Review for This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

This Is What Happy Looks Like
By Jennifer E. Smith
Published April 2nd 2013 by Poppy
Borrowed from Library
416 Pages

If fate sent you an email, would you answer? When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds. Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs? ~ Goodreads

This Is What Happy Looks Like is a fantastic contemporary that allows us all to live out our fantasy (I'm assuming here) of falling in love with a down-to-earth celebrity! If it does not enchant you with its charm, it will surely put a smile on your face.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out TIWHLL is written from both perspectives, with the added touch of emails (such a fun idea). Ellie is no one special, I don't even know how I would describe her because she has a little bit of everything in her personality: she is stubborn, cautious, shy (but then adventurous), secretive... which makes her seem more realistic. People are usually not pegged to one trait. Graham too, was like this. He was sweet, witty, passionate, determined... and yet had emotional worries, which made him relatable. I didn't connect deeply with them, but I definitely became swept up in their lives! However, their relationship would have been better if we could have seen how it developed through the emails. With that being said, the emails that were included were clever and had me laughing! I have one question though: WHY did we not meet Wilbur?? Seriously, by the end I desperately wanted to meet that pig!! Humph!

Although not a new or original idea, Smith managed to keep me flipping those pages. She adds a little bit of family drama or issues in there, but thankfully it does not overwhelm the book at all. It remains a light, enjoyable, breezy read. I think my favourite part of the whole book was the atmosphere created by the setting of a small town. There was a closeness, sense of community, and quirkiness to it that made me what to pick up my stuff and move there!

I highly recommend This is What Happy Looks Like to lovers of light contemporary, romance, and of course, pigs (not really). It will reveal to you just what happy looks like, providing that extra skip in your step for the day!

EXCERPT

 "There are different kinds of happy," she said. "Some kinds don't need any proof." 

"Like sunrises?"

"Exactly," she said. "I know enough to know that they're happy things. There's just nothing sad about a sunrise."

"As opposed to a sunset."

"I don't think they're particularly sad either."

"I do," Graham told her. "They're endings, and endings are always sad."

"They're the beginnings of the night," she said. "That's something."

"Yeah, but everyone knows that nights are scarier than days."

Ellie laughed. "Maybe we should turn around then."

"How come?"

"Nothing's all that scary if you can see it coming."

Waiting On Wednesday (26)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

My Pick This Week is...

Pawn
By Aimee Carter
Published by Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: November 26, 2013                                 

"YOU CAN BE A VII. IF YOU GIVE UP EVERYTHING.                                                              
For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country.                                                                
If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter.                                                    
There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed…and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand."

Dystopian? Rebellion? Twisted game? Well I'm hooked... I actually requested this one on NetGalley, but I have a feeling they won't accept my request (assumption based on past experiences with Harlequin). So, I'm pretty sure I will be waiting for it with the rest of the public! However, I cannot promise that I will be waiting patiently. 

What are YOU lovely people waiting for this Wednesday? Leave links and I'll be sure to visit! 

Stacking the Shelves #6

Stacking the Shelves is a meme created/hosted by the lovely Tynga @ Tynga's Reviews! (All credit goes to her for this meme.) If you want to participate click on the link! The more the merrier! It's a chance to showcase titles that arrived in the mail or for review... any book goodies over the past week (or weeks for me)!

Borrowed From Library

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

How excited do you think I was when I saw that my library had these books - go on, guess? Nope, times that by ten! I seriously just sat there and stared (*cough* stroked TFIOS *cough*) at them. I cannot wait to read them!!

I just want to thank those who have welcomed me back, it feels great - really and truly thank you!!

What did YOU guys get? Leave LINKS to YOUR posts!!! Thanks for reading...

Review for Onyx (Lux #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Onyx (Lux #2)
By Jennifer L. Armentrout
Published August 14, 2012 by Entangled Teen
Borrowed from Library
366 pages

"Being connected to Daemon Black sucks.
Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon's determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I've sworn him off, even though he's running more hot than cold these days. But we've got bigger problems.
Something worse than the Arum has come to town.
The Department of Defense are here. If they ever out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I'm a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who's got a secret of his own. He knows what's happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.
But then everything changes. I've seen someone who shouldn't be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he's never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them - from me?
No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lie." ~ Goodreads

 

Obsidian was a fall-hard book that left me breathless and wanting more. Could the series' next book Onyx fill the big shoes left behind? You bet it could. Although there was room to spare as I wouldn't go as far to say it was better.

