Review: Defiance by C.J. Redwine

Hey guys! 

Defiance (Defiance #1)

by C.J. Redwine

Release Date: August 28th 2012
by: Balzer + Bray
Format: Hardcover, 416 pages

Goodreads

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

My thoughts:

Defiance is one of the most complex books I've read in a long time. It sucks you in from the first page and it's got something from everyone: rich world, original plot, lots of action and suspense, strong, well developed characters, heart-melting romance, compelling writing and a beautiful story told in two alternate POVs. In one word - it's a remarkable debut!

***

Rachel's world threatens to fall apart when her father doesn't come home from his latest trip. Everyone else assumes he is dead, so she's forced to face the consequences of remaining without the only family she had left. And like that wasn't bad and painful enough, she's forced to live with Logan, her father's apprentice. He doesn't seem to be particularly happy when the Commander names him her Protector either, but what choice is there anyway? They all have to answer to him and to do what he says, no question asked, or they will be punished. But Rachel is her father's daughter; she's strong, independent, stubborn and driven; she doesn't sit around wallowing like other girls her age might do in this situation; she's hopeful and determined and she decides to do anything to find her father. Running away, going over the Wall into the Wasteland is extremely risky and dangerous (and, OK, maybe a bit reckless), but her father spent years training her how to handle herself in the Wasteland and how to defend herself against any threat. So when no one else seems to believe her father is still alive out there somewhere and no one goes looking for him, she decides to take matters in her own hands: armed with cool weapons, the skills her father thought her, incredible boldness, strong will and determination, she goes out into the wild. 

But she doesn't make it very far when things get complicated and she must work with Logan not only to survive, but to find her father, save her friend and take care of the Commander's latest task - or they will all be killed. So Rachel and Logan set out on a journey that test all their survival skills and abilities, as well as their strength, courage, trust and feelings. 

***

I won't get into details, but wow, there are sooo many things going on in this novel! There's no such thing as putting the book aside to take a break - it's very suspenseful, action packed and fast paced, so it keeps you glued to the pages because you must keep reading to find out what's going to happen next. Lots of adventures, lots of action, lots of near-death situations and intense, emotional moments - it really keeps you on the edge of your seat. Plus, it has this otherworldly, imaginative, surreal feeling that sucks you in and transports you into another world and another time and makes you oblivious to the real world (and suddenly it's 3 AM and you have to go to bed so you won't be a zombie the next day at work - but you can't. Stop. Reading. Well, that's what happened to me, anyway. LOL).

And the characters - both Logan and Rachel - wow, they are so well developed! Flawed, realistic, and yet, so badass and amazing! (They are going to kick serious ass in the next year YA Crush Tourney and YA Heroine Tournament, because they are some of the best characters out there! And when that happens, remember that I'm calling dibs on Logan now. Just saying.:P). 

Where was I? Oh, right. Logan. *excuse me a few moments while I swoon* Logan is AWESOME! ♥ 

*clears throat* OK, moving on. Having his POV was one of the best things about this book - he has such a great voice! When Rachel's father disappears, he drops everything to help her find him, because, yes, he cares about his mentor and believes he is still alive too, but he also cares about Rachel and he's very protective of her - he won't just let her go into the Wasteland alone. He's attracted to her, of course, but he also admires her courage and passion when she fights for the people she loves. He believes in her; he doesn't underestimate her or treat her like some damsel in distress - all on the contrary:  

I lift my chin and stare him down. “You’re acting like poor, delicate Rachel must be kept away from even a hint of danger.”
[Logan] laughs, tries to choke it back when he sees my face, and then laughs some more.
“Delicate? You could wipe the cobblestones with just about anyone in Baalboden. I’d hardly call that delicate.”

Logan is clever, creative and very meticulous; he invents all sorts of devices that help them in the most dire situations. He's a fierce fighter, calculated and he has a sharp, analytical mind: he doesn't take action before considering best case scenarios and worst case scenarios; if he doesn't already have a plan, he's working on one while in action.  

