[Blog Tour: Review] Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols

Title: Dirty Little Secret
Author: Jennifer Echols
Release Date: July 16, 2013

Goodreads

Bailey wasn’t always a wild child and the black sheep of her family. She used to play fiddle and tour the music circuit with her sister, Julie, who sang and played guitar. That ended when country music execs swooped in and signed Julie to a solo deal. Never mind that Julie and Bailey were a duet, or that Bailey was their songwriter. The music scouts wanted only Julie, and their parents were content to sit by and let her fulfill her dreams while Bailey’s were hushed away.

Bailey has tried to numb the pain and disappointment over what could have been. And as Julie’s debut album is set to hit the charts, her parents get fed up with Bailey’s antics and ship her off to granddad’s house in Nashville. Playing fiddle in washed-up tribute groups at the mall, Bailey meets Sam, a handsome and oh-so-persuasive guitarist with his own band. He knows Bailey’s fiddle playing is just the thing his band needs to break into the industry. But this life has broken Bailey’s heart once before. She isn’t sure she’s ready to let Sam take her there again…

THOUGHTS:

Let me get this off my chest - I am one of Jennifer Echols' biggest fans. Every book of hers that I've read I've loved; every main character she has written about I've come to care about. I loved how she courageously tackled such heavy issues in both Forget You and Going Too Far (and she did such a bang-up job too!); I loved how her writing isn't stilted in any way - her words just flow, and I found it impossible not to finish her novels in just one sitting. Suffice to say I was ecstatic when I got the chance to participate in a blog tour for Dirty Little Secret, and once I received my e-copy, I immediately settled down with my kindle and began reading.

This is the first YA novel I've read set in the world of country music, amd this is actually one of the reasons why I was foaming at the mouth (okay, this might be a slight exaggeration) to read this book. True enough, Echols didn't disappoint - from the get go, I was thoroughly immersed in the country music culture, from the people of Nashville's sheer love of music to the downs and outs of fame in this world to those seeking it. I'm not really that well-versed with country music as a genre (and a culture, while we're at it), so I'm not able to say with a hundred percent conviction whether or not this aspect of the novel is accurate from every nook and cranny per se - but I can say with no qualms whatsoever that I enjoyed soaking in this world that I've heard so much about, yet have never taken the time to know more about.

I've always found Echols' novels to be raw and gritty, and this was no different. In fact, I would even go as far as to say that this is even darker, even a little depressing, than her previous works. Reading about Bailey's life was initially VERY difficult - imagine having the life you know snatched away from you at the blink of an eye. Imagine being deemed collateral damage in the face of your sister's dream... despite of the fact that you yearn for the same thing. I cannot begin to swallow how awful it must have been to be cast side by the people who are supposed to love you unconditionally. Moreover, the way Bailey's mom treats her left a sour taste in my mouth. No mother should make her  child feel like she is a waste of space, however, sadly, there are mothers out there who actively who do so. Bailey's situation is just horrifying.

Nonetheless, I can't help but admire Bailey's character. Here she is - her family's dirty little secret; the secret that can never be discovered at all cost because Bailey's sister cannot have bad PR when she debuts as a country singer - and yet she's willing to cater to her mother's (and her sister's recording company's) whims simply because that how much Bailey loves her younger sister. (Sorry for that abnormally long sentence!) That kind of love is fierce, real, and seldom chanced upon. Here you have this character who only wants unconditional love and support from those she cares about the most, and despite not getting that, she's still able to love her sister with such intensity.

My biggest qualm about this novel would have to be the love interest, Sam. I really didn't like him. At all. He wasn't the best person to stand by Bailey when she needed someone to lean on - as a matter of fact, he ended up pushing and prodding Bailey for a chance at stardom because of her sister's fame. He was manipulative, and it was frustrating to see Bailey be continually manipulated by this supposed guy who was supposed to love her. Suffice to say I don't think he was good for Bailey.

