A companion to My Acceptable Love Triangles post :)

**Firstly, I would like to say that though I list these love triangles as ones I hate, it by no means reflects on the author--that is to say, most of these authors are among my favorites. Even if I hate what they did romantically, I still enjoyed their series... and also, though I disagree with their decision to do create these situations, I still admire and respect them.

**Secondly, I welcome any and all opinions.  I have a feeling many of you will disagree with me.

1. Jem/Tessa/Will

• What: the Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare
• When: throughout the trilogy (or so I'm guessing)
• Why: Let me first say that I love Cassandra Clare's writing and the world she's built... but I'm on the opposite field--I completely disagree with Malinda Lo when she says that love triangles are at their best when the love interests are all interconnected.  To me, that just means the love triangle is unnecessarily dramatic.  There was a time when I liked the same guy as my friend, but I stepped aside and didn't let the guy know, because I valued my friendship more than that.  And though all that has been released of the Infernal Devices trilogy is the first book, I worry that though the guys may not actively fight against each for Tessa, it will eat away at their friendship... Which could be avoided... if there wasn't a triangle in the first place!  SO much drama!  Argh. And worse is that I actually like the characters, the romantic interests, but instead of making me Team Jem or Team Will, it effing pisses me off.

2. Gale/Katniss/Peeta

• What: the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins
• When: throughout the trilogy
• Why: One, Katniss is a fighter so it seems absolutely ridiculous to me at least that she would be caught up in something like a love triangle. Two, I absolutely hate the way this was resolved. Gale makes one mistake and bam, he's out of her life. While this says something about Katniss, it also seemed like Ms. Collins didn't really know how Katniss would choose between the two and just made a situation that was impossible to ignore.  Also, I hate that just because one guy made a mistake means that the other guy is automatically assumed "in" with the girl.  I feel like Katniss would have been the perfect protagonist to be like 'eh, sorry, I don't need either of you.'  (Which would be such an interesting addition to YA.)

3. Puck/Meghan/Ash

• What: the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa
• When: throughout the series
• Why: I don't understand what is the purpose of this love triangle.  And for it to even work, you need the interests to actually show interest in the character.  Puck's attempts to woo Meghan felt meager at best in the second book. Puck never had never a chance, so why make the best friend fall in love with the protag.?  More unnecessary.  Also, am I the only one to think that it's incredibly creepy that Puck, who knew Meghan since she was six (I think?) and who is a centuries old fairy, would fall in love with her?  (Even the Ash thing is a little creepy, but at least Ash didn't watch her grow up and didn't continually pant over her.  Also, the fact that Puck calls Meghan Princess all the time--yes, she was a Princess, but gah, more creepiness in my opinion!) The most I could glimpse from this love triangle is that Ms. Kagawa wanted to make Puck willing to follow Meghan through any crazy plan she had, but really, with Puck's personality, it seems rather trite and unnecessary.  Seems like he'd follow her anyways.

4. Adrian/Rose/Dimitri

• What: the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead
• When: Mostly books 5-6
• Why: Because, just like with Hunger Games, we knew who the protagonist would end up with.  Whenever that happens, it again feels unnecessary. Rose wasn't struggling with choosing who made her her; she was struggling with the fact that Dimitri had rejected her.  She turned to the nearest available guy, which was a completely mean move on her part.... And added more drama when one guy got hurt due to her actions and what she knew was wrong.

5. Shay/Calla/Ren

• What: the Nightshade series by Andrea Cremer
• When: throughout the series
• Why: I love Andrea Cremer's writing and I love that there are such sexy scenes in her YA books--that she doesn't shy from addressing a girl's libido... but to me, this triangle isn't necessary.  It is sort of like Calla is choosing two different sides--questioning her destiny and (perhaps) trusting the Searchers with Shay or accepting what has already been chosen for her with Ren--but neither "side" feels like it's one half of her identity. Calla is still a wolf around Shay and will never stop being a Guardian regardless of her choice to ally herself with the Searchers, and in his ignorance, Ren isn't even really *on* the other side either; if he was, maybe this triangle would acceptable--it would then be a choice between what side of the War to fight on and would reflect Calla's beliefs... And the feminist edge to the story would really shine if Ren was less nice. But as it stands, it seems like a tortured love affair which distracts the warrior side of Calla from seeing that, hey, choosing one dude over the other isn't the end of the world.