He can be sweet and charming, but he doesn't have the best way with words, though his thoughts and feelings are always genuine - which leads to all sorts of awkward, yet cute and heart-melting situations:

“You’re telling me you’re going to give me a compliment even though I shouldn’t logically need one?” Her voice doesn’t sound pleased. (...) “Why shouldn’t I need a few compliments?”
I have no idea how this conversation went awry so quickly. I just want to tell her something nice. Does it have to be a ten-minute discussion about motives and semantics? (...)
“Because of the kind of woman you are.”
Speaking slowly solved absolutely nothing. She looks like she might pick up one of the weapons and throw it at my head. I feel more than a little irritated myself.
She speaks around gritted teeth. “And what kind of woman do you think I am, Logan McEntire?”
I snap right back at her. “Confident. Strong. Capable. Stunning. An equal partner in this endeavor in every sense of the word.”

And she IS very strong and capable. Sometimes she can be  foolish too stubborn and reckless and get herself in serious trouble, but that only helps her grow as a character.

Rachel is not like the other girls her age: when they shop, the other girls look at pretty dresses; Rachel looks at scissors "because pointy things make excellent weapons". She's smart and resourceful and finds the most unexpected ways out of scary situations. That's why she and Logan work very well together as a team; they get a purpose, set a course of action and proceed in perfect harmony. They complete each other in everything they do and they support each other when the grief or the severity of their current position almost breaks them. Their story is intense and at times heartbreaking, but very beautiful: 

I want Rachel. Not because she’s beautiful. Not because she’s my responsibility. I want her because she makes me laugh. Makes me think. Inspires me to be the kind of man I always hoped I’d be. I want Rachel because the thought of a life without her is more than I can bear. ♥

***

Like I said, this book is perfect for everyone: if you like Historical Romance, you'll love the time setting, the customs and the way the romantic relationship between Rachel and Logan develops; if you like Paranormal or Fantasy, you'll love the dark, gritty world, kickbutt characters, fierce fights and awesome weapons (swords play = WIN!); if you like Steampunk, you'll love Logan's cool inventions and his passion for all sorts of devices; if you like Dystopia, you'll love the prospect of a desolate, broken society where a brave hero/heroine rebels against an abusive, flawed regimen; if you like coming-of-age stories, you'll love following Rachel on her journey, to see how she evolves; what she learns, how she copes with emotional turmoil and, eventually, how she develops and changes as a character... Add to that a captivating, raw, haunting, beautiful writing and you're set for a wonderful ride!

***

This didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book overall, but I would have liked to have some background, more information about the world and characters at the beginning - when I started reading it, I was a bit confused and disoriented, with no sense of time and space (I didn't know what year it was, where was the action taking place, who was this Commander, what was the Wasteland and what happened to the rest of the world...). Anyway, like I said, in the grand scheme of things, those details didn't really matter. 

I have a feeling this book (series) is going to have quite an impact on the YA lit, so go pick it up as soon as it comes out!;)

It takes facing imminent death to realize I love her. I love her. A fierce light consumes me from the inside out. It blazes through my body until I think there’s no way I can contain it. I don’t want to contain it. I want it to overtake me completely. It’s illogical. Wonderful. Almost painful. ♥ 

*Review copy provided by the publisher HarperCollins Publishers through Edelweiss. Thank you so much! 

**The quotes were chosen from the Advanced Reader's e-proof, so they might be different in the final version of the book.

Find the author: Blog / Twitter / Facebook

Pre-order the book: Amazon / The Book Depository

Happy reading!

xoxo

Review: Defiance by C.J. Redwine

Hey guys! 

Defiance (Defiance #1)

by C.J. Redwine

Release Date: August 28th 2012
by: Balzer + Bray
Format: Hardcover, 416 pages

Goodreads

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

My thoughts:

Defiance is one of the most complex books I've read in a long time. It sucks you in from the first page and it's got something from everyone: rich world, original plot, lots of action and suspense, strong, well developed characters, heart-melting romance, compelling writing and a beautiful story told in two alternate POVs. In one word - it's a remarkable debut!

***

Rachel's world threatens to fall apart when her father doesn't come home from his latest trip. Everyone else assumes he is dead, so she's forced to face the consequences of remaining without the only family she had left. And like that wasn't bad and painful enough, she's forced to live with Logan, her father's apprentice. He doesn't seem to be particularly happy when the Commander names him her Protector either, but what choice is there anyway? They all have to answer to him and to do what he says, no question asked, or they will be punished. But Rachel is her father's daughter; she's strong, independent, stubborn and driven; she doesn't sit around wallowing like other girls her age might do in this situation; she's hopeful and determined and she decides to do anything to find her father. Running away, going over the Wall into the Wasteland is extremely risky and dangerous (and, OK, maybe a bit reckless), but her father spent years training her how to handle herself in the Wasteland and how to defend herself against any threat. So when no one else seems to believe her father is still alive out there somewhere and no one goes looking for him, she decides to take matters in her own hands: armed with cool weapons, the skills her father thought her, incredible boldness, strong will and determination, she goes out into the wild. 

But she doesn't make it very far when things get complicated and she must work with Logan not only to survive, but to find her father, save her friend and take care of the Commander's latest task - or they will all be killed. So Rachel and Logan set out on a journey that test all their survival skills and abilities, as well as their strength, courage, trust and feelings. 

***

I won't get into details, but wow, there are sooo many things going on in this novel! There's no such thing as putting the book aside to take a break - it's very suspenseful, action packed and fast paced, so it keeps you glued to the pages because you must keep reading to find out what's going to happen next. Lots of adventures, lots of action, lots of near-death situations and intense, emotional moments - it really keeps you on the edge of your seat. Plus, it has this otherworldly, imaginative, surreal feeling that sucks you in and transports you into another world and another time and makes you oblivious to the real world (and suddenly it's 3 AM and you have to go to bed so you won't be a zombie the next day at work - but you can't. Stop. Reading. Well, that's what happened to me, anyway. LOL).

And the characters - both Logan and Rachel - wow, they are so well developed! Flawed, realistic, and yet, so badass and amazing! (They are going to kick serious ass in the next year YA Crush Tourney and YA Heroine Tournament, because they are some of the best characters out there! And when that happens, remember that I'm calling dibs on Logan now. Just saying.:P). 

Where was I? Oh, right. Logan. *excuse me a few moments while I swoon* Logan is AWESOME! ♥ 

*clears throat* OK, moving on. Having his POV was one of the best things about this book - he has such a great voice! When Rachel's father disappears, he drops everything to help her find him, because, yes, he cares about his mentor and believes he is still alive too, but he also cares about Rachel and he's very protective of her - he won't just let her go into the Wasteland alone. He's attracted to her, of course, but he also admires her courage and passion when she fights for the people she loves. He believes in her; he doesn't underestimate her or treat her like some damsel in distress - all on the contrary:  

I lift my chin and stare him down. “You’re acting like poor, delicate Rachel must be kept away from even a hint of danger.”
[Logan] laughs, tries to choke it back when he sees my face, and then laughs some more.
“Delicate? You could wipe the cobblestones with just about anyone in Baalboden. I’d hardly call that delicate.”

Logan is clever, creative and very meticulous; he invents all sorts of devices that help them in the most dire situations. He's a fierce fighter, calculated and he has a sharp, analytical mind: he doesn't take action before considering best case scenarios and worst case scenarios; if he doesn't already have a plan, he's working on one while in action.  

He can be sweet and charming, but he doesn't have the best way with words, though his thoughts and feelings are always genuine - which leads to all sorts of awkward, yet cute and heart-melting situations:

“You’re telling me you’re going to give me a compliment even though I shouldn’t logically need one?” Her voice doesn’t sound pleased. (...) “Why shouldn’t I need a few compliments?”
I have no idea how this conversation went awry so quickly. I just want to tell her something nice. Does it have to be a ten-minute discussion about motives and semantics? (...)
“Because of the kind of woman you are.”
Speaking slowly solved absolutely nothing. She looks like she might pick up one of the weapons and throw it at my head. I feel more than a little irritated myself.
She speaks around gritted teeth. “And what kind of woman do you think I am, Logan McEntire?”
I snap right back at her. “Confident. Strong. Capable. Stunning. An equal partner in this endeavor in every sense of the word.”

And she IS very strong and capable. Sometimes she can be  foolish too stubborn and reckless and get herself in serious trouble, but that only helps her grow as a character.

