The Selection Trilogy

Grade: A-/4.75 Stars

Rating: PG (books 1 and 2 PG/ book 3 is PG-13)

Cautions:  Mostly clean. A few instances of violence... And one scene they get close to the line in book three.

This book is a cross between Hunger Games and the Bachelor.  I know, it sounds impossible, right?  Just think of this book as the dystopian version of the Bacherlor TV series.  Oh and add in Prince Charming and maybe Lancelot.  I think that will pretty much cover it.  I absolutely am a fan of this series.  I adore it and highly recommend it. 

So in Book One, we are introduced to America Singer.  She is in a very low social caste and lives in a place that is heavily regulated.  She has no intention of joining The Selection (a dating "contest" to win the hand of the Prince Maxon), but her boyfriend Aspen Leger insists that she do it. Of course they get into a big fight, she is chosen and leaves broken hearted.  I was super sad at first, but then I met the prince and forgot all about Aspen.

Book Two, We learn more about the characters the story advances and America starts to make a decision, to question that decision and finally come to terms. We learn more about the countries roots and founders and more about both of the love interests.  This book served mostly as a bridge between books one and two.  It was good, but it also frusterated me a few times... Okay several times.  Mostly because I hate cliffhangers.

Book Three, Has solidified this series' spot on my "favorites shelf." Now this does not mean that this book is without flaws, because they are there, but, I still really enjoyed it. 

America does have a tendency to do things that make me uncomfortable (ie. not telling Maxon sooner about Aspen) But Maxon pretty much makes up for that. Cause he's awesome. Don't get me wrong he has flaws, but they maybe that's why I like him. He feels so real. The end was wrapped up a little too quickly. There are a few things that I don't feel were thoroughly explained or brought to light. But, I guess that book was mostly about the love story, not the rest of the world as it was in the first two books, so really no surprise there. So... It's forgivable. 
There were a few things that I didn't love which is why I couldn't give these books a solid 5 stars.

(SPOILERS BELOW)
1. The scene where the almost get too physical (not necessary and kinda took away from the innocent love thing they had gong on... Thank you Maxon for putting on the brakes).2. A lot of violence at the end. (more than past 2 books)3. A little too convenient ending. (seemed a bit contrived and rushed, like maybe she was right up against a word count cut off)4. There were a few things that looked like "potential conflicts" (fight with Kota, Kriss's necklace) but nothing really comes of it so those things served no purpose and felt a little added-in.

All this being said, I adore the selection world. I love Maxon the most, America was interesting although some of her choices really drove me nuts, but I liked her enough to care, and Aspen grew on me a little more in this book too. Overall, I would recommend this series, I really enjoyed it. 

The List by Melanie Jacobson

Grade: A/5 stars
Rating: PG

Recommendation: Must read! This and it's companion novel Second Chances are both Whitney Award finalists!

This month it's my turn to host my local book club! And you guessed it, I picked my favorite book, The List by Melanie Jacobson.

If you've been following this blog at all, you know that my love of clean reading, and of LDS fiction in general, began with this book.  (If not, you can read my journey here) so I figured it was about time that I wrote a review on it.

Do the names Jack Weyland Richard Paul Evans sound familiar?  Well, they should. These are some of the authors I grew up reading and if you were an LDS teen growing up in the 19 ::cough cough:: then you probably grew up reading them too.

Let's talk LDS fiction for a minute.  LDS readers seem to have an opinion one way or another about LDS fiction. Many readers like it, but there are also a great many readers who when they hear the term "LDS fiction" put two hands over their ears and run in the opposite direction.  About a year ago, if you had asked me what I thought about it I would probably have told you... "Well, Um... it's cute and fluffy?"... You see, I was a member of the latter group (how shameful- I know).  But now I'm singing a different song and it all started with this book.

What it's about (borrowed from Goodreads):

Ashley Barrett doesn't want to get married. At least, not anytime soon. She doesn't care how many of her friends and family members and fellow churchgoers had weddings before they finished college -- the last thing she needs in her fun-loving twenties is the dead-weight of some guy. And that's why she created The List. By the time she completes all twenty-five goals -- from learning a language to skydiving to perfecting the art of making sushi -- she'll be more ready to settle down. Maybe.