The ending was great. I love how Bailey finally stood up for herself and her dreams. While this is not my favorite Echols novels, I think that many others out there would be able to enjoy this one.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

[Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway] Shutdown by Heather Anastasiu

 
Title: Shutdown

Author: Heather Anastasiu
Release Date: July 2, 2013

The battle is all but over, and hope seems to be lost. Zoe and her fellow Resistance fighters are on the run, having lost their home, their protection, and their leader. They are outnumbered and outmatched by the powerful corporation that controls the world, and the cruel Chancellor is inches away from completing a scheme that would kill most of humanity. Zoe's only remaining option is to chase the impossible dream of upending the Link system, freeing the world from the hardware that controls their thoughts and emotions, and hope it will trigger a revolution.

The plot requires a nearly impossible mission to infiltrate the dangerous Community, and it is a task that Zoe must unfortunately complete alone. With challenges and surprises at every turn, nothing goes according to plan. Adrien's visions of the future now show two possible outcomes: one in which they succeed, and one in which humanity falls. It all lies in Zoe's hands.

THOUGHTS:

Well wow. Just wow. While I didn't exactly dislike Glitch, it certainly left more to be desired. I found it to be an intriguing start to a series, but it wasn't exactly something that made me feel invested. Override, much to my surprise, was leaps and bounds better than the previous book, and set up the final novel of the trilogy perfectly. Shutdown blew me away, and I in now way exaggerate when I say that it is also blew its previous two novels out of the water. Anastasiu ought to pat herself in the back - not only did she give us such fascinating insight to her two main characters (because wow - did she peel off so many layers off both Zoe and Adrien) she also made sure that we'd be rabidly tearing through the pages, eagerly anticipating what else she has in store for us.

I loved Zoe. Though we are in no way similar (come on, she's one of the leaders of a rebellion), I had no problem empathizing with her character. I've come to found out that most authors of dystopian novels have a difficult time making their characters relateable given that they live in a different time and a different world, but I never encountered that problem with Zoe. Anastasiu thoroughly fleshed out her complex character - from her despair of losing the Adrien she knew and loved, to her guilt of inadvertently causing countless deaths, and to her unflinching desire of saving her people and ridding everyone of the controlling government, and as a result, I had no problem connecting with her. I also loved how realistic Zoe's pain was - everything was heartfelt, and it was in no way overdone. Honestly, I actually found it difficult NOT to sympathize with her.

I was also impressed with how Anastasiu explored Adrien's character development after he was unceremoniously lobotomized. The serious conversations between Zoe and Adrien - those concerning past Adrien versus current Adrien - were especially genius. Initially I was just frustrated at how Adrien was all robotic and seemingly had no feelings, but all that changed when he finally had the chance to convey everything that he wanted to say to Zoe. I couldn't help but feel sorry for him, and the same time, I found myself being able to relate to him. Just how often is it do we find ourselves being forced to be someone else because that's what other people expect us to be?

I have never been a great fan of any dystopian series (yes, even the Hunger Games lost me as a fan after I read Mockingjay), but the Glitch trilogy is actually something that I will enjoy reading and something that I will recommend to my peers. Yes, it did have its eye-rolling inducing moments; yes, the first novel was pretty meh, but the sheer perfection of both Override and Shutdown allowed me to ignore the fact that I didn't really enjoy Glitch. So if you ever felt like giving up on this series because of Glitch - don't. DON'T. Trust me - you'll regret it.

In summary (if you got tired of my endless gushing in the paragraphs above), I loved Shutdown. Anastasiu impressed me with her descriptive yet straight-to-the-point writing, her brilliant characterization, the action-paced plot, and most especially, I loved the ending. LOVED.

