Review: The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller

The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller

Publisher: Entangled Teen
Format: Kindle
Series: No
Pages: 267
Date Finished: 13.05.15
Rating: 2.5/5
Summary: On the outside, seventeen-year-old Madelyne Summers looks like your typical blond cheerleader—perky, popular, and dating the star quarterback. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl's body isn’t just unknown, it's anti-known. And she needs to keep it that way.

Summer is the only time Maddie lets her real self out to play, but when she slips up and the adorkable guy behind the local comic shop’s counter uncovers her secret, she’s busted. Before she can shake a pom-pom, Maddie’s whisked into Logan’s world of comic conventions, live-action role-playing, and first-person-shooter video games. And she loves it. But the more she denies who she really is, the deeper her lies become…and the more she risks losing Logan forever.

This book was hardly perfect, not by a long shot. That doesn't mean that it wasn't exactly the kind of book I needed. The Summer I Became a Nerd is extremely predictable, the main character was frustrating, the writing wasn't great and some of the names made me roll my eyes. I'd still recommend you read it, and this is the reason why:

This book is a whole lot of fun.

It's light, fluffy, entertaining, and romantic. I went into this expecting nothing more and that was what I got. If you want to pick up this book, don't go in expecting anything new or wonderfully crafted. It is what it is, and if that's what you're in the mood for I definitely think you should pick it up.

On the whole, the plot was extremely predictable and generic. It followed the same structure that a lot of YA contemporary books follow, though I didn't particularly care. If I was in a different mood I probably wouldn't have liked this book but like I said before, if a predictable plot doesn't bother you I wouldn't not read this book.

I really enjoyed the comic book side of this. Whilst I don't read comic books myself (I'd like to, but I have NO IDEA where to start) I really enjoyed reading about comics, LARPing and the various other nerdy escapades that happened over the course of the story.

Maddie, our heroine, was actually quite relatable. Yeah, she expressed classic indecisiveness and angst at times. There was a point when she was still dating her boyfriend, Eric, but had obvious feelings for Logan and she didn't handle that situation in the most rational way. I could connect a lot with her situation as not many people in my real life know how nerdy I am, and they'd certainly raise a few eyebrows if I went to a sleepover in my Star Wars pyjama shirt. When it's so hard to be yourself, her irrationalities made sense to me. Well, not all of them, but still.

I really liked Logan, the love interest. His romance with Maddie was really cute and they were a good couple, but it was skirting on the insta-love category. It wasn't love at first sight, but it didn't take them long to fall in love—yup, love. 

Two of Maddie's friends were featured, her best friend Terra and her frenemy Rayann. Terra was actually a good character, though I felt that Rayann just added conflict when it wasn't really necessary. Most books have the standard bitchy girl who is mean for no reason and I felt like this book really didn't need her. She didn't feel like a person, just someone who got in Maddie's way.

That all being said, this book was so cute. So. Damn. Cute. In the romantic scenes I had butterflies in my stomach, and I couldn't help but grin at the end. Don't go in expecting much and I'm sure you'll be swept along for the ride.

And finally I present to you what is possibly the best quote ever:

“I'm a geeky badass, and I'm loving it.”

Review: Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

Snow Like Ashes by Sarah Raasch
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Format: Hardcover
Series: Snow Like Ashes #1
Pages: 416
Date Finished: 03.05.15
Rating: 5/5
Summary: A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making.
        Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.
        Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.
        So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.

This. Book. 

                                         

I started reading this way back in January when I bought it, but I put it down to have dinner, twenty pages in. I then watched a movie. I then forgot about it and started something else. IDIOT. 

Aside from that, I read Snow Like Ashes in one glorious sitting. I picked it up, telling myself I'd just read one chapter before bed. I got to the hundred page mark and put it down, closing my eyes. Yeah, that lasted for about two minutes before I picked it up again and read until four AM. I couldn't stop, even when the notes I was taking turned to gibberish. 

