Book Reviews In 15 Seconds Apiece

I'm having one of those mornings where it's hard to get started (maybe because it's only 8:30 on a Sunday and I shouldn't be starting yet).  I'm not enthused about writing or going to the gym yet... about the only thing I think I could be truly enthused about right now is a big belgian waffle and some chai, and even that would involve getting out of bed. Luckily, I have a built-in excuse in that I *need* to do a blog update.  But since I'm not quite awake yet to be duly coherent or witty (ha)... I give you:

Books reviews in 15 seconds apiece!

First of all, John Green's Paper Towns. Read it yesterday.  Brilliant. Hilarious. The characters are so funny and real and alive. You must read this.

From the Amazon page: Quentin Jacobsen, 17, has been in love with his next-door neighbor, Margo Roth Spiegelman, for his entire life. A leader at their Central Florida high school, she has carefully cultivated her badass image. Quentin is one of the smart kids. His parents are therapists and he is, above all things, "goddamned well adjusted." He takes a rare risk when Margo appears at his window in the middle of the night. They drive around righting wrongs via her brilliant, elaborate pranks. Then she runs away (again). He slowly uncovers the depth of her unhappiness and the vast differences between the real and imagined Margo.

Maureen Johnson's Devilish. YA - quite possibly the most bedeviling, quirky, funny YA I've read since I finished The Rise of Renegade X. Unique characters and a great sense of humor in the voice - and a huge page-turner.

Again, from the Amazon page: Tiny senior-class genius/spitfire Jane Jarvis is seriously out of place in St. Teresa's Preparatory School for Girls in Providence, RI. Although she considers herself to be above the school's traditions, she wants to help her clueless best friend, Ally, obtain a good freshman sister at the annual Big-Little ceremony. Alas, when Ally forcefully vomits in front of the entire student body, she needs more than Jane's help. After a brief period of avoiding her schoolmates, all of a sudden she's cool, gorgeously attired, confident, and sophisticated. Well, everyone knows that high school is hell, so it makes semi-sense that demons abound, and Ally has sold her soul to one. Jane is determined to save her. Odd things start happening, from giant hailstorms to self-igniting textbooks, and Jane sadly bids farewell to her family and throws herself into mortal–and immortal–danger.

Katherine Center's Get Lucky; well, if you're a regular reader, you might already know I have a little author-crush on Katherine Center since reading Everyone Is Beautiful. She does it again with Get Lucky, which is everything chick lit should be at its finest: a flawed but lovable MC, the perfect love interest gone all too wrong, and some crazy self-wrought trouble - all wrapped up in a lot of humor. The characters are sympathetic and even the crazy things that MC Sarah Harper does are fully believable.

From Amazon: Sometimes the worst thing to happen turns out to be the best and vice versa. Sarah Harper does the unthinkable and forwards an inappropriate e-mail to the entire company, losing her job in advertising. Luckily she planned to go home to Houston to spend time with her sister Mackie and her husband. Unfortunately, on the plane, she sits next to Everett, the high-school boyfriend she unceremoniously dumped. After Sarah realizes how gorgeous and successful he is, Everett ruins the moment by making a snarky comment. Capriciousness takes over Sarah’s life as she decides to help Mackie with her infertility problem by becoming a surrogate. Sarah perceives this as a bonding time for the sisters, but things do not work out as planned, and Sarah finally recognizes that the loss of her mother at a young age had major effects on her life, her attitude toward love, and maybe even her luck.

Still debating what to do for my 200 Follower Contest - I have a few ideas, but nothing jumping up and down screaming I AM BRILLIANT LIKE THE NOVELS YOU JUST REVIEWED (yes, that's how much I love these three books). I'm debating giving copies away to you guys. If you have a neat idea for a contest - or just something you really want to get for free - let me know in the comments. And what have you read lately that you've found brilliant?