Rating: 5 Stars

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[Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway] Our Song by Jordanna Fraiberg

 

Title: Our Song

Author: Jordanna Fraiberg
Release Date: May 2, 2013

Published by: Razorbill

Goodreads

Olive Bell has spent her entire life in the beautiful suburb of Vista Valley, with a picture-perfect home, a loving family, and a seemingly perfect boyfriend. But after a near-fatal car accident, she’s haunted by a broken heart and a melody that she cannot place.

Then Olive meets Nick. He’s dark, handsome, mysterious . . . and Olive feels connected to him in a way she can’t explain. Is there such a thing as fate? The two embark on a whirlwind romance—until Nick makes a troubling confession.

Heartbroken, Olive pieces together what really happened the night of her accident and arrives at a startling revelation. Only by facing the truth can she uncover the mystery behind the song and the power of what it means to love someone.

THOUGHTS:

Honestly, this was a tough book to get through. A part of me was expecting a light, fluffy read despite the delicate subject matter (Come on, the main character meets a guy after her accident. I'm sure some of you felt the same way.) but I didn't get that. At all. This was a serious and somber read through and through, give or take a few chapters in the end. I don't consider Our Song a terrible read or anything like that, but reading this novel had me in a dark mood that I had trouble shaking off, and a lot of this I can attribute to the main character, Olive.

In all my years of reading all kinds of novels under every possible genre you can think of, I have never met a character like Olive. I have never quite encountered a character whose outlook in life is so bleak, and I have never met a character who has such low self-esteem either. This was just painful to read, most especially since I can't help but realize that there exist similar people in our world today. Olive can only begin to treat herself with an iota of respect when other people approve of her, so just imagine what happens when her boyfriend breaks up with her. Everything plummets into nothingness, and Olive's entire persona - her entire being - shatters. Simply put, Olive's self-worth is tied to how other people think of her, and that's just sad, and I really cannot reiterate this enough, jarring to read.

After Olive's accident (which many people think of as a suicide attempt), she has no idea how to pick up the remaining pieces of who she once was. She may have been given a second chance at life, but how exactly does she go from here? She suspects her father is having an affair; her mother is treating her like a child; and her ex-boyfriend has moved on. It's only when Olive meets Nick, another one who had gone through a near-death experience, that Olive begins to finally live. She does things that she has never done before, and she finally, finally, learns to love herself.

I loved how Fraiberg adeptly explored the nooks and crannies of Olive and Nick's relationship. Both of them have their secrets that they are holding on to so desperately, but the connection is definitely there between the two. It wasn't about hooking up much as it was about finding that one person who understands you the most, and this is something I particularly enjoyed reading about. Every time Olive and Nick are together, you see her learn to stand up on her own two feet, one step at a time. You see her learn to treat herself with more respect; you see her learn to think for herself. Most of all, she finally realizes that maybe, just maybe, there are people out there who love her for who she already is. All of this was made possible by the fact that Nick stood by Olive when she most needed someone, and when tides turn and Nick was the one who needed a shoulder to lean on, Olive doesn't hesitate to be that person for him.

Throughout the course of the novel, Olive talks about a certain haunting song stuck on her head. She has no idea where she heard it, but every single time she's on the midst of giving up or making a terrible decision, the song will play inside her head and give her the strength she desperately needs. Initially, I couldn't quite grasp just why this song needed to be present in the novel, but just to let everyone know, everything clears up near the end. I actually love how Fraiberg weaved this concept with all the discussions about near-death experiences throughout the course of the novel.

While not as fast-paced as everyone may like, Our Song is a poignant read all the same. It might take a while before it hooks you in, but once it does, you wouldn't want to let go. While not an easy character to read about, Olive's personal growth throughout the novel is both astounding and inspiring. Initially, you may have perceived her character as frail, annoying and flat-out frustrating, but I assure you - that would change come the final chapters of the novel. The ending is hauntingly beautiful, and would definitely stay with me for a long time to come. Most of all, Fraiberg did a bang-up job in tackling concepts about near-death experiences and its consequences. I can't wait to read more from this author!

Rating: 3.5 Stars

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