6. Cam/Luce/Daniel

• What: the Fallen series by Lauren Kate
• When: Book 1
• Why: Because it wasn't even developed!!  It was like, hey, Cam is showing Luce interest for what purpose? For what end is he trying to tempt her and why is he fighting for her? And later on, it was never explained why he liked Luce; it seems more like he just wanted to piss Daniel off though really, his interactions with Luce didn't come off that way at all.  On the other hand, the Miles/Luce/Daniel triangle is interesting because that actually reflects what Luce believes--whether or not she'd choose "everlasting" love with Daniel despite its cursed edge or settle for normalcy with Miles... But what do you know?  Again, it was only in Book 2 aka only in one book of the series.  If you're going to do a love triangle, at least stick with it.

7. Jacob/Bella/Edward

• What: the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer
• When: Books 2-4
• Why: Because really, if you hate love triangles, this one is pretty much the prime example of what's wrong with them. Two guys interested in the same girl (though I will never understand why) and the girl is "torn" between them though you know who she will choose in the end etc. etc. etc.

Other examples: the Summer series by Jenny Han, the Wither trilogy by Lauren DeStefano, the Immortals series by Allyson Noel, the Matched trilogy by Ally Condie etc. etc.

In case you haven't noticed, I pretty much hate drama... and to me, any type of it which seems to be unnecessary makes the love triangle be more of a gimmick than anything else.

But what really bothers me is that love triangles make the character look worse... makes me dislike the character... because it's really not fair to both people to string them along just because you can't choose who you think "will be better for you."  Or who you think you like more.

What I usually like about contemporary novels is that thankfully, they usually don't have love triangles (except for Stephanie Perkins's work, which I think works fine for her plots).

Also... I think that there's about an 85% chance that if a book includes a love triangle, I will hate it.

What about you :)?  Agree / Disagree?  More to add to the list?

At this point, you're probably thinking, wait, did I read that title right?  To which I say... Yes, you did because even I, a self-professed love triangle hater, can acknowledge that there are some love triangles which actually advance a story, and ever since Malinda Lo's defense of love triangles, I've been thinking about which ones I might say I thought were acceptable...

**Spoilers maybe if you haven't read some of these books.  I mostly speak in general terms but still thought I should warn you regardless.

1. Mimi/Jack/Schuyler

• What: the Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz
• When: Books 1-4, I think
• Why: Because for one, hallelujah, it's a boy who's choosing between two equally acceptable girls.  And two, Schuyler is the girl from the 'light' and her mother is the Angel all the other fallen vampiric angels follow... while Mimi is Jack's other half, the other pair to the dark Angels.  Having a love triangle where Jack is essentially choosing between light and dark and which side of himself he wants to embrace, regardless of whether or not his choice will lead to his death, is acceptable, I think.

2. Seth/Aslinn/Keenan

• What: the Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr
• When: throughout the series
• Why: To be honest, I'm a little iffy about this one. It was painfully obvious from the start who Ash would choose but the triangle was directly tied to the plot.  If Keenan and Ash got together, then Donia as the scorned Winter Queen would forever be their enemy.  If Seth and Ash got together... well, then, where does Keenan the Summer King fit and how would their subjects react?  In general, there is something to be said about how Marr resolved this issue.  Resolving it via plot and also having the guy get a backbone / some pride and back out before it's too late = win win situation.

3. David/Laurel/Tamani

• What: the Wings series by Aprilynne Pike
• When: throughout the series, but I've only thought it was OK in Illusions; the rest bugged me.
• Why: I absolutely hated this love triangle in the first two books.  It seemed much more trite and dramatic than need be, but in Illusions, I finally grew to like it.  Why?  Because it finally started to reflect Laurel's inner struggles and what type of life she wanted to choose.  Finally it seemed like David was the guy who represented the SAT scores and the college admissions and who would stay by her side through all the "normal" activities while Tamani was the guy who would always understand Laurel's faerie activities, who would take her to Avalon, and who has known her her whole life.  And more importantly, I loved that Laurel actually said NO to both guys (though it was kind of weak since she and Tamani have make-out sessions after that).

4. Damon/Elena/Stefan

• What: the Vampire Diaries series by L.J. Smith
• When: throughout the series though I don't think they portray Damon's role well enough in the t.v. series
• Why: Because to me, they represent two different sides of human nature.  In the t.v. series, Damon is much more tame; he has his vampiric moments when he's like screw-all-of-you-i-will-kill-this-chick but most of the times, he seems to fight for Elena's affections by struggling to be the better man.  Which is not how I remember him from the books.  In the books, Damon is very much the "dark prince." He is glad to be a vampire; he revels in taking blood from other people and influencing others. He doesn't apologize and is increasingly stubborn. I can't remember him ever denying his nature as "the bad boy." I think he even asks Elena to be his Dark Queen or something like that... Whereas Stefan is the tortured soul fighting for his humanity.  He is the "good guy."  So to me, it makes sense that there would be a love triangle; naturally, Elena would choose the good guy... but we all have some darkness in us so she also somewhat identifies with Damon.  (This is where the t.v. series screws up... especially with this season.  Role reversal much?)

