I have, in the past, done some “Books I’m Never Reviewing”, in which I give just a quick thought or two about the book. This works, for those books. But I came across another problem: A lot of review books that happen to be coming out in a very short time frame. Since I’d have to do about a hundred reviews to keep up with them all (and there simply aren’t enough days in the week for that!) I bring you…. Bite-Sized Reviews! Unlike the absurdly sized candy, I hope these will be fulfilling. And also… does anyone actually want just one bite of a Snickers? That’s madness.
Things We Know by Heart by Jessi Kirby
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
Pages: 304
Format: eARC
Published by: HarperCollins April 21st 2015
Source: Copy provided from publisher for review, via Edelweiss
When Quinn Sullivan meets the recipient of her boyfriend’s donated heart, the two form an unexpected connection.
After Quinn loses her boyfriend, Trent, in an accident their junior year, she reaches out to the recipients of his donated organs in hopes of picking up the pieces of her now-unrecognizable life. She hears back from some of them, but the person who received Trent’s heart has remained silent. The essence of a person, she has always believed, is in the heart. If she finds Trent’s, then maybe she can have peace once and for all.
Risking everything in order to finally lay her memories to rest, Quinn goes outside the system to track down nineteen-year-old Colton Thomas—a guy whose life has been forever changed by this priceless gift. But what starts as an accidental run-in quickly develops into more, sparking an undeniable attraction. She doesn’t want to give in to it—especially since he has no idea how they’re connected—but their time together has made Quinn feel alive again. No matter how hard she’s falling for Colton, each beat of his heart reminds her of all she’s lost…and all that remains at stake.
This book was basically adorable. I laughed, I cried, I swooned. Quinn was a lovely character, she was a sweet girl, who had gone through hell when she lost her boyfriend. She was pretty much not functioning, even though more than a year had passed. So, she seeks out Colton after finding him on his sister’s blog (bonus points for bloggers in a story!), even though she doesn’t intend to actually interact with him. But of course, she does. And they become friends, slowly, and then more than friends. Of course, it isn’t so simple, otherwise it wouldn’t be much of a book, but I am not going to mention any of it because spoilers.
There was a lot to love about this book. Of course, the relationship was fabulous. Quinn and Colton were just perfect, and it was such a slow, lovely romance, just the kind that makes me happy. I loved how much each of their families were involved (hell, even Trent’s family is involved!) and in very realistic ways. They’re concerned for Quinn and Colton, and Quinn’s relationships with her family, especially her sister and grandmother, are so endearing. The writing is gorgeous, I was hooked from the first page. Fine, I was crying from the first page, okay?
The only reason I am not giving this a full five stars is that it was just a bit cliche. Not overwhelmingly so, and I really felt that the positives far outweighed the negative, but I could help having the feeling that I’d read a similar story before. That, and I kind of knew exactly how it would all play out from the beginning. Still, a lovely book that I would not hesitate to recommend!
In a World Just Right by Jen Brooks
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
Pages: 432
Format: eARC
Published by: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, April 28th 2015
Source: Copy provided from publisher for review, via Edelweiss
High school senior Jonathan Aubrey creates worlds at will. In Kylie-Simms-is-my-girlfriend, he’s given himself everything he doesn’t have in real life-–the track team, passing grades, and his dream girl–-until one day he confuses his worlds and almost kisses the real Kylie Simms. Now his girlfriend Kylie and the real Kylie are changing, and Jonathan must solve the mystery of his own life to save his love from a gruesome fate.
This was a really good book, in a lot of surprising ways. First, it is a very different spin on parallel universes. I can’t fully tell you how, but I will say that Jonathan can create his own worlds, and even the way he named them made me chuckle: “Jonathan-is-a-hero” and “Jonathan’s-smokin’-hot-dance-club”, and of course, “Kylie-Simms-is-my-girlfriend”. Jonathan has been through a lot in his life since his parents and sister died in a plane crash that left him one of only a few survivors, and his ability to create worlds only appeared after the accident. Now, Jonathan mainly splits his time between his real world, and Kylie-Simms-is-my-girlfriend. Only lately, things have been strange- mix ups that seem like the two worlds are overlapping, when they never have before.
Jonathan is quite relatable, even though he is a teenager and a male, of which I am neither. But you feel for him, because of what he has been through and how isolated he feels in the real world. Kylie is a pretty great character too, especially in the real world. I enjoyed her, she was funny, and smart, and it made sense that Jonathan would want to be with her. They even have connections from before the crash, which makes it even sweeter.
