Blog Tour (Review): All The Rage - Courtney Summers

All the Rage by Courtney Summers
Date Released: April 14, 2015
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Pages: 321 pages
Format: E-ARC
Source: For Review (Thanks!)
Rating: 5 Stars
Series: Standalone!

Goodreads Synopsis:  The sheriff’s son, Kellan Turner, is not the golden boy everyone thinks he is, and Romy Grey knows that for a fact. Because no one wants to believe a girl from the wrong side of town, the truth about him has cost her everything—friends, family, and her community. Branded a liar and bullied relentlessly by a group of kids she used to hang out with, Romy’s only refuge is the diner where she works outside of town. No one knows her name or her past there; she can finally be anonymous. But when a girl with ties to both Romy and Kellan goes missing after a party, and news of him assaulting another girl in a town close by gets out, Romy must decide whether she wants to fight or carry the burden of knowing more girls could get hurt if she doesn’t speak up. Nobody believed her the first time—and they certainly won’t now — but the cost of her silence might be more than she can bear.　
With a shocking conclusion and writing that will absolutely knock you out, All the Rage examines the shame and silence inflicted upon young women after an act of sexual violence, forcing us to ask ourselves: In a culture that refuses to protect its young girls, how can they survive? 

From Goodreads

 

All The Rage by Courtney Summers was such a poignant and mind-opening book that everyone should pick up right now. It's that type of novel that hits home for any reader and Summer delivers her message in such a clever and well-written way. Additionally, Summers hits home with a perfect feminist YA novel that explores rape, lying, and teen pop culture in a new and refreshing way. Easily one of my favs this year!

All The Rage begins with Romy Grey, a fragile and vulnerable protagonist, who knows that the sheriff's boy Kellan Turner isn't the boy he really is. Romy also faces a band of bullies and is branded a liar that only causes more stress to her life. Her only safe haven is a diner where she works late shifts that helps her to stay low. Summers kicks up the suspense when a girl with ties to both Romy and Kellan goes missing after a party, and news of him assaulting another girl in a town close by gets out, Romy must decide whether she wants to fight or carry the burden of knowing more girls could get hurt if she doesn’t speak up. Hands down, this was one of Summers's best YA books to this date, she has a perfect yet flawed protagonist, a message and suspense she perfectly weaves into the novel. Romy was such a great character and I loved seeing her growth in the novel and how she slowly started to uncover what happened the night of the party to who drugged her. All The Rage was very much a character driven novel and I think Romy was great for it. 

Summers's writing was amazing in All The Rage. She wrote Romy's thoughts and emotions in such a simple, clean way, any reader could easily relate to what Romy was experiencing. In addition, the book had great suspenseful elements - when Romy was piecing together what happened to finding out who drugged her and to realizing if she could open up to those close to her. Ultimately, Summers's did a perfect job in writing such a powerful piece of fiction.

 “He was planning to rape me -"
"Why would he ever -"
"Because he knew he'd get away with it”

The message behind All The Rage was so accurate in today's culture, especially on issues of rape, women, and men. Usually these things are rarely talked about in schools or in real life, and I think they should. The young generation needs to know the problems women face out there. It is real, it does happen, and Courtney Summers's depiction of a girl finding the way to break the silence of what happened to her is perfect. Everyone definitely needs to pick up All The Rage right now, it was such a memorable read I'll be sure to read this one for ages to come. 

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Blog Tour: (Review) The Tragic Age - Stephan Metcalfe

The Tragic Age by Stephan Metcalfe 
Date Released: March 3, 2015
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 320 pages
Format: ARC
Source: For Review
Rating: 3.5 Stars Out of 5 Stars
Series: Standalone!

Goodreads Synopsis: This is the story of Billy Kinsey, heir to a lottery fortune, part genius, part philosopher and social critic, full time insomniac and closeted rock drummer. Billy has decided that the best way to deal with an absurd world is to stay away from it. Do not volunteer. Do not join in. Billy will be the first to tell you it doesn’t always work— not when your twin sister, Dorie, has died, not when your unhappy parents are at war with one another, not when frazzled soccer moms in two ton SUVs are more dangerous than atom bombs, and not when your guidance counselor keeps asking why you haven’t applied to college.　Billy’s life changes when two people enter his life. Twom Twomey is a charismatic renegade who believes that truly living means going a little outlaw. Twom and Billy become one another’s mutual benefactor and friend. At the same time, Billy is reintroduced to Gretchen Quinn, an old and adored friend of Dorie’s. It is Gretchen who suggests to Billy that the world can be transformed by　creative acts of the soul.　With Twom, Billy visits the dark side. And with Gretchen, Billy experiences possibilities.Billy knows that one path is leading him toward disaster and the other toward happiness. The problem is—Billy doesn’t trust happiness. It's the age he's at.  The tragic age. 