Rachel is not like the other girls her age: when they shop, the other girls look at pretty dresses; Rachel looks at scissors "because pointy things make excellent weapons". She's smart and resourceful and finds the most unexpected ways out of scary situations. That's why she and Logan work very well together as a team; they get a purpose, set a course of action and proceed in perfect harmony. They complete each other in everything they do and they support each other when the grief or the severity of their current position almost breaks them. Their story is intense and at times heartbreaking, but very beautiful: 

I want Rachel. Not because she’s beautiful. Not because she’s my responsibility. I want her because she makes me laugh. Makes me think. Inspires me to be the kind of man I always hoped I’d be. I want Rachel because the thought of a life without her is more than I can bear. ♥

***

Like I said, this book is perfect for everyone: if you like Historical Romance, you'll love the time setting, the customs and the way the romantic relationship between Rachel and Logan develops; if you like Paranormal or Fantasy, you'll love the dark, gritty world, kickbutt characters, fierce fights and awesome weapons (swords play = WIN!); if you like Steampunk, you'll love Logan's cool inventions and his passion for all sorts of devices; if you like Dystopia, you'll love the prospect of a desolate, broken society where a brave hero/heroine rebels against an abusive, flawed regimen; if you like coming-of-age stories, you'll love following Rachel on her journey, to see how she evolves; what she learns, how she copes with emotional turmoil and, eventually, how she develops and changes as a character... Add to that a captivating, raw, haunting, beautiful writing and you're set for a wonderful ride!

***

This didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book overall, but I would have liked to have some background, more information about the world and characters at the beginning - when I started reading it, I was a bit confused and disoriented, with no sense of time and space (I didn't know what year it was, where was the action taking place, who was this Commander, what was the Wasteland and what happened to the rest of the world...). Anyway, like I said, in the grand scheme of things, those details didn't really matter. 

I have a feeling this book (series) is going to have quite an impact on the YA lit, so go pick it up as soon as it comes out!;)

It takes facing imminent death to realize I love her. I love her. A fierce light consumes me from the inside out. It blazes through my body until I think there’s no way I can contain it. I don’t want to contain it. I want it to overtake me completely. It’s illogical. Wonderful. Almost painful. ♥ 

*Review copy provided by the publisher HarperCollins Publishers through Edelweiss. Thank you so much! 

**The quotes were chosen from the Advanced Reader's e-proof, so they might be different in the final version of the book.

Find the author: Blog / Twitter / Facebook

Pre-order the book: Amazon / The Book Depository

Happy reading!

xoxo

Review: Over You by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus

Hey!

Over You

by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus

Pub: August 21st 2012
by HarperTeen
Hardcover, 304 pages

Goodreads:

After the grand explosion of her relationship, seventeen-year-old Max Scott developed what every girl in the history of the world has been waiting for: a way to get over being dumped. Now Max is the go-to guru for heartbroken high-school girls all over NYC. But when her ex unexpectedly shows up in her neighborhood, Max’s carefully controlled world starts to unravel. With her clients’ hearts hanging in the balance, Max will have to do the seemingly impossible: get over him once and for all.

Brilliant at bringing humor to the trials and tribulations of the lovestruck, #1 New York Times bestselling authors Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus have crafted a tale that will resonate with any girl who has ever been in love or had her heart broken. It brims with smart observations, features a pitch-perfect teen voice, and will attract fans of Jenny Han, Sarah Mlynowski, and Lauren Barnholdt. Readers are sure to fall head-over-heels for this sharp spin on breaking up, making up, and getting even.

This was a fun, quick, chic read! It’s the kind of book you read by the pool, sipping a cool cocktail and daydreaming about cute boys, big cities, fancy fashion, parties and vacations... A perfect summer read! (after all the tragic, intense books I’ve read lately, I really needed something light and entertaining).

Told in 3^rd person POV, Over You is a contemporary story about friendship, young love, relationships, break-ups, broken hearts and learning to move on.

I haven’t read many Young Adult books told in 3^rd person POV before, so it took me a little while to get used to the writing style. But once I got into the story, I started to really enjoy it and I couldn’t put it down until I finished it! Of course, it also helped that Max was a very likeable character and it was easy to relate to her.  She’s smart, sassy, independent, confident, determined and a lot of fun to follow around! She’s always up to something, always in action. She started her own business - granted, it’s not really a business, more like a means to help girls in post-break-up distress, but still - she’s put to work some pretty impressive entrepreneurial skills.

Max sighs contentedly as she makes her way to Union Square, her tasks for the night completed. She relishes the feeling of being worn out by a full day of work, looks forward to getting into bed and waking up fresh tomorrow to tackle this new challenge of getting Bridget over the boy-next-door. Which is way worse than boy-from-camp, boy-in-school-play, or even boy-in-homeroom. She’s learned that there’s bound to be a strategy, she just has to think long and hard and shake down what the world has to offer.

