Giving Up the V by Serena Robar

     

    I felt like a teenager when I checked this book out of the library. I was actually looking for a certain book but this one kept catching my eye so I decided to get it. I started to read it in the library and made sure the cover was blocked by something. Not only was I feeling like a teenager I was acting like one too. The opening scene is a 16 year old girl at the OBGYN doctor. I was embarrassed for her. After the doctors her mother was talking to her about sex and losing your virginity. I was reading  this part in the library and I'm sure my face was beat red. I'm 25 and the thought of having a conversation about sex with my mother makes me want to die of embarrassment. Yup I'm that kind of person.

    Overall this book was really good. It completely summed up the emotions of a high school girl. A lot of changes happen in high school and it can be a very confusing time. I would recommend this book to any girl 13 and up. I think it could help answer some questions. I know that you are thinking and yes this book is a work of fiction but some of the issues in the book relate very well to young girls. And of course the ending was my favorite. I closed the book with a big grin on my face.



 

 

Thanks for being here,

Curious Reader xo

 

 

 

**If you noticed/read two previous posts about Christmas they were suppose to be for another blog. They have since been deleted on this one. If you would like to read my Christmas blogs you can at http://misslcstew.blogspot.com/. 

Yes Please by Amy Poehler

    At first I was a bit confused by the book because it was not as funny as I had assumed it would be. However instead it was a  book with a life story and a sprinkle of humor. It showed a whole other side of Amy Poehler. We all know she's hilarious, beautiful, and smart but now we know why she is that way. I love how she is yearning to learn more and interested in the world. She loves her sons with everything she is. She is a true person with a gentle heart. I have always loved and enjoyed Amy Poehler's work but now I feel like its in a deeper way. I wish I could be her best friend even is she is bossy and could possibly send a text message about me to me. Keep being you Amy.

  

The back of the book was pretty funny. It's hard to read in the picture so I guess you will have to buy it for yourself to read it!

 

 

     I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who knows Amy Poehler. It's her life story and it has some great advice in it. From what I can gather from Amy's work and speeches is that she cares for the world, is someone relatable, and down to Earth. Like Poehler I enjoy hearing people's life stories and finding out their backstory. I think that really helps you get to know why they are the way they are plus you see what they have overcome. Great book!



 

Thanks for being here,

Curious Reader xo

 



Drinking and Tweeting by Brandi Glanville with Leslie Bruce

    In honor of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills return I decided to read Drinking and Tweeting by Brandi Glanville. Yes I watch the Real Housewives shows on Bravo, it's totally a guilty pleasure of mine. Brandi is one of my favorites on the show because she says whatever the hell she wants to. She doesn't have a filter and she's admitted it on more than one occasion but I enjoy that realness in a world that is fake. I've wanted to read this book for a while since I like Brandi but never did.

 



   I thought the book was okay. I knew it had a lot about her divorce but the whole book was about it. I have seen people divorce due to cheating and it is never easy especially with kids involved but she whined too much. I am the type of person who gets over crap the next day while most people don't so I don't understand the whole dwelling on the past which is probably why I couldn't really relate so much.

    The book though had lots of laughs like where she talked about getting vaginal rejuvenation surgery. Yes you read that right, crazy huh? That was such a great chapter and definitely a way to renew yourself after a horrible break up. Brandi was completely honest about everything including her DUI. There was just one chapter that rubbed me the wrong way. She came across like she was just using her fans to make money which I know is what happens with that sort of thing but it came off so rude. It almost made me regret buying the book. I want to support her by buying her book but she just made me feel used, it was weird. Have you read this book and know what I'm talking about?

 

Thanks for being here,

Curious Reader xo

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul by Jeff Kinney

    The Heffley's are at it again and this time they are taking it out on the road. Greg Heffley was looking forward to a relaxing summer but when his mom decides that the family needs a road trip full of wholesome fun he knows it's going to go down hill. Trouble find it's way into the trip through a bad bathroom stop, crazy seagulls, a pig, and a fender bender. This is one adventure that the Heffley's will remember forever.

 

 



    I am probably way too old to be reading these books but they are so funny! I think I mentioned before that my grandmother read a bit of one to see what I was reading and she just cracked up. The problem I have with reading these is that since I'm old it doesn't take me very long to read it at all. I don't want the story to end!
    The movies are great too but I guess they can't really make any more since the actor is too grown up to play a middle school boy. It's a shame because they were hilarious but it's life. These books are obviously super easy to read and would be a great Christmas gift for a young one in your family. I can't wait for the next book!

