Review: Evermore by Alyson Noel

Evermore - Alyson Noel
Release Date: February 3rd 2009
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 356
Overall: 5/5

Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch.   Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste… Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition.  He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets.  Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head.  She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is.  Damen equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies.

The only words that seem to come to mind right now are Oh My Goodness. Unfortunately it's been awhile since I have felt this ecstatic about a book, but now that I found Evermore I have no words. The last half of this book I was unable to set it down for longer than to get a drink. Now that I've finished it I know I cannot wait to go and get Blue Moon so I can see what happens next with Ever. I even found out that Ever's little sister Riley has her own book series that I am so excited for as well!

Ever's character is such an easy one to connect with but the things that haunt her add so much more to her. Being the only one to survive an accident claiming the lives of her family has put a burden on ever that she is barely able to cope with. That is until she met Damen and honestly through most of the first half of the book I was trying to figure out his story, thinking him to be the bad guy. I won't say much more because I don't want to give it away to anyone that has yet to start this series, and if this applies to you then you need to go get this book as soon as possible. The ending had me hanging on the edge of my seat trying to read faster to see what was going to happen and flipping a little ahead to make sure it wasn't ending without resolving mine and Ever's questions.

Again I have to say, if you have yet to read this novel and start this series than you need to do it as soon as possible. The beginning is a little slow, but without it I don't think Alyson could have built such an amazing story that is Evermore. I rented this from the library but I know that I am going to have to go and buy this to add to my own personal library, as well as Blue Moon as soon as I am able to. I can already tell that this series is going to my new obsession soon, and that's something that I know I don't mind.

Review: Kissing Annabel by Steven Herrick

Kissing Annabel by Steven Herrick

Release Date: January 27, 2009
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 240
Overall: 3.5/5

Love's a curious thing.Jack is an average sixteen-year-old. He's obsessed with sex, sports, and his maturing body. He's got a lot on his plate, but one issue is constantly on his mind: his mother's death. It's been seven years, but Jack has yet to let her go....That is, until he meets Annabel.Annabel is beautiful, smart, and most important, she gets Jack. Suddenly love makes sense, and the future seems hopeful. And for the first time, Jack feels ready to leave the past where it belongs.

This book is a bind up of Love, Ghosts, and Facial Hair, and A Place Like This. These two books focus on the life of Jack and his family. Something I thoroughly enjoyed is how the perspective of the book jumps from one character to another, focusing on Jack, his sister Desiree, his father, and Annabel throughout the first novel.  I also liked getting to meet more people in the second novel, and seeing their perspective. I feel like I know more about each character than the characters know about each other. It is told entirely through poems, that I have to admit change rhyming schemes frequently, but it doesn't change the pace of the book.


This book is just so adorable, I feel like squealing. Meeting Jack and seeing him grow up and how he develops is enthralling. His relationship with Annabel is just so strong and happens so quickly, just like most young loves do. The entire novel focuses on how love is the core to all and it can help you overcome anything. This message is so strong throughout the entire story and it's moving.


This is definitely a book that I would recommend to someone, anyone really. It's a fast paced story and has quiet a bit of detail for being written in poem form. You can really gain the sense of these characters and their relationships and they develop over the years, yes I said years, Jack starts the novel at 16 and end the novel being 18. I know that's not a lot but for being only 240 pages and being in poems, it goes by quickly. If you are looking for a book with a cute storyline that deals with young love, how it evolves, and how to overcome tragedy, then I would recommend this book to you. It's an easy read with a lot of heart and meaning to it.

Books of 2011 {2}

So I just finished Generation Dead by Daniel waters and I wanted to get my review up as quick as possible. I really enjoyed the book and am super curious to what happens in the next one and where things go for the main character Phoebe. If you're looking for a book with a good amount of suspense then this is the book for you.

Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I really wish I could give this book a full five stars. The ending was moving and the story was very well thought out. I enjoyed it, but getting through the book was tough. I understand why he wrote the zombie speach out the way he did, but it added to the slowness of the book, as well as the drawn out story. I feel that there are parts in the novel that you are given, but nothing clarifies them in the end. Overall it was a good story and I do really want to read the second one to see what happens and how things progress with Adam and Phoebe.

I can't decide if I should post these when I finish a book, or move it to a day specifically for reviews. So over the next week or so I'll be working on setting something up so my reviews may just be once a week.

xoxo Chelsea

Books of 2011 {1}

So the new year has been put into full swing and January is almost over, but I've been trying my best to read as fast as possible. I'll be honest I haven't gotten much done, but I have read a few including the new book my Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi and you can find reviews for them below.

A Shore Thing by Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I have to admit I loved this book. Everyone I talked to before I started it seemed to be against reading it for one reason, the author. But I love anything and everything Jersey Shore, so how could I say no. I finished the book in just two days and couldn't stop laughing the entire time. If you know anything about Snooki you can see the resemblance in main character Gia, even throwing in a few things she's said, and done, on the show. Even if you aren't a fan of Jersey Shore or Snooki I would still recommend this book. It's an amazing book about two cousins who take a month off to go to the shore and end up becoming better people and even closer friends. This book has such a cute story and hilarious antidotes. If your looking for a upbeat and good times kind of book to read I would add this to your list.

The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I have enjoyed this entire series, and the books just get better as they go. With the other books in the series I was able to guess what would happen due to hints in the novel, but with this one I was so engrossed I either missed the hints or they weren't there. It made for an exciting end and a few plot twists to change things up. There were two things that I was unhappy with, first being the final battle and how short it seemed, but I understand that they need to leave most of the big fighting for the final book which is the next book. The other thing I was disappointed with was where it ended. I so badly wanted to know what the conversation Percy and Nico were about to have was about, but it just ended so I'm left hanging and need to get the next one as soon as possible!

Let me know if you've read any of them and what your opinions of them are.
xoxo Chelsea