The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

The 5th Wave is the story of Cassie Sullivan, a young girl who is one of the last humans left, after an alien invasion that came in waves. Cassie's baby brother is taken from her and she sets out on a quest to get him back. Meeting a mysterious boy named Evan Walker along the way.

I didn't know how much I loved Sci-Fi until recently, okay? I bought this book last year when it came out. I think I may have pre-ordered it because there was a lot of hype around it and everyone was recommending it, saying it would be YA book of the year. It took me a while to actually get to it, my husband ended up reading it before me. He loved it and soon after he finished it, I decided to pick it up. This book did not disappoint, it lived up to all the hype. It was action packed and a bit terrifying and very sad. Rick Yancey did a fantastic job creating a very possible scenario for an alien invasion. The shifting perspectives do a great job keeping the mystery element of the story. I loved this book and loved the characters in it. I can't wait for the sequel (which is titled The Infinite Sea, and is scheduled to be released in May 2014). I recommended this book to a couple of my friends, and both of them loved it.

Rating: ★★★★★
Recommendation: Very entertaining and fast paced. I would recommend it to anyone.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman is such a wonderful author, I honestly don't think I can read anything by him and NOT like it, granted I've only read two, but I've loved them both.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane is essentially a fairy tale for adults. It is a story told from the perspective of a 7 year old child (really, it's a man recalling some events he'd forgotten, hence why it's more of an adult tale). It is quite hard to explain what the story is about without spoiling it really, but the main focus is the Hempstock family. A family of three women who have a farm at the end of the lane. However, the Hempstocks are no ordinary family and our narrator recalls what exactly it is that made them extra ordinary.

The book is available in an audiobook format and is narrated by Neil Gaiman himself. I actually listened to most of the book and loved it. Neil Gaiman's narration really adds to the fairytale quality of the story, as if we were there listening to the main character tell us the story of his childhood, the monsters that plagued it, and the Hempstock women who lived at the end of the lane. I experienced a wide range of emotions while reading this book. I laughed and cried and was creeped out. I loved this book so much and I don't doubt I will come back and re-read it later on.

Rating: ★★★★★
Recommendation: The Ocean at the End of the Lane is a beautiful story of friendship, love, and family. I would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Gaiman and loves fantasy.
Favorite Quote: "Nobody actually looks like what they really are on the inside.”

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

So I barely read last week, I don't know why. I had the time but whatever I was reading (The Red Pyramid) just wasn't keeping my attention. So on Sunday I decided, you know what, I haven't read all week, I NEED to read something. So I picked up my nook and looked through all the books I've yet to read and finally decided on Anna and the French Kiss. I've heard a lot, and I mean A LOT of people rave about this book and I understand why. Anna and the French Kiss is the story of Anna Oliphant, a seventeen year old girl, whose famous author father decides to send her to a boarding school in Paris for her senior year. Anna is lonely and culture shocked but she quickly makes friends with Meredith,  a girl who lives on the same floor as her. Anna is quickly welcome into Meredith's group of friends, which includes Josh, Rashimi, and the gorgeous and sweet Étienne St. Clair. Anna and Étienne develop a connection but things are complicated by the fact that he has a longtime girlfriend he can't seem to let go of.

This book was a very quick read, it was very much focused on character development, which is absolutely fine with me, those are actually my favorite type of books. I found myself rooting for Anna and Étienne to get together and I became quite frustrated with all their misunderstandings and the miscommunications. I loved Anna and the French Kiss for it's ability to portray teenage romance so realistically (complete with all the angst and sexual tension). I loved Stephanie Perkins' writing so much that I also bought the companion book, Lola and the Boy Next Door (review for that coming soon).


Rating:★★★★
Recommendation: If you're into contemporary romance, I would advise you add this to your personal collection.

Under the Dome by Stephen King

The Book: Under the Dome happens to be my first Stephen King novel ever. I own a few of his books, and have seen a lot of movie adaptations of his book, but this is the first one I actually sat down and read. Under the Dome follows the residents of Chester's Mill, Maine, a small town that becomes completely cut off from the rest of the world when an invisible barrier, known as "The Dome" drops all of the sudden.

Under the Dome is written in third person but follows nearly every character in the town, switching POV's quite often. I personally really enjoyed that aspect of the book because it felt as if Chester's Mill was a snow globe and I was looking into it, with knowledge of what every character was thinking and doing. Stephen King did such a fantastic job writing characters that were real, that I grew to care about quickly. Characters that exist out in the real world and hit a certain nerve when you read about them (I'm looking at you Big Jim). There are very many subplots and at times it's hard to follow characters but once you really get into the book, it's quite easy. I became so invested in the story and the characters that I found myself sighing in frustration and shouting out "OH MY GOD" a lot while reading it.

