Review: Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

This was a really quick read (I flew through it in a day). It's a cute contemporary romance that follows high school junior, Julia, on her class trip to London. They are paired up using the buddy system and her buddy coincidentally ends up being the one person who she avoids at all costs, Jason. Jason is the class clown, a big flirt, an attention and adventure seeker. Julia is an introverted book nerd who just wants to follow her highlighted and page flagged guide books. Throughout the story Jason tries to break Julia out of her shell while Julia begins to learn that there may be more to Jason than the image he portrays to everyone.

This book does have a similar feel to Anna and the French Kiss, but also has it's own personality. I would say if you liked one you will like the other. I enjoyed the story and would recommend it if you are in the mood for a cute romance. There were a few uncomfortable things about this book for me though. There are several scenes throughout where Jason is borderline violent toward Julia. For example, he throws her phone at her and nearly hits her in the face, he grabs her and drags her into a pond when she clearly didn't want to go, he angrily walks by her and shoulder bumps her so hard she falls backward, etc. I get that they are supposed to be teenagers, but some of these scenes did bother me. If a young girl were reading this she might think that since he is the main love interest that this behavior is ok or that since she upset a boy he can act like this toward her because surely it shows that he loves her. In one scene they have a fight in a taxi and Julia says something really hurtful to Jason and to quote Julia's reaction in the book "For a quick moment I actually feel a little scared. I instinctively scoot back against the door of the cab." While Jason does not get violent in this moment, her reaction really struck the wrong note with me. Later in the same night they realize everything was one big miscommunication, but there was no reason for him to react to certain situations the way he did so that this would be her reaction to arguing with him.

The overall story was cute and the twist ending did actually catch me off guard and was not what I was expecting. It's always pleasant when a story can still surprise you. The violence is not overt and is often played off as being playful or just dramatic, so this may be individual to me as I read it. I gave this book three stars because it was a fun, quick read, but no higher because of the message I feel it could send and it's lack of true originality.

Review: Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth

I want to start by saying this book took a really long time for me to read. I kept trying to get into it but, the first half was extremely slow for me. Also, one of my biggest pet peeves with a book is when there are so many really off the wall names. While I do understand the story is taking place on another planet, in the first few chapters I was completely overwhelmed trying to keep track of the number of characters and the names that were so similar making it so hard to remember who was who. I wish I had a scorecard or had taken notes. I kept having to go back to try to figure out who people were again. Then later in the second half when the story finally started to pick up, some of the names I had finally learned changed. Ori became Orieve and her last name changed. Then we added a mystery twin that wasn't mentioned  previously too. It was just too much confusion where it wasn't necessary in my opinion.

I like that in Sarah J. Maas books we have a list of the names and pronunciations in the back to help keep track and make sure you are saying them correctly. While this book does have a glossary, it didn't list the names. I realize I am going on about this, but it made the book so difficult for me to keep up with that I almost DNF it a couple of times. I am glad I stuck with it though because the second half finally picked up the pace and the few lighthearted and almost comical moments between our main characters became slightly more frequent. Those moments really helped to make the characters more likeable and not so dark and depressing all the time. To see them be able to joke with each other was very nice and I wish a bit more of those moments had been sprinkled throughout the story.

Overall, I would definitely read the second book to find out where the story goes from here because no issues or mysteries were resolved in this installment despite the length. I feel like this book could have been a lot shorter and a lot less complicated. It may be one of those situations where this is all necessary to set up for a much bigger plot, but it felt forced and slow to me. Maybe I am still processing how I feel about this one because on one hand I found it incredibly frustrating and on the other hand I would pick up the second book right now to continue. This one was a mixed bag for me.

I also have read about some of the issues people are finding with this book as far as racial stereotypes, how it deals with chronic pain and the issue of cutting their arms. I am sensitive to those issues and it did occur to me while reading that they may be touchy for some people to read. Again, this one was an odd one for me. I would say if those things do not bother you and you are excellent at keeping up with a large cast of characters all with very difficult to pronounce or remember names, then by all means pick this up. However, if any of those issues are subjects you may be more sensitive to or you want something easy to follow or fast paced, this may not be the book for you.

Review: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

I just finished this amazing book and my feelings are very raw at the moment. I had never heard of the tragedy of the Wilhelm Gustloff before picking up this book. We have been taught so much of the history of WWII and yet there are still so many untold disasters and it's heartbreaking to think of these people being forgotten. Ruta Sepetys brings the story to life with such a caring and detailed hand that it feels like you are there with the characters actually experiencing the events. It is a real testament of an author's ability when they are able to transcend time and place you right in the midst of the story and break your heart simultaneously.

In this beautiful piece of historical fiction we follow four main characters and rotate reading from each of their points of view. I love that they are all of different nationalities and backgrounds but, due to war are forced together as refugees fighting for their lives. They are all so different and yet have the same will to survive. Florian is a Prussian art thief, Joana is a Lithuanian nurse, Emilia is a pregnant fifteen year old from Poland, and Alfred is a German sailor on the Wilhelm Gustloff. There are several side characters who steal your heart along the way as well like the shoe poet, the wandering boy, and a blind girl named Ingrid, who sees more than those with their sight in tact.

Their tales intertwine and overlap, as do their fates, in such a way that you are emotionally scarred in the most beautiful way by the end. I made it through all the toughest to read parts and the horror of the actual tragedy but, it was the very last chapter when we find out what happened to each of our beloved refugees when the tears came. This is one that will stick with me for a long time to come. If you haven't read this one yet, I highly recommend that you pick it up. You will not regret it.