Audiobook Review: The Ocean At The End Of The Lane by Neil Gaiman

Title: The Ocean At The End Of The Lane
Author(s): Neil Gaiman
Genre(s): Fantasy, Horror, Young Adult
Publisher/Date: William Morrow Books / June 18, 2013
Series: Stand Alone

“I do not miss childhood, but I miss the way I took pleasure in small things, even as greater things crumbled. I could not control the world I was in, could not walk away from things or people or moments that hurt, but I took joy in the things that made me happy.” -Unnamed Narrator

Case Study

Sussex, England. A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.

Forty years earlier, a man committed suicide in a stolen car at this farm at the end of the road. Like a fuse on a firework, his death lit a touchpaper and resonated in unimaginable ways. The darkness was unleashed, something scary and thoroughly incomprehensible to a little boy. And Lettie—magical, comforting, wise beyond her years—promised to protect him, no matter what. (synopsis from Goodreads) 

The Game's Afoot 

Neil Gaiman is a legend in the literary world. His books are all smart, beautifully written and full of wonder. The Ocean At The End Of The Lane is no exception. Admittedly, I've only read one other book by Gaiman, American Gods, and it's a very different sort of story than this one. I wasn't really sure what to expect from his YA, but it definitely wasn't this. Ocean might be a story written for kids, but it's undoubtedly one that's meant more for adults. There's a sadness and isolation to the book that goes hand in hand with the narrator's loss of innocence, with the pain of growing up.

Like in most of Gaiman's other works, magic touches everything in Ocean. And like the background mythology, the magic here is old. There's a quietness, a subtlety to it which lends to the story's very dream-like quality. It also helps that Gaiman narrated the audiobook, so the story is read as it was meant to be read. The narration was like poetry, smooth and rhythmic, lulling the listening deeper and deeper into the story. Gaiman is a wordsmith like no other. His words are so simple yet effective, stimulating to every one of the senses. And the story easily flows from one event to the next, the moments ebbing and flowing like the soft breeze over a gentle sea. 

One of the coolest things about this book was the presence of such strong female figures, taken in the form of the Hempstock women. I really loved the mother/maiden/crone dynamic between them. Honestly, they were the ones that drew me in and they were the ones that kept me riveted to the page. I guess the only thing that really threw me was the ending. I read this book over a week ago and now that I've had time to digest it, I still don't know what to think. It raised more questions than answers and lacked and overall feeling of completeness. These are just a few of the questions I still have: Did the boy take away anything at all from his experience? If not, what was the point? Was he worth Lettie's existence? Lettie thought so, but I'm not so sure.

Despite my reservations about the ending, I was really impressed by Ocean. It's a story unlike any other---dark, terrifying and wonderful---one that's beautifully written and superbly spoken by the man, the master, Neil Gaiman.

Summary Prognosis

The Ocean At The End Of The Lane is an exquisite story written by the master of wordsmiths, Neil Gaiman. This book is about the power of childhood and adulthood and loss all rolled into one frighteningly magical journey through one man's memory. It will stimulate both your senses and your mind and leave you wanting more. In a word, it's simply beautiful.
 

Rating: ★★★★

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Book Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Title: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
Author(s): Jennifer E. Smith
Genre(s): Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Publisher/Date: Poppy/Little Brown / January 2, 2012
Series: Stand Alone

“The idea that their paths might have easily not crossed leaves her breathless, like a near-miss accident on a highway, and she can't help marveling at the sheer randomness of it all. Like any survivor of chance, she feels a quick rush of thankfulness, part adrenaline and part hope.” -Hadley Sullivan

Case Study

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything? 

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. Having missed her flight, she's stuck at JFK airport and late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's sitting in her row. 

A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. Can fate intervene to bring them together once more? 

Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it. (synopsis from Goodreads)

The Game's Afoot

Anyone who knows me knows that I scoff at the idea of "love at first sight." I'm sorry but I just don't buy it. Insta-love = insta-turn-off. I guess I'm cynical like that.

