Review: Antisocial by Jillian Blake

Title: Antisocial
Author: Jillian Blake
Pages: 256
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publish Date: May 16, 2017
Genre: YA Mystery

Synopsis: Alexandria Prep is about to be exposed.
Senior spring was supposed to mean sleeping through class and partying with friends. But for Anna Soler, it’s going to be a lonely road. She’s just been dumped by her perfect basketball star boyfriend—with no explanation. Anna’s closest friends, the real ones she abandoned while dating him, are ignoring her. The endearing boy she’s always had a complicated friendship with is almost too sympathetic.
But suddenly Anna isn’t the only one whose life has been upended. Someone is determined to knock the kings and queens of the school off their thrones: one by one, their phones get hacked and their personal messages and photos are leaked. At first it’s funny—people love watching the dirty private lives of those they envy become all too public.
Then the hacks escalate. Dark secrets are exposed, and lives are shattered. Chaos erupts at school. As Anna tries to save those she cares about most and to protect her own secrets, she begins to understand the reality of our always-connected lives:
Sometimes we share too much.

I wanted to review Antisocial because I actually finished it, and I didn't finish it because I loved it. I was sort of indifferent to this book because a lot of things, but it was one of those books I had to finish and I wanted to talk about.

I was really intrigued by this concept going in. I thought the blurb sounded so interesting, and I could not wait to read it, which was why I brought it to the front of my reading list. The concept of a cyber leak is so relevant to today's society, which is why I was eager to see how the author carried it out. It could have gone either way, but this books was not one of my favs. I thought it was kind of meh.

My main problem with this book was the writing style. Something major happened towards the end (which I'm not going to spoil bc spoilers) because of the leaks, something which I believe should never be taken lightly, but it seemed as if the author was like, "Oh, this happened to propel the story further. Oh well." Like it was MAJOR, but that was how it seemed to me, just an event that was needed to progress the story.

This book tries to touch on the topics of anxiety and depression, but the way it was written made it seem like another plot element. I don't think it was taken as seriously as it should have been.

Another issue I had with this book was the resolution. Anna, the main character, solves everything by herself with her art project. Like seriously? After all of that (including the major spoiler?!), it's just over with no repercussions or anything. Everyone is friends again and blah blah blah. I did not like the ending.

This book was okay, nothing life changing. It was meh. The concept could have been really cool, but it did not follow through.

I've Read Like 1 Book

And do you know what that book was? Ready Player One. Yes, it was a good book but it wasn't too amazing and it definitely didn't get me out of my reading slump.

I've been picking up more books, but I just can't seem to finish one- hence the 3 books bookmarked on my bookshelf that I've been "reading" since January. I have no clue what's wrong with me. Why can't I finish a book? It bugs me so much that I have no idea why.

So I've turned to a trusty source that I know writes really sweet summer romances. I didn't want to reread anything, so I felt like giving this author a try.

Morgan Matson.

I've read two of her books last summer, and I absolutely loved them! So I was hoping maybe some of her other books will help me continue reading.

I'm about halfway through Amy and Roger's Epic Detour. It's not my favorite, but I definitely like it! I find it very calming reading about their road trip. It's very summer-y. I think it's working too because the other day, I picked up about 8 books at the library which I am super excited to read all of them! Maybe my reading slump will be over soon!

I also got Second Chance Summer by her but I haven't had the chance to start it yet.

Have you read either of these books? Are they perfect for summer? Let me know what summer reads you've finished in the comments below!

It's Been Awhile

Hi! It's been a crazy few months in my life, so here's a post to catch up in what's new in the world of me. School has been crazy hectic, but I recently graduated, so things have died down a bit. Honestly, I haven't read anything since my last post almost two months ago. I know, what a shame, but I've been super busy and stressed. I've just started reading again, today actually, so hopefully I will have some new reviews and posts up.

Kayl's Krazy Obsession is not over. I just took a short, brief, unplanned hiatus because of life. You know how it is. Soon, I should have a little bit of time to check my emails (oh goodness there's a lot) and catch up with all of my various social medias.

