Eyes Like Stars and Twenty Boy Summer

Wow so I officially fail as a blogger. Here are my most recent reads:

Title: Eyes Like Stars

Author: Lisa Mantchev

Pages: 352

Rating: ****1/2

Summary (from Goodreads): Enter Stage Right All her world's a stage. Beatrice Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater. She is not an orphan, but she has no parents. She knows every part, but has no lines of her own. Until now. Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the characters of every place ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Théâtre by The Book—an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family—and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known. Lisa Mantchev has written a debut novel that is dramatic, romantic, and witty, with an irresistible and irreverent cast of characters who are sure to enchant the audience. Open Curtain

Review:This book was phenomenal. I feel very repetitive, because I keep saying how amazing books are. I've read a lot of great books recently! Most of them have been recommended by other bloggers. ANYWAY this book was another original. I've never read anything like Eyes Like Stars before. Swoon was original, but there were some parts that reminded me of Twilight. This novel should have its own genre. Everything from the plot to the setting to the characters was pure originality. And they were all great! Lisa Mantchev created a new world, one most people would never have imagined. Bertie is a strong female protagonist who doesn't let the "Managers" boss her around. I was a little confused about Ariel--what is he exactly? (That's right, Ariel's a he) But otherwise it was comprehendable, which is important for fantasy books. Though I'm not sure if this book can be categorized as fantasy...anyway, GREAT read. I can't wait for Perchance a Dream (Theatre Illuminata Act II)!!

Recommended for: Fantasy-lovers, play-goers, and readers who like a little mystery and action with a splash of romance.

Title: Twenty Boy Summer

Author: Sarah Ockler

Pages: 290

Rating: ****

Summary (from Goodreads):"Don't worry, Anna. I'll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it.""Okay.""Promise me? Promise you won't say anything?""Don't worry." I laughed. "It's our secret, right?"According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.Beautifully written and emotionally honest, this is a debut novel that explores what it truly means to love someone and what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer.

Review: I totally misjudged this book. I wrote it off as another light, fluffy romance novel. WRONG! This book, while yes is mainly about romance, goes a lot deeper. Anna deals a lot with her heartbreak, loss, and the fact that she is keeping such a huge secret from her best friend. Anna isn't your typical romance novel heroine whose love comes riding in on his white horse to make her life complete. She is her own person, as she is realizing as Frankie becomes someone she can barely recognize sometimes and by the fact that Matt is gone forever. The writing is beautiful and Sarah Dessen-esque (a compliment I do not give lightly). I almost started crying at some points, which is very uncommon for me. Another great read--perfect for summer, though it was nice to have a little sun in this dreary Midwestern November.

Recommended for: Romance lovers

Again, sorry (if anyone is even reading this). I'll try to post more frequently. Next up: A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn