Papier Revue: January 2014

DNF : The F- It List by Julie Halpern

Title : The F- It List
Author : Julie Halpern
Genre : Contemporary
Published Date : November 12th 2013
Publisher : Feiwel & Friends

Pages : 256

Source : Bought

From Goodreads :

With her signature heart and humor, Julie Halpern explores a strained friendship strengthened by one girl’s battle with cancer.

Alex’s father recently died in a car accident. And on the night of his funeral, her best friend Becca slept with Alex’s boyfriend. So things aren’t great. Alex steps away from her friendship with Becca and focuses on her family.
But when Alex finally decides to forgive Becca, she finds out something that will change her world again—Becca has cancer.

So what do you do when your best friend has cancer? You help her shave her head. And then you take her bucket list and try to fulfill it on her behalf.
Because if that’s all you can do to help your ailing friend—you do it.

Review

Well, when this book promised me a heartfelt story about friendship, cancer, bucket list, and just overall beautiful read? You just got me fooled. Because halfway through reading this book, I just couldn't muster any will to continue at all. Even though I am an avid contemporary reader and I usually could take on any story, however weird it was (Although I do would feel it was weird). I honestly can't take any more of this, thank you.

"So I carried on, waiting for what ever was to come, with or without God’s help"

—Alex

While in Goodreads, I saw a glittering 4-5 stars every here and there, I do wondering if maybe I'm the black sheep here (Am I?). But oh well, here's my thought on this book anyway. And I really can't comment about the story or the ending or whatever, because I didn't read this until the end and it just won't be fair.

The main issue I had with this book was, number one, it's romance. Honestly, so far as I read it, it didn't cause ANY big thing on the story except that now Alex had someone to be kissed, crossed a few item on the bucket list, and nothing else. And the biggest issue yet? They were like "Who are you and who are you?" at the first time they met, and YET, here comes the magic, they were kissing! Or, making out while lying on the grass, really.

Awww, sooo romantic, right? NOT if you're somewhat a stranger with each other. And it was like, a freaking five minutes, on the first time they ever had a real, actual meeting. I think I'll need an extra eye or two to do a massive eye roll here. And the chemistry, you ask? Here' the number = 0.

Another thing that just annoyed me is just how super-extra-mega perverted this book is. Or Becca and Alex is. I mean, I am a high-schooler too, and I totally am not like you. And I bet no one is. I lived your live, you know. Okay, minus the cancer, but cancer certainly doesn't make you perverted as hell.
And on top of that, if it was not enough reason, there would be no way—however perverted someone is—they would act like Becca. I mean, come on, there's no way she would think about sex every single second of her life, playing game about sex, talking about sex, and guess what? Doing a bucket list full of sexual thing. Like she literally have nothing else to think about, please.

Some thing I found redeeming enough to make me give this book two stars instead of one, though, was mainly because of Becca's personality. Not the sex-addict personality, of course, but more of her straight-forward attitude. Not afraid of doing what she want to do, and not wait another day to do it. And she and Alex just complement each other really nicely.

And, that, I think, is the only thing I could think of that was positive from this book. And oh, the pretty cover, and those intriguing blurb. Nothing else, really. Period.
If you're looking for a touching contemporary story about friendship, or possibly just looking for a tearjerker book for your weekend reads, just look for another book. I bet there's lots of them way better than this.
Sorry, but, just not my taste, really. Waaay out of my taste.

Cheers, x
NK

3 comments

, by Neysa Kristanti

4 Stars

Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

Title : Crash Into You
Author : Katie McGarry
Genre : Contemporary
Published Date : November 26th 2013
Published by : Harlequin Teen

Pages : 474

Source : Bought

From Goodreads :

From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind.

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look.

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

Review

So after her brilliant take on Pushing the Limit and Dare You To, here comes the contemporary queen (Or for me, at least) Katie McGarry with her another wowza. I mean, it's freaking Isaiah, people. ISAIAH. Do you need another reason to be super excited and jumping up and down over this book? Well, cars. Cars + hot guys never go wrong, by the way.

"It’s what I do. Each tattoo represents the only happy memories I've had. And you, Rachel, you’re the happiest."

—Isaiah

The pacing of this book, I think, is very similar to the first two book. It's still detailed and not too rushed and managed to fleshed out the story well, but I also think this book shows a lot of improvement with something always happening in every scene. The stake is simple and real and deadly too, making us readers feel really easy to connect with it throughout the whole book.

One thing I also notice (And damn love) was that Rachel's and Isaiah's narration were very different yet really reflected what they are. Rachel's are those kind of naive rich girl (Not in that I-know-nothing-and-I'm-freaking-adorable kind of naive) with that cute way of thinking while Isaiah just cursed everything all the way 'round, and I love that it just felt so authentic.
Both of their character were also very strong with a very decent back story that I just can't help but to agree with whatever they do because I could see their reasoning behind it, even if they do something wrong.
I could also—particularly—feel the way Rachel feel about her family, why her Mom made gajillion of kids just because she wants another daughter, how she felt like a replacement, or the act-like-he-know-it-all-and-you're-just-nothing crappy older brothers. It were all very easy to relate to.

And their romance. Can I just flail and not write anything about this? Cause it's just sooo beautiful I can't help but going ooh and aah every time they're together. Isaiah is like so swoon worthy and they're just perfect for each other. AND THE CHEMISTRY. AND THE FEELS.

The side character though, I found were all a jerk. Like, oh my God, Rachel's brother. Why on earth, could her brothers, and on top of that, all four of them, be suck a jerk like it runs in their Y chromosome or something? And Rachel was just this good girl who completely understand her brothers for being a jerk and it just make me feels like ripping their heads one by one? Like, please, Rachel, it's not called over-protective. It's called being an asshole.
The other side characters, such as Noah and Beth—while they were great in the previous book—also somehow become a lil bit of a jerk here (Although it's only in the beginning and they all like, kind of reconciled in the end. But, still).

And then there's also this gigantic 'Why' that haunted me, though. This story revolves around the debt Rachel and Isaiah owes to this so-called gangster, and that they'll have their whole life threatened if they don't pay.
But honestly? I remember it being mentioned somewhere, and she's like freaking rich, so why can't she just sell her diamond earring, said she lost it, and be done with it already? Yeah I know it's not a noble thing to do, but I'll bet that most people would do this instead of what Rachel does. The problem just feels being made complicated unnecessarily.

And then, after making the uncomplicated probs complicated, Katie McGarry then proceed to make the complicated one damn simple. Like those one defining race that had Isaiah and Rachel's life on it.
It was resolved in what pages, your guess? Two paragraphs and one sentence. Horray.

The ending though, was not all fluffy and happily ever after, and they still had the after effect of it, not coming out unscathed at all, and that just add the right amount of realness to it.
Overall, if you're already an avid fans of Katie McGarry's work or if you want to give it a try on a contemporary genre, this book is totally a must read with its distinctive narration, well-developed characters, and an always moving story with a swoony romance that will keep you entertained. Haven't read this series yet? Like, go grab it now.

Cheers, x
NK