How are you? Let's catch up in the comments! Any good books you've read lately? Share them all because I need something good.

I'm currently reading Ready Player One, which was highly recommended to me by a friend. I really like it so far; it's very interesting and I love the concept of OASIS. I think it would be cool to have, but I don't know how beneficial it would be. I'm not sure about a whole world of virtual reality. It would be odd and I think more people would have social anxiety when it came to real life conversations.

I'm also delving into the world of adult books, and I'm getting more into fantasy. The main reason I'm not too big of a fan of this genre is because of all of the complex names and places, but a friend recommended a book that is a more modern fantasy. I'm liking it so far, but I'm not too far into it.

So stay tuned for what's to come! I will be planning lots of new things since I'll have so much time on my hands.

See you soon!
-Kayl

Spotlight: When Planets Fall by Abby J. Reed

Title: When Planets Fall (Stars Fall Circle #1)
Author: Abby J. Reed
Publish Date: April 12, 2017
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
Pages: 420

Synopsis: On a planet where the only difference between three tribes is their blood color, war is on the horizon. Breaker, an amputee, wants peace for his family and home. Malani, a kidnapped POW, wants to return home. Luka wants justice for his home. All three teens come together when Breaker is given seven days to fix a wrecked enemy starship or their home, and peace, is forfeit..

Giveaway

1 winner will receive a signed paperback of WHEN PLANETS FALL, & Swag, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

Abby J. Reed writes young adult science fiction and fantasy novels that ask what if. She has a degree in English Writing and is drawn to characters with physical limitations due to her own neurological disorder called Chronic Migraine. Her debut novel, WHEN PLANETS FALL, will be published in April 2017 by Soul Mate Publishing.
Abby lives in Colorado with her husband and two fluffy pups. If her hands aren’t on the keyboard, they are stained purple and blue with paint.

Tour Schedule

Week One:
4/3/2017- Twinning for Books- Interview
4/3/2017- Everything Marie- Review

4/4/2017- Jennifer Mary G.- Guest Post
4/4/2017- What the Cat Read- Review

4/5/2017- The Not So Public Library- Excerpt
4/5/2017- YA and Wine- Review

4/6/2017- The Autumn Bookshelf- Interview
4/6/2017- A Trail of Books Left Behind- Review

4/7/2017- Smada's Book Smack- Guest Post
4/7/2017- Kayl'sKrazy Obsession- Review

Week Two:
4/10/2017- Two Chicks on Books- Interview
4/10/2017- The Broke Book bank- Review

4/11/2017- Read Day and Night- Review
4/11/2017- Wishful Endings- Review

4/12/2017- Books,Dreams,Life- Excerpt
4/12/2017- Book-Keeping- Review

4/13/2017- Bibliobibuli YA- Interview
4/13/2017- Reese's Reviews- Review

4/14/2017- YA Book Madness- Guest Post
4/14/2017- Taking It One Book at a Time- Review

Release Day Blitz: Perfect by Cecelia Ahern

Title: Perfect (Flawed #2)
Author: Cecelia Ahern
Publish Date: April 4, 2017
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 352

Synopsis: Celestine North lives in a society that demands perfection. After she was branded Flawed by a morality court, Celestine's life has completely fractured--all her freedoms gone.
Since Judge Crevan has declared her the number one threat to the public, she has been a ghost, on the run with Carrick--the only person she can trust.
But Celestine has a secret--one that could bring the entire Flawed system crumbling to the ground. A secret that has already caused countless people to go missing.
Judge Crevan is gaining the upper hand, and time is running out for Celestine. With tensions building, Celestine must make a choice: save just herself or to risk her life to save all Flawed people.
And, most important of all, can she prove that to be human in itself is to be Flawed?

Check out book one in the series below!

