and his awfully good comebacks. So much death in this book and some deaths just aren't meant to be :'(  I'm aching. 

Character flaws, twists and turns, not really a perfect read but nonetheless, I clearly enjoyed it and it made gave a worth-waiting status. But still, some of the events had me scarred. Really scarred. I didn't even do anything aside from reading but I feel so bad for these characters. It gave me an impact that would also gave me the impression of giving it five stars. And so I did.

My Rating:

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Book Review: Frigid by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Frigid
Author: J. Lynn
Publication Date: June 15, 2013
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
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For twenty-one-year-old Sydney, being in love with Kyler isn't anything new. They'd been best friends ever since he pushed her down on the playground and she made him eat a mud pie. Somewhere over the years, she fell for him and fell hard. The big problem with that? Kyler puts the 'man' in man-whore. He's never stayed with a girl longer than a few nights, and with it being their last year in college, Syd doesn't want to risk their friendship by declaring her love.

Kyler has always put Syd on a pedestal that was too high for him to reach. To him, she's perfect and she's everything. But the feelings he has for her, he's always hidden away or focused on any other female. After all, Kyler will always be the poor boy from the wrong side of tracks, and Syd will always be the one girl he can never have.

But when they're stranded together at a posh ski resort due to a massive Nor'easter, there's nothing stopping their red-hot feelings for each other from coming to the surface. Can their friendship survive the attraction? Better yet, can they survive at all? Because as the snow falls, someone is stalking them, and this ski trip may be a life-changer in more ways than one.

My Thoughts

I have a love-hate relationship for this book and I have no idea how to put it. I feel like I've read a ton of fanfiction before with a similar scenario like this: Guy best friend is a player while girl best friend is just a normal girl and they're both in love with each but are afraid to admit it. But the events that come forth are different although that's the key point in the story's plot line.

I think Sydney's lusting more on her best friend at the very first scene in the first chapter but she's still in love. I think her jealousy is the one thing that drives her lust for him. It's hard to figure what she wants though. I had a hard time refraining myself from screaming in front of my e-reader because she's a bit frustrating. Kyler's no exception too. Although I can see he adored her that much but he should really learn from his man-whoring and get a grip from what happened in chapter 19. 

BUT, I liked how things went from after that. The 'This Is Forever' was so cute! Sweet, romantic and cute. I had to picture in my head the grinning Sydney and Kyler during their third grade with matching shirts. Ms. Armentrout could still pull of a cute bit in her stories, no matter how they frustrate and makes me want to snap the senses out of the characters, and that's a very nice thing.


My Rating:

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Book Review: Wait For You by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Wait For You
Series: Wait For You, #1
Author: J. Lynn
Publication Date: February 26, 2013
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance

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Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago—an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe—please God—make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn’t need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she’s building for herself.

Cameron Hamilton is six feet and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, complete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make her want things she believed were irrevocably stolen from her. She knows she needs to stay away from him, but Cam is freaking everywhere, with his charm, his witty banter, and that damn dimple that’s just so… so lickable. Getting involved with him is dangerous, but when ignoring the simmering tension that sparks whenever they are around each other becomes impossible, he brings out a side of her she never knew existed.

My Thoughts

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For waiting for me."

I’m a sucker for romance. Although I honestly am still trying to wrap in my head this New Adult genre, some of the books are pretty good. And I have to say this one is one of them. To add on top of that, it’s by Jennifer L. Armentrout! I have loved her Lux Series and I was surprised to see that this is also one of her works under another name.

Avery’s the new student and while running fast to her Astronomy class, in which she’s terribly late, she bumps into the very handsome Cameron who’s also running late to his class.

I love the story and I have to give credit for Ms. Armentrout because this book had me in tears in the few remaining chapters. Seriously I was moved in some way and my heart was breaking for Avery.

I could say that the book’s cliche but it’s not the type of cliche where I had to roll my eyes because of the flowery and rainbow-filled love confessions or exchange of words. I like Avery but I want to shake her at times because of her fear. I get that she was afraid but she’s got someone who’s there for her, ready to protect her and keep her safe, accept and love her in every way. Yet she keep shutting out people and tried to stay like nothing’s wrong where there absolutely is. I love Cameron. I love how this author’s men (as from what I read in Lux Series) are such gentlemen and caring and just loving. I also love his family, they’re cool and funny. Even Brit, Jacob and Ollie. The only people I want to smack in this book are Avery’s parents. Well, more on her mom. 

I like the banter, the humor and the drama this book has. I like the progress of the relationship even though it had a lot of flaws but somehow, it was proven that even with such painful pasts, it could still work if there’s trust. And plus it’s hot. HOT. I can’t stop smiling and squealing at some moments. Cameron can cook eggs for me every time, I won’t mind.