This summer in California is a prime time for Ashley to cross two items off the list: learn to surf (#13) and have a summer romance (#17). And Matt Gibson, the best surf instructor in Huntington Beach and the most wanted guy in the singles ward, is the perfect man for the job. Ashley hatches a plan to love him and leave him before heading off to grad school in the fall (#4, get a master's degree). But when Matt decides he doesn't like the "leaving" part, Ashley's carefully laid plans are turned sideways. Now Ashley faces an unexpected dilemma: should she stick to the safety of The List, or risk everything for a love that may tie her down —- or might set her free?

What I liked:

From the very first sentence I was hooked and I stayed hooked until I finished the book. In full disclosure, I read it about three more times after that and then I bought a hard copy so I could loan it to others. From Ashley's snarky voice, to the twists and turns throughout the book... It was pure serendipity.   There are so many things about this book that I like.  Let's start with the main premise.  If you spent anytime in young women's then you at some point have  probably made a list... But most likely it was a list about what the qualities you want in a mate, what you want to be doing in 1 year/5years/10years or some other marriage related topic.  What I love about the premise is that it turns the list idea on its head and gives Ashley a list of things she wants to do before she will even consider the m-word. So clever!

Now the characters.  Ashley is everything an LDS Young Single adult cliche is not.  Really!  A mormon girl who doesn't want to marry?  That's like a walking contradiction isn't it?  Okay, to be fair, she does want to marry, just not until she completes the list. What a breath of fresh air.   And then there's Matt Gibson.  Just love him!  Matt's character is written so differently than most book boyfriends.  He's cool and suave and gosh.. He was just great.  Perfect.

And this book is funny.  The banter is quick, the comedy witty and the twists and turns? Well,  enough said.

What I didn't like:

Well, if there were things that I didn't like, then I probably couldn't give this the title of my "favorite book" now could I?

So were LDS books of the past predictable? Definitely.  A bit cheesy? Yep (not to say that I didn't love them).  But, thanks to authors like Melanie Jacobson those are things of the past.  I urge you to try this book out if it's been a while since you've read an LDS fiction book. Write on Ms. Jacobson, write on.

Becoming Bayley by Susan Auten

Grade: A+
Rating: PG+
Recommendation: Read it.  NOW.


I have probably read this book about five times now. Really, I'm not kidding.  When I want to read something good, I grab this book and flip open to just about anywhere and let myself get sucked into its pages.

This is one of those books that I wish more people knew about, because it is just so good!  At this time I believe it is only available via e-book and it makes me so sad/mad because it is honestly one of my top five favorite books I've read to date and I'd really like it sitting on my bookshelf (my real one, not my virtual one).

When I first read the set-up and say the cover, I really thought it was a YA book, marketed to LDS youth between the ages of 12-19. And it is, but THIS BOOK IS SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT. 

What I liked:

Everything.

The way Auten writes is like vanilla ice cream smothered in hot-fudge with a red cherry on top... Divine.  She has this way of creating characters that aren't perfect, who are struggling, but are just so real and likable and just perfect. I fell in love with the whole cast. Well, everyone except for Matt's mom.  I loved Bayley.  She felt like a real person to me.  I could picture her going away to soccer camp and getting all dolled up for the dance, I could see her strained relationship with her sister.  I could FEEL her pain each step of the way.  And I fell in love as she fell in love.

And Matt.  Ahh Matt.  More than most book boyfriends, he felt like a real guy to me.  He was so cute, especially with Bayley.  And even better, he surprised me a few times.  I liked all the sides of him I got to see:  Pre-mission, soccer player, son, brother, post-mission... Loved that. He did a few things I wanted to shake him for, but that just made him seem that much more real.  I loved him.

Really, I loved all the characters, but what made this story really special was the storyline and the challenges they encountered along the way.

What I didn't like:

I have nothing to say at all about the story. Loved the beginning, middle and end.

