After Hello

Posted on September 6, 2012 by opesopinions

Author: Lisa Mangum
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Pages: 272
Genre: Young Adult / Contemporary
Source: BEA

Goodreads: What if the first day of your relationship was the only day you had?

Seventeen-year-old Sara is a seeker. She’s always on the lookout for the perfect moment to capture with her ever-present, point-and-shoot camera, especially on her first trip to New York City.

Sam is a finder. He has a knack for finding what other people can’t—a first-edition book or the last two tickets to a sold-out Broadway show. In New York, there is always something interesting to find.

When Sam and Sara’s paths cross, neither one of them is prepared for what they will find out about each other—and about themselves when they form an unlikely partnership in search of a seemingly elusive work of art. They have one day to find the impossible. Fate brought their talents together, but what happens when time runs out? Will love be able to overcome fate? This new novel from award-winning author Lisa Mangum explores what happens after hello.

Ope’s Opinion: This book is very, very slow moving. The situation is very unlikely. I kept waiting for that grasping moment to pull me in and it never came. I like the nonphysical relationship between the two characters. It made their relationship more interesting. I would suggest a young adult reader to read this book because the relationship is appropriate for the age.

Rating: Three Chairs – I like the book enough to suggest it to a friend or two, who might also share it.

FTC – Disclosure of Material Connection:

I received one copy of this book free of charge from BEA.

I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the

book; rather the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

34 Pieces Of You

Posted on September 4, 2012 by opesopinions

Author: Cameron Rodrigues
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 352
Genre: Young Adult
Source: BEA

Goodreads:   A dark and moving novel—reminiscent of Thirteen Reasons Why—about the mystery surrounding a teenage girl’s fatal overdose.There was something about Ellie…Something dangerous. Charismatic. Broken. Jake looked out for her. Sarah followed her lead. And Jess kept her distance—and kept watch.

     Now Ellie’s dead, and Jake, Sarah, and Jess are left to pick up the pieces. All they have are thirty-four clues she left behind. Thirty-four strips of paper hidden in a box beneath her bed. Thirty-four secrets of a brief and painful life.

     Jake, Sarah, and Jess all feel responsible for what happened to Ellie, and all three have secrets of their own. As they confront the past, they will discover not only the darkest truths about themselves, but also what Ellie herself had been hiding all along…

Ope’s Opinion: This book was not what I thought it was going to be. After I read the synopsis, I thought this going to be a mystery. To me this book became about a girl exploring her sexuality and not being able to deal with her feeling for another female. This was definitely a dark novel. The constant use of the “f” word added nothing to the story or the characters.

Rating: Two Chairs – I may have one friend who might like this book.