The TV Show: Under the Dome has been made into a mini series that is airing Mondays on CBS and you can bet I am watching it. I saw the first episode and they changed so many things!!! Now I'm not going to write the show off just because of all the changes. However, I would definitely recommend not reading the book first because you'll just be nit-picking all the differences and end up not enjoying the show as much. That being said, after I told myself to stop comparing it to the book, and treat it as it's own entity, the show has a huge air of mystery surrounding it and I actually LIKE that they changed some things because it left me wondering what's gonna happen next, even though I read the book. I really like the cast and can't wait to watch the next episode to be honest.

Rating: ★★★★★
Recommendation: Yes, read it specially if you like Mystery Sci-fi.

Favorite Quotes: "Give a man or woman back his self-respect, and in most cases-not all, but most-you also give back that person's ability to think with at least some clarity.

Man of Steel

I had the opportunity to see Man of Steel on Tuesday with my husband. We had high expectations going in and were not disappointed. Man of Steel is a reboot of Superman, with a completely new more gritty and realistic feel to it. Man of Steel explores the idea of what would happen if the world found out about this alien being who has been on Earth for 30 years, disguised as a human. I've been a big Superman fan from the time I was very young. The original Superman movies with Christopher Reeve used to be some of my favorites, and I was quite disappointed when Superman Returns turned out to be a steaming pile of crap. Part of what made Man of Steel better than the previous attempt to revive the franchise, was the fact that the casting was right on point. Henry Cavill plays Clark Kent/ Kal-El perfectly, and no one can deny that Amy Adams is a great actress. So though she never looked like Lois Lane to me, she played the part well. Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent and Russell Crowe as Jor-El were also fantastic. The special effects were great, but there was so much flipping and tumbling and fighting that at times I ended up dizzy. The movie seemed a little lengthy it's a bit over two hours, but it was very action packed, so by no means was I bored. I really enjoyed seeing a lot of the backstory (the movie begins in Krypton). And I thought General Zod was the perfect villain to start off the series with. I think it's safe to say this reboot was successful and that I'm not the only one hoping for a sequel. Man of Steel hits theaters June 14th.

Rating: ★★★★
Recommendation: If you're a superhero fan, go see it, but skip the 3D.

NOS4A2 by Joe Hill

So, I saw a review for this book in an issue of Entertainment Weekly and the summary of it sounded interesting so I decided to pick it up when I saw it at Barnes & Noble. NOS4A2 is the story of Vic McQueen who, with the help of a very special bridge, has the ability to find lost things. The book also follows Charlie Manx, a man who takes children away to special place he's imagined up, a place called Christmasland. One day Vic McQueen and Charlie Manx cross paths, and she becomes the only kid to ever escape him. Years later when Vic McQueen is all grown up, Charlie Manx returns and comes looking for her, dead set on getting his revenge. I could probably write a better summary but I really don't want to give anything away.
This book was fantastic. It took me a little while to read though because I could not bring myself to read it at night. Joe Hill created such a creepy character that I was way too afraid to read about him before I went to bed, I just knew Charlie Manx would star in my nightmares. Aside from the fact that it was scary, this book was actually a lot of fun to read. I've never read anything like it and I'm very glad I picked it up. Vic McQueen was a badass, she did have her faults and vices, but it was easy to see where those stemmed from, and she was really still a badass. Although the book was mostly creepy and scary, there was some humor in it. Especially in the interactions between Charles Manx and his sidekick, Bing Partridge. I really enjoyed this book, I'm only sad that it took me so long to become a fan of Joe Hill's writing. He truly has a gift with words, the imagery in this book is absolutely amazing. Seriously if you ever want to give an example of perfect use of imagery, use Joe Hill's writing.


Rating: ★★★★★
Recommendation: Worth adding it to your personal library.
Favorite Quote: “Fantasy was always only a reality waiting to be switched on."

The Kings of Summer

Had the opportunity to attend a screening of The Kings of Summer last night, and I'm really glad I went. The Kings of Summer is the coming of age story of three teenage boys--Joe, Patrick, and Biaggio--who, fed up with their patents' attempts to control their lives, decide to declare their freedom and build themselves a house in the middle of the woods. They make a pact to be "men" and work for their food, water, and shelter. I had already seen previews for the film, and knew I would really enjoy it, so it was no surprise when I walked out of the theater still smiling (the audience clapped at the end, so I wasn't the only one who loved it).
The three lead actors (Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso & Moises Arias) were great, but honestly Moises Arias as Biaggio stole the show. Almost every part of the movie that had me dying of laughter involved Biaggio. The supporting cast was also outstanding, Nick Offerman in particular. I'm a huge Parks and Recreation fan, and it was nice to see him in a role outside of the show. Megan Mullally and Marc Evan Jackson were also hilarious as Patrick's parents. I really loved this movie, and it's gonna be added to my collection once it comes out on DVD.
The Kings of Summer is a limited release so I suggest checking your local theater to see if they will be playing it.


Rating:★★★★★
Recommendation: Go see it in theaters if it's available where you are! It's heartwarming and funny!