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: Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren

 

Title: Beautiful Bastard
Author(s): Christina Lauren
Genre(s): Contemporary, Romance - Erotica
Publisher/Date: Gallery Books / February 12, 2013
Series: Beautiful Bastard (Book #1)

"Something in our relationship was shifting, and I wasn't sure how I felt about it No matter how many times we said it never happen again, it would. I was terrified that this man, who was all wrong for me, had more control over my body than I did, no matter how much I tried to convince myself otherwise. I didn't want to be the woman who sacrified her ambitions for a man.“ -Chloe Mills

Case Study

An ambitious intern.
A perfectionist executive.
And a whole lot of name calling.

Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He's exacting, blunt, inconsiderate—and completely irresistible. A Beautiful Bastard.

Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family's massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who'd been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative—completely infuriating—creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he's never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe's so tempting he's willing to bend the rules—or outright smash them—if it means he can have her. All over the office.

As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they're willing to lose in order to win each other. (synopsis from Goodreads)

The Game's Afoot

Let me just preface this review with the following statement: never did I ever imagine I'd read erotica, and not just any erotica, but erotic FAN-FICTION. I've never really understood the appeal. I had friends who read 50 Shades of Grey and barely made it out alive so my plan was to stay far, far away from the genre. But look at me now. I'm reading erotica and I LIKE it. Yep. Go me!

Beautiful Bastard was just the sort of mindless entertainment I was looking for. It's the story of willful, career-oriented Chloe Mills and the sadistically sexual relationship she has with her asshole boss, Bennett Ryan. Let me sum up the general gist of their relationship for you:

In other words, it's SO not healthy!

Yeah. Not good. And where I imagine in most other erotic fiction, this is considered sexy, to me, not so much. Then again, this isn't your typical erotica. The key difference is that Chloe Mills is a dominant, strong-willed and career oriented kind of woman. When she enters into this sick relationship with her boss, her legitimate concerns don't fly out the window, it's not all about the guy. She is her own person and she never loses sight of that. And where Bennett initially holds all the cards, the power shifts over the course of the book and ends up in Chloe's hands. I won't go as far as to say this is the deepest story I've ever read, but there is more substance than what I initially expected.

Beautiful Bastard's roots come from Twilight. That's right. It's Twilight fan-fiction. And where I can certainly see the parallels now, it doesn't smack you in the face as being a total ripoff either. Honestly, if you didn't tell me, I probably wouldn't have even known which is a good thing.

But what you're probably wondering about most is the sex, because it is erotic.

Between fitting room romps, panty-hoarding and blue balls, it's hot. Rather, it starts off hot but slowly transitions from just sex to love. Beautiful Bastard is smexy, deliciously trashy and a whole lotta fun. And after pulling a 60 hour work week, it was just the kind fluff I needed. I certainly enjoyed the story, which goes to show you, don't judge a book by its genre.

Summary Prognosis

Beautiful Bastard surprised me---partly because I never thought I'd enjoy erotica but mostly because the content actually wasn't bad. The writing was decent, the story was hella entertaining and the smexy parts were kinda hot. Kinda, It's one of those stories you pick up because you know you're not going to have to think, and despite all that, you still walk away feeling oddly satisfied (in more ways than one). WINK WINK.


Rating: ★★★½


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Book Review: Anatomy Of A Single Girl by Daria Snadowsky

Title: Anatomy Of A Single Girl
Author(s): Daria Snadowsky
Genre(s): Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Publisher/Date:Delacorte Books for Young Readers / January 8, 2013
Series: Anatomy (Book #2)

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

"One of the pitfalls of having an ex-boyfriend is that people still pair you together in their memories, and sooner or later someone's bound to mention him. And now that it has happened... I can't say I feel nothing...This whole recovery process has been two steps forward, one step back, but I feel okay. I've been feeling okay."

Warning: This review may contain spoilers concerning Anatomy Of A Boyfriend.

 

 Case Study

After everything that happened—my first boyfriend, my first time, my first breakup—jumping back into the dating game seemed like the least healthy thing I could do. It’s not that I didn’t want to fall in love again, since that’s about the best feeling ever. But as a busy college premed still raw from heartbreak, which is the worst feeling ever, I figured I’d lie low for a while. Of course, as soon as I stopped looking for someone, an impossibly amazing—and devastatingly cute—guy came along, and I learned that having a new boyfriend is the quickest way to recover from losing your old one.

