Top Ten Tuesday (1)

Hosted by the Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Books that should be Made into Movies 

(in no particular order)

1. The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani

This book was picked randomly when I was at a local university bookstore. It had the praise of Kathryn Stockett (author of The Help) on the back and I was drawn to it. I sat down and began to read. And fell into a love affair with the beautiful story told. It is such a wonderful novel, and would make such a wonderful movie. 

                                           

2. Divergent by Veronica Roth

I picked up this one from my school library. I recognized the cover from various book bloggers, and although I had no idea what the plot was, I took it out. It took me a while (and my mom picking it up and raving about it) to actually begin reading it, but once I did, there was no stopping me. I fell in love with the characters (Especially Four. But I'll save that for another post.) and the world that Roth had woven. I also fell into a rabid fandom on tumblr. I literally tried to convince EVERYONE I know to read this book, because it's just that good. So, if you're reading this post, but haven't read Divergent, go read it. Now.

3. I'd Tell You that I Love You, but then I'd have to kill you  by Ally Carter

I read this one a while ago (it's on my reread shelf), and ever since the first time I read it, I've been waiting for a film to be released. So, movie world, put down that 50 shades of Grey Project you have all the mommys excited about and pick up ITYTILYBTIHTKY (I made an acronym). Before all the fans are old.

4. True Believer by Nicholas Sparks

Okay, this is seriously the best Nicholas Sparks book out there, and they're making all the crappy ones into movies. I didn't like Dear John or The Lucky One. Or The Notebook for that matter, but the movie's amazing, so I don't care. Why aren't you picking this one up? It's such an awesome love story and has stuff that's different from the rest of his books (let's count all the military guys, shall we?).

5. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Do I really need to explain? Hollywood, get. on. it. I need some more Alex Fuentes in my life.)

6. Matched by Ally Condie

I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH. PLEASE. Stop wasting your time on stupid movies (I just watched Grown Ups this weekend. I''ll never get that time back. Ever.) and make good books into good movies!

7. Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

I have a love/hate relationship with Jodi Picoult. She's predictable, and all her books seem the same. All though this was predictable and had a lot of the same elements (Court case anyone?), I love it. It's such an amazing story and really just took my breath away when I read it. It's the one book by her I didn't slam close with anger or frustration. 

8. The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

COME ON HOLLYWOOD! This is SUCH an amazing book series, and deserves the spotlight! I understand the whole mutant thing's been done, but this is James Patterson, anyway. Who doesn't love James Patterson?

9. Delirium by Lauren Oliver

afjdalkfjd. This book. It was... heartbreaking. A world where love is considered to be a curable illness? Such an awful place to live. But it was an amazing book. It was different from a lot of the dystopian YA books I've read lately. 

10. Uglies by Scott Westerfield

First dystopian book I read. Still pissed off it's so underrated. 

Waiting on Wednesday (3)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
 

Title: Chain Reaction

Author: Simone Elkeles

Summary: Luis Fuentes is a good boy who doesn't live with the angst that his big brothers, Alex and Carlos, have always lived with. Luis is smart, funny, and has big dreams of becoming an astronaut. But when he falls for the wrong girl, Luis enters a dark world he's never known, and just when he thinks he's got life all figured out, learns some disturbing news about his family that destroys his positive outlook on life. Will that Fuentes bad boy streak come out with a vengeance and lure Luis to live on the edge like his new girlfriend and his own father?

Release Date: May 24 2011

Why I'm waiting on it: Perfect Chemistry is one of my all time favorite YA Romances, and I LOVE Simone Elkeles style of writing.

Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles

Title: Leaving Paradise

Author: Simone Elkeles

Series? Leaving Paradise

Aquired From: A Friend

Summary: Nothing has been the same since Caleb Becker left a party drunk, got behind the wheel, and hit Maggie Armstrong. Even after months of painful physical therapy, Maggie walks with a limp. Her social life is nil and a scholarship to study abroad—her chance to escape everyone and their pitying stares—has been canceled. After a year in juvenile jail, Caleb’s free . . . if freedom means endless nagging from a transition coach and the prying eyes of the entire town. Coming home should feel good, but his family and ex-girlfriend seem like strangers.
Caleb and Maggie are outsiders, pigeon-holed as "criminal" and "freak." Then the truth emerges about what really happened the night of the accident and, once again, everything changes. It’s a bleak and tortuous journey for Caleb and Maggie, yet they end up finding comfort and strength from a surprising source: each other. (from Goodreads)