She always tries to find the best solution for everything, but she’s also caring and reliable, so people look up to her and ask for her help frequently (I could have used a friend like her back in high school):

“This is your schedule,” Max says forcefully. “Up! Out of bed! And directly downstairs to the kitchen for a sugar-free caffeine beverage—”
“Sugar free?” Bridget asks through a mouthful of egg.
“No Coke. No Red Bull. No Frappuccinos. We can’t risk you getting artificially hyped and doing something ill advised.”[…] Little known fact: dehydration and depression go hand in hand.” She flashes a rapid succession of slides. “Virginia Woolf, Sylvia Plath, Courtney Love. Crazy? Maybe. Depressed? Probably. Dehydrated? Definitely. It’s astounding how the lack of electrolytes can suck a girl’s mojo. In conclusion, every morning, without fail. Caffeine. Protein. Shower. Real clothes. Water. CPSRW. I’m tacking it to the ceiling over your bed.”

She and her crew are always planning or working on something, so there’s no dull moment throughout the book. Max is resourceful, intuitive and likes to have everything under control – and if she doesn’t, she acts like she does – there’s people counting on her, after all. She’s positive and creative and always has a back-up plan. Or she used to – up until now.

Their latest case proves to be a little more challenging that the previous ones they’ve worked on. There may be more people and *gasp!* even some real feelings involved. So everything starts to be a little more complicated. 

Max had to moved a lot over the years, so she didn’t get the chance to build strong relationships.  Now it’s easier for her to just keep a cool façade and not to get attached to anyone. So when she faces what her ‘clients’ endure everyday and her perfect image begins to slip, her life gets a bit out of control and suddenly there’s too much to handle on her own. 

Guys are so confusing! She looks over at the pile of bananas. It’s so clear which fruit are good and which ones are rotten. You can see it before you make your investment. Why can’t boys be more like bananas? Why do you have to put your heart out there before you find out you picked a bad one?

She’s the kind of girl who always knows what to say and how to make people feel better, but when it comes to her own personal problems, she struggles to find a solution, to use her own advice or to  actually trust someone. But that’s when she starts to realize what she’s been missing all along; who cares about her and is always there for her, no matter how much she tries to keep them at a safe distance. Because, after all, there’s always more to a story than meets the eye. 

Since the story was told in 3^rd person POV, we got some glimpses from other characters as well, which was refreshing and interesting, but in the same time, a little confusing. You get caught up in Max’s story and then BAM! There’s Taylor pacing around the room, talking to his best friend and having second thoughts about… something (spoiler). And then BAM! There’s Ben not wanting to admit that he has feelings for someone. And then we’re back to Max. Without any warning. Anyway, these sequences were few and far between and in the end, proved to be very helpful for the conclusion of the story, but still, they were confusing. 

Ok, bottom line: we have humor, wit, fashion, romance, friendship, loyalty, likeable characters, original plot and a writing that flows effortlessly - all the ingredients necessary for a delightful summer read! (actually, this is a perfect read for those days when you need a breather from all the dramas and paranormals and dystopians and post-apocalyptics and the like;)).

*Review copy provided by the publisher HarperCollins and Edelweiss in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you!
**All quotes were selected from the Advanced Reader e-proof and they might be different in the final published edition. 

Happy reading!
xoxo

Review: Over You by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus

Hey!

Over You

by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus

Pub: August 21st 2012
by HarperTeen
Hardcover, 304 pages

Goodreads:

After the grand explosion of her relationship, seventeen-year-old Max Scott developed what every girl in the history of the world has been waiting for: a way to get over being dumped. Now Max is the go-to guru for heartbroken high-school girls all over NYC. But when her ex unexpectedly shows up in her neighborhood, Max’s carefully controlled world starts to unravel. With her clients’ hearts hanging in the balance, Max will have to do the seemingly impossible: get over him once and for all.

Brilliant at bringing humor to the trials and tribulations of the lovestruck, #1 New York Times bestselling authors Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus have crafted a tale that will resonate with any girl who has ever been in love or had her heart broken. It brims with smart observations, features a pitch-perfect teen voice, and will attract fans of Jenny Han, Sarah Mlynowski, and Lauren Barnholdt. Readers are sure to fall head-over-heels for this sharp spin on breaking up, making up, and getting even.

This was a fun, quick, chic read! It’s the kind of book you read by the pool, sipping a cool cocktail and daydreaming about cute boys, big cities, fancy fashion, parties and vacations... A perfect summer read! (after all the tragic, intense books I’ve read lately, I really needed something light and entertaining).

