Here Lies Bridget- Paige Harbison (ARC)

Title: Here Lies Bridget
Author: Paige Harbison
Rating: 3
Cover rating: 4
Description: Heroine, Bridget Duke, rules her high school, but when she crashes her car and ends up in limbo, she must confront the people she has wronged, all of whom want her to go to hell. The outcome of these meetings will decide her final destination.

Well, to be honest, this book didn't do much for me. I was bored in some parts, but entertained in others. I thought the beginning dragged on too much, but I understand why it did. We had to understand Bridget as much as possible.

I didn't like Bridget very much, she was your typical bitch, but had no redeeming qualities at all. I couldn't relate to her or feel much sympathy for her.

I enjoyed the other cast of characters, they were all interesting and brought other aspects to the book. Although, I didn't enjoy the ending with any of the supporting characters. I disagreed with all of them for the part on their decisions with Bridget.

The plot was interesting, but not unique. The writing was very well done. She is a talented writer. If she continues to write, I will read more of her books.

Over all, this book wasn't for me, but I don't think it's totally worth writing off. I'd suggest giving it a try, it may be for you.

Prom and Prejudice-Elizabeth Eulberg

Title: Prom and Prejudice
Author: Elizabeth Eulberg
Rating: 5!
Covering rating: 5
Description: After winter break, the girls at the very prestigious Longbourn Academy become obsessed with the prom. Lizzie Bennet, who attends Longbourn on a scholarship, isn’t interested in designer dresses and expensive shoes, but her best friend, Jane, might be — especially now that Charles Bingley is back from a semester in London.

Lizzie is happy about her friend’s burgeoning romance but less than impressed by Charles’s friend, Will Darcy, who’s snobby and pretentious. Darcy doesn’t seem to like Lizzie either, but she assumes it’s because her family doesn’t have money. Clearly, Will Darcy is a pompous jerk — so why does Lizzie find herself drawn to him anyway

Will Lizzie’s pride and Will’s prejudice keep them apart? Or are they a prom couple in the making? Whatever the result, Elizabeth Eulberg, author of The Lonely Hearts Club, has concocted a very funny, completely stylish delight for any season — prom or otherwise.

Out of the almost 30 books I've read this year, Prom and Prejudice is no doubt my favorite. Right now, it is sitting nice and pretty on my "favorites" shelf in my closet. I've already read it twice and actually itching to read it again! I can't express my love for this novel enough. I laughed, I swooned, I teared up, and I had a silly smile on my face the entire time I read it.

I absolutely adored The Lonely Hearts Club, but this novel surpassed Elizabeth's debut. I'm also a huge fan of Pride and Prejudice. I love the book. I love the BBC Colin Firth adaption. I love the Keira Knightley adaption! William Darcy makes me swoon and blush as he falls for Lizzie. He's charming, charismatic
(if he lets you get to know him!), sweet, funny! He's so many wonderful things. And, I'm talking about both novels. Eulberg brings Will into modern times perfectly, but still keeping his inner core the same lovable Darcy. Darcy is one of my all time favorite literary crushes. He's wonderful things, but at the same time, he has flaws! And at key points, his flaws tumble out by the bucket load, but through all that...I fall for him every single time.

I admired Eulberg's writing in this novel. I was blown away by how wonderfully she adapted my favorite classic. She kept it modern, but yet, some of the conversation held some of the older language which I thought was divine. I loved the little differences in the characters. I loved how she made them her own. I can't applaud her enough. I can't wait to see what is in store for Elizabeth Eulberg next. I can't wait to watch her exciting career unfold. I actually hope to meet her in March! (!!!!!) I may die of excitement or embarrassment when I try to convey to her how much I love her work, but I know I'll be stumbling over all my words. Authors intimidate me, they are the biggest celebrities in my eyes!

Lizzie. Oh, darling Lizzie. Her wit and loyalty came with her into this modern adaption of Pride and Prejudice. She took her great qualities and made them shine. I was most nervous about the adaption of Lizzie. She is such a strong female, I hoped that Eulberg would be able to portray her like the Elizabeth Bennet I know so well. And, she did. It was the same Lizzie with a few changes.