So if that's true, you're probably wondering why on earth I'd read a book like this. Well, I'll tell you why. Because I was once a single, young girl who traveled on a plane and met a nice, single, young boy. Between our time in the air and a lunch date at the airport, we spent 6 awesome hours together. We connected. No, it wasn't love and we never had a happily ever after. We did keep in touch online for about a year but that was all. It was merely a connection and a memorable story. So when a book comes along about a girl meeting a boy in an airport, naturally, I was eager to check it out (and maybe compare it to my own experience).

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is more than what it seems. Though it may be a love story upon first glance, there's so much more to it if you're willing to dig beneath the surface. It's a deeply personal story about maturity, growth and forgiveness. It's a story about between a daughter and her estranged father. Honestly, I was more taken with the relationship between Hadley and her father than I was with the one between Hadley and Oliver.

Sure, I enjoyed watching the journey unfold between Hadley and Oliver. Their romance was cute, a far cry from insta-love. But Hadley's journey towards reconciliation with her father was much more touching and relatable. To say their relationship was tense is an understatement. It was downright hostile. Divorce is hard, especially when one parent seems to be moving on more quickly than the other. As a kid, it's a difficult thing to experience so I can really appreciate how tough a journey acceptance can be. I think Smith handled the topic with honesty and grace. Both Hadley and her father made mistakes along the way but I liked that, by the end, they were able to reach an understanding and start forgiving one another.

“Hadley realises that even though everything else is different, even though there's still an ocean between them, nothing really important has changed at all. He's still her dad. The rest is just geography.” 

There you can really see just how much Hadley has matured. And for someone as cynical as me, that personal journey was so much more satisfying than the romantic one. How great is that!? I went into it hoping for a small reminder of times past and came out with so much more.

Summary Prognosis

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is a quick, cute and easy read. Though the romance may be what initially draws you in, it's the compelling and troubled relationship between a girl and her dad that will keep you there. Full of poetic prose, it promises lots of quote-worthy quips and sound advice. I recommend it for lovers and cynics alike!


Rating: ★★★★


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Book Review: Prodigy by Marie Lu

Title: Prodigy
Author(s): Marie Lu
Genre(s): Dystopia, Young Adult
Publisher/Release Date: Putnam Juvenile / January 29, 2013
Series: Legend (Book #2)

"Day, the boy from the streets with nothing except the clothes on his back and the earnestness in his eyes, owns my heart. He is beauty, inside and out. He is the silver lining in a world of darkness. He is my light." -June Iparis

Warning: This review may contain spoilers concerning Legend.

Case Study

Injured and on the run, it has been seven days since June and Day barely escaped Los Angeles and the Republic with their lives. Day is believed dead having lost his own brother to an execution squad who thought they were assassinating him. June is now the Republic's most wanted traitor. Desperate for help, they turn to the Patriots - a vigilante rebel group sworn to bring down the Republic. But can they trust them or have they unwittingly become pawns in the most terrifying of political games? (synopsis from Goodreads)

The Game's Afoot

Middle book syndrome. For book lovers this is a very real and very terrible thing. Many potentially great book series fall victim to it so I definitely had my concerns when reading Prodigy. Marie Lu surpassed my dystopia-obsessed expectations with Legend and I wondered if she could do it again with the sequel.

Pssh! I was a fool to worry about this. If Legend could restore my faith in dystopia, Prodigy could beat sequel suck—and guess what? It totally did. While I do feel that Prodigy lacked a bit of the tension that made Legend such an irresistible read, it’s still one of the best dystopias I’ve picked up recently. And while I missed the cat and mouse game that fueled much of the first book, there’s no shortage of other kinds of tension here. Uncertainty plagues Day and June throughout the story, especially when it comes to their relationship. Make no mistake; these are not the same Day and June that we met in Legend. The events in book #1 have forever altered them.

