Review: The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett

The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

***NOTE: I received a copy of this book from the publishers for an unbiased review.

Don't judge a book by its cover. The cover of this book is great, but the content is close to trash. As a disclaimer, I would like to say that I am not the biggest fan of young adult contemporary. This book further solidifies that dislike. I just had so many problems with this book that I don't even know where to start.

--This book was just flat out cringe-worthy. Ugh. The protagonist is an extremely unlikable girl who is basically the same horrible person from beginning to end. Personally, I like to read for a big "so what" statement that shows personal growth. But this book had nothing, except it was a huge waste of time.
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--What is this whole "werewolf" bull? Okay, I would understand Hawthorne's crazy theories if she was seven, not seventeen. Like really? Wouldn't a typical seventeen-year-old girl be worried about their college applications or their new budding romance instead of going around in the woods to chase the supernatural?
--Hawthorne is OBSESSED about Lizzie for no good reason. At first, I thought the book would reveal that Hawthorne and Lizzie used to be really good friends and so she was concerned, but there was no real reason she should have even been even interested in Lizzie's disappearance.
--Hawthorne's relationship with Enzo is terrible. I was actually asking myself "what the **** is going on?" The fact that the relationship wasn't even legal is really disturbing to me.
--Hawthorne's parents and friends further encouraged her theories and suspicions. Her parents' actions would not fly with me. I think the only sane person in that entire house was her older brother Rush.
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These are just some of the major points that I can currently list off the top of my head. I'm sure there are others that I can't think of right now.

In essence, this was definitely one of the WORST books I've read this year. I wouldn't force this on anyone let alone read it. Don't bother to waste your money on this book.

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Review: This Star Won't Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl

This Star Won't Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl by Esther Earl
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

1-star: did not like it
2-stars: it was okay
3-stars: liked it
4-stars: really liked it
5-stars: it was amazing

First of all, I would like to start off by saying that Esther Earl is definitely an amazing and kind-hearted person. She has probably inspired and helped thousands of people that she has either met in real life or online. However, this book, which is basically a compilation of all her writings and art, was just okay. And thus, the reason why I ended up giving this book 2 stars. Her story did not strike me as phenomenal, and quite frankly, I don't think it would have even existed if she hadn't met John Green. The main focal point that is brought up over and over again through her writings is how nice Esther is but isn't that how people are supposed to behave from a day to day basis? It not book-worthy. Plus, the book also came with heavy religious undertones...something I think needs a disclaimer statement before I pick it up.

I didn't particularly enjoy this book but I feel like it might be suited for people who personally knew Esther and followed her through her battle with cancer.

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Review: The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So many successful people have recommended this book to me, and I finally decided to read it this year. Originally, I wanted to read it at the end of summer, but that's when my 'semester-long' reading slump began so I never got around to it until the end of the year. And I proceeded to finish this within a couple of days while taking meticulous notes.

If you haven't read this book, go out and get yourself a copy and start reading. In addition to many advices that Duhigg explores, he also tells snippets of anecdotes which I find especially engaging. I plan to implement some of the techniques that were mentioned to further improve my productivity this year.

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Review: A Feast for Crows

A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many people told me that this book wasn't going to be as good as the others because it doesn't really move the story plot and there are too many views from minor characters. But after watching Season 6 of the TV show, I finally understand the necessity of this 'filler' novel. Even though the main characters are going on their respective adventures, many keys points of the rebellion and progress are made through the minor characters.

I have nothing but good things to say about this book. Cersei was her usual crazy ambitious self. Jaime starts to question his loyalty to his sister and the Crown. The Martells have their own emerging internal conflicts, but they seem to be leaning on siding with Daenerys. Sam is on his way of becoming a maester. George R. R. Martin does a wonderful job of spinning the story together with elaborate lies, gore, and intrigue.


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Review: Cinder

Cinder by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book has been on my to-read list for such a long time because I really liked the graphics on the cover. Eventually, I ended up checked out the audiobook and listening to it on OverDrive, and I wasn't disappointed. Cinder is a part-cyborg, part-human girl who belongs to a widow with two children. She is responsible for supporting the family with her mechanic skills; however, like the story of Cinderella, her stepmother treats her cruelly and she is only able to connect with one of her stepsisters. As she is dealing with issues in her family, there is also a deadly disease that is spreading throughout the country. (The overall story plot is given in the summary)

So, why only 3 stars?
1. The first reason is terrible, but I actually didn't like the narrator's voice in the audiobooks. The way she read some of the sentences made me think that Cinder was a very snotty girl.
2. The novelty of the plot lasted for the first four chapters or so. After that, everything that happened seemed super obvious. I predicted everything that was basically going to happen, which eliminate the shock factor that I appreciate in my books.
3. That cliff-hanger ending killed me. I honestly didn't even know the story ended, and then immediately thought that the publishers want to reap as much money as they can get out of people.

Overall, this was a fun a fun and pleasant read and I would recommend it to anyone looking for fun fairy tale retellings.

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Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts 1 & 2

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts 1 & 2 by John Tiffany
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I had high hopes when I first picked up the book and then realized it was simply a badly written fanfiction. This book is definitely not written by J. K. Rowling, and the storyline and characterization shows. I even got this book for my little brother when it first came out (as he is a huge Harry Potter fan), and he ended up disliking it too.

There were two major points that made me want to rip out my hair while I was reading:
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1. Characterization. This was SO BAD! I was actually baffled at how everyone was completely out-of-character.
--Let's start with Harry. This is the boy that grew up under the constant abuse of the Dursleys and he's telling his son that he wishes [the latter] wasn't his child? Really? I don't think so. Harry made plenty of mistakes throughout his life and he wouldn't project such terrible parenting to his son.
--Hermione. I was furious in one of the time-traveling subplots when she didn't end up marrying Ron and "settled" as a cold-hearted professor at Hogwarts. Haha...the death eaters might as well just take over before someone like Hermione doesn't reach her full potentials.
--Ron. Unless throughout the entire plot. Basically a lot of filler.
--Prof. McGonagall. The author made her like an old crippled lady. She is someone who has a very solid moral compass and wouldn't get let people walk over her.
2. Plot holes. It's unavoidable, but they were so obvious. When J. K. Rowling first introduced the idea of time traveling in the Prisoner of Azkaban, Hermione mentioned to Harry that they can't even be seen because it would alter the timeline too much. And this is just to travel a couple of hours back in time. When Albus and Scorpius travel OVER 20 YEARS BACK and create a very drastic change to the course of history, how is the future shifted so minutely? And they just kept going back and changing and changing the past. It was all pretty ridiculous, to be honest.
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Overall, I didn't like this book and I'm going to pretend like it was never published so I can preserve my memory of the original series. The only reason this book actually got 2 stars was because I liked Draco, Scorpius, and Albus. To anyone who is planning to read it: don't. You'll preserve your sanity.

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