After We Fell by Anna Todd | Book Review

After We Fell by Anna Todd

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Reading Group Rating: M for Mature

Personal Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Given Summary: Just as Tessa makes the biggest decision of her life, everything changes. Revelations about first her family, and then Hardin’s, throw everything they knew before in doubt and makes their hard-won future together more difficult to claim.

Tessa’s life begins to come unglued. Nothing is what she thought it was. Not her friends. Not her family. The one person she should be able to rely on, Hardin, is furious when he discovers the massive secret she’s been keeping. And rather than being understanding, he turns to sabotage.

Tessa knows Hardin loves her and will do anything to protect her, but there’s a difference between loving someone and being able to have them in your life. This cycle of jealousy, unpredictable anger, and forgiveness is exhausting. She’s never felt so intensely for anyone, so exhilarated by someone’s kiss—but is the irrepressible heat between her and Hardin worth all the drama? Love used to be enough to hold them together. But if Tessa follows her heart now, will it be…the end?

Cover: The cover of this book has grass, which I think makes sense because the book is called After We Fell and when you fall you end up on some type of ground so grass makes sense.

My Review: Hurray for this post finally going live when it's supposed to!! (For those of you who are confused this blog post has gone up at least three times with only a picture of the book cover and the given summary)

Anyway, I love this series of books and basically everything Anna Todd stands for as a human being. One of the big things I don't like about this book though is the Lake House 'scene' I guess you could call it.  Basically I can't stand the whole lake house vacation.  I think that it's too long and both Tessa and Hardin are just so annoying the entire time.  I even remember when I was reading it on Wattpad I would get so excited for an update and then so disappointed because they were at that house for so long.  When Tessa and Hardin are good, they are so good.  And they are so cute and funny and everything else.  However, when they're fighting it's so frustrating because 8 times out of 10 they're fighting over something stupid, like a miscommunication, and they're both just so proud that as a reader it's easier to see the solution, but neither of them will apologize.  I also think that Tessa and I are just so different that I often get frustrated with her, because I would do things so differently than the way she does them.  She just pushes Hardin's buttons and I get so annoyed.  To me, Hardin Scott is coming from a pretty messed up childhood and he's a very angry and overprotective/possessive guy and yes, he does need to learn to lighten up, but it would be easier for Tessa to cut him some slack and ease him into being less controlling.  I think that a lot of times he has valid points and Tessa disregards them because she doesn't want to be told what to do.  Like with the Zed thing.  Zed was the other participant in 'The Bet' and he makes it known that he has feelings for Tessa, so Hardin doesn't want her hanging out with him, and it takes her so long to understand his reasoning and agree that she would flip out if Hardin spent as much time with Molly as she did with Zed.  I get the point that Hardin can't tell her who to be friends with, but I think it's okay for your boyfriend to be like, 'I don't want you hanging out with someone who likes you and fought against me to take you virginity' because obviously there's tension between these two men and why would you go out of your way to make more when all you do is complain that your boyfriend is angry?  I do really like the ending of this book because the truth is starting to be revealed about Hardin's family and it's kind of hard to imagine what the last book will bring (even though if you're like me and you read it online you already know).

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The Cellar by Natasha Preston | Book Review

The Cellar by Natasha Preston

Reading Group: There is sensitive material in this novel, such as kidnapping, abuse, and talk of rape

Personal Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Given Summary: "Lily?"

My stomach dropped as a tall, dark-haired man stepped into view. Had he been hiding between the trees?

"No. Sorry." Gulping, I took a step back. "I'm not Lily."

He shook his head, a satisfied grin on his face. "No. You are Lily."

"I'm Summer. You have the wrong person." You utter freak!

I could hear my pulse crashing in my ears. How stupid to give him my real name. He continued to stare at me, smiling. It made me feel sick.

"You are Lily," he repeated.

Before I could blink, he threw his arms forward and grabbed me. I tried to shout, but he clasped his hand over my mouth, muffling my screams. My heart raced. I'm going to die.

For months Summer is trapped in a cellar with the man who took her―and three other girls: Rose, Poppy, and Violet. His perfect, pure flowers. His family. But flowers can't survive long cut off from the sun, and time is running out...

Cover: The cover of this novel appears to be the cellar stairs with a Lily laying on the bottom step.  I think this cover represents Summer being at her lowest point, stuck in the basement and not knowing if or when she was going to get out.

My Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.  I thought it was interesting to read from Summer, Clover, and Lewis's point of views.  I also liked how long she was stuck in the cellar.  Obviously I wanted her to be rescued and I certainly didn't want her to die down there, but I thought it was more realistic that it took some time for her to be found.  Throughout the book, you come to realize why Colin (Clover) was acting the way her was and although I never liked him, I couldn't help but feel a little bit bad for him, or at least understand him better.  His dad messed up his mom and his mom messed him up and led him into this life of killing and eventually kidnapping.  Lewis allowed you into life outside of the cellar.  Life doesn't simply go on for people who know someone who was kidnapped.  Summer's mom was a mess and Lewis was spending all of his time trying to find her, even if it meant finding her dead.  The other girls were living what they assumed was the rest of their lives.  They didn't expect to ever leave because they didn't have anyone to look for them.  Summer was the only one of the girls who could save the rest of them, but she didn't know how or how long her family would be looking for her.  Book like this one are interesting because they aren't your typical love stories.  These books have bigger problems than a misunderstanding and remind us that not everyone in the world is good, even if they think they are.  I think that was the dangerous thing about Clover.  He wasn't a cereal killer who enjoyed killing people, he enjoyed killing people he thought were bad and destroying families.  He didn't see himself as a killer at all, which made him even more dangerous.  He was someone who could be your neighbor.    

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After We Collided by Anna Todd | Book Review

After We Collided by Anna Todd

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Reading Group Rating:  M for Mature

Personal Rating:  4 out of 5 Stars

Given Summary: Tessa has everything to lose. Hardin has nothing to lose…except her. AFTER WE COLLIDED…Life will never be the same. #HESSA

After a tumultuous beginning to their relationship, Tessa and Hardin were on the path to making things work. Tessa knew Hardin could be cruel, but when a bombshell revelation is dropped about the origins of their relationship—and Hardin’s mysterious past—Tessa is beside herself.

Hardin will always be…Hardin. But is he really the deep, thoughtful guy Tessa fell madly in love with despite his angry exterior—or has he been a stranger all along? She wishes she could walk away. It’s just not that easy. Not with the memory of passionate nights spent in his arms. His electric touch. His hungry kisses.

Still, Tessa’s not sure she can endure one more broken promise. She put so much on hold for Hardin—school, friends, her mom, a relationship with a guy who really loved her, and now possibly even a promising new career. She needs to move forward with her life.

Hardin knows he made a mistake, possibly the biggest one of his life. He’s not going down without a fight. But can he change? Will he change…for love?

Cover: The cover of this novel depicts a wave colliding onto the shore.  It's purple and I'm not really sure why, I don't think there is any significance in that.  Water is known to be a symbol or rebirth, which is maybe why it's chosen for this cover.  Hardin and Tessa do reconcile and rekindle their love for each other.    

My Review:  I know this novel is supposed to show that in the real world couples fight more than just once before they're able to live happily ever after, but it bothers me that every fight between Hardin and Tessa is the same.  It's always because of a misunderstanding and one of them would rather jump to conclusions than hear the other one out.  It also bothers me that Tessa kisses other people.  The one in the club when she's drunk is whatever, but the New Years party and Zed where uncalled for.  She knows that Hardin hates Zed and they had been away from each other for less than 11 days.  I just think that it was really rude of her to do something like that.  Those parts really bothered me.  The rest of the book is great.  It's a little bit of a cycle where they're together, they break up, they hook up, they're back together...etc. and at some points I found myself wishing Anna Todd had just cut an entire scene out when she went from her digital story on WattPad to the printed story, but there probably would have been an outrage from her fans.

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After by Anna Todd | Book Review

After by Anna Todd

Reading Group Rating: M for Mature

Personal Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars 

Given Summary: There was the time before Tessa met Hardin, and then there’s everything AFTER... Life will never be the same. 

Tessa is a good girl with a sweet, reliable boyfriend back home. She’s got direction, ambition, and a mother who’s intent on keeping her that way. 

But she’s barely moved into her freshman dorm when she runs into Hardin. With his tousled brown hair, cocky British accent, tattoos, and lip ring, Hardin is cute and different from what she’s used to. 

But he’s also rude—to the point of cruelty, even. For all his attitude, Tessa should hate Hardin. And she does—until she finds herself alone with him in his room. Something about his dark mood grabs her, and when they kiss it ignites within her a passion she’s never known before. 

He’ll call her beautiful, then insist he isn’t the one for her and disappear again and again. Despite the reckless way he treats her, Tessa is compelled to dig deeper and find the real Hardin beneath all his lies. He pushes her away again and again, yet every time she pushes back, he only pulls her in deeper. 