I think a lot of readers may agree that where we sympathized so much more with Day in Legend, our hearts belong to June in Prodigy. Day’s blinded by the desire for revenge, motivated by his pain and loss and this makes him much more vulnerable and unpredictable. He’s reactive as opposed to active, rendering him a danger to himself, June, Tess and everyone else around him. June, on the other hand, has undergone a much more positive character arc. Her tough veneer has cracked and she’s finally become relatable and likeable. She’s grown without having to compromise her strength and intelligence, which is pretty remarkable. Both protagonists have been through the ringer at this point and both have responded very differently to those experiences. They’ve each lost people they loved and are now left to face the consequences of their individual actions. The difference is, Day has started to shut down whereas June has grown from it.

Where in Legend we’re only privy to the Republic’s way of life, in Prodigy our wait pays off as we’re finally allowed a visit to the Colonies. And this is where I thought, man, Lu really gets it. She’s both ruthless and realistic about the political stuff. While there are certainly “bad guys” in the book, there are no clear cut villains. When it comes to the Republic versus the Colonies, you don’t know what to believe or who to root for. The people living in both are equally as damaged by their actions. Each of these nations thinks their way is the right way and their end game is best for everyone. And what a lot of dystopias are missing. That’s the thing that made me love books like this and The Hunger Games—our protagonists are forced to choose between the lesser of two evils or they’ll be forced to blaze their own path.

The deeper I dig into this trilogy, the more I uncover a well-crafted world full of political intrigue, romantic drama and explosive action. And that ENDING. Oh god. This can’t end well at all! I said this about Lu in my review of Legend and it rings true now—she will drop you in a bathtub full of warm fuzzies only to render you brain dead right after.

Can someone please tell me why I’m such a glutton for this kind of punishment?  

Summary Prognosis

Legend left my expectations very high, luckily, Lu’s sequel, Prodigy, stacks up. Have no fear, there’s no middle book syndrome here! Prodigy is an action-packed, highly intense, politically charged drama that hits all the right dystopian notes. The world building is sharper, the stakes are higher and the tension is tighter than ever before. I loved seeing the growth and change that Day and June have undergone, even if it wasn’t always for the better. I am fully invested in this series, especially after that KILLER cliffhanger! 


Rating: ★★★★


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Retro Review: Lights Out by R.L. Stine

Title: Lights Out

Author(s): R.L. Stine

Genre(s): Horror, Young Adult

Publisher/Date: Simon Pulse / July 1, 1991

Series: Fear Street (Book #12)

Caution: Spoilers ahead!

Case Study

The trouble at Camp Nightwing begins with frightening acts of vandalism. After each incident, a red feather is left behind—a signature of the culprit. Camp Nightwing is on its last leg and with each incident, comes one step closer to closing its doors forever. Then, suddenly, one of the counselors is dead! An “accident" say the police. But Holly knows better--and she knows she's next! Between deadly sabotage she must also contend with ex-friends, potential boyfriends and jealous counselors. Will Holly survive the summer at Camp Nightwing or will it be lights out for her forever?

The Game’s Afoot

I’ve been a HUGE R.L. Stine fan ever since I was a kid, so when I found out the ladies at Forever Young Adult were going to revisit the Fear Street series, I decided to get in on the action. Lights Out was always my favourite book in the Fear Street saga so, naturally, it was my go-to pick for the re-read. I tried to remain cognizant of the fact that this book was written for children 20+ years ago, just to keep my expectations in check. 

Opening Scare: "Dear Chief, Here I am at Camp Nightwing, just as I promised. The other counselors are already here--and the lucky campers are arriving tomorrow. Everything looks cool so far. Don't worry about a thing, Chief. I'll make them pay. Every single one of them. Just as I promised you."

The Crime Scene: Camp Nightwing

"Holly looked at the trees looming at the edge of the campfire. Now that it was dark, the woods no longer appeared to be friendly and inviting, but instead seemed only to be full of dark, menacing shapes."

