Review: Dumplin'

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was such a great novel. Willowdean is comfortable being who she is. She's not the beauty pageant, skinny daughter that her mother wants, but Willowdean is okay with that. She doesn't take the bullying that Patrick at school tries to dish out at her, and she is always standing up for other kids who get bullied but are too afraid to fight back.

But Willowdean's thoughts about her physical appearance starts to change when a very attractive, popular guy, Bo, starts to like her. First, it was okay because they just worked together. No one saw them together or were questioning why a great, hot guy like Bo would be with an overweight girl like Willowdean. But when Bo transfers to Willowdean's school, she starts to question why he would want to be with her and how society would judge them.

Then Willowdean decides to join the beauty pageant that her mother has dedicated her life to. She wants to prove that she can do the things just like any other girl does. Physical appearances shouldn't be a factor in a beauty pageant and Willowdean wants to prove that. What she doesn't expect is other girls who get bullied about their looks join her in the pageant. Now Willowdean is the unofficial leader of their group, but Willowdean is not exactly sure what she is trying to prove anymore.

This is a great story about uncertainty. Bravery. Being normal. Standing out. Loyalty. But most of all, it's about being yourself and loving who you are inside and out without any judgement. Willowdean will inspire many readers out there, whether they are the pretty girl, the fat girl, or the shy, awkward girl. I know she inspired me to love myself as I am rather than what society deems worthy of being the "right kind of girl" and I'm so glad that Julie Murphy wrote this inspiring novel for everyone to enjoy!

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Review: The Giver

The Giver by Lois Lowry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've been wanting to read this book for forever, but...I'm ashamed to say...I can't stand the cover and always kept telling myself that I would come back to it and read it. Well, now we picked it for book club and I got the eBook version - so I didn't have to see the cover! Brilliant!

Anyway, I also have to admit that I watched the movie before reading this novel. I almost never do that, but I wanted to watch it and there ya go. However, I am almost glad that I did watch the movie beforehand. It helped me better see what was going on in the novel. The part where they couldn't see color? I'm not sure if I would have caught on to that right away or not. But because I saw the movie, I knew that and was able to read the story with more knowledge about this world Lowry created.

The writing was superb. Lois was able to create a new world full of different rules and structure than anyone was used to. Especially back in the 90s when dystopian novels weren't too popular as they are today.

Jonas is a very bright, very understand 12 year old. And to be given The Receiver job really is a great honor in the way that the leaders of the community have given him this job since it is so important. I honestly think that burdening a 12 year old with this information is not a smart idea because not only are they naive from the way they taught their social and work life, but also because he's still a boy who wants to play ball and be annoyed by his little sister. Having the memories of the entire past being shoved on him or any other 12 year old is a bit stupid.

But Jonas was very mature for his age and was very suitable to become the next Receiver. However, Jonas was a bit too smart for this community and started to question their ways and why they do the things that they do.

I was making a list of some of the professions they have in Jonas's community...Some I can understand. Some I think are plain terrible. I mean, Birthmother? Really? No.

I am so glad that I finally got around to read this novel. I can't believe I let the cover deter me away from this great story. Although I do have to say, the movie was extremely spot on with the novel and I had no problem picturing the novel because of the movie, so that was pretty awesome.

This is a great classic and I know tons of people have read it. If you are like me and are one of the few that haven't, you should give in and read it! It's a great story with an awesome message behind the story that will make you question life's choices.

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Review: Never Never: Part Three

Never Never: Part Three by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was...different than I thought it would be. It's not bad - far from it. But Colleen and Tarryn went in a direction that I wasn't expecting from the moment I started reading this book. The more I sit and ponder about the book, the more I start to like it even more.

I know a lot of people don't like the ending, the "solution", but just think - have you read a book with that ending before? After all of the mysteries, after all of the cliffhangers? Maybe I'm not well-read yet, but it is definitely a different take than what I'm used to.

And the way the authors took us to every possible reason, only to find out that it was something all together? They definitely covered all grounds as to the possible reason why they lost their memories, making the reader be jerked along every storyline, only to backtrack when we got to a dead end.

So, yes, I did really enjoy this story. I am glad that I finally know what happen and how things concluded with all of those terrible cliffhangers. I know have a sense of justice and fulfillment, even if it wasn't the 1,000 ways I thought it could end.

Loved it. Will definitely recommend it to other readers who want a good mystery novel :)

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Review: Never Never: Part Two

Never Never: Part Two by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Colleen and Tarryn are evil with their cliffhangers. I learned this the hard way from the first part, so I waited until all 3 parts before venturing into the story again.