Basically, the only ones I find acceptable are the ones that tell you something about the character... and even then, I still don't like to read them.

Anddd, either my brain is fried or I literally cannot think of other love triangles I find acceptable.  My companion post (Hated Love Triangles) will be put up tomorrow.  Let's just say that that list is much longer than this one :).

What do you think?  What triangles do you find acceptable?  Do you agree / disagree with the ones I've listed?

I welcome any and all opinions :).

Release Date: November 8, 2011
(Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this!)
Published by: Roaring Book Press

No spoilers from the first novel in my review though this summary is spoilery so watch out!

Prized (Birthmarked #2) by Caragh O'Brien

Striking out into the wasteland with nothing but her baby sister, a handful of supplies, and a rumor to guide her, sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone survives only to be captured by the people of Sylum, a dystopian society where women rule the men who drastically outnumber them, and a kiss is a crime.  In order to see her sister again, Gaia must submit to their strict social code, but how can she deny her sense of justice, her curiosity, and everything in her heart that makes her whole?

Ten Likes/Dislikes


1. (+) Gaia, the Protagonist - Gaia's always a delight to read.  She's incredibly mature and strong, easy to relate with.  Someone comments that she seems older than she is, and it's true.  She shoulders responsibility so well, and I love reading about her midwife experiences.  Her perspective is so different from everything else out there in YA.
2. (+) Character Development - What I really, really love about both of Caragh O'Brien's novels is that there's such great character development.  She gets this stuff right.  In a way, though I later complain about the plot of this novel, the main tension feels like Gaia's finally coming into her own, and that much I do love.  And in general, I love the host of characters she has brought to this novel.
3. (+) The Romance aka Love Square - I know a lot people didn't like this aspect to the novel, but I actually think it worked and is realistic here.  (Me: person who hates love triangles is saying this).  I can see this kind of situation happening when there is an abundance of men and they are competing for the women's attention... especially since Gaia is new and the only midwife--she would be that mysterious one people would go for.  Also, Gaia's interactions with these men are all different, so it was easy to see her getting pulled in different directions.  Two of the men and their affections for her were definitely necessary to advancing the plot (in that would the guys have truly done what they did had they not liked her?).  The last one is a bit iffy.  Her interaction with him helped the plot, but was it necessary for them to have feelings for each other?  Not quite sure.  Regardless, though, I think it also helped that Gaia laughed at the absurdity of the situation--the love square as she calls it--and that it was well-written and with likable characters.
4. (+) The Idea - The idea of this sounds amazing.  Not amazing in the sense that I would wish for it--just that it sounds so creative.  A society with women ruling and a shortage of men and there's varying levels of societal organization for both men and women based on fertility and hell, a kiss is considered attempted rape?  I don't know; I just really loved the way things played out in this society.  It seemed like Ms. O'Brien planned all the details so well, making sure they fit.
5. (--) The Plot (Sequel? Felt more like a companion novel) - But at the same time.... another dystopian society?  Another scientific mystery for Gaia to solve?  It just didn't feel like a sequel at all.  This book had its own plot and was so disjointed from the first that it really should have just been a companion novel (the only connector was the emotional consequences of the first novel (i.e. Gaia's grief over what happened in Birthmarked but there were no plot connectors)).  Gaia had her past and there were a few other elements brought forward from Birthmarked but other than that?  No climbing tension because of the plot from the first book.  And I can't really predict how the third novel will turn out.  Based off these, though, there will probably be yet another scientific dilemma that Gaia and  others will need to solve but hopefully all three will connect better than these two had; hopefully, the new dilemma will join together the ones which were in the first and second books.
6. (+) Elements from the First Book - I did really love the parts that Ms. O'Brien chose to bring from Birthmarked into Prized.  I don't want to spoil the book for you so I won't say which elements were brought, but they worked well for the story I think.
7. (+/-) Villain - I'm not really sure how I feel about the villain.  On one hand, it's good to have a villain who feels like a real person and who really believes in her cause, but on the other, the villain was defeated so easily, it seemed.  She did not seem cruel enough.  In Birthmarked, the villains were both cruel and hard to escape; there were several scenes with them.  The villain here in Prized felt less... antagonistic... and there were fewer obstacles than I had hoped.
8. (+) The Writing - As usual, Caragh O'Brien's writing is wonderful and easy to read.  There were a few times when I questioned whether or not Gaia, who O'Brien says cannot read all too well, would know such big words, but other than that, her writing is very pleasurable.
9. (+) The Pacing - What's funny is that when I read Birthmarked, I hated the pacing.  I think I'm okay with it this time around because I already expected it.  There's a certain consistency to O'Brien's writing.  If you liked it in Birthmarked, you'll surely like it in Prized.  Same goes for pacing of the stories.
10. (+/-) The Cover - I think this cover and the new cover for Birthmarked look nice together, but I'm not really sure what is on this cover. (To be honest, I'm not quiet sure why the book is even named Prized.  Birthmarked made sense; it was basically what drew the book together.  But what exactly is the prize?  Maya?  Gaia becoming her own?)