The Suspects: Just about everyone

Could it be Thea’s crush John? Why is he suddenly acting so cold toward Thea—what’s he hiding? Or is it Geri, Holly’s ex-BFF? She’s spiteful, mean and the bona fide Queen B of Camp Nightwing. We never really learn why her and Holly had a falling out, but is it enough to kill for? And then there’s Geri’s home-girl, Debra. This tough senior counselor is experienced in boating, crafts and making Holly’s life a living hell. Does she have it in for Holly, too? Doubtful since she gets killed. Or could it be the camp’s resident prankster, Kit? He has it BAD for Geri and pretty much goes along with anything she says/does. There’s also mysterious loner dude, Sandy. He seems nice… almost too nice. And then there’s Mick. At first he’s hot for Holly but after some blatant rejection, could he be out for revenge?

The Clichés: Absent Adults

Whereas in most of these books, adults are conveniently absent or in on it, they’re present in the form of Holly’s lovable Uncle Bill and the police. Only they’re too busy to listen to Holly’s concerns. As things escalate, they start to view her warnings as the ravings of a paranoid city girl. Go figure.

Whodunnit: It’s Mick!

Just kidding! 

It’s actually Sandy. Sweet, kind Sandy. BOOM. Mick was just a red-herring. As it turns out, Sandy’s little brother died the previous year in a boating accident under the supervision of Debra. As payback for their negligence, Sandy starts sabotaging the camp and bumps off Debra in the process. Revenge is usually the motivating factor in Fear Street. Sandy’s plot to destroy Camp Nightwing doesn’t initially include hurting Holly, however, when her sleuthing gets too close for comfort, he has no choice but to try and eliminate her. Fortunately, Mick arrived in the nick of time to save the day!

Bonus Points: Cliffhangers + Murderous Confessions

I have to give my man, Stine, some serious bonus points for ending just about every chapter on a cliffhanger. THIS is what kept me going now and as child! I also really appreciated the murderer’s letters to “Chief.” In a big twist, you come to learn that Chief is actually Sandy’s dead little brother which really bumps up the psycho factor just a notch.

Closing Line: "He put his arm around her, and they wandered happily up the path to their cabins."

Summary Prognosis

I always hesitate when it comes to revisiting old favourites because I’m afraid that all appeal they once held will be lost, forever tainting any fond memories I may have had. But, ultimately, I’m glad I read Lights Out because I discovered something---sometimes it’s worth taking a stroll down memory lane. This book took me back to simpler times where reading simple books was enough. I expect a whole lot more out of what I read now, whereas then, all it took was a little mystery and a lot of mayhem to keep me turning the page. To some extent, I feel like a bit of a druggie when it comes to books—I’m always searching for my next big fix. Even when I find one, the euphoria I feel afterward doesn’t last very long. Call me jaded, but it’s a rare thing to find myself satiated en total by a book/book series. As a kid, this was not the case. Almost everything I read I found super enjoyable and I felt contented in that way readers do for a long time. So if revisiting Fear Street has done anything for me, it has reminded me of why I loved reading (and still do) in the first place. Overall, I’d say the book set out to do exactly what it needed to—it’s simple, creepy, effective and fun—everything you expected from R.L. Stine. In this case, a re-visit = a RAGING SUCCESS!

Rating: ★★★★

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Book Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Title: Cinder
Author(s): Marissa Meyer
Genre(s): Fairy Tales, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Publisher/Date: Feiwel & Friends / January 3, 2012 
Series: Lunar Chronicles (Book #1)
Challenge(s): 2013 Catch Up Reading Challenge

"And the prince did know her now, sort of. He had been kind to her at the market. Perhaps he would ask her to dance. Out of politeness. Out of chivalry when he saw her standing alone. The precarious fantasy crashed down around her as quickly as it had begun. It was impossible. Not worth thinking about. She was a cyborg, and she would never go to the ball.“ -Linh Cinder

Case Study

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future. (synopsis from Goodreads)

The Game's Afoot

Cinder is one of those books that everyone really loved and raved about, so I knew I had to get my hands on a copy. Welp, I finally (I know!) read it and I have to say, I'm thoroughly glad I did. Not many books live up to the hype but this is certainly one of them. Cinderella wasn't exactly my favourite fairy tale but when you put a futuristic spin on it, suddenly, it becomes totally awesome! 

