Book Reviews Archives - Page 79 of 115

Book Review: Frankie by Shivaun Plozza

May 5, 2016

Frankie by Shivaun Plozza

Pages: 314
Publish date: March 23rd 2016
Publisher: Penguin Teen Australia
ISBN: 9780143573166
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon US – Amazon AU – Dymocks

Frankie Vega is angry. Just ask the guy whose nose she broke. Or the cop investigating the burglary she witnessed, or her cheating ex-boyfriend or her aunt who’s tired of giving second chances…
When a kid shows up claiming to be Frankie’s half brother, it opens the door to a past she doesn’t want to remember. And when that kid goes missing, the only person willing to help is a boy with stupidly blue eyes … and secrets of his own.
Frankie’s search for the truth might change her life, or cost her everything.

Frankie:

Frankie by Shivaun Plozza was one of my most anticipated books this year by an Australian author, it just sounded like my kind of book and it was. Frankie was a heartbreaking, heart-warming and absorbing contemporary that captures the reader from the first page.

Frankie follows protagonist Frankie Vega as she goes on a journey of self-discovery, more heartbreak and finding her place. Frankie is a usual protagonist, she is mean, rude, hard-headed and feisty, but not in the way that makes you want to put the book down and stop reading, no it is quite the opposite, her attitude makes you want to keep on reading.

When a kid shows up saying that he is Frankie’s half-brother, she doesn’t know what to do. Does she trust him and let him in her and let him break her like everyone else? Or she let him go now? But it’s Frankie we are talking about and she cannot let things, so when he goes missing, she does everything in her will power and power to find out where he is.

I adored Frankie, I would not want her to be my best friend because we would clash all the time, but she was such a fascinating protagonist. Frankie is fierce and strong and if I went missing, I would want her out there looking for me. She has had a tough life and she channels that and comes off as this ‘bad’ girl that is always getting into trouble.

She lives with her Aunt Vinne above her aunt’s Kebab shop, she has been kicked out of school and doesn’t want anyone to know and her supposed brother has just gone missing, oh and you know what this gorgeous boy with stupidly blue eyes comes into the mix. Lets’ just say that Frankie has a lot on her plate.

There were parts in the book where all I wanted to do was hug Frankie, but I feel that she might punch me in the face if I did that. There were parts that also made me cry, right near the end – arrg my heart.

I enjoyed the relationship between Frankie and her Aunt. Even thought at times it was a bit strained, it worked quite well for the situation that they were both in.

The romance was such a little piece of Frankie, but it was beautifully done. There wasn’t a need for a bubbling romance, but the way that Plozza handle it was perfect. Nate was intense and intriguing and capture Frankie in a way no way else had before. It was slightly there, but it did add to both the story and the characterisation of Frankie.

I adored that Frankie was set in Melbourne. It’s my home, and sometimes it does get boring when books are all set in the same place or places that I have no clue about. Even though I don’t live in Collingwood, I know how it looks and feels so it was truly interesting. Plozza has captured Melbourne perfectly.

Overall, Frankie by Shivaun Plozza is a brilliant debut novel that captured my heart. It’s a story of heartbreak, belonging, finding yourself and what it is to be a family. It captures Melbourne as Melbourne from the language to the setting, it brings to light that sometimes when you think that you are alone, you are not alone and all that you need to do is let them in. Frankie by Shivaun Plozza is a must read.

Have you read Frankie? Did you love it as much as me? Are you going to read it? Why not also check out my interview with Shivaun Plozza where we talk her writing journey, Frankie and more.

Book Review: Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler

Apr 28, 2016

Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler

Pages: –
Publish date: March 23rd 2016 (First Published January 3rd 2012)
Publisher: Simon Pulse
ASIN: B01DE56OUW
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Once upon a time, Hudson Avery knew exactly what her future looked like. Then a betrayal changed her life and knocked her figure skating dreams to the ground. Now she’s a girl who doesn’t believe in second chances, a girl who stays under the radar by baking cupcakes at her mom’s diner and obsessing over what might have been.

So when things start looking up and she has another shot at her skating dreams, Hudson is equal parts hopeful and terrified. Of course, this is also the moment a cute, sweet hockey player walks into her life—and starts serving up some seriously mixed signals. She’s got a lot on her plate, and for a girl who’s been burned before, risking it all is easier said than done.

It’s time for Hudson to ask herself what she really wants, and how much she’s willing to sacrifice to get it. Because in a place where opportunities are fleeting, this chance may very well be her last….

Bittersweet:

I received a copy of Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler for review, in celebration of all her books now being available in all English-speaking countries digitally, this has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

This is the second Sarah Ockler book that I have read, I read The Book of Broken Hearts recently and truly enjoyed it, so I was looking forward to Bittersweet and you know what it had? Two of my favourite things books and cooking. I love to cook, and this book had baking everywhere, I was in love.

Hudson used to have everything that she wanted, and one moment turned it all upside down. Now Hudson has been living a life that isn’t what she wants and just goes along with it, she doesn’t believe in second chances. But when things start to change and look up for her, she is both hopeful and absolutely terrified.