Prized by Caragh O'Brien was an enjoyable read for its great protagonist, romance, and character development but a disappointment as a sequel.  I still cannot fathom why it is the second book in a trilogy rather than a companion novel. (Perhaps it would've been better had the main character been Maya instead of Gaia.  I'm not sure if it could be called a companion novel if it has the same MC).

Seven things which I think are currently lacking in YA... and that I want to read more of...

1. Psychological Thrillers

Because when done right, they can be SO awesome.  That's why The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin and Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick are two of my all-time favorite reads.  I put Becca Fitzpatrick here because although her books have paranormal elements, the most important part are actually the relationships and knowing who to trust.... which is why I did not put Hush, Hush down until I had finished it.  Good psychological thrillers are the types that I am devoted to until the very last page--I am with the protagonist every step of the way, also trying to solve the mystery.

2. Romance Where the Boy is Chasing the Girl

Because face it: how many YA romances have you read where the girl goes on and on about  the beauty of the romantic interest, and that's what seems like defines their relationship?  I'd like to see it where the boy is the one with the insecurities for once.  I hate seeing that sort of helplessness portrayed in so many female YA protagonists.  It's not something I'd want to be propagated as a descriptor of my gender.

Great examples: Beautiful Creatures series by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl and the Firelight series by Sophie Jordan

**One thing that I HATE HERE is if it's one of those romances where the guy is chasing after the girl, but the girl has virtually no personality so it's hard to understand why he would even be chasing her.  I think you guys all know which example I'm thinking of ;P.

3. A Romantic Interest Whose Beauty Isn't Emphasized:

Yeah, yeah, it's an ideal world, and everyone is beautiful and we want that for ourselves too, but it's just not realistic.  Awesome example in paranormal is Paranormalcy by Kiersten White.  Lend is a great romantic interest because of his interactions with Evie, not OHMAHGAWD HIS EYES ARE SO GREEN, I JUST WANT TO DROWN IN THEM!  (His eyes aren't actually green ;P).  Awesome example in contemporary is What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen.  For me, at least, there's nothing more romantic than actually believing the guy is real and that the relationship can exist.

4. Attitude.

I mean writing a protagonist who's unforgettable in some way because of his/her attitude.  Divergent by Veronica Roth - Tris's flaw: lack of compassion; definitely not something I've read before.  Definitely makes it harder to empathize with Tris but also showcases Roth's writing in that she pulled this incredible feat off.  Hourglass by Myra McEntire & Hex Hall / Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins - Emerson Cole & Sophie Mercer have got plenty of attitude and a sarcastic streak that makes those books so much more enjoyable.  Nightshade by Andrea Cremer - Calla Tor isn't afraid to take charge and snap back at the men who want to assert control over her.  I lovelovelove the strong female protagonist.

Ohman, I was just reading a book--which shall go unnamed for the author's sake--where the protagonist was thinking about her PEDICURE when her boyfriend was examining her sprained ankle.  If your ankle had been hurting so badly that you couldn't even walk earlier, why the hell isn't it now?  And you're telling me that through your pain, your major concern is going to be your TOENAILS?!

Point being, the nice, sweet, sometimes even quirky protagonists are a dime a dozen nowadays.  Give the girl/guy some spunk.  A sarcastic protagonist is also overdone so hopefully the sarcasm also coincides with something else that really makes him/her stand out.