This book brings a fresh, new twist to fairy tale retellings with its heavy science fiction influence and incredible future-filled world building. You can definitely see the parallels between it and the original source material but the connections aren't so blatant that you're able to predict exactly where the story is going to end. That being said, there were a few big revelations regarding Cinder's true identity that I was able to pinpoint pretty early in, but overall, they didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book.

There's a lot going on in Cinder --- androids, lunars, cyborgs, classism, intergalactic war --- but it's all woven together in a way that makes sense. And futhermore, there's the romance, familial relationships and friendships that bind it all together. Admittedly, I was more entranced by the Meyer's storytelling and compelling plot than I was by the actual characters which isn't to say they were bad, because they weren't. While I liked Cinder and Kai, they didn't captivate me in the way they seemed to do with everyone else. Instead, I was more interested in the book's secondary characters: Iko, Dr. Erland, Pearl, even Queen Levana. I guess I just didn't connect with the MC's as much as the others, though I did feel for their situations (equality struggles, political problems, etc.).

Overall, I'd say Cinder was a fast-paced, fun read with a unique premise and culturally distinct setting which meshed so well with the book's futuristic vibe. What really intrigued me was Meyer's ability to add so much dimension to such a familiar tale by infusing so many diverse ideas into it. While I expected to engage a bit more with the MC's and though some of the surprises were anticipated, I wasn't at all disappointed. The book definitely lives up to the hype! I'm really excited to see how Meyer will weave this story into her next set of fairytales and am wondering exactly how they'll all manage to find their happily ever after.

Summary Prognosis

Cinder is one of the few stories that actually lives up to all the hype. A little bit classic and a lot sci-fi, it puts a fresh spin on fairy tale retellings. Though I wasn't as taken with our MC as much as some of the others, this book is a fun, quick read that will entrance a whole new generation of fairy tale lovers with its incredible uniqueness and wonderful world building. I'm really excited to see what other adventures we can get into in the sequel.

Rating: ★★★★

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Book Review: Death Takes A Holiday by Jennifer Harlow

Title: Death Takes A Holiday
Author(s): Jennifer Harlow
Genre(s): Fantasy, Paranormal
Publisher/Date: Midnight Ink Books / August 8, 2013
Series: A F.R.E.A.K.S Squad Investigation (Book #3)

"A getaway. No vampires. no dead bodies. No egos the size of China. Just me, Nana, and April shopping, talking, and drinking too many margaritas. And no men. Heaven here I come." -Bea Alexander

Warning: This review may contain spoilers concerning Mind Over Monsters & To Catch A Vampire. 

 

Case Study

A supernatural love triangle + one indecent proposal Beatrice Alexander can crush a sixty-foot snake with her mind, but she can't take any more of the drama that's tearing apart F.R.E.A.K.S. Should she give it all up -- her job as a secret agent and the possibility of a relationship with Will, the gorgeous werewolf? Bea's hoping to get it all figured out on a trip home for Christmas. But soon her hunky ex-boyfriend wants to rekindle their romance. Then, a powerful (and super hot) vampire lord offers Bea an impossible ultimatum: leave San Diego and her family forever -- or become his lover. (synopsis from Goodreads)

The Game's Afoot

You guys... I've been waiting for well over a year for this book, so the second it arrived on my doorstep I ripped through it like a kid on Christmas morning; which is funny because a good portion of the book actually takes place on Christmas morning. Natch.

After blowing through the first two books in the series, Bea and the gang have become like old friends to me. We've been through our ups and downs, shared a few laughs, indulged in some seriously swoony moments, all while kicking paranormal ass. Okay, well maybe I personally haven't kicked any paranormal ass, but I'm there to lend moral support.