Now, the reason I am only doing a mini-review on this one is this: It is impossible to tell you all the great things about this book without talking about spoilery stuff. So you’re going to have to trust me that the story twists into something even more unique and incredibly thought provoking. It’s a lovely story, and there are all kinds of feels, and I definitely recommend it. I wish I could say more, but if you read it, we can talk about it together 😉
Where the Staircase Ends by Stacy Stokes
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
Pages: 245
Format: eARC
Published by Month9Books, April 14, 2015
Source: Copy provided from publisher for review
After her best friend orchestrates the lie that destroys her reputation, Taylor wants more than anything to disappear from her life. But when an accident turns this unspoken wish into reality, instead of an angel-filled afterlife, Taylor must climb a seemingly endless staircase into the sky.
Instead of going up, the journey plunges her into the past. As she unravels the mystery behind her friend’s betrayal, she must face the truth about life and find the strength to forgive the unforgivable — unless the staircase breaks her first.
So, I am thinking that maybe this is one of those cases where I may be too old, or too much of a goody-goody, or something because I simply could not connect to these characters. At first, I did feel for Taylor, not just because she was hit by a car, but because she was being ostracized by the entire school and all her friends. And then, you know, is hit by a car, and is stuck on these stairs, presumably that will lead her to an afterlife? So yeah, it started off pretty good, I was interested!
But then…. Taylor. She just stopped being someone I could care about, and started to be someone I wanted to smack and tell to get ahold of themselves. Yes, her “friends”, especially her best friend Sunny, were being awful, but so was she. Yet she kind of refused to acknowledge that side. On the stairs, she encounters a series of flashbacks that basically take her through different defining moments in her and Sunny’s friendship, and it kind of makes more sense as to why Sunny is so awful at times. There are boys involved in this feud of course. One was decent, and the other was pretty awful, and it didn’t make a ton of sense to me, except I guess that Taylor has some self-esteem issues, which also makes some sense because her mom was a real piece of work too.
Taylor did exhibit some character growth during the story, but it really did not have the impact I was hoping for. And when things were unraveled, and the “scandal” was revealed, I was very underwhelmed. I still don’t really understand what happened in the end, either, so if you have read it… let me know what you think! I asked someone who read it, and I thought something different than they did, so… let me know.
The bottom line is, it is a very character driven book and I did not like the characters. They were simply too harsh and immature for my tastes, and the reveals just weren’t enough to keep me excited about it.
Have you read any of these? Thoughts? And do you just sometimes not have enough days in the week to post? (The struggle is real!)
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I’ve heard so much about Things We Know By Heart! Unfortunately it’s rather fluffy and adorable for my taste, although I’m beginning to be convinced otherwise. Same goes for In A World Just A Right, although I do have a soft spot for parallel universes in TV. And such a shame about Where the Staircase Ends, because the cover + blurb sounds like a great fantasy and it’s always sad when lovely premises don’t live up to their potential :S
Things We Know by Heart IS a bit fluffy and adorable. But I liked it, and I am not usually one who likes fluffy and adorable. In a World Just Right is much less fluffy. Like, not at all fluffy. I mean, Jonathan is sweet and you’ll have empathy, but the book itself is much grittier!
Christy already made me want to read “Things we know”, I’ll probably read “In a world just right” but not now (can’t !). I’d never heard about the third, but I don’t think I’ll regret it – thanks for sharing 🙂
Hahha thanks! I agree, I don’t think you’d lose sleep over the third one 😉 But the other 2 were solid!
Dang it, Shannon. I WANT SNICKERS. *pretends to be satisfied by life but really cries because chocolate and peanuts*
Aaanayway. I think I will avoid that last one with the Staircase. Sheesh. I hate that moment reading when I’m like “you’re so immature you teenager” and then think maybe I’m too old for the book. >_< It hasn't happened a lot, but admittedly I read a lot of dark and scary books. DARK AND SCARY IS LIFE. I want to read Things We Know By Heart someday!!
Right? I need some Snickers too. None of that bite sized nonsense either.
And um, yes, avoid. I really don’t know if it was just that I was too old, but I have seen a lot of positive reviews, and honestly, I am confused by them. And I have talked to someone else who also really didn’t like the characters so… maybe it’s me? (But really, I think it’s the book, if I am being honest.)
Loved Things We Know by Heart! I really want to read In a World Just Right, it sounds so interesting 🙂
It was really good! I was pleasantly surprised by it 🙂
I am really torn about Things we know by heart. I have read many reviews where the reviewer was a bit underwhelmed. But I also like some of the same books you do. Argh, decisions, decisions. Your blog is not good for my TBR. Ha
Hahhah sorry! I will say this: It IS predictable. But it’s cute, and the characters are really sweet, and the writing is good. So… I guess it depends on whether you can handle the predictability? (Also, cue Full House theme song in my head…)
I love these bitsize reviews. Things we know by heart I need right now I am so excited for this book. In a world just right I think it sounds really good, I am trying to get into more male PoV reads. The last one has an awesome cover but am not sure on the story.