5. Romantic Interests Who Already Have History with the Protag.

It's always about meeting the new person.  Why can't the romance in a YA novel involve someone the protagonist already knows?  Someone he/she already made out with?  I'd love to see more of that sort of evolution.  Those type of relationships happen a lot in adult romance novels - the rekindling of the sparks - so why can't it happen in YA?  I know many writers talk about how they love writing for teens because teens are so volatile and so many things can change and blah blah blah (no offense intended, but you get my point).  So why can't we see this?  The true example of changing hormones--seeing someone in a different life?  This does happen occasionally in YA contemporary novels but definitely not as often as the whole insta-love scene for paranormal.  Which...needs...to...change.

Great Example: The Summer series by Jenny Han because it's all about Belly's history with the Fisher boys, and the dynamics are constantly changing.

6. Fantasy/Paranormal Worlds That Tie in History

I know it's already a ton of genres put together, but I'm a sucker for worlds that change our perspective on history.  I think this is one of the reasons why Victorian novels are so popular.  The history adds extra layers... makes you really feel involved.  I can't honestly think of an example right now that re-imagines why our history was a certain way; I can definitely think of stories which include their own history, and those are good too... but I do wish there was more of the former.

7. Fantasy without the typical creatures or at least one that gets rid of our preconceived notions of them

This is hard to pull off... but we all have our own associations with vampires, faeries, werewolves, etc. etc.... so when a series comes along that completely upturns these notions, then man, oh man, I am a fan.  Wings by Aprilynne Pike for faeries as plants!, Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz for vampires as reincarnated souls after their fall from Heaven, etc. etc.

Vampires, faeries, werewolves, witches, demons, gods/goddesses, and fallen angels are all the typical paranormal/fantasy creatures that we read about, and it gets harder and harder to come up with a "spin" that someone else hasn't already explored with them... so I'd love to read books which have an awesome take on mermaids, sirens, centaurs maybe, trolls, dwarfs & elves, elements of the earth personified (a book recently came out with this... but it was less about this, which was disappointing), nymphs, dragons, griffins, sphinxes, giants, hags ..... I could really go on for quite a while, but the point is these creatures are remembered for a reason, right?  So let's put them to use!

There were lots of romance issues in that list, weren't there?  But that's also because I realized that not a SINGLE YA book that I've read recently has lacked romance.  I've considered posting about this... because I cannot tell if it's just my choice in novels or if it truly is one of those things that has to be included for a YA novel to be successful.

So what about for you?  What things would you like to see more in YA?  What things would you like to see less of?  What things do you think are done exceptionally well in YA that aren't done so well elsewhere?

A while back, I had promised to do a 300 follower giveaway but then I didn't have the funds for it.  Now I do, but I have a different giveaway in mind.

Release Date: January 9, 2012
(Thank you to ATW ARC Tours for letting me participate!)
Published by: Harcourt Children's Books