Fact: I'd be about this helpful in the face of danger

I'm always a little wary as I delve deeper into a much beloved series because my expectations usually get the best of me in the end. Fortunately, this isn't the case with this one. Though there's less to be found in the action department (when compared to the first two books at least), it's quite heavy on Bea's personal development and character growth. We get to learn more about her family, friends and past which gives us more insight into why she is the way she is. As much as I love her snarkiness, it becomes evident that it's a defense measure. She's in a very vulnerable position, and at this point in the books, she's been put through the ringer. The traumatic death of one of the team members results in Bea's subsequent ostricization from the F.R.E.A.K.S. Plus, she's got two incredibly hot supernaturals vying for her affection which only makes matters worse.

Basically, the F.R.E.A.K.S. are on the verge of WWIII and it isn't pretty.

"I should be happy. Team Bea won this battle, but as Will walks away and I feel that ever-present anger wafting from him, instead I want to cry. War is hell. Especially when it's not one you want to be fighting." -Bea Alexander

So naturally, a vacation is in order. Can you blame her? You'd think that slipping back into your old life would be a piece of cake, but Bea finds out even that isn't as easy or safe as it sounds when you're a F.R.E.A.K. From deadly conspiracies to hungry trolls and the vampire mafia, Bea's time at home isn't the relaxing vacation she hoped for. And to top it all off, she's got hunky exes and vampy proposals to contend with as well. What once was a love triangle between Bea, Oliver and Will suddenly morphs into this weird love polygon. I know! But where that usually turns me off in a book, Harlow makes it work. This may or may not have something to do with a sexy Irish vampire. Just saying.

I think @jenharlowbooks is reading my mind because I do love me a sexy, well-spoken, British/Irish vamp. RAWR! #youknowwhatilike
— Nikki (@foiltheplot) August 27, 2013

Don't get me wrong, I will always root for my main man, Oliver, but Connor sure does give him a run for his money! So yeah, Bea has a lot to contend with. But despite all the drama, Bea manages to still be a bad ass. Even after being shot, chased, body broken and nearly sacrificed, she's capable of saving herself with a witty retort and all. And that's why I love these books so much --- we've got one BAMFY MC, lots of swoonage and tons of supernatural action. It really doesn't get any better than this, friends.

Summary Prognosis

I devoured Death Takes A Holiday just as quickly as i did the first two books in the series. While it isn't as high on the action, it more than makes up for it with the character development and introduction of some super sexy super freaks! If I have only one regret, it's that I didn't pace myself while reading it because I NEED MORE! If you're a fan of the paranormal genre but aren't familiar with this particular series, I highly recommend you get aboard this freaky train because IT SERIOUSLY ROCKS!


Rating:★★★★


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Book Review: Anatomy Of A Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky

Title: Anatomy Of A Boyfriend
Author(s): Daria Snadowsky
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Publisher / Date: Delacorte Books for Young Readers / January 9, 2007
Series: Anatomy (Book #1)

Disclosure: I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

"It's like I've discovered the meaning of life---to love and be loved. Sure, my parents and I love eachother, but we have no choice. We're family. Love seems so much more special when it comes from someone who has no obligation to feel it."

Case Study

Before this all happened, the closest I'd ever come to getting physical with a guy was playing the board game Operation. Okay, so maybe that sounds pathetic, but it's not like there were any guys at my high school who I cared to share more than three words with, let alone my body.

Then I met Wes, a track star senior from across town. Maybe it was his soulful blue eyes, or maybe my hormones just started raging. Either way, I was hooked. And after a while, he was too. I couldn't believe how intense my feelings became, or the fact that I was seeing—and touching—parts of the body I'd only read about in my Gray's Anatomy textbook. You could say Wes and I experienced a lot of firsts together that spring. It was scary. It was fun. It was love.

And then came the fall.  (synopsis from Goodreads)

The Game's Afoot

This is a book about sex. Let's talk about sex baby. Let's talk about you and me. Let's talk about all the good things and the bad things... okay, sorry. I just wanted an excuse to hum a few bars of that song. But yeah, Anatomy Of A Boyfriend is totally a sex book. And it's not just about any ol' kind of sex. Oh no. It's about teenage-first-time sex. Awkwaaaaard.