Lovely book, Ms. Armentrout. Even the tortoise had me smiling.


My Rating:

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Book Review: Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Onyx

Series: Lux Series, #2

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publication Date: August 14, 2012

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
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Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems.

Something worse than the Arum has come to town…

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we’re linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there’s this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that’s possible. Against all common sense, I’m falling for Daemon. Hard.

My Thoughts

Okay, as much as I love this book and series, I had to give this three stars because of my rant on Katy. I like her but in this book, I absolutely want to strangle her. Like for real.

Heroines (and even heroes) and trust issues. From the moment Daemon said that Blake couldn’t be trusted, I believed him because that usually happens to stories. And Katy still refused to believe and trust Daemon so she ended up hurting herself and having someone killed. <spoiler inserted here> And Daemon had the right to be furious. Oh gosh, I got really frustrated towards Katy because of that. Why trust someone you just met who happens to got you almost killed with the so-called “training"? I wanna smack her so bad and I feel so bad and sad for Dee.

I get the part that she doesn’t want to drag Daemon and the rest into her situation but hey, that’s also their business because she’s now “connected" to him and whatever bad things that might happen to her, it’ll only be worse for Daemon.

Then there’s the self-denial. Oh. My. God. After everything that happened, she was still stubborn to admit her feelings for him and I feel Daemon’s pain already. It’s so obvious that he likes her (heck, he loves her) but Katy keeps pushing her feelings away. And what they feel i terribly mutual. I understand that she doesn’t want them both to end up like Beth and Dawson but hey, why not take a risk? If they both believe that they’re strong enough to fight for the worse, then it might be possible right?

I so want to pull my hair out because of what happened. But here are some lovely bonus points I found in this book:

1. Daemon being all sweet and a gentleman. 
2. The Thanksgiving scene between Katy and Daemon. 
3. "I’ve seen dolphins give hotter kisses than that." - BEST. I laughed so hard. 
4. Katy/Daemon arguments. I love with when they argue/fight. So much tension in it that make you think of the hot make-out session after. Ha. 
5. Dawson. I mean, he’s a good thing that happened, right?

I still like Katy. It’s just that in this book, she gives me utter frustration. I can still hold it for Opal. I might read the book sometime this August so that it would be less painful to wait for Origin. I heard Opal’s ending is shocking and it hurts, so I’ll wait.


My Rating:

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Book Review: Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Obsidian

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Series: Lux Series, #1

Publication Date: May 08, 2012

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
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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...

Oh wow, I had fun reading this book and I’m in a bad shape of wanting to read the next one though I need to restrain myself from reading this series fast so that it would be less painful waiting for Origin coming out this August.

Katy and her mom recently moved to West Virginia three years after her dad’s death. She’s the kind of person who loves to read and blogs and just stay in her room trying to avoid the sunlight during summer.

So when her mom told her about their neighbors who are siblings and happened to be the same age as hers, she’s quite in for an unexpected events, a bucket of questions and the neighbors slash siblings who happen to carry a big secret..

Throw in some trust issues here, secrets over there, some witty-wits and bantering here, fighting here, love-hate relationship there and another round of trust issues which can’t ever be ignored. Add in a sprinkle of friendship and family relationship and put an obsidian on top like a cherry…or a star on the Christmas tree. That seemed kind of relevant for this story.

Katy, she’s likable for me. I feel like I’m her: runs a blog, reads and loves books, rather stay in my room and face my laptop rather than go mingling with friends or strangers to make friends, boring but not really.

Dee, I like her. She’s sweet and friendly and..nice. And as for Daemon, hot and gorgeous guy with an irritating smirk and moody personality that sometimes make him a sweet boy-next-door, he was absolutely a douchebag and a jerk and somewhat overprotective over Dee and at times, I feel bad for Katy because of him. I get the part that he’s trying to protect Dee because “she’s all he has left" but I don’t think that hurting Katy is a good thing. But as I progressed into the story, he’s warming up to me and I find him interesting and funny. Well his and Katy’s bantering is fun.

AND KATY’S MOM~ I like her mom.

"How about I show up in my undies?"

“That would definitely make an impression.”

“Mom! You’re supposed to yell at me and tell me that’s not a good idea!”

and this one

"Honey, are you sure you’re feeling okay? Do you need anything? Some chicken soup? Hugs? Kisses?"

Aww haha. I wish my mom still ask me those kind of questions but nah. Anyway, like I said, I had fun reading this and I definitely look forward to reading the next book. I sure wish I bought the first two books together but I was determined to buy only one book that time. It was so tempting but I held back. Heck, even the bookstore’s cashier told me this was great. He was right ;)

My Rating:

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