Stephen Metcalfe's brilliant, debut coming-of-age novel, The Tragic Age, will teach you to learn to love, trust and truly be alive in an absurd world.

From Goodreads

The Tragic Life by Stephan Metcalfe was a great, hilarious novel that really opened my eyes. Metcalfe crafted a well written, thoughtful novel on teenage angst that any reader could relate to. I loved reading and reviewing it :) 

In The Tragic Life, we meet Bill Kinley and I loved reading about his story and the way he described things about life. His life changes when 2 people enter his life: Twom Towney and Gretchen Quinn. Ever since the death of his sister, Dorie. It ultimately fuels his angst towards himself, the world and others. And it was an aspect that teen readers would relate to. 

Twom, brings out Bill's dark past and things that's best to leave in the past. But being with Gretchen, he is able to be himself.  I really liked the scenes Metcalfe wrote with Bill and Gretchen and all the mayhem they did. Metcalfe gave Bill a voice and it was great reading it. 

Ultimately, The Tragic Age is a must read for teens, especially those who can relate to teenage angst. The book was easy to read and I'm glad I pick this one up :) 

Find The Tragic Age On:

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Blog Tour: The Biggest Flirts - Jennifer Echols (Review)

 I am so happy to be part of the Biggest Flirts blog tour! I loved the book and I'm so thankful for being on this tour for a great book!

The Biggest Flirts by Jennifer Echols
Date Released: May 20, 2014
Publisher:Simon Pulse

Pages: 336 pages
Format: E-ARC

Source: For Review
Rating: LOVED IT!
Series: Standalone

Goodreads Synopsis: Tia and Will’s lives get flipped upside down when they’re voted Yearbook’s Biggest Flirts in this sassy novel from the author of Endless Summer and The One That I Want.

Tia just wants to have fun. She’s worked hard to earn her reputation as the life of the party, and she’s ready for a carefree senior year of hanging out with friends and hooking up with cute boys. And her first order of business? New guy Will. She can’t get enough of his Midwestern accent and laidback swagger.

As the sparks start to fly, Will wants to get serious. Tia’s seen how caring too much has left her sisters heartbroken, and she isn’t interested in commitment. But pushing Will away drives him into the arms of another girl. Tia tells herself it’s no big deal…until the yearbook elections are announced. Getting voted Biggest Flirts with Will is, well, awkward. They may just be friends, but their chemistry is beginning to jeopardize Will’s new relationship—and causing Tia to reconsider her true feelings. What started as a lighthearted fling is about to get very complicated…  

From Goodreads

 

The Biggest Flirts was a great read from start to finish, and I enjoyed everything from Tia’s laugh-out-loud moments to the more serious aspects of the novel. I DID come into the book with some expectations, since I read her other novel, Dirty Little Secrets, and I liked it a lot. I am happy to say, The Biggest Flirts is a great, light, beachy read perfect for this summer. Definitely a hot summer read on your way!

We meet Tia who works so hard for the reputation of being the life of every party. But everything changes when she meets Will and they both are voted as Biggest Flirts in her school’s year book. I loved Tia’s personality a whole lot, she had a fun and flintiness that was great and I would definitely like to meet her. She gave the book an ease that I love, since I’ve been reading heavy books lately. Will was a great character too and I like the relationship dynamics, pure cat versus dog fights here. In addition, all the other characters were great like Angelica, Violet, etc. Really brings the novel together!

The Biggest Flirts also had some great themes that Echols’s integrates, such as being true to you and living life the way it should be. Just like with all her novels, this one is more than a fluffy read; below it has some great, eye-opening aspects that really got me thinking. Great job!

I fully recommend anyone picking up The Biggest Flirts for those wanting a light, beachy read! It’s quirky and fun and definitely appeals to readers of all, I’m definitely looking forward to move of her books!

Find The Biggest Flirts On:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Goodreads