Review: Taste Test

Nora's Dad owns a BBQ joint and Nora's been working there forever. When her BFF suggests that she audition for the Taste Test- a reality cooking show for teens, neither of them expect her to make it.

Now she's leaving home for the semester, joining the team of cooks. Nora's Southern roots show. She's not like the drama queens or chef royalties. She wants to win the scholarship to the Internationals School of Cuisine in Paris - and unlike some contestants, she can't afford to pay her way.

Soon, Nora's going head to head with her snobby roommate and her arrogant friend. Nora tries to stay away from them, but Christian has a way of getting under her skin. The two of them heat up the ratings with their banter. Could something else be brewing?

My Thoughts: LOVED this book and devoured it. I didn't want to stop reading it. I liked the drama of the cameras and the reality show. I loved the tension between Nora and Christian. I loved when they cooked together. I really enjoyed Nora's Southern ways and how she stuck to her roots. I liked the mystery of the sabotage on set. I loved the set-up of the book with interviews and scores from the show interspersed with the story. A fantastic debut novel; I can't wait to read more from Kelly Fiore. 

Cover Thoughts: Sure cute
Source: My Library

Review: Six Months Later

Chloe falls asleep during study hall - only to wake up when the room is dark. At first she thinks that everyone left her there, but slowly she begins to understand that six months have past and her life has drastically changed.

It seems like during that time, she got everything she ever wanted. Her crush is now her boyfriend. Her grades have dramatically improved. She's friends with the popular group. It's like a dream come true until...

Chloe realizes that she's no longer friends with her best friend. She has no idea what happened between them. She doesn't feel anything for her boyfriend and she can't stop thinking about Adam.

Can Chloe uncover what happened to her? 

My Thoughts: I devoured this book - I loved how Chloe uncovered and unraveled how her new life came to be. I felt horrible as she tried to patch things up with her former best friend. But I admired her for trying to recover the friendship they once had. I really liked Adam: he was funny, smart, and protective. I loved learning more about him as Chloe figured things out. I liked Chloe - how she was smart, but just discovering that about herself. I liked her loyalty, her courage, and her sense of morality. A fantastic debut filled with friendship, love, action, tension, and suspense. 

Cover Thoughts: I actually liked the ARC cover better- the winter landscape without the girl on the cover
Source: Sent for Review
Similar Read: If you liked Forget You by Jennifer Echols, read this book.

Review: Symptoms of My Insanity

Izzy can't turn off her brain. She can't stop  thinking of all the things she must finish for her art portfolio. Her BFF wants her to help out with a play. Her mom needs help with the dance fundraiser she's hosting. Between all this and homework, Izzy barely has time to breathe.

Plus she worries about the message her body's sending, she worries about her mother's health, and she's a hypochondriac.  When looking at her computer, she spies a support group chat room, where her mother's made a post; Izzy worries about her mother's cancer returning. She doesn't understand why she's keeping it a secret.

The only bright spot in her day is losing herself in her act. But with all this pressure p it's hard to get anything done.

My Thoughts: It's not a book that I would have normally picked up on my own, but I'm Glad that I read it. I really liked Izzy and my heart went out to her and her struggles - I liked following her brain and her thought process. I wanted to hug her over her body issues, especially for what she had to go through. I admired her strength and her courage. I loved her friends standing up for her. A heart wrenching and very real contemporary novel filled with family drama, friendship drama, and romantic drama that warmed my heart. 

Cover Thoughts: I like the cleanness of it and the red title pops.
Source: Sent for review

Review: Dualed

West lives in a society that only wants the best and brightest to survive. So when couples want children, they're forced to pair up with two other parents. Two children are created with DNA from all four parents. Each parent takes home a child to raise.  Somewhere between the 10th and 20th birthday, the pair becomes activated. They then have one month to locate and kill their Alternate. If they both fail, they are simultaneously destroyed.

West's world goes into a downward spiral when she accidentally gets her brother killed. Now she's the last one left of her family. Her brother's best friend has promised to protect her, but since his Alt killer her brother, she can't look at him without feeling guilt and pain.

West does something crazy in order to survive - in order to feel something. She thinks that it will help with her training, for when she becomes activated. When the time comes, she wrestles with that question. Is she the best version?

My Thoughts: I love the concept of this book - it's definitely dark. West was strong, insecure, and sometimes made the wrong choices. In a way, she reminded me of Katniss. There were times when I wanted to ask what was going through her head - except that I knew and while I understood her thought process, I didn't agree with all her decisions. The opening sequence broke my heart, but it sets the tone for the book. I really liked Chord and how he tries to pull West our of her grief. I loved the moments between West and Dess. A great character driven novel with action, death, and a terrifying ending. Dualed is an engrossing debut novel that makes me want the sequel Divided! 

Cover Thoughts: LOVE
Source: My Library

Top Ten Tuesdays: Debuts

 Top Ten 2013 Debuts - This list should be easy since I'm participating in Debut Author Challenge. - Meme from the Broke and the Bookish

Taken
Dualed
Level 2
Mila 2.0
How My Summer Went Up in Flames
Wig in the Window
Strange of Bronze and Gold
Cinders and Sapphires
Games Set Match
Maid of Secrets

Debut Author Challenge 2013

This is my 3rd year participating in this challenge. Here are some of the books I'm looking forward to reading.

1. Taken
2. Dualed
3. Level 2
4. Mila 2.0
5. How My Summer Went Up in Flames
6. Reboot
7. Wig in the Window
8. Strange of Bronze and Gold
9. Red
10. Art of Wishing
11. Vengeance Bound
12. Cinders and Sapphires
13. Games Set Match
14. Maid of Secrets