My notes weren't really that coherent even when I wasn't tired. Here are some of my favourites:

Page 131 - THEY DID FUCKING WHAT THE ASSHOLES

Page 164 - Shirtless Theron scene. Hubba hubba. 

Page 235 - DAYYYUMMM I LITERALLY LOVE THERON

Page 360 - FUCK YEAH

Page 381 - FUCK YEAH 

Page 412 - Meira is such a badass omfg why can't I be her??

Page 416 - NEED. NEXT. BOOK. 

Ahem. 

First of all, I need to express how much I love the characters, particularly Meira and Theron. Let's talk about Meira first? One word: badass. She starts off as someone who constantly wants to prove herself, even if she can be a little selfish. She's capable and competent without being unrealistically good at things which is a bonus. I hate it when characters always win, even against opponents who are better than them. Another thing that makes me want to take my hat off to Raasch was that Meira wasn't whiney, even when she was complaining. I didn't ever get annoyed by her because her reactions felt natural and necessary, even if they weren't always selfless. 

Perhaps my favourite thing about Meira was the character development she went through. She was a little bit selfish at the beginning (but not to the extent that a lot of YA heroines are) but by the end of the novel she really came into her own. The selfishness was clearly intentional by the author, rather than something which is down to bad writing. I liked that. I don't want to spoil exactly how her character develops as I think that it's worth discovering as you read it, but I'll just say this. She's never afraid to be herself, and she realises that what she is will always be enough.

"I don't need made-up strength. I'm strong enough on my own--me, Meira, no magic or conduit or anything."

Meira kinda reminds me of Celaena Sardothien from the Throne of Glass series. Not in personality, but in essence and bravery. They're wildly different but they share something so similar and even if I can't quite put my finger on it, I'll say that if you loved Throne of Glass, you'll adore this one too. 

Meira's relationship with Sir was so complex and a delight to read. As the book went on their relationship changed into this wonderful mutual understanding. I get that the mentor style character is becoming a cliche but it was so refreshing to see the underlying respect and care they had for each other. 

    This is a weirdly peaceful moment for Sir and me. I fight down the giddiness that threatens to ruin it.
    "Should we hug or something?"
    Sir rolls his eyes. "Get your weapon. We head for Cordell."

There is a bit of a love triangle in this book between Meira, Mather and Theron. Whilst I felt that it was a little unnecessary and the book could have done without it, it didn't take centre stage and certainly wasn't as ridiculous as it is in other books. My favourite was Theron (read: I'm in love with him), though if I'm honest Mather and Theron's characterisation was a tiny bit similar at times. Meira says that herself, but Theron just had the edge for me even though I love Mather. Meira wasn't whiney about this, and in fact the love triangle went away as she made her choice. I just don't really think that it was necessary in the first place. 

Perhaps what I loved about both of them was that they let Meira do her thing. In a lot of books, the heroes/love interests stop the heroine from fighting just to protect her, but the men in this book respect her enough and let her do what she needs to do. They can see her strength and they respect it. 

On the back cover of this book, they use this tagline: A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making. I don't think they needed that first sentence. Yeah, she's heartbroken, but it doesn't define her like her hero or warrior status does. Meira is strong and amazing and I don't think that really does her justice.

I really do like the setting for this book. There are eight kingdoms in all, Winter being the one that most of our main characters are from. It's a really cool idea to have four of the kingdoms based on a season, and I'm surprised that it hasn't been done before. I think that the magic ties in well with the setting, though I would have liked a bit more on that front. Maybe it'll be in later books. I thought that in the beginning, there was a little too much exposition. It didn't feel like a chore and the book wasn't slow, but I'd personally have liked this to be dragged out more. 

One of the most beautiful things was the pride and patriotism that these characters had towards their nations. They were strong and they were a team. I love these quotes (I edited one of them for spoilers, fyi):

...but the Winterians aren't [lost]. And as long as they live, I'm not entirely alone.