The moment we got together, all my preconceptions about romance and sex were turned upside down. I discovered physical and emotional firsts I never knew existed. I learned to let go of my past by living in the present. It was thrilling. It was hot. It was just what the doctor ordered.

 But I couldn’t avoid my future forever.

 In Daria Snadowsky’s daring follow-up to Anatomy of a Boyfriend, eighteen-year-old Dominique explores the relationship between love and lust, and the friendships that see us through. (synopsis from Goodreads)

The Game's Afoot

Anatomy Of A Single Girl is the fun follow up to Snadowsky's authentic coming of age story, Anatomy Of A Boyfriend. We meet Dom after completing several of her firsts---year of college, relationship and sexual experience---and I have to say, it's nice to see Dom a little more grown up. In Anatomy Of A Single Girl, she's finally come into her own. Where she's hesitant and immature and inexperienced in the first book, she's much more sure of who she is and what she wants. Ultimately, this book is the journey of a girl becoming a woman, a girl who's learning to find herself.

At this point, Dom and Wes' relationship is over and she's finally learned to be okay with that. What I really appreciated was that Dom didn't just shack up with any guy (namely her friend, Calvin) in an effort to get over her ex. It would've been easy to go down that route, however, it would've felt forced. Dom's got an awareness of what she wants and what she doesn't want and she sticks to her guns through to the end. Instead, she meets a new guy (Guy) and goes into exploratory mode with a purely casual, summer romance for a change. Snadowsky didn't hold back on the steamy details and she amps up the swoon factor into high gear here.

I guess my main problem with this book was that Dom had a tendency to revert back to being totally needy in her relationship with Guy. I was really hoping that she'd outgrown all that and learned from her past experience, but instead she teaches us that, yes, sometimes old habits do die hard. But it definitely got annoying, especially when she grew so childish about her parents' decision to move out of her childhood home. But, yeah, this book definitely keeps with the authentic vibe that the first one had. Even when it comes to the sex stuff, Dom is experimenting with new moves and is learning how to fully explore her body. The tone isn't solely kinky as you'd expect it might be, it's still awkward and imperfect. Snadowsky is a pro at capturing the adolescent experience in a completely authentic way!

Another really awesome thing is that we get to know Dom's parents and her BFF, Amy, in a more personal way. I. LOVED. DOM'S. DAD. He's cheesy and loveable and 100% awesome. And Amy. We've all had that friend, the one who was boisterous and loud and fun like her. Snadowsky shows us that even behind those seemingly perfect façades, there lies a real person who can feel hurt and lost and alone too. But Amy isn't the only one who goes through the ringer. Just when Dom least expects it, an unexpected encounter with Wes threatens to break her once again.

"I knew it all along that coming home this summer would mean risking a run-in with my ex. But no amount of anticipation prepares you for the first time it happens."

There is an echo of realism behind Dom's first post-breakup run-in with Wes. Her reaction to it was completely believable. It shows that old wounds aren't easily healed but it is possible to pick yourself up and move on. And that's essentially the theme to the whole book. Dom's learned to do just that and though there are a few set-backs along the way, it's not altogether impossible.

Summary Prognosis 

Anatomy Of A Single Girl was a great follow-up to Anatomy Of A Boyfriend. Though I found Dom's experiences to be a little less relatable (personally) and her to be a bit more annoying, that's not to say it wasn't wholly authentic. It totally was. The book is a journey into the beginnings of adulthood as you learn who you are and what kind of person you want to be. It's an exploratory journey, one that is utterly satisfying and a great read for college kids.

Rating:★★★½


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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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Book Review: The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan

Title: The Lover's Dictionary
Author(s): David Levithan
Genre(s): Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Publisher/Date: Farrar, Straus and Giroux / January 4, 2011
Series: Stand Alone
Challenge(s): 2013 Catch Up Reading Challenge

"ineffable, adj. These words will ultimately end up being the barest of reflections, devoid of the sensations words cannot convey. Trying to write about love is ultimately like trying to have a dictionary represent life. No matter how many words there are, there will never be enough."

Case Study

basis, n. There has to be a moment at the beginning when you wonder whether you’re in love with the person or in love with the feeling of love itself.

If the moment doesn’t pass, that’s it—you’re done. And if the moment does pass, it never goes that far. It stands in the distance, ready for whenever you want it back. Sometimes it’s even there when you thought you were searching for something else, like an escape route, or your lover’s face.