 

Thanks for being here,

Curious Reader xo

Love is a Many Trousered Thing by Louise Rennison

    Love is a Many Trousered Thing by Lousie Rennison is book number eight in the Confessions of Georgia Nicolson series. It was about how Georgia now has two potential boyfriends and she can't figure out which one she wants and who she wants to let go. Plus there is an additional boy who Georgia can't seem to stop snogging and get out of her head. What is a girl to do?! If she doesn't figure it out soon she could end up all alone.

 

    These books are a bit childish in the way that the characters talk and act but I've already read most of the series so I want to just read the last couple books left. I believe I only have two more books left. I'm not sure why but this book I literally could not stop reading. I had it near by at dinner and I wanted to pick it up and finish it but that would have been rude since it was a family dinner.

   Georgia does seem to be growing up a bit more but she still ends up in trouble some how. This time it was with love. She has two contenders for her heart. Well actually one and a maybe, she was still trying to see how Robbie felt about her. It was entertaining to see her go mad over boys and then when she thought she had it all figured out, she was wrong.  This was definitely in the top of my favorites for this series.

 

Thanks for being here,

Curious Reader xo



They All Fall Down by Roxanne St. Clair

    They All Fall Down by Roxanne St. Clair is a recent young adult suspense novel. It's been advertised as a combination of Pretty Little Liars and Final Destination which is completely on point. The inside cover reads:
    "Every year, the lives of ten girls at Vienna High are transformed. All because of the list. Kenzie Summerall can't imagine how she's been voted onto a list of the hottest girls in school, but when she lands at number five, her average life becomes amazing. Doors to the best parties open, new friends surround her, the cutest jock in school is after her.
   This is the power of the list. If you're on it, your life changes. If you're on it this year? Your life ends. The girls on the list have started to die, one by one. Is it a coincidence? A curse? Or is the list in the hands of a killer?
    Time is running out for Kenzie, but she's determined to uncover the deadly secret of the list... before her number's up."

   

    This book was incredible! I had goose bumps while reading this book which I love when reading a suspenseful novel. To me what makes a great mystery book is one where it's more complicated than a who did it scenario. It has to be a creative story line to keep my interest and this book did just that. Something that was interesting and creative was that there was a bit of Latin in the story. I took Latin in high school and now I wished I paid a little more attention.

    I would definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for a great suspense book. This is the only book I have read of Roxanne St. Clair but apparently she has written several other books for adults and young adults. I will for sure check out more from her.

 

 

 

Thanks for being here,

Curious Reader xo

Seven Up by Janet Evanovich

   The back of the book reads:
 
    "All New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum has to do is bring in semi-retired bail jumper Eddie DeChooch. For an old man he's still got a knack for slipping out of sight- and raising hell. How else can Stephanie explain the bullet-riddled corpse in Eddie's garden? Who else would have a clue as to why two of Stephanie's friends suddenly vanished? For answers Stephanie has the devil to pay: her mentor, Ranger. The deal? He'll give Stephanie all the help she needs-if she gives him everything he wants...
    As if things weren't complicated enough, Stephanie's just discovered her Grandma Mazur's own unmentionable alliance with Eddie. Add a series of unnerving break-ins, not to mention the bombshell revelation leveled by Stephanie's estranged sister, and Stephanie's ready for some good news. Unfortunately, a marriage proposal from Joe Morelli, the love of her life isn't quite cutting it. And now-murder, a randy paramour, a wily mobster, death threats, extortion, and a triple kidnapping aside-Stephanie's really got the urge to run for her life..."



     I should just go ahead and join the Janet Evanovich fan club because I feel like a lot of my post are her books but they are just so good. It's amazing how much trouble one bounty hunter can get into. I love how Ranger and Morelli tease the crap out of Stephanie and always leave her wanting more. Both those guys seem so dreamy. No wonder Stephanie can't pick one over the other. In Seven Up things do not calm down for her. In fact she has that deal she made with Ranger. Will she give him what he really wants? I won't tell you if she does or doesn't, you have to read it for yourself.

   Grandma Mazur is a complete mess in this book. She is one of the funniest characters in this series. If you think Stephanie gets into trouble then you don't much about Grandma Mazur. This book is one of the best in the series. Evanovich is very talented for being able to keep this series going for so long and it not get boring or repeat the same story.

Thanks for being here,

Curious Reader xo

Elixir by Hilary Duff

    The following is what is written in the inside cover of Elixir by Hilary Duff:

    "Seventeen-year-old Clea Raymond has felt the glare of the spotlight her entire life. The daughter of a renowned surgeon and a prominent politician, she has become a talented photojournalist who takes refuge in a world that allows her to travel to many exotic places. But after Clea's father disappears while on a humanitarian mission, Clea begins to notice eerie. shadowy images in her photos of a strange and beautiful young man- a man she has never seen before.