But...Here's the thing.  The cover is beautiful and yes, the book is about soccer, but it's also not, I mean it is, but it's just so much more than just soccer.  It's about Bayley, and her struggles and her quest to find herself, her worth and of course her love story. While the cover is absolutely beautiful, I don't think it does enough justice to the story and unfortunately might  dissuade some readers from buying the book. Ah, I hate saying that because it really is pretty, it just made me think more YA, less LDS romance/BYU.  So when you look at the cover, I want you to picture the back of a gorgeous brunette girls head looking in the mirror, but what she sees is a red-headed girl losing all her hair.  Now on her wall is a poster of all the cute BYU men's soccer team, front and center is her love interest and on her desk is a stack of mail missionary mail and on the floor is a well loved soccer ball.  Okay, that pretty much sums the story up for me... Kinda, sorta?  Okay, I suck at cover art.  But what I'm trying to say is that this story has so much too it than just a soccer ball.

So buy the book and thank me later.   I promise, if you love LDS Romance, you will love this book, there's just no way you won't love it.

The Weight of Love by Jolene B. Perry

Grade: A

Rating: PG +

Content: Clean

Best Quote: Oh I wish I could give you this one, but its too spoilery.  Darn.  Ask me and I'll tell you!

Every so often a book comes along that I kinda fangirl all over. THIS IS ONE OF THEM. I will be honest, I wasn't sure about picking it up. I worried about the subject matter: Mormon missionary falls in love with a single mom? I'll admit, I had my doubts that it could be done without crossing lines, but I gave it a chance. I downloaded the sample and five minutes later I bought the book and a few hours after that I finished it and then one minute after that, I started it all over again. Really and truly I did. Wow...This book! I'm kinda in love with it. The romance, the REAL romance, just hit the spot. The characters were real, they had emotion, they struggled. Oh my. I kinda wish I could get amnesia and read it for the first time all over again. 

Have you heard of Jolene B. Perry? No?  Neither had I, which is absolutely crazy because she has so many books out!  This is me doing a happy dance... And then this amazing gem of a book magically appeared on my recommended list. I'm so glad it did. In fact, I have to go now and buy everything else this lady has ever written. What's unique about her writing is that she writes in first person present tense.  Many/most authors I've read who write this genre of book write it in first person PAST tense.  -ed instead of -es?  Ya with me?  Anyways, the book I am currently writing, no TRYING to write began as third person, which I soon discovered I HATED to write, it then became first person past tense and then I realized that the story was best told in first person PRESENT tense.  Okay, I know that's super rambl-y.  What I mean to say is that this book really attracted me not only for the story (which I loved), but also for the way that this story was written.  I felt like I was experiencing what the MC's were experiencing as they experienced it.  And I love that kind of escape! Way to go Ms. Jolene Betty Perry, you have a fan in me. 

What I liked:  As I hope you've discovered by now I do my absolute best not to spoil any books, ESPECIALLY if it is a book that I really really like and think you should read, So forgive me if this is not as specific as some of my other reviews have been.  Okay... I liked how this book started before it started.  The reader is introduced to Mitchell before he goes on his mission and Jaycee when she recieves life changing news.  I LOVED this aspect of the story.  It added so much depth to the story.  

I also loved the alternating points of view.  The book I'm writing also alternates view points and I have found that I love what it adds to a story.  If you haven't read a book that alternates view points, it can take a little getting used to.  But, I promise that if you give it a chance you will 95% of the time love it.  It's like you get all sides of the story and not just one person's take on it.  So, writing a male's perspective as a female doesn't always work, but Perry seriously nailed it.  I have a tendency to look at missionaries as just that missionaries.  The white shirt and tie wearing elder with a name tag.  I loved that this book brought to life the man behind the badge.  And who wouldn't love Mitchell?  I dare you to try. 

Then there's Jaycee.  Jaycee is a widow and a single mom to a son with special needs.  She is struggling emotionally and financially.  The woman just needed a hug the whole book! And its amazing the angst the author was able to create because Mitchell was unable to fulfill that need.  Jaycee reminded me of so many strong and valiant women I know.  She struggled, but she never lost hold on her testimony.  I was so proud of her and enjoyed watching her learn and grow and watch her put faith in the answers to prayers that she received   Touching. 