Title: Flawed
Author: Cecilia Ahern
Publish Date: April 5, 2016
Pages: 368
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | Audible | Barnes& Noble | iBooks

Synopsis: Celestine North lives a perfect life. She's a model daughter and sister, she's well-liked by her classmates and teachers, and she's dating the impossibly charming Art Crevan.
But then Celestine encounters a situation in which she makes an instinctive decision. She breaks a rule and now faces life-changing repercussions. She could be imprisoned. She could be branded. She could be found FLAWED.
In her breathtaking young adult debut, bestselling author Cecelia Ahern depicts a society in which perfection is paramount and flaws are punished. And where one young woman decides to take a stand that could cost her everything.

Excerpt

Chapter Eight

They stay there for three hours.

Quickie Review: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Title: An Ember in the Ashes
Author: Sabaa Tahir
Pages: 446
Publisher: Razorbill
Publish Date: February 9, 2016
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Synopsis: Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

Okay, I loved this book. If you follow my blog on Facebook, you would know that I'm on a really big fantasy kick at the moment. (Remember my contemporary one at the beginning of last year? This is very, very similar.) So I finally decided to pick up An Ember in the Ashes, and I loved what I was introduced to.

I thoroughly enjoyed the world Tahir created. I like the school, I like the races. I love the whole concept of the soldiers and the servants. I just really enjoyed reading this book and appreciated it's uniqueness. Sometimes I just need to read something totally different, you know?

I sped through An Ember in the Ashes. It was such an easy read and the plot moved fairly quickly. It was very eventful, and one event happened right after another. I really enjoyed it because it kept my interest.

I do really like the characters. I've grown quite attached to them (especially since I'm currently reading book #2). I feel like I really got to know them, and there were a lot of different personalities.

Sometimes I would forget Elias is a Mask because of how his voice was written. I didn't think his tone and voice really suited him since he was supposed to be this big, bad tough guy. Granted, he didn't want to be a Mask but I don't think he should have such a winy attitude at times. Since he's been training since he was a young boy, you would think he wouldn't be overly concerned with girls and small issues. I was still a fan of his character, but I think he could have been better.

The character development for Laia was kind of insta-develop. Like at first she's too afraid to save her brother, Darin, and boom, she's ready to fight off the Commandant. It was a little too quick for my liking.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. It was something totally different, which I'm always a sucker for. I definitely recommend this if you're looking for some good fantasy works in your life!

About the Author

Sabaa Tahir grew up in California’s Mojave Desert at her family’s 18-room motel. There, she spent her time devouring fantasy novels, raiding her brother’s comic book stash and playing guitar badly. She began writing An Ember in the Ashes while working nights as a newspaper editor. She likes thunderous indie rock, garish socks and all things nerd. Sabaa currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.

Release Day Blast: Redux by A.L. Davroe

Title: Redux (Tricksters #2)
Author: A.L. Davroe
Pages: 428
Publisher: Entangled TEEN
Publish Date: March 21, 2017
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction

Synopsis: The domed city of Evanescence is in ruins. With nowhere to go, prodigy hacker Ellani “Ella” Drexel and a small band of survivors flee to the Undertunnel below their city.
To escape the wasteland she unknowingly created.
But sanctuary is hard to find. With malfunctioning androids and angry rebels at their backs, the group hopes to press on for the neighboring city of Cadence. But Ella’s chosen path is challenging…life-threatening, even. Worse, the boy she loves is acting distant, and not at all like the person she first met in Nexis.
But then Ella learns a secret…and it changes everything.
Ella knows she needs to turn back and make a stand to reclaim her home. She’s determined to bring a new—and better—life to all who’ve suffered.
Or die trying.

I am so excited that Redux is finally here! I loved Nexis, and I could not wait to read the next book in the series. I've had an ARC for Redux, but I'm not done with it yet so stay tuned for a review. I'm going on spring break soon so I expect to finish it then.

Honestly, I'm a really big fan of this series and I think Davroe is a fantastic author! You should definitely check this series out! If interested, you can check out my review of Nexis (book 1) by clicking here.