    When fate brings Clea and this man together, she is stunned by the immediate and powerful connection she feels with him. As they grow closer, they are drawn deep into the mystery behind her father's disappearance, and they discover the centuries-old truth behind their intense bond. Torn by a dangerous love triangle and haunted by a powerful secret that hold their fates, together they race against time to unravel their pasts in order to save their lives- and their futures."


    I must have been living under a rock when this book came out in 2010. I had no idea Hilary Duff had wrote a book let alone a whole series. When I first picked up the book to read the cover I read the first sentence and was thought to myself it was typical of an actor to write a book about someone in the spotlight. But I was proved wrong once I kept reading. I thought the book would be more about someone super famous and their life or something along that line but this book was not that, at all. I loved this book and was so surprised by Hilary's writing. The story was really original and again, not something I was expecting from her. It was extremely creative and kept me staying up way past bedtime to read more. It was very hard to put it down. I felt like I was there in the story with Clea and her mystery man feeling what they were. Amazing book that you should definitely pick up! If you've read it already well maybe it's time to reread it! I'm glad there is a second book because after the first one I had so many unanswered questions.

 

Thanks for being here,

Curious Reader xo



Accidentally Engaged by Mary Carter

      Accidentally Engaged is about a psychic named Clair who does a  reading for a woman named Rachel. Rachel came with her future sister-in-law Susan. Susan pulled Clair to the side before the reading and told her to give Rachel a good reading and she would give her $200. Apparently Rachel was having a case of cold feet and wanted to call off the wedding to Jack, Susan's brother. While Susan was outside the tent Rachel told Clair to lie and give her a bad reading and say it loud enough so Susan would hear it so she could get out of the wedding. If Clair did not give this bad reading Rachel said she would kill herself at the alter. After Clair followed Rachel's instruction she noticed something shiny on the table after everyone had left. It was Rachel engagement ring with instructions to bring it back to Jack and his address. Clair finds Jack and believes he is the love of her life. Once Clair arrives at the Heron residence to return the ring things go completely off plan. Things will never be the same for anyone involved.

    Part of me didn't like the book and part of me loved it. I felt like it was sort of all over the place. After reading a bunch last night I only had about 60 pages left to read today. Before I did finish it today I was going to say I didn't like this book but the last 60 pages have changed my mind. I really liked the ending. It had some twists to it although some of them I had already figured out. I think Clair was an interesting character who is a tad crazy/childish but she seemed to grow up a bit by the end. Overall it was a good book and I enjoyed reading it. The end is definitely better than the beginning. I would love to read more of the ending to find out what happens next.

 

 

Thanks for being here,

Curious Reader xo



Messy by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

    Messy is the sequel to Spoiled by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan. In Messy, Brooke has finally got her famous father's attention so she wants to take her career to a higher level to keep his attention. She launches a blog where she plans to tell it like it is in Hollywood. She wants this blog to be a success and she knows she needs a better writer. She decides to hire Max McCormack who agrees to be her ghost writer. The blog becomes a hit almost over night however Brooke can't live up to her intellectual wit in the blog in real life and Max doesn't want to hide her genius writing anymore. Throw in some boy trouble and this book will keep you turning pages.

    This book was really good and I would recommend reading both Spoiled and Messy. I found the beginning a bit slow but by the end I didn't want the book to be over. I love how the writers are funny and how they bring the Hollywood world to life as well as the average girl. They mix the two together well in their books. Brooke usually isn't my favorite character because she's a spoiled rich girl who doesn't care about others but there was a part in the book that I did actually feel bad for her. You sort of connect with her character a little more in this book than in the first one. She also seems to grow up more and understand the world doesn't evolve around her. Again it's a great book and would totally recommend Spoiled and Messy to anyone.

 

They also have such creative covers, love them!

 

 

 

Thanks for being here,

Curious Reader xo

 

The One and Only by Emily Giffin

    You guys I was so excited for this book to come out and then it took me forever to actually pick it up and read it. I but aside to read on a vacation trip I had coming soon but the book was a little too big for my already oversized bag. Then I finally picked it up and started reading and could not get past the first chapter. Let me explain that a little more for you. The book opens on the viewing a character. The character died from cancer and at the time of me reading this book I just found out that my aunt had cancer and needed some surgery to hopefully remove it. I just couldn't get through it so I had to wait a while (after my aunts surgery which did successfully remove her cancer) till I was ok with everything but the book was definitely worth the wait.

    I love Emily Giffin's writing style. She always writes with such great detail that it's easy to picture the setting and it feels like you are there with the characters. The book is about Shea Rigsby who has always lived and breathed Walker, Texas. Her little hometown of Walker is a live and die college football town. Shea grew up with her best friend Lucy who's dad (Coach Carr) is the head coach of the football program. Shea decided to leave her safety net and venture out of Walker only to find Walker isn't exactly how she always thought it was. Shea is forced to confront her fears, secrets, and desires.

