Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles will make you fall in love with contemporary YA.  The story, told in alternating POV of Alex, a Latino member of a gang in the suburbs of Chicago and Brittany, the All-American girl who appears to have it all.  

For the first few chapters, I didn’t like Alex.  He was arrogant and spiteful and don’t get me started on “the bet.”  I liked how Brittany dished it right back to Alex and was compelled to keep reading to find out how everything would turn out.  The book is aptly titled with a wonderful dual meaning and the chemistry between Alex and Brittany is amazing and captured so well on the page.   Alex turned into quite an awesome character who you just have to cheer for. 

It was really cool to read a book with multi-cultural characters that seemed to be so authentic.  It was a fabulous book and I just bought, Rules of Attraction which follows the story of Alex’s brother, Carlos.  

This gets four out of four clouds in TL’s Dreamworld.  Go read it.  Like yesterday!!!

I hate to admit it took me longer to finish LINGER than I wanted.  Life just got in the way…  It was one of my most anticipated reads of the summer, since SHIVER, the first book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series, is one of my favorite books. EVER. 

Maggie Stiefvater didn’t disappoint.  The book was a slower read than SHIVER, but it was me.  Not her.  She alternated POV between four characters and I found myself wanting to analyze the novel as I read it.  Which slowed me down.  Aside from that – her writing is just magical.  I love the humor and beautiful imagery she provides the reader.  Wonderful characters you totally fall in love with.  I loved Sam in SHIVER and he’s pretty great in LINGER – but Cole… ahhh Cole…  I enjoyed the chemistry between Isabel and Cole.  Isabel is a very strong female protagonist with a strong personality that despite her attitude, is very endearing.  Above all else – this continues a really cool story!  Her take on werewolves is very fresh and creative. 

To me the mark of a great book is the feeling you get toward the end.  You can’t put it down.  You are terrified for the characters and I’ll be honest – I want to read a book that makes me cry.  Which I did at the end of LINGER.  And I couldn’t stop thinking about the ending when I went to sleep, dreamt about the characters and the next morning was still depressed.  Well – depressed may be a slight exaggeration, but sort of a SPOILER ALERT --- the ending – is not your typical HEA.  But it’s how the book HAD to end.  So now, I am waiting… patiently... for the final book in the series, FOREVER. 

LINGER gets a dreamy

Five out of Five clouds… 

Two posts in one day... within minutes of one another.  How un-TL-like...

But, I just had to share… I just received an email saying that my copy of LINGER has been shipped.  Picture me jumping up and down doing a happy dance in my office. 

Yes!!  I am THAT excited!   LINGER is the sequel to SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater.   If you haven’t read SHIVER - it’s a must read.  The story is imaginative, beautiful and wonderfully written.  I fell in love with Sam and Grace.  You will too!  I have a major author crush on Ms. Stiefvater.  She truly has a magical way with words…

I’ll be sure to post a review of LINGER once I finish.