Ms. Armentrout's way of writing is simplistic; it didn't hammer me over the head with long sentences and confusing phrases. Instead, her words effectively carried me along clearly throughout the scenes. It takes little effort to become sucked into Katy's world. Speaking of Katy, she is a character that I find relatible and easy to imagine myself being friends with (it helps that she is a book addict AND blogger). However, her denial towards Daemon's affections got on my nerves - accept it girl, I would! With that being said, if you are a fan rooting for Katy and Daemon I can assure you not to worry about them relationship wise, They have that same sizzling connection and Daemon holds many surprises for us. Daemon reveals more of himself, but stays true to what we know of him - the ever sarcastic and jerkface he is (don't be fooled, he's lovable). The fact that he gave the new "love interest" nicknames was hilarious!

The plot took me on its highs and lows - I felt every bump along the way. It was definetly relationship focused, but personally I found it engaging. More information regarding the DOD and some other 'mysteries' are revealed in their due time, yet are quickly replaced with more! And that ending... beware. Ms. Armentrout has skill.  She left me gripping the pages.

I highly recommend Onyx to lovers of the first book, romance, sexy aliens, and a series of events that will leave you wondering, "what's next". I warn you, this series will chain you to it and not let you go!

BOOK TRAILER

Desperately Wanting Wednesday (6): Opal

Parajunkee's meme called "Desperately Wanting Wednesday" is like "Waiting on Wednesday" but instead of just being able to do books that are not released yet, you pick a book you really want! Released or not released! Go to Parajunkee to see the details and her DWW posts! 

This week I desperately want to get my hands on:

Opal (Lux #3)
By Jennifer L. Armentrout
Published December 11th 2012 by Entangled Teen

"No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.


Together we’re stronger... and they know it. ~ Goodreads

 I have become fully invested in this series - like head on oh-my-gosh-I-want-to-devour-you. I am so happy that it is out, but I waiting impatiently for it to show up on my library's shelf! I hope it hurries up! I  need more Katy and Daemon action please!

What are you waiting for? Something unreleased? Released? Leave links... I'll drop by and see! Thanks for reading and in the words of the Green brothers: don't forget to be awesome!

Hello?

Hi readers (*echos*), 

I know. I dropped off the face of the planet in January and now I'm not sure if I should be showing my face around the blogosphere again. I feel like I have committed an unforgivable crime. I am convinced that I am the most horrible blogger ever - if I can even call myself a blogger. All I can do is explain and hope you have a secret place where you hide all your extra forgiveness because I'm pretty much going to use what you got. 

Bear with me, I will try to make my excuses as short as possible. Remember how I used to complain about school all the time? Yeah, that was the culprit for my disappearance. I couldn't handle everything that I had going on and well, long story short, blogging got dropped. I managed to keep reading (otherwise I wouldn't be alive), but reviews went down the drain. What's the change now? Nothing. I'm in my last year of school and it is a KILLER, plus recent family changes have made life very difficult. We've had to make huge adjustments, and I'm busier then ever. But the thing is, I don't think I want to give up blogging permanently... I really miss it. I know I'm not going to be able to post often, but something is better than nothing right? I'll probably make scheduling my best friend in order to combat my time issue. I just hope you guys are willing to give me another shot. I hope I didn't blow it. Please, please, please forgive me. If you made it this far, wow, that is unbelievable. I would've left my sorry excuse of a post. Thank you for giving me your precious time!

Have a fantastic day and in the words of the Green brothers: Don't forget to be awesome!!

Win HEMLOCK by Kathleen Peacock!

What better way to kick off the New Year (2013!!) by giving away an epic book? There is no other way.

So, you have the chance to win the popular Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock!! 

 "Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered. Since then, Mac's life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac's hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy's killer: A white werewolf. Lupine syndrome -- also known as the werewolf virus -- is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control. Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy's murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy's boyfriend, Jason, her good friend Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk." 

 Ready to enter?

Rules, Conditions and Information

~ Sorry guys but this will be Canada/U.S. only - I am paying and it is a hardback! ~

~ Winner must reply within 48 hours or another winner with be chosen ~

~ Winner will be chosen randomly and email addresses with be deleted after contacted ~

~ Ends January 31st ~

Enter in the Rafflecopter Below

a Rafflecopter giveaway

THANK YOU FOR ENTERING and "MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOR"

Monument 14 Audiobook Winner!

Hello readers!

It's been so long since I've been fully active in the blogging world. School has just taken over my life. I'm sorry to have left you all hanging. Hopefully, this year I will get to read more and blog a whole lot more!

Anyways, I have a winner for the MONUMENT 14 Giveaway! Want to know who it is?? Alright....

Amanda Breck

 

CONGRATULATIONS Amanda, Rafflecopter has smiled upon you today! I have emailed Emmy, so you will be hearing from her shortly. Enjoy your audiobook! Thank you to all who entered :)

On this note, I hope all have had a wonderful new years with family and friends.

 

HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE and thank you for sticking around!