    College football was a big element in this book and it made me want to be a die hard college football fan. I enjoy watching football but I don't follow college teams. The way the book made me feel reminded me of the movie Fever Pitch with Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore in that it made you want to be a better sports fan. That you wanted to join the thousands of screaming fan cheering on their team. I love sports so maybe that's why I enjoy those types of movies and books that make you feel a part of something special and bigger than you.

 

 

Thanks for being here,

Curious Reader xo



Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling

    I love this book so much! I think Mindy Kaling is absolutely hilarious and one of my favorite comedic actors/writers. This book is a must read for sure! I loved her from The Office, she played Kelly perfectly and it's great to know she is not similar to that character because Kelly had issues. I reread (I read it when it first came out in 2011) this book in honor of The Mindy Project coming back on tonight! Don't forget to watch!

   This is the overview of the book according to Barnes and Noble's website:

"Mindy Kaling has lived many lives: the obedient child of immigrant professionals, a timid chubster afraid of her own bike, a Ben Affleck–impersonating Off-Broadway performer and playwright, and, finally, a comedy writer and actress prone to starting fights with her friends and coworkers with the sentence “Can I just say one last thing about this, and then I swear I’ll shut up about it?”

Perhaps you want to know what Mindy thinks makes a great best friend (someone who will fill your prescription in the middle of the night), or what makes a great guy (one who is aware of all elderly people in any room at any time and acts accordingly), or what is the perfect amount of fame (so famous you can never get convicted of murder in a court of law), or how to maintain a trim figure (you will not find that information in these pages). If so, you’ve come to the right book, mostly!"

 

 

    Here are some quotes from the book. If these don't make you want to read it then you must not be human, jk. I can't give you page numbers because I read this on my Kindle.

 

 

• "However, you should know I disagree with a lot of traditional advice. For instance, they say the best revenge is living well. I say it's acid in the face- who will love them now?"

 

• "There has ceased to be a difference between my awake clothes and my asleep clothes."

 

• "Why isn't this more like Tina Fey's book? I know, man. Tina's awesome. I think she may have every major international trophy for excellence except a Heisman. (She might actually have an honorary Heisman, I should check.) Unfortunately, I can't be Tina, because it's very difficult to lure her into a Freaky Friday- type situation where we could switch bodies, even though in the movies they make it look so easy. Believe me, I've tried."

 

Thank you for being here,

Curious Reader xo

 



The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

    I'm pretty sure everyone knows either the movie or the book The Princess Diaries. The book is about a girl named Mia Thermopolis who lives in NYC with her artist mother. She's just starting freshman year with her best friend Lilly Moscovitz. Her father who lives in Genovia comes to visit and share big news with Mia which is that he is actually the Prince of Genovia which means Mia is the princess of Genovia. This news obviously changes her life so she has to learn to be a princess while also going through the normal high school drama.

    I really enjoyed the book but I am so glad I saw the movie first because the movie was so much better. At times Mia in the book just seemed to complain a bit too much but in the movie she didn't annoy me at all. Another thing is the grandmother was nicer in the movie than in the book. I liked the nicer grandmother over the meaner one. Julie Andrews played the grandmother amazingly in the movie! She was perfect, charming, graceful, and sweet. Sweet grandmothers are obviously better than rude old ladies. Of course the movie wouldn't have happened without the book. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the book and it was a bit different then the movie.

 

 



As you can tell this book is very old. It's from when the book first came out. I found it in a box of my sister's old books which I think got damaged in a flood.  When I get home from this trip I'm on, I will certainly be grabbing the next book in the series to read. Now excuse me while I go watch the movie.

 

 



   Thanks for being here,

Curious Reader xo

Smashed by Koren Zailckas

    The back of Smashed by Koren Zailckas reads:

   "The summer Koren Zailckas turns fourteen she is standing in the kitchen of her best friend Natalie's house, dripping wet after a swim in the lake. With a sly grin. Natalie emerges from a cupboard holding a bottle of Southern Comfort. With one stiff sip, Zailckas is initiated into the world of drinking. From then on, she will drink faithfully, frantically. In high school, her experimentation will lead to a stomach pumping at age sixteen. In college, her excess will give way to a pattern of self-poisoning that will grown more destructive with each year. At age twenty-two, Zailckas will wake up in an unfamiliar apartment in New York City, elbow her friend who is passed out next to her, and ask, "Where are we?" Smashed is a sober look at how she got there and, after years of blackouts and smashups, what it took for her to realize she had to stop drinking.
    An instant bestseller and a crucial book for any young woman growing up under the allure of booze, or for anyone who is concerned about someone locked in a pattern of dangerous drinking, Smashed  is eye-opening, wise, utterly gripping, and destined to become a classic." 