Aww thanks! In a World Just Right is a really good male POV to start off with I think. And I know, the cover is nice, the synopsis was great, but… it fell short for me.
Great reviews, girl! I really liked Things We Know By Heart, too, but I wanted to connect to Quinn just a bit more. She was kinda bland to me? But I loved the romance and the writing is just so gorgeous.
I’m still deciding whether In A World… is a book for me. I know it’s not *really* a triangle, but it sorta feels like one, and even those make me uneasy haha.
I see what you mean about the triangle. It isn’t, but it is. I mean, even Jonathan feels like he is doing something wrong. So if you can’t handle it, then maybe it isn’t worth it? I think Quinn was sweet, but I agree, I would have liked to have known more about her for sure!
OH- and for sure avoid the last book, I mean, I didn’t like it of course, but also, holy triangle!
I have heard many mixed reviews on Things We Know By Heart so I don’t know if I should give it a try, even though your review makes it sound like a good book. I was actually expecting for Where the Stair Case Ends to be a good book. Plus, I liked the cover a bit. Glad I didn’t pick it up because I really dislike when I can’t connect to characters. For me, it’s pretty much needed for me to enjoy the book.
(Btw, the design is set up but the layout is going to be changed to tweak me but with the design so I have to wait a bit longer.)
Okay, I will try to break down Things We Know by Heart so hopefully you can decide easier: It’s cute, the characters are really sweet, and it is well written. But, it is rather predictable, so if you’re looking for excitement, not so much.
Staircase… ugh. I really wanted to like it. I mean, it is getting really good reviews all over Goodreads, but I don’t get it? Like some books, I can understand that I am the one who just didn’t like it, but there were quite a few faults in this one, so I am a little confused by all the 5 stars, to be honest!
I really hope you get all this blog stuff worked out- it is SO stressful when you’re dealing with that!
Aaah, I want to read In A World Just Right, the premise is actually pretty unique & your review has me excited for it now! I hope I like it as much as you have. Great reviews overall, I like the idea of combining reviews!
Oh yay! I hope you like it too! The other reviews I have read have been pretty positive too, so I am hoping you enjoy it! And thanks 😀
Yessss, glad you enjoyed Things We Know by Heart (I rated it a 4.5, mainly because I didn’t feel the intensity for a while) but damn this book is good (and okay, as you said, a little cliche) but shows you how important organ donors are.
Now I really need to read In a World Just Right, right? Sounds like it has the perfect balance of fun and heavy (does it talk about his family?) but I need a good parallel universe story to rebuild my faith in them.
I did feel for Taylor, not just because she was hit by a car, but because she was being ostracized by the entire school and all her friends. And then, you know, is hit by a car Ha!
Okay, I like my bitch characters to be complex (and you know, acknowledge they are bitchy) and Taylor sounds like a bitch…just a bitch.
Ha! There’s isn’t enough days in the week to post (although I’m only posting 4 days a week now, so I guess I do) 😉 But I had like 4 books out on the same day before, sometimes ALL THE BOOKS come out on the same day. Why, books, why?
Oh I am glad you liked it too! I agree, it does show how important they are! A great message indeed!
I really liked In a World Just Right! I was on the fence about it, but it was good! And unique, and refreshing.
Taylor suuuuucks. I was being kind in the review, because I feel bad, but no, she sucks and her friends suck WORSE and everyone in her school is a bunch of freaking morons.
And seriously, I am going to have to do this again in May, because there are just TOO MANY BOOKS. Like, I have FOUR on one day on two days in May! WHAT!? No. That’s insane! And all summer, all we will want is BOOOOOKS, but there will be none. Grrrr publishing.
I really want to read Things You Know by Heart and In a World Just Right! I’ve hearing great things about the first one already, but hadn’t seen may reviews about the second one, but now it just went into my list of books I really want to read (parallel universes!).
The bite-sized reviews are a good idea! I feel like I read and review way more books than I have days of the week to post their reviews in. My blog is always kind of behind on what I’m currently reading.
I don’t know how you post every day let alone have too much to post.
Book one doesn’t sound like me, nor book three. I hate mean main characters, I just can’t relate.
In a World Just Right sounds good though! I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to tell what was real and what wasn’t so I passed on it. Creating worlds would be fun! Why didn’t he give himself super powers though?