Jessica Rules the Dark Side (Jessica #2) by Beth Fantaskey




Ten Likes/Dislikes


1. (+) Jessica, the Protagonist - Jessica has this unassuming air which makes it easy to read her perspective.  She's smart and analyzes/worries about everything.  I like that she learns to be independent, even if she wasn't at first.  Her perspective also shows her great character development as she realizes a fundamental lesson in life and as the title implies, learns what it takes to be a ruler of old-fashioned, blood-thirsty vampires.
2. (+) Lucius/The Romance - Lucius is just as wonderful a romantic interest as before. He's confident but not arrogant. He's incredibly mature and strong and faces death without breaking.  (Though he does still have faith in his wife, but he was framed pretty badly). Also, he and Jessica seem more in love than they did by the end of the first book, which struck me as a bit weird at first but makes sense.  It also was touching to see his devotion to her.  I loved how the climax/scene at the end of the first book became symbolic in this book for their relationship.
3. (+/-) Murder Mystery - I obviously can't talk  about this much without ruining it for you guys, but I felt that some parts of the murder mystery were terribly obvious. I'm not sure if that was the author's intention--keep one part obvious and keep a more minor part in the dark--but it took away from some of the suspense and enjoyment for me.  But I like I said--there were still some things that were hidden and came as a shock at the end; that was definitely nice.
4. (--) Mindy's Perspective - I really don't like Mindy.  I understand if college isn't the right thing for you after high school but I can't understand how you can fail out of community college due to your inability to concentrate thanks to a month long tryst you had with a vampire you now love but are broken up with.  Long sentence of me saying that she is rather air-headed.  Yes, she helps Jessica and gives her great support, which is nice... but reading her perspective... and the stereotype of it -- with Fantaskey having her say like maybe ten times per chapter in her thoughts.... It just wasn't for me.
5. (+) Raniero/Lucius's Perspective - Raniero, on the other hand, I found to be an interesting character.  He is first introduced at the wedding (if you choose to read it from Fantaskey's website)... but it doesn't matter if you do because his character is developed really well in this book.  He is a sort of mystery within the murder mystery, and instead of Lucius writing to his uncle, he writes to Raniero... so not only do you get to meet this complex and haunted new guy, but you also get to read about another side of Lucius and discover their history together as friends.
6. (+) Not Exclusive - No, it's not exclusive; you can still read it if you haven't read the first book.  Though reading the first novel and the wedding posted on Beth Fantaskey's website would be helpful, it's not necessary.  Jessica's perspective is one which tends to explain everything that has already happened; she's rather fretful like that.
7. (+) World-building - I loved reading about this other side to the Romanian vampires.  They have a rather dynamic history and code of laws that both we as readers and Jessica get to figure out.  They're sort of like the typical vampires--old, blood-thirsty--but they're not harmed by the sun and they're split into two ruling families (Jessica's and Lucius's).  Each family also has characterizing traits... but even if the vampires aren't that unique, Fantaskey's world with this Romanian style vampire government deal is, and it was wonderful getting to read more about this since it was alluded to rather heavily in the first book.
8. (+) The Writing - Except for Mindy's perspective, which I hated, I thought the writing was done pretty well.  I didn't notice any hiccups and I did like seeing how each character talked and acted differently--Fantaskey is great at really making the characters their own.
9. (+) The Pacing - Though it takes a while for the actual murder to happen, I thought the pacing was done pretty well.  Beth Fantaskey's books don't separate the chapters--they are placed on the same page as the other text, and it just becomes easier to read that way.  She also makes each chapter pretty short, which really helps with the pacing.
10. (+) The Cover - I like the way this cover matches the first book and its darker tone.  Even though you don't see Lucius's face, I also like that babyish feel to Jessica's & the idea of the girl dancing/floating with that dress--it is very much a story about a girl being swept up into an unfamiliar world and learning to make it her own.

Jessica Rules the Dark Side is a sequel which doesn't quite match up to the first book but is still packed with great romance, character development, and mystery and is still a fun read for all.

**Side note: I wouldn't recommend reading the wedding.  It's pretty long and has little tension which made it kind of boring for me.... so unless you want all the details, I'd say you should skip it.

**Also re: me not feeling that it doesn't match up to the first book -- it's mostly the murder mystery part and how I could predict things there whereas I couldn't predict what exactly would happen in the first book.  The characters (minus Mindy) are just as lovable as before though.

Ooh, this is so difficult.  There are these little snags I wouldn't want to happen to me though I suppose that's the price of happiness for the characters :P.

You know what?  Since I just got the fantastic news about the release date and cover for Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore, I'll say Katsa or Fire.  Katsa because it'd be awesome to have her Grace - one of my dreams is to travel the world; how great would it be to be able to go anywhere without worrying about how to take care of myself?  Plus, Katsa is so strong.  Even when she thought herself a monster, she found a way to make a difference.  And... also because Po is a wonderful man to have at your side.  Fire... again because of Prince Brigan :P and because she also is strong and has such firm morals; she didn't go into anybody's head unless it was absolutely necessary... and she did something (vague, so I don't spoil it for any of you who haven't read the book) that requires a LOT of courage.

Gah!  I'd love to be any of Kristin Cashore's characters.  (Side note: if you haven't read any of her books, you're seriously missing out.)

What about you?

Release Date: October 4, 2011
Published by: Simon & Schuster

This review is spoiler-free... unless you haven't read the first chapter of Silence, as was released by USA TODAY earlier last week.

Silence (Hush, Hush #3) by Becca Fitzpatrick

When silence is all that's left, can the truth finally be heard?


Nora Grey can't remember the past five months of her life.  After the initial shock of waking up in a cemetery and being told that she has been missing for weeks--with no one knowing where she was or who she was with--she tried to get her life back on track. Go to school, hang out with her best friend, and dodge her mom's creepy new boyfriend.


But there is this voice in the back of her head, an idea that she can almost reach out and touch.  Visions of angel wings and unearthly creatures that have nothing to do with the life she knows.


And this unshakable feeling that a part of her is missing.