    This book was very interesting to me because I have never experienced alcohol like Koren. She was an abuser of alcohol where as I really don't care for it too much. I've had some drunken nights where I made stupid decisions but never in high school, college, or after have I drank like Koren ever did. I never really had a big interest in alcohol because both grandfathers were alcoholics and my sister had some problems with alcohol in college and honestly it scared me. Koren's story is definitely one that should be read by young adults of the dangers of alcohol. It's one thing to read or watch an ad about underage drinking but to read about someone's personal experience can be eye opening. Reading the book I was scared for thing that were going to happen to her in the state that she was in. I'm surprised honestly that she didn't get into more trouble then she did. Alcohol has become a joke and a social staple but it can be a big demon if not careful. I feel for Koren and what she has gone through in life and hope people really understand her story so they can have a different story than hers.

    This book has been out for a couple of years. It came out in 2005 when I was in high school which is when I bought this book. In high school, I started to read it but didn't even make it past the first chapter because I couldn't relate to her story. It didn't make sense to me since I wasn't having the same hunger for alcohol. Now as an adult I understand her story more. Have you read this book? Did you have similar experiences as Koren or were yours more low key like mine?

Thanks for being here,

Curious Reader xo



Blonde Ops by Charlotte Bennardo and Natalie Zaman

    This book had a lot of twists to it and I don't want to give anything away so I'm just going to copy the inside cover that describes the book perfectly...

 

    "The rules don't mean much to sixteen-year-old Bec Jackson. After being expelled from yet another boarding school, Bec is shipped off to Rome to intern for Parker Phillips, the editor in chief of one of the world's top fashion magazines. But when a mysterious accident lands Parker in a coma, former supermodel and notorious drama queen Candance Worthington takes the reins of the magazine. The First Lady is in Rome for a cover shoot, and all hands are on deck to make sure her visit goes smoothly.

    Bec quickly realizes that Parker's "accident" may not have been quite so accidental, and when the First Lady's life is threatened, too, Bec is determined to uncover the truth. On top of that, Bec must contend with catty models; her new boss, Candace, who is just as difficult as the tabloids say she is; and two guys- a hunky Italian bike messenger with a thousand-watt smile and a fashion blogger with a razor-sharp wit- who are both vying for her heart.

    Can Bec catch the person who is after the First Lady, solve the mystery of Parker's accident, and juggle two cute boys at the same time? Blonde Ops is a fun, action-packed romp through the hallways of a fashion magazine and the cobblestone streets of Rome."

 

 

    This book was honestly better than I expected it to be. I chose this book to read on a long flight because I thought it would be entertaining enough to capture my attention the whole flight and it did just that and more. The lady in the seat next to me was trying to make conversation and I just wanted to keep reading. I couldn't wait to turn the page to see what else would happen and what Bec would discover next. Some of it was predictable and other parts not so much. I wish there was a squeal, I would run out and buy it right now. There is one thing that bothered me during the book and that was Bec's style. It bothered me because I was trying to picture her in my head and part of the story she seemed like a rough edge rocker girl and the next she was a girly girl who loved dresses and heels. Maybe I missed something in it.

 

    Another thing that I thought was off was her hacking skills. It seemed like she was a pretty legit hacker in the beginning but they didn't really expand on it that much in the book. I would think they would have made her do more hacking then she did in the book. Even with those minor issues I apparently didn't get, I really liked this book. I think it's a great read if you are looking for a young adult book with some mystery.

 

 

 

Thanks for being here,

Curious Reader xo



You'll Never Nanny in This Town Again by Suzanne Hansen

    You'll Never Nanny in This Town Again by Suzanne Hansen is a book about Suzanne's nanny adventures in Hollywood. Suzanne nanny for some big Hollywood celebrities. She writes about the behind the scene in Hollywood. She talks about what life is really like for some big actors. It may look like they drive their own child to school and play at the park but most likely there is a whole fleet of staff doing the majority of work.

 

    I think most people know that a lot of hands on moms in Hollywood probably aren't all that hands on as say a normal mom. Celebrities have a nanny, chefs, housekeepers, gardeners, and assistants. I enjoyed that Suzanne shared a behind the scene look into the Hollywood lifestyle. In the end of the book she is a nanny for an actor in a show I used to love. Well I still love it but it's not on air anymore, anyways, she talked about being on set and what the cast did. It was cool to learn more about a show I grew up watching.

 

    Besides the inside look behind closed doors of Hollywood big shots I thought the book was just ok. If you are writing a book about a job you weren't appreciated for then obviously the author is going to complain. One family that she was a nanny for did not treat her like part of the family and she was extremely upset about it. I can understand why she would feel that way since she is the main caregiver for the children but at the same time I understand the family's side as well. She is a staff member, someone they are paying to take care of their child not to be part of the family. I understand both sides but sometime I just wanted to tell young Suzanne that things could be far worse for her.