Look below for an excerpt graciously sent to me by the author :)

Excerpt

I sag to the floor, a shaking mess.
           Slowly, Quentin gathers the rope up once more, coiling it around his arm. Then he’s still for a long minute. I can tell he’s staring at me, waiting. “Elle?”
           I shake my head. “I-I can’t.”
           He crouches down in front of me, meets my haunted eyes. I feel him take up my hands, hold them against his chest. “You’re shaking.”
           Of course I am. I don’t want to die.
           “You can do this,” he whispers.
           Mute now, I shake my head again.
           “Hey.” Shifting both my hands to one of his, he reaches out with the other, stills my head with a palm to my cheek. “Look at me.”
           I do, only because I don’t have a choice. He has me trapped.
           His expression is calm. Serene, like the boy who shot my uncle in the head. I wish I could turn off like that, become cool and calculated and unfeeling. “I will not let you fall. You need to trust me. You need to trust yourself. Stand up.”
           Swallowing hard, I get to shaking legs. I don’t know how I’m going to go down on such unstable things. One is injured as it is.
           “Shoes,” he prompts.
           I slip out of my heels, let the cold stone touch my synthetic skin. It feels strange being on flat feet. I’ve grown up on heels. Without them he seems like a giant as he bends and comes around to my back, putting them into my pack as I stand like an idiot. Seeing that I’m being useless and silly, he bends at my hip and I feel him tugging my skirts. I wince as I hear the tearing noise of him splitting my beautiful dress from hem to seam.
           Four times, like Violet did with hers.
           And then he’s winding the strips around my thighs, his fingers passing in and out like butterfly wings. My legs go from shaking to jelly and I have to hold the wall to keep myself upright.
           When he’s done, he stands in front of me, stares at me, and frowns. After a thought, he unbuttons his jacket and slides it off his shoulders.
           I blink at him, confused.
           “Put it on.”
           I do as I’m told. It’s big on me, stiff in the shoulder from all the dried blood. It smells like him and the weight of it makes me feel like I’m being held. My fingers fumble on the buttons and he steps into my space to help, his knuckles grazing my hitching chest. The warm certainty of his presence disappears for an instant as he bends to retrieve the rope and then he’s back, tying it under my arms.
           When he finishes with the knot, he just sort of goes still, his body close to mine and me wavering against the solid weight of him. His fingers slide from the knot, inch up, flutter along my clavicle, against my neck. One hand slips back behind my neck and into my hair, tugging just slightly, as the other tips up my jaw.
           His breath is warm and minty as he breathes something that seems like relief, and if it’s possible, something about him—his expression, his body—eases me. He stares down, his eyes clear and true, and that melts me into his body and his touch.
           And then he’s kissing me again. And I’m kissing him. It’s just like it was in the aerovator during our escape. That heat, that familiarity. That instant awakening and settling inside of me—like a flock of birds and a lazy pool of molten heat exploding through my veins and muscles at the same time. That feeling like it’s perfect and sound. It’s everything I ever wanted of a kiss from Quentin Cyr before…before…Gus.
           I shove at him, step away from him, gasping. “What are you doing?” I demand. “You can’t keep kissing me, you’re-you’re in love with someone. I heard you tell Carsai.”
           Unapologetic, he grins at me. “Hmm, that’s something to think about, isn’t it?”
           “You’re a cad.”
           He shrugs. “You’re not scared anymore, though, are you?”
           Heaving in confusion, glaring in heat, I growl as I have to admit that no, I’m not scared anymore.
           “I’m not sorry,” he says, voice quiet. “I like kissing you.”
           Gritting my teeth, I march over to the ropes and pass them around myself as I saw Violet and Bastian do before. I shore up my grip on both ends of the rope and I don’t look down. To look down would be to see where I’m going and right now, I don’t want to.
           “Hey,” Quentin calls to me from where he’s standing, lifting the security rope around him as he backs his weight against it. I feel it tug a little against my chest, like he’s drawing me back to him.
           I pause, look at him even though I don’t want to make eye contact.
           “Go easy,” he says, voice like honey. “Just breathe.”

