Book: Cracked Up To Be by Courney Summers

★★★★/★★★★★

"I didn't want to be popular because it was easier; I wanted to be popular because in high school that's the best things you can be: perfect. Everything else is shit."

I finished this book weeks ago but only get to write a review now. Cracked Up To Be was the debut novel of Courtney Summers and my second book of hers. My first was All The Rage which is her latest and which I had mixed feelings about. And I can say that I loved this one more than All The Rage.

The book tells the story of Parker Fadley, a used to be popular senior at her school who just started drinking and messing up after one party that caused the disappearance of her bestfriend. When Parker started pushing people away and became rebellious, everyone was surprised and worried because she used to be the cheerleading captain, girlfriend of the most popular guy in school and her grades were excellent. But now she only had one goal in life; to be left alone. So she did everything just to push everyone away including her family, her friends, Chris, her ex-boyfriend who still loved her despite everything and Jake, the new guy.

 What I liked most about this book is that it felt realistic and I can relate with the characters. Summers managed to write about highschool but deeper. Her characters felt real and though they weren't perfect, they all told a story we can relate with.The rawness of emotions was also something I liked in this book. While there were times I felt frustrated and irritated with Parker, I knew it was only because she was doing something only a messed up girl would do. Her pain made her do stupid things which she knew would make people hate her more because she thought that she deserved it. She had a way of punishing herself and it made me love her even more.

I unfold the paper in my hands. HOW TO BREATHE. I fold it back up again.

I totally loved Chris and Jake too. Chris was Parker's ex-boyfriend and though Parker did some stupid things towards Chris, he still loved her. They were so casual with each other and I guess Parker was that one girl for Chris he'd always love no matter. Chris can be a jerk but he genuinely cared for Parker.

"I don't like you with Becky. She's not a very nice girl."
"I don't like you with Jake. He's not me."

Jake, on the other hand, was the new guy who insisted on breaking his own heart by pursuing Parker. He knew that Parker was messed up but he was patient and persistent. I liked him the first timed he showed up in the book. I liked him more when he put up with and accepted Parker's bitchy attitude.

"Maybe you like trying to figure me out," I suggest. "So, maybe I should tell you what my deal is. Get it out of your system."
"Maybe I like trying to figure you out because I like you against my better judgement." He pauses. "Or maybe if I figured you out, I'd like you more."

Another thing about this book is that it tells us that we're not responsible for everything and we can't control the way things end up. Parker might have felt responsible but it didn't mean she had to punish herself. And that's one thing teenagers tend to do these days. They decide on their own and even if it's something stupid, they still do it since the believe it's the right thing to do.

Overall, it was good and worth reading. I haven't read Summers' other books but now I feel like I have to. And I will! 

Book: A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

★★★★★/★★★★★

"He would see her again. He knew he would. Magic bent the world. Pulled it into shape. There were fixed points. Most of the time those points were places. But sometimes, rarely, they were people. For someone who never stood still, Lila still felt like a pin in Kell’s world. One he was sure to snag on."

I loved this book for so many reasons and let me start with Kell and his magic and his multi-sided coat and the London-with s- and Rhy and Lila with her dream of becoming a pirate and MAGIC! Have I mentioned that I always fall in love with fantasy books? And ADSoM just topped my list of favorites. 

Kell is an Antari, a rare kind of magician and one of the only two remaining who can travel between worlds. There are four different Londons-Red (wealthy and filled with magic), Grey (dull and magic is forgotten), White (poor and deprived of magic) and Black (destroyed by magic)-and except Black London, Kell can travel to and from the other Londons using a door which he creates with the help of an object which belonged to the London he's going to and his blood which is the source of his magic. He usually travels as the ambassador of the king of Red London, delivering and getting messages for the royals of each London. With his every visit to a different London, he smuggles things (which is forbidden) to anyone who is willing enough to give anything in exchange of something they would never see in their world. Kell doesn't really see the danger of collecting things from another Londons but his brother, Prince Rhy, insists he should stop it. And even though he and Rhy are not really brothers (Kell was adopted by the King and Queen when he was five), he loves Rhy very much and considers stopping it. But when the King tells him to go to the White London to deliver a message to the Danes twins and a woman pleads to him to take a letter to someone in a differen London with a payment, Kell doesn't have a choice but to deliver it. But it turns out that there's no really letter and the payment is actually a stone from the Black London. Next thing he knew, cut-throats are after him and a girl just robbed him. 

The plot of the story was unique and well written. It was clever enough to make four different Londons but Schwab had to put doors and magic too. As for the the world-building, it was simple yet it gave you splendid ideas of each London and  I loved how the different Londons came to life.

The characters were amazing as well! It wasn't hard to love them especially when they were all strong characters. Kell was the kind of character you'd love even though he wasn't perfect. Well, for me he was perfect enough! He was loyal, kind, caring and what made him powerful was his belief that he and his magic should be equal. That he shouldn't abuse or control it so it wouldn't control him too. 

“Some thought magic came from the mind, others the soul, or the heart, or the will. But Kell knew it came from the blood.

Blood was magic made manifest. There it thrived. And there it poisoned. Kell had seen what happened when power warred with the body, watched it darken in the veins of corrupted men, turning their blood from crimson to black. If red was the color of magic in balance—of harmony between power and humanity—then black was the color of magic without balance, without order, without restraint.

As an Antari, Kell was made of both, balance and chaos; the blood in his veins, like the Isle of Red London, ran a shimmering, healthy crimson, while his right eye was the color of spilled ink, a glistening black.”