 

Thanks for being here,

Curious Reader xo

Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns by Lauren Weisberger

    Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns by Lauren Weisberger is the sequel to The Devil Wears Prada. The story takes place ten years after Andy Sachs left Paris and Runway. Andy has joined together with Emily Charlton to start The Plunge,  a high-end bridal magazine. Andy also has a different love interest named Max who is her fiancé. Just when Andy thought her life was moving forward from her awful Miranda Priestly days, the past comes back in an unexpected way.

 

    I thought the beginning of the book was a little slow for me. I didn't start getting really in to it till the middle. It took me a long time to read this book because of that. If I remember correctly it was the same way for The Devil Wears Prada for me. Even with all that I really enjoyed this book! I wanted to stay up all night to finish it but my eyes closed on me before I could so I finished it this morning and I'll be honest and say that I did get very teary at the end. I'm flying to visit my sister in a couple of days and will definitely pack this so she can read it next.

 

    If this book does become a movie I am very interested to see how Anne Hathaway would be as Andy in this stage of Andy's life. I can't see Anne Hathaway playing that character. But the book isn't about Anne Hathaway it's about Andrea Sachs. 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for being here,

Curious Reader xo



Brunette Ambition By Lea Michele

    I have no idea why it has taken me so long to finally write this since I finished the book weeks ago. Brunette Ambition by Lea Michele is about Lea's biography, cooking tips, make up tips, workouts, etc. It's a little bit of everything all in one. I like to read books that celebrities write because I like to hear their side of the story since you never really know what in the press is true. I enjoy learning about their past or perhaps a behind the scene look at my favorite shows but sometimes I hate them too. I know I'm very confusing. The reason why I sometimes hate them is because at some point in the book it just sounds like the celebrity author is showing off sort of. I can't think of the word right now, stupid brain! It just seems like they are rubbing in how famous they are, how wonderful their life is, how spoiled they are. Occasionally its like they are saying look at all I have and you don't. Maybe it's just me and you are thinking I am just a very jealous person but I swear I'm not. I enjoy my life and wouldn't trade it for anything... I have a feeling I am going to get very misunderstood in this post...

    Anyways I loved Lea's book! I thought it was well written as if she was just having a conversation with you. The fact that she was from NJ and became such a success at a very young age is just incredible (the NJ thing is because I'm from NJ, yay Jersey!). She included great stories even some embarrassing ones which means she isn't afraid to be herself. Her recipes she included look delicious and I can't wait to try one! I would recommend her book to anyone. My favorite part of the book is where she talks about pampering yourself and even though you are super tired and just want to go to bed after a long day to stay up a little longer and do a face mask. It will make you feel so much better in the morning. After reading that chapter I started to pamper myself a little more like taking a long bath while reading through the stack of magazines I have and drink a glass of wine. I felt like a million dollars the rest of the day and even the next couple of days. I can't wait to do that again and just relax. Read her book and pamper yourself! Go ahead get her book and read it in a bubble bath!

 

 

Thanks for being here,

Curious Reader xo



Spoiled by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

    I got Spoiled by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan for Christmas and it's just been sitting on my shelf screaming read me, read me! I finally gave in and I loved it! These types of books (where a main character is a brat/bitch) can go either way. The character can be so obnoxious that you hate the book and everyone in it or the character can make the book amazing because you can't believe or wait for what they are going to do next. In this case it was amazing! I thought this book was a pretty fast read, I didn't want to put it down, and it is the perfect kind of book I love. I would certainly recommend it for anyone looking for a new book. I thought this book was newer but apparently it is not. I can't wait to read the squeal Messy.

    The book is about a 16 year old girl named Molly who's mom dies and tells her on her deathbed that her father is Brick Berlin who is famous actor. After her mom dies Molly flies out to meet/live with the dad she never knew about. The catch is that Brick has another daughter named Brooke who is not so welcoming of a new sister. Brooke doesn't want to share any part of her Dad or her life with this random girl she doesn't know and never knew about. Molly has to adjust to a whole new family plus life in Los Angeles. Can a simple girl from Indiana handle life in LA?

 

 

 

Thanks for being here,

Curious Reader xo

 

 

 

Ps- Anyone else really excited for Emily Giffin's new book coming out May 20th called The One and Only??



Uganda Be Kidding Me by Chelsea Handler

    Happy Easter to those celebrating today! I just finished Uganda Be Kidding Me by Chelsea Handler and I loved this book! I have read just about all of her books, I believe, but this one is my favorite. She is hilarious and a really great writer. Plus whoever titled the book deserves a bonus for it because it's clever and perfect for the book. Most of her books she is talking about some pretty sexual things but this one seemed a little more low key. I remember one time I was reading her book on my Kindle on a plane ride home with my dad. The page I was reading was talking about her giving her first blow job and of course that would be the time that my dad looks over and asks what I'm reading. I tried to get out the book as fast as I could to avoid awkwardness but then it was just on the home screen and I just tried to play it off like I was looking for something. Close call for sure but either way it was an awkward moment.

