Book Review: Dear Thing

Goodreads Synopsis:
Claire and Ben are the perfect couple. But behind the glossy façade, they’ve been desperately trying – and failing – to have a baby for years. Now, the stress and feelings of loss are taking their toll on their marriage. Claire’s ready to give up hope and get on with her life, but Ben is not. And then Ben’s best friend, Romily, offers to conceive via artificial insemination and carry the baby for them.

Romily acts in good faith, believing it will be easy to be a surrogate. She’s already a single mother, and has no desire for any more children. Except that being pregnant with Ben’s child stirs up all sorts of emotions in her, including one she’s kept hidden for a very long time: Ben’s the only man she’s ever loved.

Two mothers—and one baby who belongs to both of them, and which only one of them can keep.

My thoughts on the plot:
When I read the plot of this book I was intrigued to read it right away. It seemed like such a beautiful, but at the same time super sad story. I don't know anyone who has ever used a surrogate, so it was a topic that I knew little about, and that was also something that made it interesting. I love young adult books, but once in a while it is nice to read more adult books, with topics that can actually happen in real life. 

My thoughts on the characters:
I think this is almost the first book where I have actually really liked all the characters. No one was annoying at all, they just seemed like really, genuinely good people. I had no problems understanding why they said or did certain things.
Romily has got to be the best friend anyone can have. She is ready to be a surrogate for her best friend, and the love of her life, even though she knows the child will never be hers. She could definitely have been more egoistic in this situation, which I think most people would have been. But she chooses to put someone else's needs and wants in front of her own.
But Romily was not the only non selfish person in this book. The same can be said about Claire. All the things she had to go through, but still be able to remain unselfish and nice is inspiring. I felt so bad for her so many times throughout this book. The way it must feel to not be able to have a baby, and then let someone else carry it for you..tough. And when she found out that Romily is in love with her husband..OMG my heart just broke for her. The hopelessness she must have felt.
Romilys daughter, Posie, was such a lovely little creature with a big imagination and a great heart.
The male characters in the book, Ben and Jarvis, were also great guys.
All in all I found myself wanting all the characters to have a happy ending, even though I saw that that wouldn't be so easy.

All in all:
This was a very beautiful and devastating book at the same time. I found it to be a little bit slow in the beginning, but towards the end it really had me hooked. I couldn't wait to see how it all would end, and who if any, would get their happy ending.
I enjoyed getting a view into a surrogate situation. It really is a beautiful thing, but there is also so many things that can go wrong, and so many people who can get their feelings hurt. It's not something anyone can take lightly. 
It is not the best adult book I have read, but I would still recommend it to others because it was really enjoyable, especially towards the end.

A great book, but because of a little slow start I gave it:

…

Elin

Book Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

Goodreads synopsis:
Mara Dyer doesn’t think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can’t remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
There is.

She doesn’t believe that after everything she’s been through, she can fall in love.
She’s wrong.

My thoughts on the plot:
When I read the synopsis for the first time, I was sooo intrigued by it. It just sounded so mysterious, and I love mystery. The plot is pretty vague, but still it sounds like the book can be so great. I had no idea how this book would turn out, but that was what was so interesting about it. And then I read what other people said about the book, and it got so many great reviews. My expectations were so high, and I couldn't wait to dive into it. The third book has just come out, so I decided I finally had to get around to reading the book. And I am so sad to say that it was a disappointment, and did not live up to the expectations.

My thoughts on the characters:
The main character Mara was ok, nothing more. I thought she was a bit boring, and sometimes a bit annoying. I didn't really like Noah either. In the beginning he seemed ok, but then throughout the book he just got annoying. And I found myself not caring about their relationship. I didn't care if they ended up together or not really. It was boring.
I liked Mara's brother Daniel. He seemed like a genuinely good guy. But that's it. I didn't get sucked in by the other characters.