Told in 3^rd person POV, Over You is a contemporary story about friendship, young love, relationships, break-ups, broken hearts and learning to move on.

I haven’t read many Young Adult books told in 3^rd person POV before, so it took me a little while to get used to the writing style. But once I got into the story, I started to really enjoy it and I couldn’t put it down until I finished it! Of course, it also helped that Max was a very likeable character and it was easy to relate to her.  She’s smart, sassy, independent, confident, determined and a lot of fun to follow around! She’s always up to something, always in action. She started her own business - granted, it’s not really a business, more like a means to help girls in post-break-up distress, but still - she’s put to work some pretty impressive entrepreneurial skills.

Max sighs contentedly as she makes her way to Union Square, her tasks for the night completed. She relishes the feeling of being worn out by a full day of work, looks forward to getting into bed and waking up fresh tomorrow to tackle this new challenge of getting Bridget over the boy-next-door. Which is way worse than boy-from-camp, boy-in-school-play, or even boy-in-homeroom. She’s learned that there’s bound to be a strategy, she just has to think long and hard and shake down what the world has to offer.

She always tries to find the best solution for everything, but she’s also caring and reliable, so people look up to her and ask for her help frequently (I could have used a friend like her back in high school):

“This is your schedule,” Max says forcefully. “Up! Out of bed! And directly downstairs to the kitchen for a sugar-free caffeine beverage—”
“Sugar free?” Bridget asks through a mouthful of egg.
“No Coke. No Red Bull. No Frappuccinos. We can’t risk you getting artificially hyped and doing something ill advised.”[…] Little known fact: dehydration and depression go hand in hand.” She flashes a rapid succession of slides. “Virginia Woolf, Sylvia Plath, Courtney Love. Crazy? Maybe. Depressed? Probably. Dehydrated? Definitely. It’s astounding how the lack of electrolytes can suck a girl’s mojo. In conclusion, every morning, without fail. Caffeine. Protein. Shower. Real clothes. Water. CPSRW. I’m tacking it to the ceiling over your bed.”

She and her crew are always planning or working on something, so there’s no dull moment throughout the book. Max is resourceful, intuitive and likes to have everything under control – and if she doesn’t, she acts like she does – there’s people counting on her, after all. She’s positive and creative and always has a back-up plan. Or she used to – up until now.

Their latest case proves to be a little more challenging that the previous ones they’ve worked on. There may be more people and *gasp!* even some real feelings involved. So everything starts to be a little more complicated. 

Max had to moved a lot over the years, so she didn’t get the chance to build strong relationships.  Now it’s easier for her to just keep a cool façade and not to get attached to anyone. So when she faces what her ‘clients’ endure everyday and her perfect image begins to slip, her life gets a bit out of control and suddenly there’s too much to handle on her own. 

Guys are so confusing! She looks over at the pile of bananas. It’s so clear which fruit are good and which ones are rotten. You can see it before you make your investment. Why can’t boys be more like bananas? Why do you have to put your heart out there before you find out you picked a bad one?

She’s the kind of girl who always knows what to say and how to make people feel better, but when it comes to her own personal problems, she struggles to find a solution, to use her own advice or to  actually trust someone. But that’s when she starts to realize what she’s been missing all along; who cares about her and is always there for her, no matter how much she tries to keep them at a safe distance. Because, after all, there’s always more to a story than meets the eye. 

Since the story was told in 3^rd person POV, we got some glimpses from other characters as well, which was refreshing and interesting, but in the same time, a little confusing. You get caught up in Max’s story and then BAM! There’s Taylor pacing around the room, talking to his best friend and having second thoughts about… something (spoiler). And then BAM! There’s Ben not wanting to admit that he has feelings for someone. And then we’re back to Max. Without any warning. Anyway, these sequences were few and far between and in the end, proved to be very helpful for the conclusion of the story, but still, they were confusing. 

Ok, bottom line: we have humor, wit, fashion, romance, friendship, loyalty, likeable characters, original plot and a writing that flows effortlessly - all the ingredients necessary for a delightful summer read! (actually, this is a perfect read for those days when you need a breather from all the dramas and paranormals and dystopians and post-apocalyptics and the like;)).

*Review copy provided by the publisher HarperCollins and Edelweiss in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you!
**All quotes were selected from the Advanced Reader e-proof and they might be different in the final published edition. 

Happy reading!
xoxo