    This book talked about her trip to Africa to go on a safari as well as other trips and some incidents at home. She kept me interested the whole time and it even included some pretty great photos. I wish I could take a vacation with her it would be an awesome and probably alcohol filled time. I watched her on the Ellen DeGeneres Show the other day when she was talking about her book and life, she was just so blunt I love it. She is most certainly not afraid to say the first thing she thinks of. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an entertaining read. It's a good one.

 

 

Thanks for being here,

Curious Reader xo



Citizen Girl by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

    I was at Barnes and Noble trying to find a good book to read and I picked up a couple options but ended up going with Citizen Girl by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus. The back of the book doesn't really say what it's about but I loved The Nanny Diaries which is by the same authors so when I got home I went online and looked at the reviews which were terrible. People said it was "trashy" "confusing" and "terrible." Reading the reviews made me want to read it more because I wanted to know what people were talking about. I have to say I do agree with a bunch of the negative comments. I didn't love this book but I also didn't hate it. The idea of the story they were trying to tell was perfect and really relatable being a recent college graduate just joining the workforce. However maybe the way they did it wasn't quite right. Another thing is the book was a bit dirty and awkward. I would probably not recommend this book but I do like the idea behind the book.

   The main idea of the book is about a girl named Girl who is a college graduate who is trying to find her place in the workforce where she doesn't have to do things against her morals but also make money in order to have food, pay student loans and have a home. Plus throw in some relationship problems and that describes more than half the 24 year olds I know.

 

 

 

Thanks for being here,

Curious Reader xo



The Daughters Break the Rules by Joanna Philbin

    This is the second book in The Daughters series by Joanna Philbin. The first book was more about Lizzie Summers but the second one was concentrated on Carina Jurgensen and her story. Carina anonymously leaks to the press that her Dad is stealing money and her Dad find out it was her and therefore punishes her partly by cutting her off. She no longer has access to credit cards or anything but a very small allowance. Carina wants money so she lies to get the job of party planner for the big Silver Snowflake Ball at her school but things get complicated when the party committee wants her to get favors from her Dad's list of connections. Carina has to either tell them she can't do it or find a way to get everything done for free.

    The crazy ride Carina's life takes you on is both complicated and surprised filled. When I started to read this one I wasn't such a big fan of Carina because I thought she was just a spoiled brat but since she gets cut off she has to come down to reality and has a rough time but she becomes more likeable and by the end I was rooting for her. I liked this one better than the first one and interested in what the third one will hold which will obviously be about Hudson Jones.

 

 

Thanks for being here,

Curious Reader xo



Hidden Gem by India Lee

    Hidden Gem by India Lee is a book about a high school girl who is secretly an international pop star who goes by the name Queen Bee. No one knows Queen Bee's true identity except her family and her make up artists. After Queen Bee finished her European tour she moves in with her Aunt and brother to start high school as a normal teenage girl. High school starts out great when Gemma finds herself hanging out with the popular crowd but things don't quite go as plan and Gemma wants to reveal her secret. To add stress to her situation Tyler Chase another pop star declares his love for Queen Bee even though he doesn't know her true identity.

 

    I loved this book! A friend recommended it to me a couple months ago and I finally got it on my Kindle and it was a great decision. Currently the book is free on Kindle so I recommend downloading it. It does remind me a little of Hannah Montana but better. I enjoyed the storyline and did not find it as a rip off of Hannah Montana it was different. The only main similarity between Hannah Montana and Hidden Gem series is that the main character is a teenage girl who is secretly a pop star. I don't want to send repetitive but go download it and let me know what you think!

 

 

 

Thanks for being here,

Curious Reader xo

 



Startled By His Furry Shorts by Louise Rennison

   Startled By His Furry Shorts is book number seven in Louise Rennison's series Confessions of Georgia Nicolson. I first heard about the books from my roommate in college. We were at her house and there was this movie on TV called Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging that she insisted we watched because she read the book and thought it was good. I, of course, could not move past the title and kept asking her what kind of weird movie is this. In the end she was right, the book and movie were both really good. A couple years later I saw the movie on TV again and decided to read the books and they are so funny. I warn you that for some people they can be a bit much because the main character Georgia Nicolson is 15 so she talks like a teenager and she's a bit weird so she does very odd things but overall I really enjoy reading the books. I also feel like I must add that her family is absolutely mad and she lives in the UK so when I read these books I always read them with an English accent... maybe I'm the weird one....