Then Nora crosses paths with a sexy stranger, whom she feels a mesmerizing connection to. he seems to hold all of the answers... and her heart.  Every minute she spends with him grows more and more intense until she realizes she could be falling in love.  Again.

Ten Likes/Dislikes:

1. (+) Nora, the Protagonist - Silence makes it easier to identify with Nora. Not only do you have that first chapter where you really feel for her and the situation she's in, but Nora also admits that some of her choices are stupid.  She had a sort of self-deprecating humor and assuredness that made it easier to connect with her.  And she knew what she wanted.  Nora takes charge of her future, and I like that.  I like how much stronger she has gotten with each book in the saga.
2. (+) The Romance - Patch has some pretty sweet, swoon-worthy lines.  This is one of the only times he's completely and utterly honest about how he feels though he's still got the bad-boy vibe going for him.  And you know, I don't normally like it when I think the protagonist spends too much time talking about how she's looking up into his eyes, but wow, there was something so seductive to the color black and the way Fitzpatrick uses it along with Nora's memory of Patch.  Plenty of flirty lines and the chemistry between Patch and Nora still runs deep.
3. (+) The Villain - I'm not even going to pretend I understood him, but at the same time, he felt... real.  I would've liked to read more from his perspective, to know what he truly was thinking when he did all those things in the past, but oh well.  They always say the scariest villains are the ones who really believe in their cause.  Well, there have you it.  I definitely felt the danger of what he was doing and wondered what it would lead to.
4. (+) World-Building - Once again, there is a lot more to the fallen angel / archangel / Nephilim world that we learn about.  I would list some details here, but I don't want to spoil any of it; just know that it was an interesting touch, and I can't wait to see what the fourth book has in store for this. Also, loose ends regarding the paranormal world I didn't even remember from the previous books were tied up rather nicely in this book.
5. (--) Frustration - Since Nora has lost her memory, a lot of the characters need to tell her what happened to her, who she knew, etc.  While it's integral to the story to find out who exactly is lying, there were times when I wanted to say... we already know this!  Please, story, can you move on?  Can Nora please just remember what happened here so we can move on?
6. (+) The Ending - Though it ends on a cliffhanger--which I normally hate--I have an idea of where the fourth book will head, and I like that.  I like where it's headed. When Becca Fitzpatrick first announced that news, I didn't know how to take it or whether or not I liked that she was expanding 'the saga.'  This book helped me make up my mind on that end.
7. (+) The Writing - When I read the first chapter of Silence, my first thought was: wow, Becca Fitzpatrick's writing has improved SO much.  This is probably the best writing I've read from her!  That mostly continues through the book with one snag--the questions.  Nora's perspective is filled with questions.  Normally, I don't think I would've noticed, but one of my critique partners pointed out how many questions my protagonist asks and got annoyed with the protag for that... so, if you get annoyed when protagonists do that, watch out, I suppose. I personally wasn't bothered by it; there are a lot of questions that need to be asked.
8. (+/-) The Pacing - I did say that I was frustrated with Nora's inability to remember some of the things that we as readers could remember... and that affected the pacing, making it seem a tad slow at points and clogged with back story we already knew.  Also, in the beginning, I kept looking for more time with Patch.  It also made the book go a little slower in the beginning because I kept expecting him...(don't expect him for a bit)... but other than that, the pacing was fine, and I didn't let the book go until I had finished reading it.
9. (+/-) The Prologue - Becca Fitzpatrick continues her trend of prologues written from another character's perspective.  While I think it added great insight into his mind, I also think it would've added more to the suspense and mystery of the novel had she gotten rid of it.  Granted, I wasn't able to predict what would happen next in the story, but I think that not having the prologue would've definitely reduced my frustration with Nora, because I too would've been in the dark regarding what had happened to her later.
10. (+) The Cover - it matches the other two!  I can't wait to put it next to them on the shelves and see the prettiness all together.  I love the black and white and red theme... Though I'm not sure I quite understand the symbolism of the beach.  I understood the fall and the lightning from the Hush, Hush and Crescendo covers, but the beach is a little confusing.  I do like that they put Patch and Nora together this time; I can see that reflected in the book.

Personally, I liked Hush, Hush the best of all the books simply because it was the start of their romance and I think that was quite possibly the most exciting bit--trying to figure out Patch's intentions and what exactly Nora had gotten herself into... but I like Silence more than Crescendo.  Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick is a worthy contender in the Hush, Hush saga.  Fans will definitely not be disappointed with the sweet romance, suspense, and interesting take on paranormal world-building in this book.