I seriously love this story. Having it in 3 parts makes it even more suspenseful! Silas was the hero in this second part and was so determined to find the answers he needed. Poor Charlie was left confused and alone, but that didn't stop her from escaping the hell she was in.

Because this was such a short story, I have a short review. I don't want to give anything away because it's technically still the same story as the first. I will say that I liked how they finally included an outsider in their secret of forgetfulness and O.M.G!!! The reveal of where Charlie was? That was completely shocking for me.

So...now I've peaked your interest, right? And now you must go read the story to figure out what the hell I'm talking about, correct? Yes...my job here is done and now I NEED to read the third and final part!!!

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Review: Never Never

Never Never by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I re-read this in preparation for the next two parts - enjoyed it just as much as the first read!

Original review:
With the synopsis, there is not a lot to base what this book is about so I felt like I was going in somewhat blind. But it's Colleen Hoover, so of course I was going to read it.

And it was great! Confusing, a little lost since we are literally learning everything with the characters. But informative when information is revealed at the time.

"He" is named Silas.
"She" is named Charlie.
Complication history with not only them but their parents.

While everyone states they didn't like how nothing was resolved in this novel, I kinda like it. It's refreshing. Not a lot of novels are like that. And there isn't a ton of drama because, well, neither character remembers anything so they are just trying to figure things out. When drama pops up with their friends both Charlie and Silas ignore it because they have a lot bigger problems to figure out.

The only thing I'm mad about is that I don't have the next novel in hand to read and find out what happens! It was just getting good and BAM we are done with this book. Gah! May can't come soon enough!

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Review: All of It

All of It by Kim Holden
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

To start off with, I LOVED "Bright Side". I ADORED "Gus". And I ENJOYED "All of It".

I read the books out of order based on when they were published. Maybe this would have changed my rating of "All of It"? I don't know. I liked this novel, I really did. But it's not one that I will purchase for my own collection. And it probably won't be one that I re-read either. Now, Holden's other two novels? Totally bought all versions and will re-read when I can handle the mental abuse again.

Veronica. Man, she is something else. For the first 50% of this book, I flew through it and loved the story. I loved how Dimitri threw Veronica for a loop, making her stumble over her normal, everyday routine of life and got Veronica to live out of her box. But the second Veronica started doubting her life and decided that she needed to make a major change in order to keep the balance? Then I started to drag throughout the novel.

The "twist" of the novel was very obvious to me. (This is totally a spoiler to anyone who has read the series I'm about to mention...sorry about that!) Maybe because I just finished reading the Fallen series by Lauren Kate? Or maybe because it was supposed to be obvious to the reader. Either way, I almost wanted Dimitri to blurt it out and fess up way before he did, so Veronica would understand how much he really loves her, instead of letting her do her own thing for all those months.

I love Dimitri. He is so dedicated. So loyal. So mysterious, yet not. He has the patience of a saint, and with all of his knowledge, he still lives life to its potential, which I admire so much.

So overall, I enjoyed this novel. I probably should have read it before "Bright Side" to get the whole effect of the novel, but I can't change what happened so I'm enjoying this novel for what it is now. Kim Holden is one of my all-time favorite authors and I'm very excited to see what else she has in store for us next, because knowing her talent, it will be beyond believable!

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Review: Whisper to Me

Whisper to Me by Christina Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this free eARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a good book! I didn't think I would like it as much as I did, but I really liked Kai and Rachel's characters. I can not even imagine what Rachel went through when she was thrown from the motorcycle with Miles - her ex-boyfriend. The rehab that she had to go through was so intense and long and discouraging, but Rachel dived right into the challenge to become herself again. I am so angry at Miles for the way he acted after the accident. And then to want her forgiveness again after 3 years?? No! He should be groveling at her feet, begging her to show mercy when she gives him what he deserves.

But that's just me. I'm a bit harsh and vindictive, apparently.

Kai. Sweet, sweet Kai. I dearly love him. He is so loyal to Rachel and only wants the best for her. Even if that means it's not him in the picture with Rachel. I loved how he took care of her but didn't use her or take anything too far with her. Instead, he treated Rachel with the respect she deserved. Gah, he touched my heart and I'm extremely jealous of Rachel. I loved that he was his own person and defied all odds against him to come out winning in the end.

I didn't think I would enjoy this book at the beginning. I'm so glad I finally got around to reading the eARC file I received (even though my review isn't "advanced" anymore...sorry!). Tons of readers will enjoy this story, I think, and I'll be looking out for more novels by Christina Lee!

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