All in all:
I am so disappointed that I didn't like this book more then i did. I felt like it could have been so great, but it just wasn't. There was way to much focus on the relationship building between Mara and Noah, and not enough of the mystery that I wanted. 
Sometimes I also felt like pages were missing in the book, cause I found myself wondering what happened several times. There was a lot of stuff that just didn't make sense to me, and that I didn't understand why was even in the book. Some events that happened was also just to weird for my taste. I was hoping that some of it were just dreams, because it was so unbelievable, but no they were real…meh.
Even though the book ended with a pretty interesting cliff-hanger, I don't think it will be enough for me to continue on with this series unfortunately. But there is so many great books out there, so I don't wanna spend time reading what I don't like.
I ended up giving this book a 3 star rating. The cliff hanger bumped it up a little for me.

---

Elin

Book Review: Cinder

Goodreads Synopsis:
Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.  

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

My thoughts on the plot:
I've never read a book with cyborgs before, so I was intrigued by this synopsis. And the fact that it is dystopian made it even more appealing. Obviously, all the hype about the book also had a lot of influence on me.
But the synopsis sounded very interesting, and therefore I decided to pick it up.

My thoughts on the characters:
Cinder was such a great main character in this book. Her life was pretty bad, but she still had hopes and goals to make that change. She was tough, but not to tough, which I feel happens to a lot of main characters. I like when characters are believable, and I feel like Cinder is that. She had a tender side, but was never whiny.
The prince was charming, but sometimes i felt like he needed to toughen up a little bit more. But all in all a good match for Cinder, and I understand why she would be attracted to him.
Other then that I also enjoyed Cinders little android friend Iko, and her stepsister Peony. They were both a good support for Cinder.
You always need a villain in a book, and I thought Levana was an interesting villain. And I can't wait to see how powerful she really is. Cause I'm afraid she can do a whole lot of damage throughout this series.

All in all:
I loved this book, and I loved reading about a new dystopian world with cyborgs, lunars and humans. It was something totally new to me, and I really liked it. It is also a fairytale retelling of Cinderella, hence the Cinder name, and that is also something new to me. But I liked this take on Cinderella, and I thought it was made very original and interesting.
I felt for Cinder so many times throughout the book, and so many bad things happened that really made me feel sad.
The one bad thing I will have to say about this book is that the revelation made at the end of the book was very given. I figured out that secret very early on, and I felt like it was to obvious to make it a wow moment.
But other than that this book was such a great read. I would definitely recommend it to other people. And I know for sure that it won't be to long before I get my hands on the second book, and continue with the series.
In the end I had to give this book:

….

Elin

Book Review: The Selection

Goodreads Synopsis:
For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

My thoughts on the plot:
When I first heard of the Selection, it was being compared to the TV-show "The Bachelor", and I kind of thought, "meh, can that be any good?". But then I read the synopsis, and also the reviews from other readers, and I was intrigued. As I have also said before, Dystopian is one of my favourite genres out there. And this sounded like such an original take to a dystopian world. And I also have to admit, besides the fact that I did think the book sounded interesting, I was also drwan to the cover. It\s just gorgeous.

My thoughts on the characters:
I really like all three main characters in this book, America, Aspen and Maxon.
America is just such a great human being. She thinks about others, but she also manages to think about herself and what she wants. Even though the life she lives is hard, and she and her family doesn't have a lot of money, she is still able to stay positive and believe that everything will be alrigth. She doesn't care about how much money she has, as long as she will be able to be with her true love. I really like that about her.
Aspen and Maxon are both great guys. And I havne't been able to find a favourite between the two. Usually I can pick which one I want the main character to end up with. But with these to I haven't been able to choose.
Besides the main characters, there are other great people in the book. For instance America's little sister May. She is hilarious. I also like one of the other contestants competing with America, Marlee. She is such a cute person, and a good friend to America.
Obviously you also need a bitch in a book like this, and Celeste fills that role to a tee.

All in all:
I really enjoyed this book a whole lot, and I flew through it. The original plot made it very fun and exciting to read. Most of this book was about world bulding, and getting to know the characters and how the selection really worked. I always think the first books in dystopian series are so interesting because of the world building that usually takes place in these. Some action happened, but I am expecting that a lot more will happen in the next book.
The love drama in the book was also really good. As I mentioned with the characters, I could not choose my favourite between the two guys. And that is a good love triangle for me.
I cannot wait to get my hands on "The Elite" and get to continue on with the series. Hope it is as good as the first one.


