Tweet Heart

By: Elizabeth Rudnick
Genre: Teen Fiction
Stars: 3 out of 5

Claire is totally head-over-heels for the most popular guy in school JD and her best friend Lottie keeps trying to tell her to go for it. Her best guy friend is totally in love with Claire and upon the suggestion from their friend Bennett, Will makes a false Twitter account pretending to be JD and starts talking to Claire. What will happen when JD actually starts talking to Claire and Will’s good-hearted idea gets way over his head. A teen novel written entirely through tweets, blog posts and emails, this is a cute, fun teen novel that will entertain you for at least a day.

Water for Elephants

By: Sara Gruen
Genre: Fiction
Stars: 5 out of 5

Jacob Jankowski’s young life gets turned upside down when instead of finishing his veterinary exams from Cornell he hops onto a train containing the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Now he is thrust into the circus world where workers and performers are separate and the ringmaster will do whatever he can to keep his show afloat. With a gorgeous horse trainer who is married to the wicked and cruel equestrian director, Jacob must find his place in this business while trying to stay sane. Jacob’s story is brought to you through flashbacks as he reminisces about his past.

A year ago people told me mixed things about this book but when the movie came out I really wanted to read the book since I knew I was going to watch the motion picture. I am glad I did. The book was spectacular with the right amounts of romance, action, violence and of course an insider’s look into the wonderful world of the circus. I especially loved the ending, it was totally appropriate and perfect for the book. This is just a fun, well-written book and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. I can’t wait to see how the movie lives up to this work of fiction.

Lies that Chelsea Handler Told Me

By: Friends and Family of Chelsea Handler
Genre: Biography
Stars: 3 out 5

Chelsea Handler loves her friends and family. However, she has a funny way of showing it. Chelsea is quite the prankster and she shows no mercy. This book is a collection of different pranks and lies that Chelsea Handler, the host of Chelsea Lately, told her friends and family for a good laugh. This book includes pictures of the victims as well.

I love Chelsea Handler. I think she is just hilarious so when I found out this new book was coming out I got really excited. I finished it in three days and enjoyed a couple of laughs here and there but I was disappointed with the content. I thought it would make me laugh as hard as her other books but then I realized it is not written by her. Duh! But it’s a quick read with insight into the Chelsea we do not see on camera, so a must read if you like this comedian.

Married With Zombies

By: Jesse Petersen
Genre: Science Fiction
Stars: 5 out of 5

David and Sarah live in Seattle, Washington and are having marital problems. On their way to see their marriage counselor they notice there is not as much traffic on I-5 as usual. As they walk into their session they find their counselor eating the couple scheduled before them. Something has happened at the University of Washington labs where zombies are now taking over. Now David and Sarah must put aside their problems and help one another survive against the infestation.

A coworker recommended this book a couple weeks ago and I am so glad she did. It is hilarious. First of all, I love that it takes place in my hometown so any book taking place in Seattle is a win. Second the humor in this novel is fantastic. I love bickering couples. Third, zombies books are just fun and entertaining reads. If you want a quick and quirky read pick this up. There is a sequel as well called Flip this Zombie.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder

By: Joanne Fluke
Genre: Mystery
Stars: 4 out of 5
Hannah Swensen, an amateur sleuth, owns the local “Cookie Jar” where the small Lake Eden population likes to grab a cup of coffee, a cookie and gossip. Between baking and fending off her mother’s advances for her to get married, Hannah finds the local milkman Ron LaSalle dead in the alley behind her shop. Wanting to help her brother-in-law get that promotion as detective, Hannah begins to gather clues from all the gossip to catch the killer.

The first in a series of mystery books, I borrowed this book from a coworker who said I might enjoy it. I am not a huge mystery fan but I thought I would give it a shot. I must say I did like the story and I totally did not guess who the killer was until the end. I especially liked the corporation of cookie recipes within the chapters and I can’t wait to bake a few. If you want a fun, fast mystery read pick this series up. I might continue to read through the rest of them.

13 Little Blue Envelopes

By: Maureen Johnson
Genre: Teen Fiction
Stars: 4 out of 5
Ginny has just received thirteen letters from her deceased aunt telling her to pack her bags for an adventure of a lifetime. Ginny has to follow the rules of each letter that will take her all throughout Europe, a trip that her aunt herself made before her death. Along the way Ginny meets an interesting English man whose play catches her interest, sees Roman architecture, roams the streets of Paris, tags along with a family in the Netherlands and so much more. What kinds of things is her crazy aunt going to make her do in this fun and quick read?

I have a NookColor and this was one of the “free Friday” books that you can download every week. It sounded like fun and so I decided to read it. It was a relief to have a teen book that was not in the first person like so many teen books are nowadays. It was a clever and charming read that was quick and to the point with each letter. You watch the main character grow up and enjoy the confidence she builds. However, don’t think it’s very realistic for a teenage girl to go off to Europe by herself. All in all I enjoyed this little novel and I will pick up the next book “The Last Little Blue Envelope.”

Delirium

By: Lauren Oliver
Genre: Teen Fiction
Stars: 2 out 5
Lena has ninety-five days before she is cured of the disease. Ninety-five days until her procedure so she can no longer live in fear of the disease. That disease is love. In a future world, scientists have figured out the cause for war and hate – love. With a procedure that disease can be cured, severing all emotions from a person. You cannot receive it until you are eighteen years of age; Lena is almost there. But during her waiting time, Lena learns what it is like to love after meeting a mysterious boy and learns more about her mother – a sufferer of the disease – which she only ever dreamed of. When the time comes, will Lena choose the procedure she has been welcoming or will she succumb to the deliria nervosa?

This is the sophomore novel I read by Lauren Oliver. I did not care for her first book but a coworker said I would enjoy this one a lot more so I gave it a try. I must admit I do not care for Oliver’s writing style and so it was not enjoyable for me. I finished it though and that was an accomplishment. Oliver focuses too much on the character building and does not explore the world she has placed her characters in this futuristic world. And her character descriptions are too descriptive that the story does not flow as well as it should. Besides it being predictable, it really did have an interesting concept with love being considered a disease. But that is as much as I tolerated.