*

That, I think, is a truer mark of belonging somewhere--being able to do anything, everything, that needs to be done, regardless of what I want.  

There were a lot of gorgeous quotes in this book that I took note of whilst reading. I think I'll share with you a couple more of my favourites. 

There will always be a they in your new life, Meira. They make decisions; they mould your future. The trick is to find a way to still be you through it all. 

* 

That's why literature is so fascinating. It's always up for interpretation, and could be a hundred different things to a hundred different people. It's never the same thing twice. 

On a final note, I just want to say that I'd recommend this to EVERYONE EVER. Also that I'm crying in a corner until the second book comes out. I want to read it. I want to stroke it and smell it and tell it that I love it. You know what? I'm not even ashamed. This is a new favourite and because of the rich and vibrant cast of characters that Raasch has created, she's a new talent to watch out for. Just be warned--if you're not a fan of the feels I wouldn't pick this book up. It hits you right in the heart on every motherfucking page. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Will Probably Never Read

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and this Tuesday the theme is top ten books that I will probably never read. I had trouble coming up with this list as it was hard to think of books that I can honestly say that I have valid reasons for.

Anyway, these are the books that I decided I am least likely to pick up and read. Enjoy!

Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

I have a feeling that this book will be on so many people's lists. Erotica isn't really my thing and the fact that it's supposedly poorly written/misogynistic really turns me off (see what I did there?). Also a friend of mine read me a sentence from it and it was hilariously ridiculous. Nope. 

The Death Cure by James Dashner

I read the Maze Runner almost two years ago and I really enjoyed it, but that was when I had only read a few dystopias and my reading taste has changed a lot since then. I wasn't a fan of the second book and I don't see myself reading the last book in the trilogy. I think I'm just bored with most dystopians now.

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

This book just looks so loooonnnggg. I get that it's a classic and a timeless peace of Russian literature, but I never see myself committing to it. I'll probably read Anna Karenina one day but this one? I just don't think so.

Forrest Gump by Winston Groom

This is a controversial one for me as (aside from Tangled), Forrest Gump is my favourite movie. I cry every time and I just love it. I don't want to read the book as I hear that it's quite different and I don't want to ruin my love of the film (it's normally the other way around, I know). I'd hate to dislike the movie because I wasn't a fan of the book.

Enders Game by Orson Scott Card

Okay, here me out. I don't want to tarnish a book because of the author but I am not a fan of Card. He's homophobic and racist, and I don't want to support someone who has such morals. I already own two of his books (this one and his guide to writing specular fiction) but I wouldn't feel comfortable reading a book by someone like Card (I'm really trying not to swear).

Antigoddess by Kendare Blake

I started this book but it just didn't grip me and I never finished it. I love greek mythology (I'm a dork and I'm going to take Classical Civilisations at college) but I just didn't like this book. I heard great things about Kendare Blake and I'm sure that it's a good read, but it just isn't for me.

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

Lolita, light of my life, fire of my... NOPE! The subject matter of this one doesn't appeal to me. I get that it's a classic, but I really don't fancy reading about a middle aged man whose obsessed with a twelve year old girl. It may be executed wonderfully but I'm not that interested to try it out.

It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han

Again, hear me out on this one. So many people seem to love Jenny Han's writing but I just didn't think it anything that special. I read the first book in this trilogy and I did like it, but I just don't get the hype around this author. Don't kill me.

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

Just to get things straight, I'm not hating on Jenny Han. I do think she's a good author, but her books just don't do anything for me. I liked the first book (To All the Boys I've Loved Before), but when I read the summary of the second book and saw there was a love triangle, I decided that I'd just leave it at the first book.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

I love Outlander (the show, I mean) but the books don't really interest me as they just look so long! I'm worried that they'd drag on, or that the bits of the show I'm not a fan of (I'm talking about that bit in episode nine) would just be more prevalent. Who knows--I might pick this up one day but now it doesn't appeal to me.

So, which books do you think that you'll probably never read?