Delilah "Lila" Bard was reckless but I liked that she was optimistic, independent and a bad-ass. She loved adventures and she always took chances even though it could turn out bad and that's what made me love her more.

Kell looked her in the eyes. “You will be trapped there,” he said. “When it is over.” Lila shivered. “Perhaps,” she said, “or perhaps I will go with you to the end of the world. After all, you’ve made me curious.”

And she was confident, too.

She kicked a loose stone. “Well, I mean, it’s another world, isn’t it? Another version of London? Is there another version of me?” Kell frowned. “I’ve never met anyone like you.” He hadn’t meant it as a compliment, but Lila took it that way, flashing him a grin. “What can I say,” she said, “I’m one of a kind.”

 I also loved Rhy Myresh because he was so charming. He was the next king of Red London, goofy but kind-hearted. I admired his relationship with Kell because they loved each other too much! They were hilarious together and I really enjoyed those parts they were together.

Rhy frowned. “I love you, Kell, but I had no interest in matching tattoos.”

And did I mention that Rhy was also flirty? 

“Will I see more of you, Delilah Bard?” called the prince. “Perhaps our paths will cross again.” Rhy’s smile went crooked. “If I have any say in it, they will.

My heart broke for Holland. He could've been a good Antari like Kell but Anthos took that chance away when he bounded him to him. What a cruel, nasty man Athos was! Holland didn't have his freedom, just doing whatever Athos told him to do. I was actually waiting for a twist on his part but too bad it didn't happen.

Now let's talk about the romance in the book. Wait... was there any? Of course, there was! The first time Kell and Lila met, I knew  there would be one. It may not be the romance I expected but still, their connection was enough romance for me! I actually liked that it didn't focus too much, or at all, on the romance because I think it could've gone a different way if it did. But who knew? Tsk.  

Kell threw his arms around her. And for a second, only a second, she didn’t pull away, didn’t threaten to stab him. For a second, and only a second, she hugged him back. They stood there a moment, leaning on each other, one keeping the other on their feet, though neither was sure which needed more supporting. Both knew only that they were happy to be here, to be alive.

You may or may not agree with me but overall this book was perfect! Really! I could actually write a review using only a word and it would be: "Perfect!"

 This book also reminded me of Howl's Moving Castle with Kell's multi-sided coat and his ability to make doors using magic which made it easier for me to love it because I loved Howl very much! Now I'm in love with Kell, too, and Howl should be okay with that! Ha! 

♥  

“Hey, Lila,” he said softly into the space between them. “Yeah?” He pressed his mouth to hers for one brief moment, the warmth there and then gone. She frowned up at him, but did not pull away. “What was that for?” she asked. “For luck,” he said. “Not that you need it.” 

Book: The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

★★★/★★★★★

"But like you said, anything worth having is worth the risk." 

The Distance Between Us was my second book of Kasie West. The first, The Fill-In Boyfriend, was simple and lighthearted which I loved! This one though, I have mixed feelings since I hated that Caymen was too sarcastic about everything. Sure it was funny but then I guess there are times when you have to be serious about some things.

The story centers around Caymen Meyers, a senior in high school who lives with her mother above their creepy doll shop. Initially, I didn't know what to make of her because she was just too sarcastic so I waited it out. She doesn't really like to inherit her mother's creepy business but having no choice and being less fortunate than the others, and because she loves her mother too much, she keeps her objection to herself. She and her mother also have issues regarding rich people, mocking and making fun of them, and Caymen's rich father who left them has something to do with it. So when Xander Spence walks into their shop, Caymen already knew what kind of a guy he is and immediately puts her walls up. But as Xander continues to show up in their shop, with a pre-sipped hot chocolate and his handsome face, Caymen starts to realize that maybe her mother's and her views of rich people could be different after all.

“Is that your subtle way of saying you missed me last week?"
"I've missed my hot chocolate. I just think of you as the guy who brings it to me. Sometimes I forget your name and call you hot chocolate guy.”
 
I've read, and seen a lot of movies, about poor-girl-rich-boy so this wasn't new to me. And I hate that Xander is rich AND handsome! (He's definitely a book boyfriend!) But isn't that's how it's supposed to be? A rich boy who's going to prove a poor girl that he loves her despite their social standing? That he doesn't care what other people thinks because HE loves HER? Oh, how I wish I have a love story like that! :)

But anyway, back to Caymen. Even though she has doubt towards Xander, thinking he's just using her to rebel against his parents, she still gives him a chance to prove her wrong. She goes along Xander's plan of doing a career day where they would each prepare something that would determine each other's possible career in the future. So they start hanging out, doing career days and having fun at the same time until Caymen sees a photo of Xander and some model-like girl in front of a magazine. And that's when Caymen realizes she's starting to like Xander.

“I hope I'm not turning into that girl, the one who daydreams about a guy she can never have.”

 I guess the reason why Caymen and Xander just clicked was because they both felt like their lives were not their own. Caymen felt obliged to run her mother's store (and to stop her studies for a year or two because of their status) even though she wanted to study science. Xander always had to follow his father's orders and eventually inherit their family business of chain hotels. And despite the difference in their social status, their little similarities have helped them open up and get to know each other better.

I'm giving this only 3 stars because like I said, I hated that Caymen was always sarcastic. She was actually funny, very, but I guess her sarcasm was too much for me. That and the plot was too average. And Xander? Too good to be true! But still, there are actual people like him so why not?

If you want a light and easy (and cheesy) read, give this one a try. :)