I was so nervous that this book would cross the line and in a few parts I read with one eye open only because I so wanted Mitchell to do the right thing and at the same time I just wanted him to SAY something.  Ah... Perry wrote this so perfectly. 

What I didn't like:  Hmm... Um.  I wish the female was brunette not blond? Ya, I've got nothing.  Oh that's not true.  I wish that Perry would write more LDS fiction :)

If you like this book try these:

Mile 21 by Sarah Dunster

Mile 21 by Sarah Dunster

Grade: A
Rating: PG-13 (no language or sexual situations)
Content: Clean (death of a spouse)
Recommendation:  Highly Recommend (Read this book when you really want to FEEL something and have a box of tissues)

Best Quote: The whole dang book was awesome, but I will try to narrow this down.


A few months ago I saw this book and past over it. it kept coming up and I kept passing by it... the cover seemed a little 1980's from the gold rings to the pink rose. Well, I was in a bit of a book slump and this one popped up again, so I decided to try a sample... by page two I was hooked. I'm so glad I read this one!  I recommend this book, its the first book in a LONG time to make me favorites list.

This book is about a girl named Abish who is recently widowed. She is 21, not married, but not "single" and struggling to get through her life as an undergrad at BYU-I. She is training to run the marathon the her husband never was able to run.

What I liked:  Oh Abish, I cried, I laughed, I nearly threw my kindle a few times, but most of all I really rooted for you. I loved this book! Yes it was heartbreaking and I don't usually pick up these kind of books, but something about this book... wow! 

I loved reading Abish's internal monologue.... wait, dialogue? It was so real, so touching. Her bishop/boss was stern, but so perfect, so real. Her roommates, oh wow... made me glad I never had them. Mama, Pen and Suzy... and of course Bob.  Abish felt like a real person to me.  And I mean she was REAL: her emotions,  her depression, her thoughts, her actions.  Sometimes she made choices that made me cringe.  I couldn't believe the things she did at times, and yet, it was exactly right.  I was so curious how the author was able to create such an honest story. Read more about Sarah Dunster's story here. I am amazed at Sarah and her ability to take such a difficult life experience and pour all that emotion into an incredibly beautiful and inspiring story. Don't misunderstand,  Mile 21 is not Sarah's story, it's Abish's; however, the feelings, the emotions, are real and raw and just right. 


What I didn't like: The only thing about this book I didn't like was the characters' names... Bob, not a swoon worthy name...Abish eek hard one to get past, admittedly one of the reasons I kept passing it up. There are others like a girl named Steve and the "turd" too. But the names were the worst part for me... so that is really saying something. 

The pace of the book was a little slower than what I've been reading recently, but it fit the story perfectly.

Content: Clean
(there is talk of the first husband passing away and of miscarriage...)

Split Second (Pivot Point #2) by Kasie West

Grade: A/ 5stars
Rating: PG+
Content: Clean (no language or sexual content)
Recommendation: Read It!

Best quote: "Dad, she's beautiful.  I remember where she was standing..." -Trevor

Kasie West is one talented writer!  Sequels can be very difficult to navigate.  We readers are already invested in the characters and because we love them (otherwise we wouldn't be reading the second book, right?!) we want things to work out the way we want them to work out.  The only problem: we each have our own idea of what exactly that is.

What I am so happy to announce is that West creates a second story in the "Pivot Point" world, that is in and of it's self a great story, but at the same time builds upon the previous book to create its own unique story-not one that is just a rehash of book one or a drawn out conclusion to book one.  While this sequel does wrap up story lines from book one, it also builds (and introduces new) characters and has a story that is 100% its own.