I gave this book a 4.5 stars.

….

Elin

Book Review: Torn Away

Goodreads synopsis:
Jersey Cameron has always loved a good storm. Watching the clouds roll in and the wind pick up. Smelling the electricity in the air. Dancing barefoot in the rain. She lives in the Midwest, after all, where the weather is sure to keep you guessing. Jersey knows what to do when the tornado sirens sound. But she never could have prepared for this.

When her town is devastated by a tornado, Jersey loses everything. As she struggles to overcome her grief, she's sent to live with relatives she hardly knows-family who might as well be strangers. In an unfamiliar place, can Jersey discover that even on the darkest of days, there are some things no tornado can destroy?

My thoughts on the plot:
I have never read a book like this. The plot was what made me want to pick it up. It just sounded interesting and devastating at the same time. A natural disaster like a tornado, is something that I will never be able to fully understand how it feels like, because I live in a country where tornadoes never happen. But I wanted to read about it, to get a better understanding of what some really unlucky people actually have to go through. It sounded like a book that gets you're thoughts going, and I like that.

My thought on the character:
I liked the main character in the book, Jersey. And I felt sad, angry, devastated, happy along with her. I had absolute understanding for the times she freaked out or got really angry. What she had to go through was so sad, and I felt so bad for her.
Her little sister Marin was so funny and cute, and I loved all the fun things she did.
But OMG, her fathers family were awful. I hated them so much, and I really couldn't stand them. 
Her mothers parents on the other hand, was absolutely lovely, and I immediately became fond of them.

All in all:
This is a super sad book, but at the same time it also has a lot of great and beautiful moments. I can't begin to imagine how it would be to go through something as heart breaking as Jersey. I loved following her through all her ups and downs.
This book really makes you think about all the small things in life that we take for granted. You really don't know how lucky you are until you lose it.
But most importantly this book shows you how family and friends is the most important thing you've got, and how important it is to treasure this.
This book was very good, and I ended up giving it:

….

Elin

Book Review: Legend

Goodreads synopsis:
What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

My thoughts on the plot:
I love dystopian books, and I always find that their synopsis' sounds so interesting. The synopsis of legend is no exception. It sounded so good, but I have to say I was a little bit disappointed in the beginning. One thing I find very interesting with dystopian books, is the world building. Usually the world is totally different from the world we live in, and I enjoy seeing how the different authors choose to do it. In this book I felt like it lacked a lot of world building. I found myself wanting more.
But as I got through the book, more interesting stuff started happening, and more secrets about the world was revealed. Obviously those secrets couldn't be revealed in the beginning, cause that would just spoil the surprise, so as I got more into the book I could kind of see why Lu chose to do the world building the way she did.

My thoughts on the characters:
The two main characters, Day and June, was great. I also love to read from several peoples perspective, which you get to do here. They were pretty tough both of them, and I liked that. The love between them was a little bit boring though, but that might pick up in the next books.
The only thing I missed was like a funny character. Usually books contain a funny friend, and I always seem to really enjoy reading about them. So I wish a character like that was in the book. But who knows, maybe it will come later on.

All in all:
I wasn't super sucked into this book, and I did think it was a bit disappointing in the beginning. But with that being said, it really picked up throughout the books. Shocking secrets were revealed, and I found myself very interested in finding out "what's happening next".
I will definitely pick up the next book in the trilogy.
In the end I ended up giving this book:

….

Elin

Waiting on Wednesday #3

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. This is a meme where you can share upcoming releases that you are waiting for.

This week I chose Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

Release date: October 14th, 2014

Goodreads synopsis:
A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making.

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.

My thoughts:
This just sounds like such an interesting book, with a mix of fantasy and dystopian. That has to be the recipe for success. It looks like this is going to be a trilogy, and who doesn't like a good YA trilogy. This is definitely high on my wishlist.

To discover more upcoming releases, click HERE.

….
Elin