How does one talk about love? Do we even have the right words to describe something that can be both utterly mundane and completely transcendent, pulling us out of our everyday lives and making us feel a part of something greater than ourselves? Taking a unique approach to this problem, the nameless narrator of David Levithan’s The Lover’s Dictionary has constructed the story of his relationship as a dictionary. Through these short entries, he provides an intimate window into the great events and quotidian trifles of being within a couple, giving us an indelible and deeply moving portrait of love in our time. (synopsis from Goodreads)

The Game's Afoot

By now I've probably made it pretty clear that I'm not the biggest fan of swoony stuff. So that being said, why on Earth would I decide to read a book called The Lover's Dictionary? Well, I'll tell you why. Because it was written by this man.

David Levithan.

Did you read Every Day, if so, there should be no doubt in your mind that if anyone on this planet knows how to do the love stuff right, it's him. Yeah. He can convert even a non-lover like myself, that's how talented he is. And after devouring Every Day and Will Grayson, Will Grayson, Levithan instantly catapaulted himself to the top of my auto-buy list. So again, why The Lover's Dictionary? Well, I was fortunate enough to hear him speak about how he came up with the idea for the book at last year's National Bookfest. A love story told solely via dictionary entries?! As a Valentine's Day present for friends?!

My mind = BLOWN. The concept was so unique that I knew I had to get my hands on a copy. And I did. And I read the entire thing in a single sitting. On my lunch hour. At work. That's how quick, easy and engaging this book is. I'm kinda kicking myself for waiting so long to read it. So yeah, now I guess I'm a lover of love. But shh, don't tell anyone. Thanks for that, David.

The Lover's Dictionary is not only unique in how it tells the story but also because we never really get to know the subjects of whom it's about. I mean, we get to see some of the most personal and intimate segments of their relationship, but there are no names or descriptions of the couple to be found. At first, this was kind of distracting because I spent so much time trying to put faces to these people, but after awhile, I realized that it didn't matter. Your focus turns solely to the relationship and the internal dialogue of the narrator instead of the usual details that anchor down a story. You stop thinking about the people and start thinking about the love drives them. And that's where the genius of the book lies --- in its simplicty.

Visa vie small passages, The Lover's Dictionary reveals anecdotes of love, both the good kind and the bad, narrated by one half of this couple. These snippets are not in chronological order but each entry touches on the mundane and the special moments between the two. We're shown the various stages of their relationship --- from the butterflies of a first kiss to the irksome habits that go hand in hand with living with someone --- and in a way, each and every one of these moments was relatable to me. We've all be there in some way at some point in our lives. I know I've experienced the nagging doubts as well as the euphoria that accompanies a new relationship. And that's what makes the story so compelling. It felt like Levithan was in my head, putting every feeling I've ever had in just about every relationship right down there on that page... only much more eloquently.

And though we get to see the many wonderful things that go along with being in a relationship, this book isn't all sunshine and rainbows. In addition to the good, we're privy to the bad. There's nagging self doubt, betrayals of the worst kind, hardships to endure and that unfiltered emotion that plagues the narrator. It's a very real, very raw, uncensored look inside the narrator's head as we go through the various stages of the relationship. And while it might not always be pleasant, while it might conjure up some tough memories from my own past, it was unfaltering and honest. We learn that love can sometimes be fleeting but it is also complex and oh so worth it.

And on that note, I'll leave you with a few of my favourite entries:

The funny -

"buffoonery, n. You were drunk, and I made the mistake of mentioning Show Girls in a near-empty subway car. The pole had no idea what it was about to endure." (pg.4)

The sweet-

"ethereal, adj. You leaned your head into mine, and I leaned my head into yours. Dancing cheek to cheek. Revolving slowly, eyes closed, heartbeat measure, nature's hum. It lasted the length of an old song, and then we stopped, kissed, and my heart stayed there, just like that." (pg.88)

And the heartbreaking  -

"motif, n. You don't love me as much as I love you. You don't love me as much as I love you. You don't love me as much as I love you."

Summary Prognosis

The Lover's Dictionary is a sad yet hopeful, raw and incredibly clever book about love and relationships. It's simple and compelling and heartbreaking and swoony all at the same time. The book is compact and easy to read. In fact, it reads more like a short story than a novel, cutting out all the nonsense and shooting straight for the core. For such a fighter, this book definitely made a lover out of me!


