Title: Burn for Burn
Authors: Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian
Publisher: Simon & Schuster BYR
Publish Date: September 18, 2012
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 368
Source: Publisher

Lillia has never had any problems dealing with boys who like her. Not until this summer, when one went too far. No way will she let the same thing happen to her little sister.

Kat is tired of the rumours, the insults, the cruel jokes. It all goes back to one person– her ex-best friend– and she's ready to make her pay.

Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she's not the same girl anymore. And she's ready to prove it to him.

Mary, Lillia and Kat couldn't be more different, yet they all have one thing in common. They want revenge. What's more - they want vindication. From taunts about weight, to stereotyped perceptions, to flat-out violence, all three girls have vowed to make a change. Things won't ever be the same. They won't be walked over, they won't be bullied and they certainly won't be forgotten. They're going to get revenge at all costs.

If you guys need to know one thing about me, it's simply that I'm a sucker for the concept of revenge (and the TV show by the same name...I digress). The whole, "an eye for an eye" thing is a pretty cool and time-tested concept for a novel, and I was excited to say where authors Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian took the readers with it. Fluid and engaging, Burn for Burn wove three characters into a fast-paced story with ease, giving us an insider's look into their turmoil, resentment and revenge. With a quick and easy-to-read tone, it's a book that you'll read fast and simply be left reeling wondering...is there more?

Burn for Burn was a bit of an interesting read for me. On the one hand, it really succeeded in creating three unique character voices, with which I could understand and identify. Not too many YA novels succeed in providing a revolving character POV, but Burn for Burn does it with ease. On the other hand, the book had a purported paranormal element that developed in the middle of the story. In my humble opinion, I felt that it added a bit of fluff to a story that was really otherwise succeeding. It felt haphazard and, though I'm interested to see if it is added upon in a later installment, I was kind of put off by it. I have to say that, overall, I appreciated the darker turn of Burn for Burn though. For the most part, the bond between these girls was complex, and it was a breath of fresh air. They weren't friends, but they weren't enemies, and I liked that sort of grey area through which we watched their story unravel.

All in all, I liked Burn for Burn despite a few things that I found a bit tedious and annoying. It was a good, well-written and easy to read book that I'm sure many readers will enjoy. I give it a 4 out of 5, and I definitely recommend it to fans of YA, especially those who enjoy darker contemporary fiction with a touch of paranormal.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: Burn for Burn
Author: Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian
Publisher: Simon & Schuster BYR
Publish Date: September 18, 2012
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 368
Source: Publisher

Lillia has never had any problems dealing with boys who like her. Not until this summer, when one went too far. No way will she let the same thing happen to her little sister.

Kat is tired of the rumours, the insults, the cruel jokes. It all goes back to one person– her ex-best friend– and she's ready to make her pay.

Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she's not the same girl anymore. And she's ready to prove it to him.

Three very different girls who want the same thing: sweet, sweet revenge. And they won't stop until they each had a taste.

Lillia, Kat and Mary have been through teenage hell and back. Literally. Each, in their own way, has been wronged by those friends they thought they could trust the most. Rather than wanting to curl up in a ball and block out the world though, these girls want revenge. They want to get even, and for them, payback really is a bitch. But revenge isn’t clean. It’s messy business and there are always casualties in the process. Through all the plotting, scheming and planning the perfect revenge, they must make sure to watch their own backs because life is about to get a whole lot messier.

To be honest, I wasn’t really sure I wanted to read Burn for Burn when I first saw the synopsis. It seemed like your run of the mill, trite and oddly overplayed highschool drama and, frankly, that’s the part of contemporary fiction that makes me want to gauge my own eyeballs out. I digress. Burn for Burn pleasantly surprised me though, adding rich layers of depth to a story that could have otherwise fallen horribly flat. Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian give us three very distinct and different characters, complete with their own mess of baggage to truck around through the novel. Through thoughtful and precise storytelling, we watch as the girls spin their webs of lies and deceit – if only to achieve the perfect art of revenge. And trust me…it’s truly an art.

