We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han (Summer #3)

It’s been two years since Conrad told Belly to go with Jeremiah. She and Jeremiah have been inseparable ever since, even attending the same college– only, their relationship hasn’t exactly been the happily ever after Belly had hoped it would be. And when Jeremiah makes the worst mistake a boy can make, Belly is forced to question what she thought was true love. Does she really have a future with Jeremiah? Has she ever gotten over Conrad? It’s time for Belly to decide, once and for all, who has her heart forever.

Belly is a sweetly naive college girl who has been with her boyfriend, Jeremiah for the last two years, after having broken up with his brother Conrad. When Jeremiah cheats on her, her entire world comes crashing down on her. In a moment of weakness and desperation, he proposes to her and she takes him back and it brings them closer than ever before. This drives a wedge between Belly and her mother, and generally causes a huge amount of upset. So, Belly is forced to carry on with everything as planned and get ready for a wedding — without her mother’s help, or her blessing. Belly’s naiveté was both endearing and grating at times.

I could envision myself laying by the pool, tanning and reading this. It isn’t too involved or overly complicated, and Han’s writing is pretty solid and engaging. The story line is predictable, and it’s pretty obvious who she’s going to end up with in the end. I actually really liked Conrad a lot. Jere was kind of an inconsiderate pig and he seriously annoyed the bejesus out of me.

I think I’m going to read the first two books now. I wanna know more. =]

Final verdict? 3/5.

This book is due for release on April 26, 2011.

Betrayal by Mayandree Michel (Descendents #1)

At seventeen, Cordelia is an ordinary teen with an extraordinary and frightening secret. A secret that induces vivid dreams which she not only experiences true love, but crippling fear while barely escaping with her life each night.

After a life altering event, Cordelia has an unexpected encounter with Evan, the mysterious boy from her dreams, who reveals who and what she is – a descendant of the Greek gods. At that moment everything she knows of her world is a lie, and she must leave the present and go into the past to assume the role she was put on this earth for – safeguarding her ancient empire amidst evil forces that toil hastily to destroy it.

In a race against time, Cordelia must decide if she is truly a part of this dangerous world, or risk defying the gods, and ultimately lose the boy who has put a claim on her heart.

Gods, Goddesses, shifters, vampires.. Betrayal had it all. Forbidden love, scandal, secrets. Michel paints both beautiful and grotesque imagery in the first installment of her freshman series The Descendants. The beginning drags a bit, not gonna lie, but some disturbing, and life changing events grab you by the shoulders and you realize what a gem you’re holding in your hands. There’s a wealth if information in this book, and nothing is lacking. From character building to world building, there were no small parts in this book. Everyone had a purpose, every place described was an integral part of the story. No one was simply a prop in this story, and I found myself wanting to know more about the characters described in this book. The fight scenes, which can often end up lame, were beautifully choreographed and gripping. Michel istruly a master of her craft. The must-read of the year, hands down. 

Final verdict? 5/5.  Damn near perfect.

This book is due for release on April 1st, 2011.

The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade

Alona Dare was the most popular girl in Groundsboro High School — that is until she met her untimely demise. Death by schoolbus aka, the loser cruiser. Lame, right? Alona sure thinks so. And now she’s stuck wearing red polyester gym shorts and a see-through white t-shirt for the rest of her life.. *ahem*afterlife. She’s quickly learning that while she may have been popular, she wasn’t actually very well-liked. Just when she thinks that her afterlife couldn’t possibly get any worse, the only person who can see and hear her is the freaky goth kid, Will Killian. Will has an extremely interesting ability — he can communicate with the dead and vice versa. The day following Alona’s death, he sees her crying and laughs at her before stuffing his earbuds back into his ears and walking away from her. This was all the confirmation she needed to know that he could see and hear her. Surely Will has the key to all of the answers allowing her to be sucked up into that big white light, right? Wrong. Alona unknowingly assigns herself to the task of being Will’s spirit guide and the two fall into an unexpected friendship.

This was a light, cute read. Pure fluff, feel-good pretty much. I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Alona and Will, and the lessons that they taught one another and I was totally cool with the “lack of affection” as another reviewer described. It seemed more real and genuine the way things panned out in the end.

Be sure to add it to your TBR list, guys. You won’t be disappointed. =]

Final verdict? 4/5.