I loved Hudson, she was such an interesting protagonist and I wanted to just keep reading about her. Her love for cooking and the way that she thinks, made me connect with her quite a lot.

Family played a big part of Bittersweet. It was heartbreaking at times to see how a betrayal can tear a family apart and never be put back together. Hudson tried to do so much, she gave up so much and still at times it wasn’t enough. Towards the end of the novel, I started to dislike her mother even more than I did to start off with. I understand that her mum has things to do and that she needed her help, however I felt that she asked too much of Hudson and just expected her to do it, without asking.

I adored Bug, Hudson’s little brother. I just wanted to squeeze him. He was adorable and I loved the relationship between him and Hudson.

The romance, it wasn’t my favourite part…for a short time there was a love triangle and you know that grinds my gears. However, the reader can tell from the start who she will end up with. Nevertheless, I also felt it was on the border of instalove. But then again then it wasn’t at the same time.

One of my favourite things of Bittersweet was Hudson’s character arc. We get to see her grow so much from the start, being able to stand up for herself and do what she believes in. She didn’t have people make those choices for her, they help, but only for her to see what the right thing is for her.

Like with The Book of Broken Hearts I enjoyed Sarah Ockler’s writing style, it was captivating and I wanted to keep on reading.

As I said before, I love cooking. So it was actually nice to see some cooking in there. I loved that before each chapter there was a type of cupcake, I was drooling and I need to make some– which I will do soon.

Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler is a beautiful novel about family, heartbreak and triumph, it intertwines romance, humour and betrayal. You are taken on a journey with Hudson, your heart will break and slowly be put back together. Bittersweet is a beautiful contemporary that is a must read.

Have you read Bittersweet? Did you like it? Are you going to read it? Have you read any of her other books? Let’s Chat!

Book Review: The Things I Didn’t Say by Kylie Fornasier

Apr 24, 2016

The Thing’s I Didn’t Say by Kylie Fornasier

Pages: 320
Publish date: May 2nd 2016
Publisher: Penguin Teen Australia
ISBN: 9780143573630
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon US – Amazon AU

I hate the label Selective Mutism – as if I choose not to speak, like a child who refuses to eat broccoli. I’ve used up every dandelion wish since I was ten wishing for the power to speak whenever I want to. I’m starting to wonder if there are enough dandelions.

After losing her best friend that night, Piper Rhodes changes schools, determined that her final year will be different. She will be different. Then she meets West: school captain, star soccer player, the boy everyone talks about. Despite her fear of losing everything all over again, Piper falls in love – and West with her – without Piper ever speaking one word to him. But will it last?

The Things I Didn’t Say:

The Things I Didn’t Say by Kylie Fornasier was one of my most anticipated books for 2016. I adored her previous book Masquerade and when I heard Kylie was writing another book, I knew that I need to read it, and let me tell you it didn’t disappoint.

The Things I Didn’t Say is quite different from her first novel. Firstly it’s not historical fiction and it’s set here in Australia. It’s a contemporary novel that includes a protagonist with Selective Mutism.

The Things I Didn’t Say follows protagonist Piper as she starts at a new school after an event that made her lose her best friend. The thing is, Piper has Selective Mutism. Selective Mutism is a condition that causes someone not able to speak in certain situations or with certain people. For Piper, the only people that she speaks to is her family and people that she is really close to.

I really enjoyed Piper as a protagonist. Her growth throughout the book was really well done and we are able to see that she has changed from the start of the book. I also enjoyed her character arc.

Kylie Fornasier dealt with Selective Mutism exceptionally well. There is quite a lot of YA novels that deal with characters not speaking – but because of something that has happened to them. Selective Mutism doesn’t work like that and we are able to see that in The Things I Didn’t Say.

We also see how other characters deal with this and it’s interesting to see how her family, who have known her, her life think that it’s just a phase that she is going through. But someone who has just found out about the condition is totally accepting.

Nevertheless, we also get to see how people who don’t know Piper’s situation deal with her especially, teachers because of her move to a new school.

There was something very real about The Things I Didn’t Say. The conversations felt real, the events that happened felt real, the way that the characters deal with things, felt real.

The romance in The Things I Didn’t Say was adorable. I enjoyed West both as a character and as a love interest for Piper. It was so cute the way that West dealt with the knowledge when he found out about Selective Mutism. I wanted to squeeze him. I did feel at times that it moved along a little too quickly, but it was also slow burning – if that makes any sense at all.

However, I did have a problem with the pacing. The book spans over about a year and I felt that there was no real sense of time and the next thing I knew we were at the end of the school year. This did confuse me and I just wanted to be made aware of the jump lapse.

The Things I Didn’t Say packs a punch, there are things in the novel that will rip your heart apart and all you will want to do is hold Piper. Kylie Fornasier’s writing is beautiful and so easy to delve into and read.

Overall, The Things I Didn’t Say is a gorgeous novel that breaks you down. It pulls at your heart and slowly rips it. With beautiful writing and a slow burning romance that starts off quick, but takes it’s time.

Have you read The Things I Didn’t Say yet? What did you think of it? Are you going to read it? Let’s Chat!