Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the Broke and the Bookish!
Alright, folks, guess I got the Valentines themed one. This is amusing, because one blogger on this site is bitter about Valentines this year and one is not and GUESS WHO’S DOING THIS LIST! But no, actually, this list is still going to be really hard to put together. Gosh. Uh. Well, here’s some in no particular order!
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!
So here is my definition of a beach read: mind candy. I don’t want anything in the way of emotional upheaval, and I just want to laugh a little. My brain doesn’t want to have to work hard to process anything. So here are my top ten beach reads, in no particular order.
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
It should probably be noted that my idea of a beach read is, uh, anything. Even if it’s dark and dangerous and depressing. That said, I’m going to TRY to give you guys what it is you’re looking for. I think. Uh. Well, here we go! (All title links go to Goodreads)
1. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
I have not posted my review of this one yet, but GUYS. One of the best contemps I’ve EVER read. Seriously. It’s a little lacking on the fluffy, fun side but … I don’t care. I reread this one any day.
2. The Selection by Kiera Cass
There are few books that are total and utter mind candy, sparkly and airey. This, this is one of them. And I loved ever second of it.
Gorgeous cover. Gorgeous read. And not too heavy to cart around. (Did I mention ONE OF MY FAVORITES EVER?) 😛
4. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Alright, so, this one will try to take you away to France, but c’mon. Would you rather just be on a beach or on a beach IN PARIS? Be truthful now. (Plus, there’s a reason my review includes so much squealing.)
5. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
A quirkier, spunkier read I’ve rarely come across. Plus, the last book comes out in August, I do believe. It’s a PERFECT time to read or reread this series.
6. The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
SHH, we’re sneaking in a non-YA read. That’s pretty okay with me. I LOVE THIS BOOK. UNRESERVEDLY. Perfect summer read right here.
Oh man, I’d almost forgotten about this one. How, I do not know. Thank you, Goodreads. This might literally end up being my beach read!
8. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
HELLO HOTNESS. My favorite Simone Elkeles book of all time right here. A staple of any summer.
9. A Song for Summer by Eva Ibbotson
A CLASSIC. I adore these books, and adored even more the decision to rerelease them with new, gorgeous covers. My old ones were falling apart.
10. A Match Made in High School by Kristen Walker
Seriously, sometimes you have to enjoy a book for its cuteness. This is one of those times.
Book Review: Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles
Luis Fuentes has always been sheltered from the gang violence that nearly destroyed his brothers’ lives. But that didn’t stop him from taking risks — whether he’s scaling a mountain in the Rockies or dreaming of a future as an astronaut, Luis can’t stop looking for the next thrill. Nikki Cruz lives her life by three rules — boys lie to get their way, don’t trust a boy who says “I love you,” and never date a boy from the south side of Fairfield. Her parents may be from Mexico, but as a doctor’s daughter, she has more in common with her north-side neighbors than the Latino Blood at her school. Then she meets Luis at Alex’s wedding, and suddenly, she’s tempted to break all her rules. Getting Nikki to take a chance on a south sider is Luis’s biggest challenge, until he finds himself targeted by Chuy Soto, the new head of the Latino Blood. When Chuy reveals a disturbing secret about Luis’s family, the youngest Fuentes finds himself questioning everything he’s ever believed to be true. Will his feelings for Nikki be enough to stop Luis from entering a dark and violent world and permanently living on the edge?
The third book in Simone Elkeles’s Perfect Chemisty series was good. It was a little different. It flowed. If it had been the first of a series, I would have applauded Elkeles for having created a very solid beginning. But the thing was, it wasn’t. Chain Reaction was supposed to be the finale to her Perfect Chemistry novels, but compared to its predecessors, it didn’t measure up. There wasn’t much of the real chemistry found in Perfect Chemistry or the sweetness found in Rules of Attraction. Luis was good as a character, but this was constantly undermined by the cockiness about him that felt forced (as if Elkeles has gotten him confused with Carlos) and the fact that the one thing Nikki asked of him was not to lie, and that was all he did. Nikki herself started out as a strong character–if you can get past the fact that she was Mexican as opposed to white like in the other two books but all she did was act white–but towards the end she fell flat and unbelievable as she continued to pine after Luis after everything he did to her.
I will admit that the book had its moment; a few between Nikki and Luis, but most when Elkeles brought back Carlos and Kiara and Alex and Brittany–and kids! I fell in love with Alex and Brittany and I adored Carlos and Kiara so my perception is skewed, but it seems to be that I shouldn’t be begging for characters from past books to drop in instead of caring about the story the book is actually about.
I must say, the end of the book did much to redeem itself, but there is only so much it can do when the rest of the book has been so flat. There was an interesting twist (and even another senseless death like Perfect Chemistry. Not what I meant, Mrs. Elkeles!) The epilogue, of course, was as corny and sweet as ever, and put a nice closing chapter onto the trilogy. All and all, a good read, but not quite as good as the first two books in the series.
My Life is a Notebook 