Rating: ★★★★½


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Book Review: Will Grayson, Will Grayson by David Levithan & John Green

Title: Will Grayson, Will Grayson
Author(s): David Levithan & John Green
Genre(s): Contemporary, Young Adult
Publisher/Date: Dutton Juvenile / April 6, 2010
Series: Stand Alone

"The question is rhetorical, but if I wasn't trying to shut up, I'd answer it: You like someone who can't like you back because unrequited love can be survived in a way that once-requited love cannot." 

Case Study

This is the story of Will Grayson. Well, actually it's the story of Will Grayson and the other Will Grayson. Though their names might be the same, the two teenage boys couldn't be more different. One Will Grayson abides by a philosophy of apathy and silence, a mere shadow to his flamboyantly gay and very large BFF, Tiny Cooper. The other Will Grayson is a closeted gay loner who lives in a fog of angst and depression. The boys meet in a chance encounter and as their worlds collide, their lives are forever changed. I won't say more because this is one book you really need to experience for yourself!

The Game's Afoot

It may shock and appall you to know that I've never read a John Green book before. Oh the horror! And as a Green newbie, I couldn't be happier that Will Grayson, Will Grayson was my first. Co-written with David Levithan, Will Grayson, Will Grayson is a hilarious romp featuring love, teenage drama, Tiny Cooper and the most epically gay musical you'll ever encounter. After being completely blown away by Levithan's, Every Day, I had no doubt that this book would leave me reeling. It totally did. Written in alternating perspectives, each chapter explores the life of a Will Grayson. Eventually, we see that their lives converge in a strange twist of fate and just how this meeting irrevocably impacts each of the Will's lives for the better. 

What's most outstanding about this book, the brilliant concept aside, is the collaborative success of David and John's writing. Each in a distinctive voice uses their Will to narrate in a very believable and impactful way. John's WG is caught up in finding himself amidst being overshadowed by his very charismatic friend. He is the average teen whose motivations are steeped in typical teenage problems. In short, he's so easy to connect with because we've all been there and done that. Levithan's WG, on the other hand, is more of a broken soul. He struggles with depression and his self awareness makes him antagonistic, at best. As raw as this WG is, he's also blatantly honest and as a reader, you find yourself rooting for him to overcome all the crap that permeates his life. About the only thing both WG's share (prior to their meeting) is their struggle to find and understand first love. Because as much as Will Grayson, Will Grayson is about growing up and finding yourself, at its core, it's a novel about love --- finding love, falling in love, platonic love, familial love and self love. And that, my friends, is a beautiful thing.

So, this book has gotten its share of accolades but it's also gotten a lot flack for the over-the-top cheesiness of the ending. Everything that happens culminates in the performance of the gayest musical of all time. No, really, I'm not exaggerating this part. It is the gayest musical of all time. Yes, it's cheesy. Yes, it's over the top but that's the point! It's supposed to be! I don't think the book's critical message could've been delivered in any other way. You'll still catch me shouting out, "I APPRECIATE YOU, TINY COOPER!" from time to time. It brought me to tears (happy ones, of course!). And Tiny Cooper. OMG, let me talk about Tiny Cooper for a second. How do I even begin to describe Tiny Cooper?

"Tiny Cooper is not the world's gayest person and he is not the world's largest person, but I believe he may be the world's largest person who is really, really gay, and also the world's gayest person who is really, really large." 

He is AH-MAZING. He's big, beautiful, he loves love and he's probably the best character ever written. Like EV-ER. The fact that he wants to use love, more specifically his very active love life via a musical, to make the world a better place, is just awe-inspiring.

Tiny Cooper is the force to bring both WG's together. He's the main catalyst that incites radical changes in each of their perspectives. And with the problems that these two are facing, it takes a larger-than-life personality to do so. I'm just glad they picked a very fabulous one. In our increasingly accepting society, there's still a sad shortage of strong and relatable GLBT characters so I have to applaud Levithan and Green for making Tiny Cooper and one of the WG's so amazing. This just adds fuel to the awesomeness that is this book. Will Grayson, Will Grayson overall is raw, honest and funny. It can be offensive at times, but that just lends to its charm and adds to the freshness of its edgy, yet beautiful message. For this reason, it may not be a book that everyone can enjoy but it's a book that everyone should read because you'll be thinking about it long after you've turned the last page. You can't pick which books make you happy, but you can pick happy books so save yourself the trouble and pick Will Grayson, Will Grayson.