Exactly. So I have a confession. I really didn't know too much about this book before I read it but Daria was kind enough to send me a copy and I thought, "Hey! Cool!" Plus, I saw the naked Ken doll on the cover and had an inkling it would be juicy. And you know what? I love it when I'm right!

Though Anatomy Of A Boyfriend features sex, it's one of those books that's about more than just raunchy foreplay. Rather, it's a coming of age story that explores one girl's tumultuous journey through first love, devastating heartbreak and self discovery. Dom isn't a super hero. She doesn't save the day or have any special powers. She's just your average-bordering-on-goody-goody teenage girl who's got a serious case of the book smarts. And in addition to all her nerdiness, this book features positive female friendships and strong parental relationships which is something that seems to be lacking in many popular YA books. Authors: More of this please! And what made Dom really resonate with me was the fact that she wasn't perfect. She was far from it! But that made her easy to connect with, faults and all. She's naive and vulnerable and inexperienced despite, at times, thinking she's got it all figured out. I mean, isn't that everyone in high school though?

On a side note: Apparently some reviewers were surprised by the sex-stuff, which I really don't get because, hellooo! The book is called ANATOMY Of A Boyfriend. And, well. There's a naked Ken doll on the cover. So yeah. I really don't think Snadowsky could've spelled it out any more literally. But that's beside the point. 

What I really appreciated was how tastefully the sex stuff was written. There is no S&M, 50 Shades shit going on. It's authentic and clumsy and awkward as hell. It'll make you uncomfortable. But let's be real here---isn't that the point? I mean, was your first time this super lengthy, totally orgasmic, glamorously erotic sex fest? I don't think so. This is the real deal, baby, and it'll make you cringe. Snadowsky presents sex (done safely!) and teen relationships in a very honest way and that's something I can and do support. 

I will say this, though. I did get pretty frustrated with Dom  frequently throughout the book. For starters, I really didn't get what she saw in Wes. As a character, I found him kind of blah. So apparently they've got this instant connection and from there she goes from reserved and sensible to being crazy obsessed (or just plain crazy). Eventually, she let's Wes completely dictate her happiness and that drove me nuts. I often found myself with the need to play the older-sister-with-more-wisdom and sit down and talk some sense into the girl. If I could have, I would've given her the following advice: Happiness should be on your OWN terms. You can't expect to make anyone else happy if you can't first be happy with yourself. This isn't it. I know it feels like it is, but it's not. It does get better, TRUST ME on this one.

SPOILER ALERT: Then there's the matter of Dom's broken heart. Honestly, I liked that her and Wes' relationship ended, So many times contemporary books set readers (specifically the younger ones) up for unrealistic expectations when it comes to relationships. But life just isn't that way. Things don't always work out, and when they do fail, it never ends in the way you think/want it to.

But I guess that's why this book was so great, because it evoked such strong emotions out of me. It was relatable on nearly every level. It brought about those "does he, doesn't he like me" memories. It made me think of when I had my heart broken for the first time. And yes, I thought about sex. It's funny reading it now with the hindsight and wisdom of someone who's been through it all before. It makes me wish I had read it as a teenager, if only to see what my reactions would've been back then. Either way, it was an enjoyable read with astoundingly realistic characters in easily relatable situations and I'm happily devouring the sequel as we speak. 

Summary Prognosis

I think Anatomy Of A Boyfriend is the perfect book for young girls because, not only is it teen-worthy, but it teaches so much. Even for us "older" folks, it serves as a great walk down memory lane. This is the type of book that shows no matter how smart you might be, when it comes to emotions and relationships, everyone has the potential to go a little crazy. And it shows us that that's okay because that's what high school is all about. It's about doing and loving and learning and always, always, always growing from those experiences. If I had a younger sister, I'd definitely be giving this book to her!


Rating: ★★★★


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