There is so much about Burn for Burn that I loved. The way these girls plotted and schemed was brilliant (and terrifying) to watch. They wanted revenge at pretty much any and all costs. Written through alternating perspectives, we’re allowed an inside glimpse into Lillia, Kat and Mary’s minds, and we’re given the chance to understand exactly what warped them into the girls they are today. At times, I felt like the self-discovery within their respective chapters was a bit tedious, but it also lent a very tangible air, giving them more vulnerability and likeability. Slowly but surely, we’re enveloped in the messy world of Burn for Burn where revenge really is an art form. These girls are twisty and cruel and bitterly angry, but it makes the story real, and it makes it far easier to access some semblance of emotion for them. I was surprised by a slight paranormal turn of events nearing the end of the story, which threw me for a loop for a while, but it was well-played in terms of the plotline. I definitely related to Kat and Mary’s reasoning better because I felt Lillia was a bit weak compared to the other two girls, but overall, they balanced quite well. My one real bone to pick with Burn for Burn is that it ended so dang abruptly. Guys, you know how I feel about crash-landing endings, and this is one of those. I felt like we wound all the way up, and then the story dropped off the face of the earth which, unfortunately, left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth.

Overall though, Burn for Burn was a solid, guilty-pleasure sort of read. I can’t say it was the deepest, but it was definitely fast-paced, and it was a quick read that, for the most part, I really enjoyed. I give it a very strong 3.5 out of 5, and I recommend it to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy contemporary and touches of paranormal.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: We'll Always Have Summer
Author: Jenny Han
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's
Published: April 26, 2011
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 288
Source: S&S Galley Grab

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 practically a grownup now, and her heart still remains torn between both Jeremiah and Conrad, though she's technically made her decision and gone with Jeremiah. She's in college, she's having the time her life, but something remains lingering in the back of her mind. When Jeremiah slips up, Belly is forced to re-examine her feelings, her emotions and the pieces of her heart that are divided between two great guys. Does she have the strength to make the decision once and for all?

We all know that contemps aren't really my thing, but I began this series a good while back with the first book, The Summer I Turned Pretty and It's Not Summer Without You. I remember being captivated by the love triangle even though they tend to aggravate me, and the writing was engaging throughout. Jenny Han has created a brilliant third book that's emotional and raw, alternating between breaking your heart and gluing the pieces back together again with a great story of love, friendship and growing up.

I have to admit that I felt this story wasn't quite as powerful as the previous two books - perhaps just because Belly is older now. She's in college and she has this whole new life going on. That said, Belly, Jeremiah and Conrad are as fabulous as ever. Their character traits are as strong as book one in We'll Always Have Summer, and I definitely read the fast-paced plot at a steady speed to figure out what happened in the end...and I have to say that, overall, I was pleased with the outcome.

In a sea of YA stories where we lose the characters and plot as the books progress, We'll Always Have Summer was a refreshing read. Sweet, heartfelt and powerful, I give it a strong 4 out of 5, and I recommend it to YA fans of the series, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction and romance.

I received this eARC free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

In My Mailbox is an amazing weekly meme hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren that features the books we have received during the week. It's so much fun because we get to see what our fellow bloggers stumbled upon this week and add even more to our piles of books! Without further ado, this week I received the following books:

FOR REVIEW

Forsaken by Keary Taylor

(Thank you, Keary)

It's been four months since Alex gave everything to save Jessica. Life should be perfect; she has Alex, she's been freed of the nightmares, and most of all- she's alive. But some things have changed, some things haven't. That's the problem. Alex still hasn't asked "the question". Jessica can't see the reason why and it's tearing her apart. He's keeping something from her.

Alex isn't the only one who has changed though. Something is different about Jessica but she doesn't understand what's happened.

FOR REVIEW

Hex, A Witch & Angel Tale by Ramona Wray

(Thank you, Ramona)

Like most girls at Rosemound High School, seventeen-year-old Lily Crane is acutely aware of Ryder Kingscott. Hands down the cutest guy in school, Ryder is cool, mysterious, and utterly untouchable…especially for Lily. For when she touches someone, Lily instantly learns all about their lives. 

And while such a skill might seem nifty, in truth it is wrecking Lily’s life. So she is shocked when Ryder asks her out—and even more shocked to discover he has a rival. Lucian Bell is the gorgeous new kid who can’t take his eyes off of Lily. 

FOR REVIEW

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

(eARC - Thank you, S&S Galley Grab)

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out. 

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, Rhine has one purpose: to escape.

FOR REVIEW

We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han

(eARC - Thank you, S&S Galley Grab)

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.