Review: The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Title: The 5th Wave
Author: Rick Yancey
Published: May 7, 2013
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Series: The Fifth Wave #1
Genre: Young Adult Post-Apocalyptic
Pages: 480
Source: Purchased
Rating: 3 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

“Some things you can never leave behind. They don't belong to the past. They belong to you.”
― Rick Yancey, The 5th Wave 

Synopsis
After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
First off, I apologize for being MIA this week. Every once in awhile, I check out. It has been a tough and excruciatingly long week, and I am ready for it to be over. I needed a break from blogging and, well, just life. So I'm sorry I completely failed at doing anything Bout of Books related and for not posting on my blog. I was just in a weird funk. Now the review...

Showcase Sunday (1)

I thought I'd try out Showcase Sunday this week for the first time ever. Showcase Sunday is hosted over at Books, Biscuits, and Tea. Showcase Sunday is a weekly feature where book bloggers feature the books and book swag they've received, bought, borrowed, etc over the past week.

May has been an AMAZING month for new releases! I pre-ordered 4 books this month, something that has never happened before. And two of them came this week!

Bought:
In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters - I am really anxious to read this since I am a huge fan of the paranormal and just anything creepy!

The End Games by T. Michael Martin - I have been waiting for this book for far too long, and I'm really hoping it doesn't disappoint.

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey - After reading Yancey's The Monstrumologist and The Curse of the Wendigo, I don't think it's possible for Yancey to write a horrible book or even an alright book. I cannot wait to read this one!

Borrowed:
Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler - Rather Be Reading recommended this book and I'm looking forward to reading my first Sarah Ockler book!

What did everyone else get this week?

Bout of Books 7.0 Goals

First off, happy Mother's Day to all moms! I'm not a mother but I'll be going out to breakfast with my mom and mom-mom to celebrate. 

So, Bout of Books 7.0 is almost here and I'm REALLY excited to participate for the first time ever! If you'd like to join in the fun, it's not too late to sign up for Bout of Books.

I'm setting myself some realistic goals. Some nights of the week, I come home from work exhausted and don't get as much reading done as I'd like. So I picked a few light, short reads that should be easy to knock off my TBR list. 

My Goals:

-Read at least 4 unread books 

-Visit no less than 15 blogs 

-Do 2 or more mini challenges 

-Participate in at least 1 twitter chat 

-Make some new blogger friends! 

Books to Read:

-A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
-Bound by Donna Jo Napoli
-Looking for Alaska by John Green
-The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

If you want all the details, here's my original Bout of Books post. Let the reading begin...and may the odds be ever in your favor! Or something like that.

Review: Charmed Thirds by Megan McCafferty

Title: Charmed Thirds
Author: Megan McCafferty
Published: April 11, 2006
Publisher: Broadway Books
Series: Jessica Darling #3
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
Pages: 359
Source: Library
Rating: 4 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

*Warning: This book review contains spoilers for Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings*

“That's what all love comes down to, doesn't it? We help others only as much as they let us.”
― Megan McCafferty, Charmed Thirds

Synopsis
Jessica Darling’s in college!

Things are looking up for Jessica Darling. She has finally left her New Jersey hometown/hellhole for Columbia University in New York City; she’s more into her boyfriend, Marcus Flutie, than ever (so what if he’s at a Buddhist college in California?); and she’s making new friends who just might qualify as stand-ins for her beloved best friend, Hope.

But Jessica soon realizes that her bliss might not last. She lands an internship at a snarky Brooklyn-based magazine, but will she fit in with the überhip staff (and will she even want to)? As she and Marcus hit the rocks, will she end up falling for her GOPunk, neoconservative RA . . . or the hot (and married!) Spanish grad student she’s assisting on a summer project . . . or the oh-so-sensitive emo boy down the hall? Will she even make it through college now that her parents have cut her off financially? And what do the cryptic one-word postcards from Marcus really mean?

With hilarious insight, the hyperobservant Jessica Darling struggles through her college years—and the summers in between—while maintaining her usual mix of wit, cynicism, and candor. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
Not even a year ago, I had no idea who Jessica Darling was. That is unbelievable. After falling in love with this series, Jessica Darling has become such a solid fixture in my life. I think to myself regularly, what would JD do? The Jessica Darling series is witty and hilarious, emotional and thrilling, and I find myself continuing to love each book as I watch Jessica grow into herself.