Review: Ivory and Bone by Julie Eshbaugh

Title: Ivory and Bone
Author: Julie Eshbaugh
Pages: 371
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publish Date: June 7, 2016
Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction, Fantasy

Synopsis: A prehistoric fantasy—with allusions to Pride and Prejudice.
Hunting, gathering, and keeping his family safe—that’s the life seventeen-year-old Kol knows. Then bold, enigmatic Mya arrives from the south with her family, and Kol is captivated. He wants her to like and trust him, but any hopes of impressing her are ruined when he makes a careless—and nearly grave—mistake. However, there’s something more to Mya’s cool disdain…a history wrought with loss that comes to light when another clan arrives. With them is Lo, an enemy from Mya’s past who Mya swears has ulterior motives.
As Kol gets to know Lo, tensions between Mya and Lo escalate until violence erupts. Faced with shattering losses, Kol is forced to question every person he’s trusted. One thing is for sure: this was a war that Mya or Lo—Kol doesn’t know which—had been planning all along.

We all know that I judge books by their covers, which isn't always a good thing. I knew nothing about Ivory and Bone going in. I checked it out, didn't even read the inside flap, and delved right in. I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

I have never read a book like this, and I will probably never read a book like this again. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a bad book, it just did nothing for me. Normally, I'll read a book and think it's amazing and original and just awesome, but this book didn't really give me any of those feelings.

I read it, and it told a pretty good story. The writing was good. The characters were somewhat interesting, and I liked them well enough. The whole clan thing didn't do anything for me. I found it a bit weird and wasn't too big of a fan of it.

It definitely wasn't my cup of tea. The plot was okay, and the ending was suspenseful. I thought the ending was good, and I liked who ended up with whom. I just didn't find this book jaw-dropping, I-must-shove-it-into-the-faces-of-all-my-friends-and-make-them-read-it good. It was an okay read, but not for me.

About the Author

Julie Eshbaugh is the author of Ivory and Bone (HarperCollins, 2016). She used to have trouble staying in one spot, having lived in places as varied as Utah, France, and New York City. Julie eventually returned home to the Philadelphia area, where she now lives with her husband, son, cat and dog. Her favorite moments are when the unexpected happens and she cheers loudest when the pitcher gets a hit. 

Review: Enter Title Here by Rahul Kanakia

Title: Enter Title Here
Author: Rahul Kanakia
Pages: 352
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publish Date: August 2, 2016
Genre: Young Adult Realistic Fiction

Synopsis: I’m your protagonist—Reshma Kapoor—and if you have the free time to read this book, then you’re probably nothing like me.
Reshma is a college counselor’s dream. She’s the top-ranked senior at her ultra-competitive Silicon Valley high school, with a spotless academic record and a long roster of extracurriculars. But there are plenty of perfect students in the country, and if Reshma wants to get into Stanford, and into med school after that, she needs the hook to beat them all.
What's a habitual over-achiever to do? Land herself a literary agent, of course. Which is exactly what Reshma does after agent Linda Montrose spots an article she wrote for Huffington Post. Linda wants to represent Reshma, and, with her new agent's help scoring a book deal, Reshma knows she’ll finally have the key to Stanford.
But she’s convinced no one would want to read a novel about a study machine like her. To make herself a more relatable protagonist, she must start doing all the regular American girl stuff she normally ignores. For starters, she has to make a friend, then get a boyfriend. And she's already planned the perfect ending: after struggling for three hundred pages with her own perfectionism, Reshma will learn that meaningful relationships can be more important than success—a character arc librarians and critics alike will enjoy.
Of course, even with a mastermind like Reshma in charge, things can’t always go as planned. And when the valedictorian spot begins to slip from her grasp, she’ll have to decide just how far she’ll go for that satisfying ending. (Note: It’s pretty far.)

5 Reasons I Hated Enter Title Here

1. The main character Reshma is a an antihero, so naturally I hated her from page 1. She was a total b**ch to so many people, and I developed a strong hatred for her. I know she's not a real person, but if I ever met her in real life, I would punch her in the face. She was awful. The author did his job because he wanted to make her an antihero, and it was well developed, but that just didn't work for me. I don't want to read a book where I can't root for the main character.

