Book Review: Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot

Published: December 27th, 2005
Publisher: Avon Trade
399 pages (hardcover, Large Print edition)
Genre: I'm not 100% sure - it's sort of chick lit/mystery/romance
Acquired this book: at the library
Warning: may include spoilers

Synopsis of Size 12 is Not Fat, taken from dust jacket of book: Former pop star Heather Wells has left behind her tours and hordes of screaming fans and settled into her new life as an assistant hall manager in one of New York's top colleges.  As far as she's concerned, being a teen idol has nothing on living in a beautiful brownstone with a hunky PI she hopes to make her boyfriend someday.  But when strange things start to happen at the college, Heather finds herself in the spotlight once again - this time starring as a spunky female detective.

This book was really cute and funny.  It had a little bit of everything, which means something for just about everyone - comedy, drama, mystery, action and romance.  Heather was a solid character, very real and relateable.  There was a whole cast of quirky, crazy, amusing characters to round out the book, quite a few parts that were laugh-out-loud funny, and in my mind, I could picture everything as clearly as if it were a television show.

The romance aspects aren't the main focus of the story, but I like the relationship between Heather and Cooper - roomates and friends, but she's completely in love with him.  The book is written in the first person, and the way Heather thinks about Cooper is so real - I'm sure most girls would be able to relate to her inner dialogue when it comes to Cooper.  The crazy things girls think about guys who are either clueless or don't like them back - it was funny and really rang true.  Cooper obviously cares about Heather a lot and wants to protect her, and there's potential there that makes me curious what will happen in the next book.

The mystery aspect of the book was good - the mystery itself, how it all unfolds, Heather's part in trying to catch the killer, and then how it all turns out was very interesting.

My only real complaint about this book - and it's minor compared to the long list of complaints I've had for some books - is that Heather works in a dorm, but the college wants to foster a feeling of comfort so they're suppost to call it a residence hall, not a dorm, so she's always saying 'the dorm - I mean residence hall...' It was funny the first couple of times but she did it through the entire book and it got old quickly and just drove me nuts.  But really, that's it, and I will definitely be reading the second book in this series,  Size 14 is Not Fat Either.

*I belong to Amazon Affiliates - anything that you buy from my blog through Amazon gets me a small commission, and as a struggling freelance writer, I can use every cent I can get!  If you're considering buying this book or any other book I review, if you go to Amazon through the links on my blog to buy, I'll be eternally grateful!*

Library Loot June 11th - June 18th

 

Library Loot is a weekly theme hosted by  Claire from The Captive Reader and Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader. 

Since I'm currently scraping by as a freelance writer, I unfortunately can't afford to buy books right now *insert sad face here* which I hate, but luckily I have an awesome library in my city, so until I can have my own personal library filled with wall-to-wall books, the public library's the next best thing.

  

I wouldn't have gotten any books this week except a few came in that I'd been on the reserve list for.  Other than that, I'm still working away at last week's books.  I've been really busy this week, and it doesn't help that I'm such a slow reader!

Here are this week's selections:

From Notting Hill With Love...Actually by Ali McNamara

I can't remember how I discovered this book but the title caught my attention because Notting Hill and Love...Actually are two of my favorite movies.  Plus I love the cover!

The Violets of March by Sarah Jio

I saw this book reviewed a lot over the last couple of months and was curious - even more so when I followed Sarah on Twitter and she followed me back. :-)  Again, love the cover - can't wait to read this one!

Phanton Evil by Heather Graham

I've mentioned several times before that Heather Graham used to be one of my favorite authors.  I love all of her older books but the last couple of years, they just haven't been as good as they used to be.  I keep trying - I actually just finished Night of the Vampires by her, which I'll be reviewing soon - and keep hoping that she'll go back to being the author whose books I used to devour. 

The Rehearsal by Eleanor Catton

My cousin Bertha told me about this book a few weeks ago, so I requested it.  She started it and wasn't sure if she was going to like it - not sure if she continued or finished it, but I'll give it a shot.

 

 *The linked titles of the books lead to each book on Amazon.  I belong to Amazon Affiliates - anything that you buy from my blog through Amazon gets me a small commission, and as a struggling freelance writer, I can use every cent I can get!  If you're considering buying any of the books I mention on this blog, if you go to Amazon through the links on my blog to buy, it would really help me, and I'll be eternally grateful!*

What are you reading this week?  What have you read lately that you really enjoyed?  Do you have any suggestions for my library loot picks next week?  I read just about any genre, and I'm always looking for suggestions!