I mentioned in my last review that I have recently been in a "second book slump"... I LOVE the first book of a series, but I have trouble getting into a second book... Well, I believe that this book has officially gotten me out of my slump!  I didn't know what to expect from this book, I new I loved Kasie West, but I wasn't sure how she would write this second book. In her first book, Pivot Point, West alternates between Addie's two paths that she can choose.  At the end of book one we get a great climax and then an ending that is left wide open for book two.  I didn't know how this style would translate into a sequel.  I wasn't sure there was enough room for book two and I didn't know how she would be able to keep up her back and forth between realities style.  Well, let me tell you, West not only does this but she totally ROCKS it!  This book goes back and forth between Addie who is visiting her father in the Norm world and Laila (her best friend who is still living in the Para world.

What I liked:
I liked that this book picked up right where Pivot Point left off.  I didn't feel like I missed any action, I just got to jump right back into the world.  I did re-read a bit of Pivot Point before picking this book up to make sure I remembered all the characters and the story lines. I'm glad I did, because there were a few names and abilities that I had forgotten, and West doesn't spend a ton of time in book two to remind the reader of what is going on (a little, just not much-which I appreciate).  I loved Addie- I knew I would- and I'm glad that she stayed true to character in this book.  While I was a little unsure about reading half a book devoted to Laila's perspective, by her second chapter, I found that I was happy to have her point of view.  I grew to love Laila by the end of the book actually.  This might have more to do with Connor than anything, but still I found I was enjoying both points of view equally. I think that is really saying something.



Of course, I loved Addie and Trevor.  I liked seeing how there relationship grew, how it differed from book one and how it was the same.  I admit that I think book one was a little stronger in terms of there relationship growth, but recreating the beginning of a relationship with the same two characters would be difficult and I DO think that West pulls it off.

The new Laila/Connor story line is great.  I like Laila after reading more of her, but I LOVE CONNOR.  His ability, his use of it, his story, how it all came together... really liked.  I don't want to say too much, because I think you should read the book and experience it for yourselves, but suffice it to say, I don't think you will be disappointed.

I liked that I got to see different sides of old Characters, specifically Stephanie.  I did not like her in book one, but in book two, I got to see her in a new light and that was brilliant I think.


What I didn't like:
Hmm this section is a little tricky because I don't like to spoil anything and some of the things I would have liked to be a little different are specific... I will attempt to keep this as general as possible so I won't spoil anything.  Most of my qualms about this book are very minor and character specific.

The chemistry between Addie and Trevor is good, but not as strong as book one.  I think, like I mentioned earlier, recreating that "first moment" is very difficult to get perfect twice.  (Still good though so don't worry.)  I would have liked to see more scenes that make me swoon, maybe a great kiss or some super sweet gesture that just makes me sigh, like Charles Dickens zombie you know(if you don't get this reference re-read book one before reading Split Second)... They seemed attracted to each other with our really knowing why... Dealing with erased memories and such can be difficult. I found myself wishing that they could both just remember.  I felt so desperate after book one because I knew they wouldn't remember and in book two I never quite got that desperate love feeling.

There are a few conflicts that are really built up and then are resolved way too quickly. There are two or three I can think of right away.  I won't spoil it though.  And in honesty, it didn't bother me so much, because I was happy to keep reading what came next.

I missed Rowan a bit in this book. I liked him in Pivot Point so I thought he would be here, but when I thought a little more on this, I realized that his storyline wasn't necessary and I enjoyed the new characters that were introduced.

Also missing in this book was Brody (he had a few small scenes, but not notable).  And I would have loved to see a small cameo by Trevor's mother, but unfortunately, she was only mentioned in past tense referring to the scene in book one. I can think of one scene that she could have been inserted into easily in this book, in fact I wonder if she was originally in the book and got cut because she wouldn't advance the storyline.  Anyway, not a big deal in the end.

I'm glad that we got a resolution with Addie and her father, but I felt like her poor mother got left hanging... Alone. I like that I got to know her character a bit better, but I would have loved to see her story line a little more wrapped up.  Again, she wasn't the main point of the story and it didn't really bother me while I was reading the book.


Conclusion:
Great book... Go out and purchase it... Go... Now :)

Other Books you may enjoy:

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) by Tahereh Mafi

Grade: A-
Rating: PG-13+/R

Content: A few cautions: There are characters whose language is colorful (soldiers) but it is throughout the book when these characters are present and near end of book there is violence and sexual content (a few short scenes not graphic, but certainly more than I would hope would be in a ya book).
Recommendation: Read it!