Extra Tidbits:
-Some people have complained about the absence of Nora's mom in the first two books--how unrealistic that was.  Doesn't happen as much in Silence.
-Vee is still here, charming as ever before, though I didn't mention her up above.  Her role is sort of eclipsed in this novel because of the sheer amount of things going on around Nora.

Hope you enjoyed the review!

Release Date: September 29, 2011
Published by: Dutton

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins


Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

Ten Likes/Dislikes:

1. (+) Lola, the protagonist - Admittedly, I liked Lola less than I liked Anna, but I don't think it's fair to compare the books just because they have such different characters, and since Perkins's stories are so clearly character driven, it makes for a completely different story.  (I think the reason why it was harder for me to identify with her over Anna is because Lola's quirk is her fashion taste and I've never really cared that much about fashion whereas Anna's quirk was her OCDness, with which I definitely can identify.)  Anyways, Lola is quirky, smart, fashionable, talented and dedicated to designing things... and also way more mature than I was at her age.
2. (+) THE BOY, CRICKET - lovelovelovelovelove!  This boy is a personification of my type of guy ;p.  Nice, nerdy, brilliant, thoughtful, has that sort of inner passion which drives me crazy.  I think Lola describes it by talking about how he really uses his body, how he directs every part of himself to whatever he's paying attention to...ahh, and writing on his hands and his emotions written all over his face and his integrity--getting upset over his family name!  Cricket, why don't you actually exist?  (See, I stopped minding that his name was actually Cricket because this boy is that awesome.)
3. (+) Her parents - I don't usually fuss over the role of parents in YA books, but I do appreciate it when it's portrayed well, and Lola's two dads and her homeless birth mother cut such an interesting family perspective. I liked the overprotective (but not too overprotective; my parents wouldn't have even let me date a guy like Max) behavior from her parents and the way Lola interacts with them.  There's a lot of respect there and for them to include her birth mother and to see how Lola's relationship with her also grows made me like their family dynamic a lot.
4. (+) Cameos by Anna & St. Clair - SO ADORABLE.  Their relationship sets a standard for Lola and who she chooses to be with, but just seeing them from someone's eyes made me feel all giddy inside yet again.  (Also, I love how Perkins set the stage for all of them to have cameos in Isla, her third book.  So looking forward to that!)
5. (+) The Writing - so much more lyrical and romantic than in Anna, but it fits, given who Lola is as compared to Anna.  In general, though, Stephanie Perkins does such a good job with her dialogue and creating characters who are so... alive.  Also so quirky and fun to hang out with & experience their lives.
6. (--) The Pacing - At the same time... ah, this is just my problem with contemporary stories in general.  I feel like there are so many pages filled with the protagonist's thoughts when I'm just like, "hurry up! Get to the scene with them actually there!"  I mean, yes, Lola and the Boy Next Door has good character development, but sometimes I did wish it were shorter.
7. (+) San Francisco - Admittedly, it wasn't as huge a part of the story as I thought it would be after reading other people's reviews, but it's still important and is still integral to the story (the Berkeley aspect & the cameos, the music festival/scene, the homeless surrounding the city, the transportation, etc.).  It was described really well.
8. (+) Little Focus on High School - The pacing was DEFINITELY helped by the very few mentions of high school (it would've been unnecessary had there been more).  It wasn't like in Anna and how the two of them went to the same school so their assignments could be discussed and I liked that.  I liked that Lola had this other life on the side and that it wasn't the tortured romance at school, time spent during class staring at the boy's back, etc.
9. (+) Random - This is a random category of little things I liked... like how the people who weren't so nice still felt real; they weren't really villains, but if you wanted to consider them that way, they were complex villains with believable ulterior motives ;p.... also liked the last line!!!  LOVED it actually.  I would post it here, but I'm not going to ruin it for the rest of you :D.... also LOVED the history Lola had not only with Cricket but with her birth mother.  I'd list more but really there is no end to how awesome this book and Stephanie Perkins's writing are.
10. (--) The Cover - I have a couple of issues with this.  I do like Cricket's outfit and the star on his hand and the rubber bands--those work.  But Lola's outfit doesn't look as ... outrageous as I'd expect.  The houses in the background are kind of cool, but they look so painted and fake.  Also, the sky?  Why didn't they do it like a nighttime cover?  The book mentions the moon and the stars a lot so it would've made more sense to do that in my opinion at least.

I loved Lola and the Boy Next Door so, so much.  Pretty much, I'll now read anything Stephanie Perkins writes.  She has completely won me over.