Cover Rating: 4/5

Comments on the Cover: I like the road. It reminds me of the accident (said in a spooky voice to creep you all out) and I REALLY love the Neon Sign. I don't know why, but there's just something about it that I really really like.
Character Comments: I liked the characters in the most part. I really could connect with Maggie and thought that she was portrayed very well as a girl who just encountered such a life changing tragedy. Upset and angry, but deep down inside still very motivated. I really liked Caleb, too. He was a jerk at first, and I hated him blah blah blah but when the truth (slowly) started to come out, I began to like him a little more. Okay, okay, a LOT more.
Favorite Characters: Caleb and Maggie
Character Rating: 5/5

Plot line rating: 4/5

Plot Line Comments: I thought that it was pretty unique for the most part. I mean the falling in love with your "enemy" wasn't quite unique, but Elkeles did it in a way that was unique and well done.

Likeliness to reread it? 4/5
Overall rating: 4.25/5
Books like this that I have reviewed: Perfect Chemistry and Rules of Attraction

Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

Title: Rules of Attraction
Author: Simone Elkeles
Other Books in this series: Perfect Chemistry
Summary: Carlos Fuentes is moving back to America from Mexico to live with his brother, Alex, in Colorado. And he is NOT happy about it. Carlos almost immediately begins to get into trouble and Alex sends him to live with his college professor and his family.
Enter Kiara, Carlos' peer guide and the professor's daughter. She's obviously not your average girl and definitely not the type that would be attracted to Carlos. But she is.
But there's more to Carlos then anyone realizes, including Carlos. Will these unknown secrets tear them apart?
Review: After I read Perfect Chemistry, I knew that I had gotten no where near enough of the Fuentes boys. I was a little disappointed when I first got this book from the library because it wasn't about Brittany and Alex's relationship. But I loved the new characters and learning more about the younger Fuentes brother. And let's be honest, I was happy that they at least included some depth in Brittany and Alex's relationship. When I started the book, I wasn't expecting anything near that.
Cover Rating: 5/5
Comments on the Cover: I LOVE these covers. So very hot and secretly telling oh so much about the contents of the book...
Character Comments: I LOVE Kiara. And Carlos. When you warm up to him. But Kiara is one of my favorite girl characters in a while.
Favorite Character: Kiara! But I still love Alex
Character Rating: 4/5
Plot line rating: 4/5
Likeliness to reread it? Well, since I reread it... 3/5
Overall rating: 4/5
Books like this that I have reviewed: Perfect Chemistry

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Title: Perfect Chemistry
Author: Simone Elkeles
Other Books in this series: Rules of Attraction

Summary: Alejandro Fuentes is the bad boy all the good girls want.

Meh. 

Not Really.

Alejandro, or Alex as he is most commonly known is entering Fairfield Highschool as a senior. Not too bad.

Oh, did I mention he's in a gang and has one of the worst reputations possible? 

My bad.

Brittany Ellis is a senior just trying to finish her highschool years. Though everyone considers her the stereotypical blonde bimbo cheerleader, there is actually a lot more to Brittany. A lot more that she has no intention of letting anybody see.

When Alex and Brittany have to team up as Chemistry partners, will they fail because of their differences, or maybe, just maybe, will that Chemistry be... perfect? 
Review: My sister saw this book in Barnes and Noble and made a huge deal about how awesome it looked and how she HAD to read it.
Of course, I WAS the one who ended up getting it from the library and reading it first.
I don't think I've read any book like this before. The romance was RIDICULOUSLY amazing and everything else was basically just perfect! AH! I loved this book and am hoping that Simone will quickly write more sequels.
Please?
Cover Rating: 5/5
Character Comments: Alex and Brittany equal best modern Romeo and Juliet to this day. Just saying.
Favorite Character: ALEX <33
Character Rating: 4/5
Plot line rating: 4/5
Likeliness to reread it? 3/5
Overall rating: 4/5
Books like this that I have reviewed: N/A