Review: The Curse of the Wendigo by Rick Yancey

Title: The Curse of the Wendigo 
Author: Rick Yancey
Published: October 12, 2010
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Series: The Monstrumologist #2
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Horror
Pages: 424
Source: Purchased
Rating: 5 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

*This book review is spoiler free*

“There are things that are too terrible to remember, and there are things that are almost too wonderful to recall.”
― Rick Yancey, The Curse of the Wendigo

Synopsis
While attempting to disprove that Homo vampiris, the vampire, could exist, Dr. Warthrop is asked by his former fiancé to rescue her husband from the Wendigo, a creature that starves even as it gorges itself on human flesh, and which has snatched him in the Canadian wilderness. Although Warthrop also considers the Wendigo to be fictitious, he relents and rescues her husband from death and starvation, and then sees the man transform into a Wendigo.

Can the doctor and Will Henry hunt down the ultimate predator, who, like the legendary vampire, is neither living nor dead, whose hunger for human flesh is never satisfied?

This second book in The Monstrumologist series explores the line between myth and reality, love and hate, genius and madness. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
I thought it was impossible to love The Curse of the Wendigo as much as I loved The Monstrumologist. I was wrong. While The Curse of the Wendigo is not as terrifying or gruesome as its predecessor, it is a beautifully written, suspenseful and evocative read in a series that continues to impress.

Waiting on Wednesday (30) - OCD Love Story by Corey Ann Haydu

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. Every Wednesday, book bloggers highlight upcoming releases that they cannot wait to read.

OCD Love Story by Corey Ann Haydu

Hits Shelves on July 23, 2013

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis
When Bea meets Beck, she knows instantly that he's her kind of crazy. Sweet, strong, kinda-messed-up Beck understands her like no one else can. He makes her feel almost normal. He makes her feel like she could fall in love again.

But despite her feelings for Beck, Bea can't stop thinking about someone else: a guy who is gorgeous and magnetic... and has no idea Bea even exists. But Bea knows a ton about him. She spends a lot of time watching him. She has a journal full of notes. Some might even say she's obsessed.

Bea tells herself she's got it all under control, but this isn't a choice, it's a compulsion. The truth is, she's breaking down... and she might end up breaking her own heart. (Goodreads)

Why I'm Waiting
Honestly, I am really, REALLY hoping that OCD Love Story is an accurate depiction of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, aka OCD. As a psychology minor (I should have majored!) fascinated with abnormal psych, I am all about anxiety disorders and the like so I am curious to see how Haydu takes on OCD. And I will be checking my Abnormal Psychology textbook periodically to make sure she got it right because I'm weird like that. I have come to accept it.

Plus, the cover is insanely bright and colorful! And I just love the repetition of, "I WILL NOT STALK THAT BOY." Sounds like this girl is just short of crazy. How could I not want to read this?

What is everyone else waiting on this week?

Bout of Books 7.0 Is Almost Here!

As always, my TBR pile is out of control! So, I am taking charge and participating in Bout of Books 7.0 next week! I'm really excited! 

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01 am Monday, May 13th and runs through Sunday, May 19th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 7.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

This is only my second read-a-thon! Can you believe it? 

If you'd like to participate in Bout of Books 7.0, you can sign up here! I'll post my goals for the read-a-thon later this week!

Review: The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth

Title: The Miseducation of Cameron Post 
Author: Emily M. Danforth
Published: February 7, 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Pages: 354
Source: Purchased
Rating: 4 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

“I felt all the ways in which this world seemed so, so enormous--the height of the trees, the hush and tick of the forest, the shift of the sunlight and shadows--but also so, so removed.”
― Emily M. Danforth, The Miseducation of Cameron Post

Synopsis
When Cameron Post's parents die suddenly in a car crash, her shocking first thought is relief. Relief they'll never know that, hours earlier, she had been kissing a girl.

But that relief doesn't last, and Cam is soon forced to move in with her conservative aunt Ruth and her well-intentioned but hopelessly old-fashioned grandmother. She knows that from this point on, her life will forever be different. Survival in Miles City, Montana, means blending in and leaving well enough alone (as her grandmother might say), and Cam becomes an expert at both.