    It's sort of a long series there are ten books that I know of but they are such an easy read you can get through it pretty fast and the cliff hanger at the end has you reaching for the next book. In this book Georgia tells the new guy in her life that he has to choose to be her girlfriend or not. He says he needs to think about it and will get back to her. Meanwhile her feelings for an old friend become more confusing. Does her new guy want to be her boyfriend or will she go after an old friend? What will she do?

 

Thanks for being here,

Curious Reader xo



Hot Six by Janet Evanovich

    I feel like every time I read one of these books that it's better than the last and this one is no exception. Highly entertaining and the mystery of who did it keeps you wanting more. Not to mention the steamy parts between Stephanie and Joe or in some cases Stephanie and Ranger.

    In Hot Six by Janet Evanovich, Stephanie Plum is looking for her next FTA but to her surprise the one that she needs to look for is Ranger who was arrested after leaving a building where someone murdered a guy then set the building on fire. With Ranger being the only suspect Stephanie is trying to clear his name but of course not without getting herself in a bit of trouble... well actually a lot of trouble. Let's hope she's tough enough to get out of this mess!

 

 

 

 

Thanks for being here,

Curious Reader xo

The Boy Next Door by Meggin Cabot

    First off I just can't believe that I haven't posted anything since January and it's now March. I fall behind all the time I really need to work on that but even though I haven't been blogging doesn't mean I haven't been reading. Over the next couple of days I am going to write a blog post for all the books I have read but never blogged about. So let's get started with book number one...

    The Boy Next Door by Meggin Cabot was a good story line but the way it was written was a bit annoying. The whole book is a series of emails which part of it is cool because you got to see every characters point of view but also annoying because it's not just written like usual. I liked that it was a bit different but yet at times it was frustrating. I'm so on the fence about this one... I hope I am making some kind of sense if not then this is not a good start to blogging again.

    The story line of the book is that the main character, Melanie, has an old lady neighbor who she knows and is friendly with and one day Melanie finds her unconscious on the floor and she calls police. They think that it was a break in or possibly this serial killer who has been killing all around town but the neighbor isn't dead she is just unconscious so the police are unsure what happened. The neighbor has pets so Melanie takes care of them but then she get overwhelmed with them and calls the neighbor's nephew to come take care of the pets. The nephew is suppose to move in to his aunt's apartment but he doesn't want to so he calls in a favor from a college buddy who then goes to NYC and pretends to be the nephew of the old lady neighbor.... That's all I will say about that because I do not want to give anything away.

 

Thanks for being here,

Curious Reader xo



Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger

    I recently went on vacation with my family so luckily I had plenty of time on the plane to read. I started to read Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger before I left but I hadn't gotten very far. It is about three friends living in NYC who one night dare each other to do something completely different than the life they are use to living. The tagline on the back of the book says "Three best friends. Two resolutions. One year to pull it off." That's the best way to describe the book.

    For me the beginning of the book was boring and I just wasn't feeling it. I wanted to stop reading it but I can't do that because I always wonder how the book ends. Do you do that too? Anyways so since I started reading it I packed it in my purse for the trip and read it on the plane and one night in the condo and boy am I glad I did. I love this book! It was adorable and I feel like I am friends with the three main characters Leigh, Adriana, and Emmy. I was sad that the book ended because I just wanted to know what would happen next in their life. I would definitely suggest this book if you are looking for a good funny book where the main characters become more self empowered.

 

 

 

Thanks for being here,

Curious Reader xo

 

 

 

Ps- In case you were wondering and as you see in the picture Lauren Weisberger wrote the Devil Wears Prada and also Everyone Worth Knowing. I think I own Everyone Worth Knowing but not sure I've read it yet.



High Five by Janet Evanovich

    I love the Stephanie Plum series! It is such a page turner. I want to be friends with Stephanie because she is hilarious and witty also she has a hot crowd following her. I would totally love to friends or working with Joe Morelli or Ranger. Every book I read just gets better and better. In High Five Stephanie's uncle Fred goes missing and the family ask her to find him but of course it's not that easy. She ends up uncovering a crime she didn't see coming. Plus at the end of the book her hook up gets hotter. The ending was such a cliffhanger about her and hookup but doesn't say who it so. I need to run to library and get the next book so I can find out! I CAN NOT WAIT!! Seriously if you have never read any of these books pick one up. They are pretty cheap to buy I think about $7 or $8 but if you don't want to buy one then check it out of your local library I don't think you'll regret it. I am so glad this series is so long so it never has to end because I don't want it to!

 

Thanks for being here,

Curious Reader xo

 

 

 

 

PS- Have you ever heard of the Hidden Gem series or read any of it? A friend recommended it to me and I am curious about whether it is good or not. I believe it is a young adults series.