2. The whole concept of the "average American teenager." Yes, I am a teenager, and I became highly offended by Reshma wanting to be an "average American teenager" and what she thought it entailed. I'm pushing this back on the author because I don't think he really understands the teenage girls of today's day and age. Not all of us get drunk and go to parties and let the first guy who asks into our pants. I didn't think it was accurate, and I felt as if the author really didn't know what he was talking about.

3. I thought this book was about the struggles of getting into college based off of the synopsis I read, but no, the majority of the book involved around Reshma crossing off things from her stupid list and being an awful person to people. I feel like it strayed from it's intended purpose and I found it misleading. I didn't really connect with it as much as I thought I would have because it really doesn't focus on college.

4. Going off of my last point, there really wasn't a purpose for reading it. The ending was eh at best. I kind of feel as if I wasted a lot of time reading this book. I definitely didn't take away anything from it. It was just like okay, I'm done reading this, why did I want to read this?

5. I hated how everyone let Reshma boss them around. She bugged all of her teachers until they changed her grade, which irritated me so much. Also, if she doesn't get her way, she sues the people and gets her lawyer to step in. She literally cheated for most of high school, but she doesn't see anything wrong with it. She bought drugs off of this girl and started blackmailing her to be her friend. She walked all over everyone no matter their status. She didn't learn any lesson whatsoever and her parents mostly went along with it. It made me really mad.

The only good thing about this book is that it has a pretty cover, and it only took me a little over a day to read. I really didn't like this book, mostly because the main character wasn't for me. She was an awful human being and I couldn't stand her. She didn't grow as a person whatsoever, and I'm kind of mad that I wasted my time on this book. It had so much potential, but it fell flat.

If you like antiheroes, go ahead and read this book. If you don't, I'd stay far, far away from it. Run screaming in the opposite direction.

About the Author

Rahul Kanakia’s first book, a contemporary young adult novel called Enter Title Here, is coming out from Disney-Hyperion on August 2nd, 2016. Additionally, his stories have appeared or are forthcoming in Apex, Clarkesworld, Lightspeed, The Indiana Review, and Nature. He holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Johns Hopkins and a B.A. in Economics from Stanford, and he used to work in the field of international development. Originally from Washington, D.C., Rahul now lives in Berkeley.

Spotlight: Lifeblood by Gena Showalter

Title: Lifeblood (Everlife Book #2)
Author: Gena Showalter
Pages: 443
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publish Date: February 28, 2017
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Synopsis: My Firstlife is over, but my Everlife is only now beginning.
With her last living breath, Tenley "Ten" Lockwood made her choice and picked her realm in the Everlife. Now, as the war between Troika and Myriad rages, she must face the consequences.
Because Ten possesses a rare supernatural ability to absorb and share light, the Powers That Be have the highest expectations for her future—and the enemy wants her neutralized. Fighting to save her Secondlife, she must learn about her realm from the ground up while launching her first mission: convincing a select group of humans to join her side before they die. No pressure, right?
But Ten's competition is Killian, the boy she can't forget—the one who gave up everything for her happiness. He has only one shot at redemption: beating Ten at a game she's never even played. As their throw-downs heat up, so do their undeniable feelings, and soon, Ten will have to make another choice. Love…or victory. 

Lifeblood just came out yesterday, and I cannot wait to get my hands on it. I ended up loving Firstlife, which you can read my review for by clicking here. I am so happy I got to participate in this release blitz because this is an amazing book, and I feel as if it'll be an amazing series. This is definitely one you should check out!

About the Author

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty books in paranormal and contemporary romances, as well as young adult novels. Her series include White Rabbit Chronicles, Angels of the Dark, Otherworld Assassins, Lords of the Underworld, Alien Huntress and Intertwined.
Her novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan Magazine, and Seventeen Magazine, and have been translated all over the world. The critics have called her books "sizzling page-turners" and "utterly spellbinding stories", while Showalter herself has been called “a star on the rise”.