Book Review: Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

Published: September 22nd, 2009
Publisher: HarperCollins Canada/Harper Teen
327 pages (paperback)
Genre: Young adult urban fantasy
Acquired this book: at the library, although I'm eventually going to buy a copy because I loved it so much
Warning: may include spoilers

Synopsis, taken from the book's dust jacket: Seventeen-year-old actress Kelley Winslow thinks that playing the role of the fairy queen Titania in a production of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream could be her lucky break - if she can pull it off.  But when she meets the handsome Sonny Flannery, Kelley has to face the shocking truth that the world of Faeries is all too real  and that she is an unwitting part of it.
Sonny is a guard of the Samhain Gate, the doorway between the mortal sphere and the Faerie's enchanted, dangerous Otherworld.  Usually kept shut, the Gate stands open only once a year, exposing the unsuspecting human world to an onslaught of malevolent Faerie creatures intent on destruction. 
Sonny warns Kelley that she is no mere mortal, and that she is being hunted by powerful forces from the Faerie realm.  Now, Kelley must come to terms with her heritage - and her growing feelings for Sonny - if she wants to save not only herself, but also the human world she holds dear.
 
I've mentioned several times before that after I'm done with my current novel, I plan on writing a novel about faeries.  It's an idea I've had kicking around in my mind for years, and not a day has gone by in the last couple of months that I haven't thought about it - even though I'm knee-deep in the rewrite/revision stage of my current WIP.  I decided that I would read as many books about faeries as I could to see what's out there to make sure my idea is original.  I was surprised to discover there really aren't that many faerie books (although they seem to be gaining popularity), but that's how I came across Wondrous Strange, and let me tell you, I am so glad I did.

I just want to talk about Lesley Livingston first for a second.  When I chose this book, I had no idea that she was a Canadian author.  Not only is she Canadian, she apparently lives about 2 hours from me.  When I found this out, I was so excited that I tweeted: Started reading Wondrous Strange by @LesLivingston last night and just realized she's Canadian - I love her already! ;-)  A few days later, she tweeted me back saying: @SweetMarie83 I ♥ u right back fellow Canuck!  How cool is that?  I was ridiculously excited.  Also, she has a masters degree in English, with a specialization in Arthurian literature and Shakespeare - if I'd known I could have gone to university and studied Arthurian literature, I would have!  I think that's so cool, and I love how she worked her knowledge/love of Shakespeare into Wondrous Strange.

Ok, fangirly stuff over, now onto the review...

THIS is what a faerie story is supposed to be.  I've read quite a few over the last few weeks, and some have been good, some not so much, but this one was what I've been looking for and waiting for.  Finally!

Kelley and Sonny are great characters.  Kelley is independent and willfull, trying to make a life for herself doing what she loves, and on her own terms.  Sonny is loyal and strong, sweet and protective.  As a guard of the Samhain Gate, he's between the worlds, not really belonging in either, but like Kelley, trying to do his best and make it work.  Both are believable and relateable characters, as are all the other characters.  I won't go into detail, but I loved Maddox and Bob, too - you'll have to read the book to find out what I'm talking about!

I like how the story is shown from both Kelley's and Sonny's perspectives.  Most YA books I've read are told from the perspective of just the main character, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that, but I do enjoy getting a deeper insight into a character by seeing things from their perspective.  It just gives more depth to the story I think, and it worked perfectly in this book.

The plot is well-thought-out and original.  It's like a blending of old and new - legend/myth and pure imagination.  I love that it's set in New York City, a place that feels familiar to most us of, even if we've never been there.  There are some great twists, turns and surprises, action, and just enough romance in the storyline for a romance junkie like me to appreciate and be left with hope.  I love that Kelley and Sonny don't fall in love right away, and that Kelley doesn't fall all over herself to be with him.  The fact that they have to work for it and they have a lot of obstacles along the way makes it that much more interesting and believable.

One final thing I loved about this book: the cover.  I'm a total cover-whore - if you've been reading my blog, you'll know that I often choose books completely at random based on titles or covers, and this would be one of those books.  It's simple but so beautiful and ethereal.

I can't wait to see what happens next in Darklight, the second book in the series!

 *I belong to Amazon Affiliates - anything that you buy from my blog through Amazon gets me a small commission, and as a struggling freelance writer, I can use every cent I can get!  If you're considering buying this book or any other book I review, if you go to Amazon through the links on my blog to buy, I'll be eternally grateful!*