Summary Prognosis

Will Grayson, Will Grayson is an incredibly funny and insightful book that touches on issues to which everyone can relate, most notably love. The characters are relatable, the writing edgy and the concept fresh. And there's also Tiny Cooper! Tiny Cooper is reason enough to read this book. He's just awesome. Levithan and Green are a dream duo when it comes to creating an impactful reading experience that will stick with you long after you've put it down. 


Rating: ★★★★★


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Book Review: Every Day by David Levithan

Title: Every Day
Author(s): David Levithan
Genre(s): Contemporary, Young Adult
Publisher/Date: Knopf Books for Young Readers /  August 28, 2012
Series: Stand Alone

"I am a drifter, and as lonely as that can be, it is also remarkably freeing. I will never define myself in terms of anyone else. I will never feel the pressure of peers or the burden of parental expectation. I can view everyone as pieces of a whole, and focus on the whole, not the pieces. I have learned how to observe, far better than most people observe. I am not blinded by the past or motivated by the future. I focus on the present, because that's where I am destined to live."

Case Study

Can we talk theoretically for a minute? Let's just say you strip away all of your physical attributes--gender, hair colour, race, eye colour, stature--what is left to define you as being uniquely you? Pretty deep stuff to think about, right? Well, not for A because every day A wakes up as someone new, so it can't be the body that defines him/her. Neither male nor female, A is a being unto itself, a being that still knows who he/she is despite waking up as a different person every morning. There is no rhyme or reason for why A wakes up like this every day. This is just A's life, this is how it's always been. There is only acceptance. So for a full 24 hours, A has the chance to make a difference in this unsuspecting person's world or play it out with minimal interference, which is what A usually does. That is, until he/she wakes up as Justin and makes a surprisingly real connection to his girlfriend, Rhiannon. Can their love transcend beyond the body or will they get hung up in the challenges of every new day?

The Game's Afoot

OMG, you guys. OMG. If you don't go out and buy this book and read it this very minute, you're really missing out! So stop whatever it is you're doing and just get a copy. I don't care if you have to maim, steal or push the little girl out of line at the library to acquire a copy. Just do it! TRUST ME!

Every Day was my first foray into David Levithan's writing and I was completely blown away. This review was really difficult to write because I have so many thoughts about this book that I can't quite put it into words. David read a small segment at the BookFest and the concept was so unique and outside-the-box that I knew I had to pick up a copy of my own. My only regret is that I didn't read it sooner. Every Day was LIFE-CHANGING. Seriously, this is one of those stories that flips the script and has you questioning ALL THE THINGS! Levithan will open your mind and change the way you think about life, love and your own individuality and it's not often that I've come across a story that does that.

One of the things I loved most about Every Day was that A inhabits so many different people, it makes each chapter act like a sneak peek into that individual's personal world so the story never gets stale. We're shown a new life every single day. Boy, girl, gay, straight, black, white, Levithan isn't shy in going for it all. He's absolutely brilliant in making each of those lives so uniquely different and yet somehow he still manages to keep A's distinctive tone of voice. That's the sign of a seasoned writer. And, A, wow! What a character! Despite the bewildering circumstances of A's unusual life, A always manages to stay true to him/herself. A really knows who he/she is and that is a sign of strength. I was 100% invested in A's journey and wanted to know more. From page one, you don't even question the mechanics behind this bizarre body-snatching, and like A, you just accept it because it is what it is.

Every Day is one of those timeless stories that really resonates with you long after you've put it down. It challenges your perceptions of people and the way the world works. It fills you with hope, joy and sympathy. It will make you look deep inside yourself and question your own convictions; make you want to be a better and stronger person for both yourself and others. Levithan's writing is nothing short of imaginative and chalk full of beautiful, charming and oh-so-quote-worthy prose. In just one sitting, my book has become super well-worn with all the memorable passages I've marked. I could sing praises for this book all night long but really you're doing a disservice if you don't pick it up and devour it for yourself. It truly defies genre and you can trust I will recommend it to EVERYONE!

Summary Prognosis

In terms of profound moments, I had mine when I picked up Every Day. This book is, by far, my favourite read of 2012 in a sea of very strong contenders. Levithan tells such a touching, heartfelt tale and I don't think anything I can say will prepare you for just how much it will change the way you look at the world. And bonus points go to David for such a winning, original concept! So, what are you still doing here? Go read it. Now!


Rating: ★★★★★


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