Tessa already has the perfect boyfriend. So why is she trying so hard to overcome her own hurt pride and Hardin’s prejudice about nice girls like her? 

Unless…could this be love?


Cover: The cover of this novel is covered in dark blue-green clouds.  The clouds show that a storm is coming and it almost stands as a warning.  However, rain itself is very cleansing and shows rebirth.  So maybe this cover is saying that although a big storm is coming and it may destroy some things, there is also a new start on its way afterwards.

My Review: I did read this novel on Wattpad so I know what happens.  I think that's why I was a little hesitant to to read it again.  It also makes it a little harder to write this review because I have to focus on just this part of the story, even though I know what happens next.
The story itself is great.  I like that they fight and struggle to understand each other, but still love each other.  I mean obviously Hardin is hiding something so he sometimes acts like it and gets mad seemingly out of no where.
I think you also have to give a lot of credit to Anna Todd for this story.  She wrote it chapter by chapter and uploaded everyday (for the most part).  She wasn't able to go back and change anything and she didn't change that much when it was printed into a real book.  It just shows hoe good of a writer she actually is, no matter what people may say about her writing a FanFiction online.
I did notice that during Tessa's first meeting of Ken Scott he is said to have brown eyes, but then later he has green eyes.  I also didn't like how much Tessa yelled.  She's always yelling at Hardin.  Maybe it's because I can't relate to that, I don't scream at people even when I'm mad so I just couldn't take it seriously when she was yelling at Hardin all those times.

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Christina Lauren | Author Appreciation

Okay, so I'm not going to lie to you guys, I didn't have/make time to read a book this week.  It just went by too fast and all of a sudden it's Tuesday.  I thought about writing a review about a book I've already read, but then I thought that that would be cheating and if I start doing that I might continue to do that and I would never reach my GoodReads Reading Challenge (I'm trying to read 50 books in 2015).  So I have decided to write an Author Appreciation post instead.  Today I appreciate Christina Lauren.

The Bio from their website:

Yes, there are two of us! Lauren (on the left) and Christina (on the right).

Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners/besties/soulmates/brain-twins Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced ten New York Times bestselling novels. Their books have been translated into 28 languages.

So basically these two women met over the internet, wrote a Twilight fanfic-turned-novel together, and now continue to write fantastic novels together.  They have two series between all ten adult books; The Beautiful Series and the Wild Seasons.  However, in their last novel, Beautiful Secret, the two series crossed courses.  

Once you read a few of their novels you do notice a pattern in their writing: Boy and girl meet, boy and girl have sex numerous times, boy and girl finally admit they love each other, boy and girl get into a fight, boy and girl break up, boy and girl make up, boy and girl live happily ever after.  However, at the same time each story is very different.  I actually love that they are able to take a similar storyline and create multiple different stories.  It reminds us that no two people go through the same situation.

I also love that all of the characters are friends.  It makes it fun when you're reading a novel about Sara and Max and you wonder what's going on with Will and Hanna since you left off in their novel.  And yes, you get a little bit of information from Sara and Max's point of view, but you also know there is stuff they don't know and can't share.  It's also interesting because if there is someone single in the novel you wonder when that person is going to get a novel and what that story is going to be.

I shared these books with a friend from school and we would be up texting each other about them really late at night.  Talking about our favorite characters, our favorite cute scenes, and our favorite funny scenes.  Christina Lauren has a very impressive gift of being able to have these romantic novels that contain a lot of sex, but still has moments where the characters are just normal people, joking around with friends or being supper cute with their partners without having sex (Sometimes that overlaps, though)

They also have a Young Adult novel Sublime that is published and The House which comes out in October.  Sublime is unlike any other book I've read.  It is a romantic novel, but in a way that it can be for young adults.

Even their website is fun.  It contains extra writings and sneak peeks.  A bunch of little things to hold you over when you're going through withdrawals and not so patiently waiting for the next book to be published.  I do wish there was a "Coming Soon" section, but I'll take what I can get!

And they're on Wattpad!  These girls do it all!  They have one story on the website and it's not super long, but it is super good.

Christina Lauren is such a talented author (it's confusing because it's two people, but because they have one pen-name it's singular pronouns and stuff) that can make every story make you wish it was your story.  I can read a Christina Lauren book in a day, no matter what size.  They just captivate me and I have to keep reading.  Then, when I finish, I wish I wasn't.

Thank you Christina Lauren and keep doing what you do!

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