REVIEW:

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Rating: 5/5

All the Bright Places follows two characters, Violet Markey and Theodore Finch. They both find themselves on top of the bell tower at their school contemplating death and kind of "save" each other. They then become partners on a school project that requires them to see different wonders of their state. The novel focuses on their adventures as they discover each other and battle their inner thoughts.

The novel deals with serious issues such as bipolar, loss of a love one, depression and suicide. It portrays these illnesses in an extremely realistic way, it doesn't glorify or romanticize them. It's blunt. It's powerful. It's heart breaking.

However, the story also had humor and romance. It had me laughing and smiling like a goon on one page and crying my eyes out on the next.

That's the best part. All the Bright Places makes you feel. It makes you think. It's raw and brilliant and I'm completely in love with it. I will recommend this novel to anyone and everyone because it quickly became one of my favorite books of all time.

I read this book in less than a day, I could not put it down. So bravo Jennifer Niven. You, my dear, are an excellent author.

Another reason I love this book is that it takes place in the state that I live in, Indiana. So I felt a connection to it. I know these places they visit. And while I've never been to any of them I've always wanted to. I grew up hating Indiana. The only thing I wanted was to get out of this state, this book changed that. While I still am desperate to leave and see the world, I now appreciate the beauty this state brings to the world. 

I'd love to hear your thoughts about this novel, do you agree or disagree? If you haven't read it yet, I recommend that you pick it up sometime.

REVIEW: Leaving Amarillo by Caisey Quinn
Publication date: March 17, 2015

Dixie Lark hasn’t had it easy. She lost her parents in an accident when she was young and grew up in a ramshackle house on a dirt road in Amarillo with her ailing grandparents and overprotective older brother. Thanks to her grandfather, Dixie learned to play a mean fiddle, inspired by the sounds of the greats—Johnny and June, Waylon, and Hank. Her grandfather’s fiddle changed Dixie’s life forever, giving her an outlet for the turmoil of her broken heart and inspiring a daring dream.

Ten years later, Dixie and her brother Dallas are creating the music they love and chasing fame with their hot band, Leaving Amarillo. But Dixie isn’t enjoying the ride. All she can think about is Gavin, the band’s tattooed, tortured drummer who she’s loved since they were kids. She knows he feels the connection between them, but he refuses see her as more than his best friend’s little sister.

Convinced that one night with Gavin will get him out of her system, Dixie devises a plan. She doesn’t know that her brother has forbidden Gavin from making a move on her-a promise he swore he’d always keep . . . a promise that once broken will unexpectedly change the future for Dixie, Gavin and the band.

Leaving Amarillo is such a quick and fun read. It holds your attention throughout the entire novel.

The chemistry between Dixie and Gavin is amazing. You can just feel the tension between the two of them and it drags you into their little world.

Without giving much away I will state that the back stories of all three main characters is just tragic. As I was reading their stories I wanted to reach out and hug them all. Caisey Quinn did an amazing job making you feel what the characters felt.

I can't wait to find out more about Gavin and his mother in the next novel. I wanted to punch her right in the kisser, she's was so frustrating.

THE ENDING, UGH. I can not wait to get my hands on the rest of Dixie and Gavin's story.

Rating: 4/5

Link(s) to purchase:
Amazon
Barnes&Noble

REVIEW: Confess by Colleen Hoover
Publication date: March 10, 2015

At age twenty-one, Auburn Reed has already lost everything important to her. In her fight to rebuild her shattered life, she has her goals in sight and there is no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

For once, Auburn takes a chance and puts her heart in control, only to discover that Owen is keeping a major secret from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it.

To save their relationship, all Owen needs to do is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin.

As an art lover I have to start by discussing the actual art in this novel. It's AMAZING! After finishing the book I instantly looked up the artist. My two favorite things, reading and art combined! How awesome and such a fantastic idea as it just added to the book in such a great way.


The idea itself of people leaving their confessions for Owen to paint is so cool and unique. I love it, such a unique idea.

There's this huge twist in the book, which I won't reveal, that actually shocked me. I wasn't expecting it at all and I thought Colleen did a fantastic job keeping the reader on their toes.

This novel is heartbreaking, frustrating, and utterly amazing. It makes you feel something which is my number one must have in a book.

Once again, Colleen Hoover blew my mind with her fantastic writing.

Rating: 5/5

Link(s) to purchase:
Amazon
Barnes&Noble