Short Book Review: Honey, Baby, Sweetheart by Deb Caletti

Ruby McQueen is a sixteen-year-old high school student with the name, she thinks, of a rodeo cowgirl porn star, or, maybe worse, a Texas beauty queen runner-up. Ruby, ordinarily dubbed the Quiet Girl, finds herself hanging out with gorgeous, rich, thrill-seeking Travis Becker. With Travis, Ruby can be someone she’s never been before: Fearless. Powerful. But Ruby is in over her head, and finds herself risking more and more…

Ruby was a good character. There was nothing really special about her just like she described herself, she was the “Quiet Girl.” While she was a little boring the supporting characters were dynamic and fun to read about. The book was a lacking in a interesting plot which made it boring, I found myself skimming some parts. I did not find Travis as charismatic as Ruby did although he "had" all the qualities. There is not much to say about the book besides the fact that it was decent.

Book Review: A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandel

Book Review by, The Little Sister
Check out my other review of The Lonely Hearts Club

Cora Bradley dreams of escape. Ever since her reckless older brother, Nate, died in a car crash, Cora has felt trapped in her small town. Her parents are increasingly overprotective, and even her best friend, Rachel, has begun to slip away.
So Cora seeks solace in art, drawing elaborate maps and envisioning herself in exotic locales.

Then Cora’s maps lead her somewhere unexpected: to Damian, the handsome, brooding boy who was in the car with Nate the night he died. Cora forms a tentative bond with Damian—himself an artist—who reveals to her the truth about who her brother really was. As Cora begins to piece together the fragments of her life, she finds herself falling for Damian. But, will she have the courage to follow the chart of her heart?
Cover Summary



I absolutely loved this book. Without a doubt. From the very beginning, this book left me in awe and in tears. Cora, to me, personifies a truly strong and courageous character which makes her increasingly admirable and a likeable character. I definitely liked her. Her response to the different obstacles in her life after her brother’s death was inspirational. While she did mourn and grieve and shed many tears over her lost brother, she still held on strong and remained in reality and continued on with her life. She didn’t allow this tragedy to dictate her life and lose herself.

Many people, after losing a loved one, just stop living their life and submerging themselves in their sorrows and regrets. However, Cora, realized that she is young and have much to live for still. Her response to her parents was also impressive and noble. She demonstrates selflessness, kindness and perceptiveness towards her somewhat neglecting parents.

The characters in the book were also realistic which is something that I love. There are some books that have too perfect to be real characters but this book didn’t. The flaws and the redeeming qualities in these characters is abundantly clear. I find that many people can actually relate to these characters, their emotions as well as their situations.

While I mercifully never had to endure the death of a loved one, I was still able to connect with certain aspects of these characters and their lives. I’m sure many people can as well. Especially the relationship between Cora and her friend Rachel. Definitely a circumstance that teenagers or even adults can say that they have experienced at some point in their life.

The relationship between Damon and Cora was also sweet and realistic.I really liked the natural feel of it. While Cora is fourteen, Damon is seventeen and yet their relationship is constructed so nicely that it isn't strange at all. The fit well together and it was nice to read about their brief romantic moments where they are devoted and tender towards each other. Not only was the story great, but so was the writing.

The writing of an author is something that I may often comment on. It is extremely important in a good book. There are different styles of writing and I really liked this book’s and Sandell’s style of writing. It was simple and easy to grasp and at the same time included a somewhat sophisticated language. I absolutely recommend others go out and read this fantastic book. Especially if you’re into some angst with a splash of romance.

Book Review: Forget You by Jennifer Echols

WHY CAN’T YOU CHOOSE WHAT YOU FORGET . . . AND WHAT YOU REMEMBER? There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four- year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. Feeling like her life is about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon.

But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people— suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug.

I’m a big fan Jennifer Echols after reading Going Too Far, her first romantic drama. Unfortunately, Forget You did not have the same effect as the previous book. I found the main character Zoey a little oblivious when it came to her relationship with Brandon. For a girl who takes multiple Advanced Placement classes you would have expect her to know and execute her relationship with Brandon better then she did. Her “thing” with Doug was strained due to Zoey still having a “boyfriend” but they did manage to have some heated scenes. Where Zoey was lacking in many ways, Doug was not. He was a desirable character that redeemed the book.

Her quest to uncover what that happened the night of the accident was anything but suspenseful. When she makes a big revelation of that night it was not really surprising and seemed obvious.

Overall, was a okay book. It was not great because it did not have the same effect as Going Too Far where I read in one sitting and re-reading it (Go read!). But its worth a shot. I love this author's ability to write some very sexy romance. ;)

Book Review: Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Stolarz

Last fall, sixteen-year-old Camelia fell for Ben, a new boy at school who had a very mysterious gift – psychometry, the ability to sense the future through touch. But just as Camelia and Ben's romance began to heat up, he abruptly left town. Brokenhearted, Camelia has spent the last few months studying everything she can about psychometry and experiencing strange brushes with premonition. Camelia wonders if Ben's abilities have somehow been transferred to her.

Ben returns to school, but he remains aloof, and Camelia can't get close enough to share her secret with him. Camelia makes the painful decision to let him go and move on. Adam, the hot new guy at Knead, seems good for her in ways Ben wasn't. But when Camelia and Adam start dating, a surprising love triangle results. A chilling sequence of events uncovers secrets from Ben’s past – and Adam's. Someone is lying, and it's up to Camelia to figure out who – before it's too late.

This book was alright. I had some issues with it like reoccurrence of the threatening phone calls and notes. It was a bit overused especially since it occurred in the previous book. The romance aspect was lacking I felt like Ben was giving mixed messages to Camelia which got to be a bit annoying. What I did like about the book was Wes and Kimmie’s presence. There interaction which each other was always had humor to it. I’m not giving up on the series just yet. I hope the next book Deadly Little Games has much more interesting plot then this book's plot.

My Soul To Keep by Rachel Vincent

My Soul To Keep by Rachel Vincent

Kaylee has one addiction: her very hot, very popular boyfriend, Nash. A banshee like Kaylee, Nash understands her like no one else. Nothing can come between them.

Until something does.

Demon breath. No, not the toothpaste-challenged kind. The Netherworld kind. The kind that really can kill you. Somehow the super-addictive substance has made its way to the human world. But how? Kaylee and Nash have to cut off the source and protect their friends—one of whom is already hooked.

And so is someone else…


This was amazing! I don’t even know where to begin. It had so many twists and turns it never got boring. I was entangled into Kaylee and Nash’s life. The problems that she encountered in the last two book seems minuscule compared to what she has to face in this book as she learns more about the Netherwold and has to fight the evil force for those she love. Kaylee, was strong and did not let anything deter her from her what she believed in. Rachel Vincent creates a layered world paired with great characters to keep the plot moving and intriguing.

I just have to add, I can not wait for the next book! The ending was so..., I can't even formulate words to describe it but leaves you aching for the next book.

Book Review: Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers

Perfect Parker Fadley isn’t so perfect anymore. She’s quit the cheerleading squad, she’s dumped her perfect boyfriend, and she’s failing school. Her parents are on constant suicide watch and her counselors think she’s playing games… but what they don’t know, the real reason for this whole mess, isn’t something she can say out loud. It isn’t even something she can say to herself.

A horrible thing has happened and it just might be her fault.

This book was a pretty powerful book. I absolutely loved Parker’s voice, she was blunt, uncaring of what she said, and honest which made the book funny in her depressing state.

There were times I could relate to Parker, like her grades and etc. The supporting characters were interesting and kept the story going. The romance part of the novel was unusually interesting. I was surprised by how much I liked Chris, the “perfect boyfriend” she broke because he still loved her even after her major transformation. The ending was perfect in every way, everything came to a full circle and left me content with whole novel. I definitely recommend this book.

Book Review: My Soul To Save by Rachel Vincent

My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent

When Kaylee Cavanaugh screams, someone dies.

So when teen pop star Eden croaks on stage and Kaylee doesn’t wail, she knows something is dead wrong. She can’t cry for someone who has no soul.

The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad’s ironclad curfew and putting her too-hot-to-be-real boyfriend’s loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls for a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld—a consequence they can’t possibly understand.

Kaylee can’t let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk….
Soul Screamers: The last thing you hear before you die.

The second book of the Soul Series was a satisfying one. It had an interesting plot line involving pop stars and the selling of souls. The book opened up a new perspective in the bean sidle world. Kaylee’s power continues to grow and become stronger with the help of Nate and his mother. This is one book in the series not to be missed. I can not possibly wait to read the next book as Nate and Kaylee’s relationship grow and another new addition of a twist. Overall, it was a good and quick read. I can not wait for the next book.