DNF Reviews (Part 2)

Last week I did a post with a couple of my DNF reviews. I thought I'd do one again this week too and wrap up all the DNF reviews I've written up till date.. maybe more in the future. These aren't actually reviews or even mini reviews. They are more like the reasons why I couldn't continue reading.

Always You by Erin Kaye
Release Date: June 6th, 2013
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

yeahhh
No.
The main character acted more like a 13 year old than a 40 something year old (or whatever the hell her age was).
I cannot read books where I am more mature than a character who is more than two times my age.

The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey
Series: The Fifth Wave #1
Release Date: May 7th, 2013
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile 
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

I attempted it.
I did.
I tried.
REALLY did.
I couldn't even skim through it.
I got as far as Evan and her first kiss (while skimming).
Ugh.
no.
It's ridiculous how insta their romance is.
I always thought that it was hard for female authors to do justice to a male lead well it goes both ways.
I've read this story too many times. I know what's going to happen in the end (I even looked it up to see if I was right).
Although there was that one thing but of course that would happen. How could I not pick up on that?
Well I am very proud of myself for giving this one a shot because I really didn't want to.

The Shade of the Moon by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Series: The Last Survivors #4
Release Date: August 13th, 2013
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

I cannot.
I just really cannot.
This makes it two books in a row.
How can I when I am so sure it'll ruin the previous books for me.
I cannot do that to my younger self.

Sia by Josh Grayson
Release Date: November 20th, 2013
Buy: Amazon

Nope.

This book was definitely not for me.

In the first couple of pages you've got an attractive girl who gets leered by every guy she comes across except that one that yelled at her and after that she ends up getting hit by a car. Uh No. 

Also the way she comes to the realization she has lot her memory does not make sense to me. I haven't actually lost my memory so I cannot say whether there is a right or wrong way but the fact that it takes more than a couple of seconds for her to realize she has no idea who she is doesn't work for me. 

And the fact that when she first sees herself her first thought is 'yay I am attractive' (well not in those words but you get what I mean). If I had amnesia and I saw myself, I'd like to think I'd try to recognize the person who was staring back at me (whoo is that girl I see, staring straight back at me, when will my reflection show who I am in insiddeeee. I'll stop now)

I have to say, she seems to have changed personalities completely. Sure amnesia makes you forget who you were but that doesn't mean you'll be completely different right?

And the writing style didn't work for me. I mean there is this point where she is talking to her boyfriend and he goes on and on about how they were the golden couple. Really? Again, NO.

Blog Tour: Sia by Josh Grayson

SIA by Josh Grayson

Release Date: 11/20/13

Summary from Goodreads:

When seventeen-year-old Sia wakes up on a park bench, she has no idea who or where she is. Yet after a week of being homeless, she’s reunited with her family. At school, she’s powerful and popular. At home, she’s wealthy beyond her dreams. But she quickly realizes her perfect life is a lie. Her family is falling apart and her friends are snobby, cruel and plastic. Worse yet, she discovers she was the cruelest one. Mortified by her past, she embarks on a journey of redemption and falls for Kyle, the “geek” she once tormented. Yet all the time she wonders if, when her memories return, she’ll become the bully she was before…and if she’ll lose Kyle.

Reviews for SIA

“A compelling read full of intrigue, romance, and lots of surprises. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next!” - Jennifer Read Hawthorne, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“There have been very few books that made me think they made to someday become a movie (i.e. Warm Bodies, The Host). And I guess Sia can join the club, because this book, I say, is perfect for it. I felt like I was reading a script for a movie, the plot is fantastic and the characters are great, there's a little of humor as well as tragic situations.” -Bookish Randomness

“Well I finished this book amazingly fast. This whole book will leave you amused, intrigued, in awe, and most importantly in love with the whole story line until the very last word. I'll have to go with 5 stars for this book.” - Lovely Reads

“Beautifully written…this one will have you reflecting on your current and past actions. Although a fiction, Sia inspires.” –A Starry-eyed Heart Review

Buy

 

Excerpt

I reach my locker and just start unlocking it when Kyle stops beside me. He’s dressed comfortably in faded jeans and a black t-shirt with a yellow Batman logo on it.

I smile broadly. “Hey.” It's hard to describe just how good I feel, seeing him there. Yet I don’t miss the stunned expressions on Amber and Stacy’s faces, or how they spin towards each other to whisper something. In Amber’s world, Kyle is a loser, so I’m sure their words aren’t pleasant.

I turn my back to them.

“Hey,” he replies. He keeps his eyes purposefully away from the other girls. So he knows. What must that feel like, knowing people are looking down on you? Saying cruel things? He doesn’t deserve this.

But he doesn't appear to care. He leans casually against the locker beside me. “Just thought I’d tell you I saw Carol this morning at the soup kitchen.”

I drop my lock and give him my full attention. “You did? Was she okay?”

He nods, grinning at my reaction. I can’t help thinking how much I like his smile. It's warm and genuine, and makes his grass-green eyes sparkle like emeralds. “Yeah. I told her hi for you. She said she can meet you at Elysian Park after school if you want to talk.”

“Awesome, Kyle! Thank you so much!” I throw my arms around his neck without thinking.

 After only a slight hesitation, he hugs me back. I breathe in his delicious cinnamon scent, then let go reluctantly and back away. “Oh, I almost forgot. I have your sweater in my—”

Before I can finish, Duke charges in like a bull and slams Kyle into the lockers. “What do you think you’re doing, geek?” he roars. “You keep your floury hands off my girl, doughboy. She’s mine.”

Kyle pushes back, pressing his hands against Duke’s broad chest. “Get off me, Duke.”

But Duke isn't finished. He jams his forearm against Kyle’s neck, suffocating him.

Kyle’s fingers clutch at Duke’s arm as he struggles to break free.

I shove at him. “Duke! Let go!” my shouts echo in the hallway, but even with all my strength, I can’t move him.

 “Back off, Sia. I’ll take care of this twerp,” Duke snarls. “He needs to learn a lesson. Nobody touches my girl!”

“That’s right!” Stacy chimes in from behind them. “Sia belongs to Duke!”

I belong to Duke? The nerve of these people!

The two girls press against each as they watch the action. Amber is smiling like a satisfied cat, obviously relishing the moment.

I'm so busy trying to rip Duke’s arm off Kyle's throat that I don't hear Mr. Barrow coming up from behind us. “Duke, would you mind letting go of Kyle? We don’t condone murder in our hallways.”

Finally, Duke drops his arm. But his furious stare remains glued to Kyle’s face.

Kyle stares back, his eyes dark with hate and humiliation. He doesn't bother swiping back the thick brown bangs that have fallen over his forehead during the struggle. “You have nothing to worry about, Duke,” he chokes out. “I’d never go out with a girl like Sia anyway. She’s your type. Not mine.” With that, he walks away, rubbing his throat.

I watch his back as he is swallowed up by the crowds in the hall. The sea of backpacks and t-shirts blur as my eyes fill with tears. It shouldn’t hurt so much. I barely know him. And yet it does hurt. A lot. Like a fist squeezing my heart.

About the Author


Josh currently works as a medical driver, shuttling people all over Virginia and North Carolina. He has also worked as a machinist, film sales rep, administrative assistant, and telemarketer (he apologizes if he called you).


Sia is his debut YA novel.

Find Josh here: 

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook 

***GIVEAWAY***

5 print copies of SIA (US only)

5 ebooks copies of SIA (INT)

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Blog Tour Hosted by: YA Bound Book Tours