Then Coley Taylor moves to town. Beautiful, pickup-driving Coley is a perfect cowgirl with the perfect boyfriend to match. She and Cam forge an unexpected and intense friendship--one that seems to leave room for something more to emerge. But just as that starts to seem like a real possibility, ultrareligious Aunt Ruth takes drastic action to "fix" her niece, bringing Cam face-to-face with the cost of denying her true self--even if she's not exactly sure who that is.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post is a stunning and unforgettable literary debut about discovering who you are and finding the courage to live life according to your own rules. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
I bought The Miseducation of Cameron Post entirely on a whim. My friend Amanda told me it was a Kindle monthly deal (she's always keeping me updated on those), and after skimming some positive reviews, I figured, what the hell?, and added it to a long, long list of TBR books. So, when I decided to read it the other day, I was not fully prepared for this challenging book. I really enjoyed The Miseducation of Cameron Post, but I will warn you that it's an intense, emotional read.

In My Mailbox (18) - My Trip to Books 4 Less

In My Mailbox is hosted over at The Story Siren. In My Mailbox gives book bloggers the chance to showcase the books and goodies they've gotten over the past week.

This week, I took a trip to Books 4 Less and picked up a few books that caught my eye or that I've been meaning to read. And even if I don't like them, they were insanely cheap so no harm done.

Bought:

-Bound by Donna Jo Napoli - I've read Napoli's Zel and Beast, and I'm really looking forward to her Cinderella retelling.

-The Boyfriend List: 15 Guys, 11 Shrink Appointments, 4 Ceramic Frogs and Me, Ruby Oliver and 

The Boy Book: A Study of Habits and Behaviors, Plus Techniques for Taming Them by E. Lockhart -

I just recently read and reviewed Lockhart's The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks and I look forward to reading her popular Ruby Oliver series. 

-Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan - I have yet to read anything by either of these authors. I know, I know. I need to get on that, which is why I snatched this book up when I found it at such a bargain. 

-A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf - You cannot even begin to understand how excited I am to read this. Feminist essays rock my world!

-The Farm by Emily McKay - Vampires that are known as "Ticks?" A dystopia where the last surviving humans are being rounded up like cattle and quarantined? The premise sounds beyond amazing, but I have heard it doesn't exactly deliver. But this book was extremely cheap and in almost brand new condition, so I picked it up.

-The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer - I've been meaning to read this for quite awhile. It sounds like my type of book.

Borrowed:

-Fourth Comings by Megan McCafferty - It devastates me that I am almost done with this beloved series. I may not always like Jessica Darling, but I definitely feel connected to her after watching her grow from adolescence into maturity. It feels like we've been through so much together. 

-Scarlet by Marissa Meyer - After loving Cinder, I have high hopes for Scarlet and cannot wait to continue this series!

What did everyone else receive this week? Let me know in the comments below!

Review: The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

Title: The Monstrumologist
Author: Rick Yancey
Published: September 22, 2009
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Series: The Monstrumologist #1
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Horror
Pages: 434
Source: Purchased
Rating: 5 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

“Yes, my dear child, monsters are real. I happen to have one hanging in my basement.”
― Rick Yancey, The Monstrumologist

Synopsis
These are the secrets I have kept. This is the trust I never betrayed. But he is dead now and has been for more than forty years, the one who gave me his trust, the one for whom I kept these secrets. The one who saved me . . . and the one who cursed me.

So starts the diary of Will Henry, orphaned assistant to Dr. Pellinore Warthorpe, a man with a most unusual specialty: monstrumology, the study of monsters. In his time with the doctor, Will has met many a mysterious late-night visitor, and seen things he never imagined were real. But when a grave robber comes calling in the middle of the night with a gruesome find, he brings with him their most deadly case yet.

A gothic tour de force that explores the darkest heart of man and monster and asks the question: When does man become the very thing he hunts? (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
Do you know that feeling you get when you've discovered a new favorite series? In my case, I am on cloud nine. I want to dance a jig, frolic through a meadow of flowers...you get the idea. This was how I felt after I started The Monstrumologist. I was captivated from the beginning. In fact, after finishing my library copy of The Monstrumologist, I proceeded to purchase all of the books that are currently out in the series, including the one I just read which I bought for rereading and loaning purposes. And after recommending the first book to my mom - well, actually after thrusting it in her face and forcing her to read it - I devoured the rest of the series. It's that phenomenal. It's creepy, spine-tingling, brillant writing, and I just might be obsessed with Rick Yancey now. Don't worry. I'm not the stalker type. Or am I?