Best Quote: "In a world where there is so much to grieve and so little good to take? I grieve nothing.  I take everything... Ignite, my love.  Ignite."

In 2012/13 I finished a number of delicious books, Divergent, Delirium, Eve, The Selection, Birthmarked... Let's just say 2012 was book Nirvana in the dystopian genre for me.  Among those books was Ignite me. 

To be honest, I picked up the first book not really knowing what to expect, my knowledge of this book was limited to it being a 1. dystopian and 2. love story.  So I picked it up and sentence number one grabbed me and sucked me right into the book.

Mafi's writing style was unique, much of the language is in metaphor. The Main Character Juliette, sensors her unwanted thoughts, using strikethroughs like this.  The novel begins in an asylum with Juliette locked up using numbers to distract herself. Between the numbers, the strikethroughs, the metaphors, it literally made me feel like I was locked up in an asylum. The writing was beautiful, almost poetic.

So the way I see it, you either like this style of writing or you don't.  And I my dear reader, loved it.  This series is a trilogy, which begins with Shatter Me; The second book in the series is Unravel Me and the final book Ignite Me concludes the series.  There are also two companion novels: Destroy Me and Fracture Me (combined in one renamed Unite Me).

The last few dystopian trilogies I've read I have been so disappointed in the final book... so I was hesitant to pick this one up because I so desperately wanted it to be amazing. And... it was. It so was. I got what I wanted from this book, lose ends tied up, great love story, etc. This book was a little different from the other two books in the series in that Juliette has grown up. She no longer censures her thoughts and feelings, so there are no more strike throughs for her thoughts, she shares exactly what she thinks and feels despite who it may hurt and she really has learned how to protect herself. I do recommend this trilogy, the way it is written is very different stylistically than 99% of books out there and you will either love it or hate it. I loved it. 

SPOILERS BELOW:Poor Adam. I think maybe the author didn't like him much by book three? I don't know what I was hoping for his character, I just can't help feeling he got that short end of the stick. he just got left hanging. I felt that in book two to a degree, but book three, I really felt for him. He is a good guy, great big brother and I felt sad for him when Juliette "outgrew" him and could be so cold to him. She basically retracts any feelings she had for him in book one and then claims that their only link was Warner. Again, poor Adam. I understand that couples fall out of love and relationships end and I get that her character finally learned to be honest with herself and defend herself, but come on, be humane to the first person to treat you humanely. I don't feel like I got much of a resolution with his character, I kind of just watched him fade away, become angry and emotional and get beat up the whole book. Adam's character ARC was not my favorite, but love triangles are tricky and I was team warner, so in the end... 

Then there is Warner, Aaron. Misunderstood, slightly crazy, Aaron. The guy you love, but kind of hate and completely distrust, but somehow with each new layer and truth you can't help but root for him to win the girl. Their scenes together so good. The conversations and the way each character speaks... so good. Relationships take center stage to action in this book, which I didn't mind. A few issues I take with this book, yes Anderson bullies Juliette, he tries to kill her, but Warner, maybe even Adam, had more cause, in my opinion, to be the one to end Anderson. The entire series builds to this climax, this end, and it felt a little glossed over. Not necessarily rushed, but like the book became less about the story and more about the relationship, again OK with me but maybe not some. I would like to have seen more of a resolution for Adam and for Warner with both of his parents, between Juliette and Adam and was it just me or did anyone else think that Juliette would make absolutely THE worst leader of a country ever! by the end of this series she has just barely harnessed her fatal powers, she is a little too honest, and has become pretty selfish. I don't knows that strength makes you the best leader necessarily. But, I guess it did make for a good ending. soooo.... I know it sounds like I have some misgivings about the book, but it was hard to tear me away from, I really did enjoy it and I would recommend the series. I will read more from this author.

If you like this book you might also enjoy:

Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Divergent by Veronica Roth

Pivot Point by Kasie West

Birthmarked by Caraugh O'Brien