I thought about this book in my mind for days and still every time I think about it, I want to read it all over again. I would give it 5 stars over and over. I strongly recommend this to any Jane Austen fan. Eulberg does her proud.

Hearts, Flowers, and Romance

Hello all!
I have scheduled posts starting tomorrow with Prom and Predijuce by Elizabeth Eulberg. But, for today, I am announcing an awesome upcoming event hosted by a friend of mine, Gabrielle, over at The Mod Podge Bookshelf.

She will be hosting a huge Valentines Day event called Hearts, Flowers, and Romance. Plenty of authors will be stopping by to chat with her including: Susane Colasanti (!!), Deb Caletti, Jennifer Echols, and Sara Bennett Wealer! There are also a lot more authors, but to get the full list you must stop by her blog! I also know that she is going to have some great prizes lined up! Including a signed finished copy of Delirium(!!) by Lauren Oliver. I'm going to encourage all of you NOT to enter, so I can have a higher chance of winning that one! :) Just kidding...kind of. :)

Have a wonderful day and check back tomorrow for a review! :)

Debut author challenge&random things

Hello all!

I have decided to take part in the debut author challenge hosted by The Story Siren. My review for this month is my Across the Universe by Beth Revis review. It is the post below this one.

I also want to take a second to welcome you all to 2011! My reading goal this year is 250 books, I have already read 21. That makes me about 8% done!

I am CRAVING a wonderful YA contemporary read. So please, suggest something for me! Actually suggest anything, I need more books. Please :)

I hope this year brings you all magical and wonderful things.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Title: Across the Universe
Author: Beth Revis
Rating: 3.5 (This is a very hard book to rate.)
Cover rating: 5

Description: Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone--one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship--tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.
Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.
 
Frex. I wanted to enjoy this book more than I did. Honestly, I feel disappointed. I have read nothing but glowing reviews for this novel, but I have to admit, I don't feel the same. So, if you're looking for another glowing 5 star review, I'd recommend not reading on. Before I delve into my review I'd like to say I actually wanted to give the cover rating a 2. I gave it a 5 because it is undeniably beautiful, but I wanted to give it a two because I find it misleading. The characters on the cover are so drawn into each other, so wanting of each other. I did not find that in this book.
 
I know so many people are going to disagree with just about everything I am going to say in this review, but to each their own right? I have been waiting for this book to come out. I squealed when I saw it on the shelves on Barnes and Noble. I bought it right away and I just knew that it was going to come home with me and sit on my "favorites" shelf. It's not though.
 
I did enjoy the story, a lot. The writing is beautiful. Revis did a splendid job with the story telling, plot, and overall description. I think my main problem with the novel is that it is so plot driven. Don't get me wrong, I love plot. I love substance, which this story has. Yes, the characters are realistic, but I felt that there could have been more development. More emotion. When Amy is reanimated without her parents? Is she upset? Yeah, she is, but if that were me, or really any real human being. They would be going crazy. The emotions would be flickering all over the place. She'd want them to stay frozen, she'd want to wake them up. I didn't get that. She was upset, she was sad, she grieved, and then moved on.
 
I wanted more out the love story. I wanted to know more about Jason. I wanted more in general. I felt as if the entire novel is this huge build up and then it just....ends. For me it was a long, drawn out mystery. The mystery was intriguing. I read this novel in one sitting. I'm writing this review at 4:30 AM when I have to wake up early tomorrow. But, we have this mystery that drags us through the novel and then within 10 pages, it's just...over. Done.
 
Once again, I wanted more out of the love story. And, once again, huge build up to just kind of fall. Now, I do respect and understand Amy. The last sentence she thought about them. I think it was perfect, it works for the time. But, their first kiss? It happened too fast to be followed by nothing.
 
I will read the two remaining books. Hell, I'm even going to buy the two remaining books. I think Revis has set up a great story. I feel that there is potential. I know down to my bones that it's going to be great, but this first installment fell flat for me.