The Program by Suzanne Young

Hardcover, 408 pages

Published April 30th 2013 by Simon Pulse

Summary:

In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.
Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.
Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

Review:

Wow. This book was indescribable. It was the best book I've read this month! I love it so much. 

The main character is Sloane. She is amazing. I love the relationship she has with James. Sloane and James are literally perfect together. James does everything he can to protect them from getting themselves into The Program, but one day everything crashes down and it all becomes too much to handle. 

The story is about Sloane and how she is put into The Program. We get to see an inside look at how The Program works. The main fact in this book is something that could happen one day. The government has decided that depression is a disease. If a teen shows any sign, even if it's tiny, they are immediately shipped to The Program where they'll get cured. Basically, it's this hospital that wipes your mind out of almost all your memories and you come out not remembering anything. Even your best friends. 

The Program was amazing. I cried while reading this. Literally, tears were falling out of my eyes when I read a very very sad part in the book. The author is a very good writer and I couldn't put down the book until I finished it. I had to know what happened! When I got to the last chapter, I swear I would've fallen off my chair if I was sitting in one. 

This book is definitely going in my favorites. I cannot wait until the sequel. This is a MUST READ. 5 Stars!

The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher

Hardcover, 240 pages

Published January 1st 2011 by Sourcebooks Fire

Summary:

Welcome to a future where water is more precious than gold or oil—and worth killing for 
Vera and her brother, Will, live in the shadow of the Great Panic, in a country that has collapsed from environmental catastrophe. Water is hoarded by governments, rivers are dammed, and clouds are sucked from the sky. But then Vera befriends Kai, who seems to have limitless access to fresh water. When Kai suddenly disappears, Vera and Will set off on a dangerous journey in search of him-pursued by pirates, a paramilitary group, and greedy corporations. Timely and eerily familiar, acclaimed author Cameron Stracher makes a stunning YA debut that's impossible to forget.

Review:

I heard about this book from a youtuber and it sounded so good when she talked about it, but to me, this isn't a very structured book.

This is a story about the distant future in which water has run out. The poor are sick and don't have anything to drink while the rich hoard the water all to themselves. A girl, Vera, meets and befriends Kai, a rich boy who has water. And then suddenly, he gets kidnapped so Vera and her brother go to try to find him. 

Vera is the main character. She's headstrong and a good friend. I really hoped that something would happen between her and Kai. I'm very interested in the idea of them. I mean, they're practically best friends now.

I feel like the storyline was very jumbled and I felt like the author was trying too hard to make it interesting that he added in all those unnecessary people. Maybe he felt like he needed more excitement, but I think it was just too much. First, they're 'kidnapped' by pirates and then they're kidnapped by this organization and then the pirates take them back. Wow. And the ending went by too quick for me. There was a lack of details plus, the author added in another character that didn't have to be there. But the one consistency in the book was the main goal. To find Kai.

This book could have been so much more. 3 Stars.

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Paperback, 293 pages

Published April 19th 2011 by Harlequin Teen

Summary:

Every girl who had taken the test has died.Now it's Kate's turn.It's always been just Kate and her mom - and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear that her mother won't live past the fall.Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld - and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.Kate is sure he's crazy - until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride and a goddess.If she fails...

Review:

I've always been a huge fan of greek mythology, specifically the Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan, so when I heard about this series I immediately wanted to read it!

The main character is Kate. She's pretty decent and a good enough heroine. I find romance and crushes in books to be really cute so I couldn't help squealing when Kate and Henry, the dude who said he was a god, kissed. Also, I hate how in the book they barely reacted to each other. They didn't really seem like they had chemistry even though Kate liked him, but she couldn't tell if he liked her back. 

This book was good enough. The summary made it seem a lot more exciting then it actually is. This book is about a girl who somehow ends up living with this dude who tell her that he's a god and he'll make her his queen if she passes 7 tests and doesn't die. Of course no normal girl would agree to that but her mother was dying and he said he would help her live a bit longer. So yeah, throughout the book, she goes through the tests and in the end something happens and jeopardizes her chances. And like most other books, she falls in love with her 'captor'. 

All in all, this book had a lot of faults, but a lot if good things made up for those. 3 Stars! 

What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

Hardcover, US First Edition, 343 pages

Published September 18th 2012 by HarperCollins

Summary:

I should not exist. But I do.
Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t . . .
For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

Review:

This was a really enticing book with a gorgeous cover that caught my eye right off the bat. I've been waiting a very long time to read this and now I can say it was what I expected but not.

The story of this book is how two girls, Eva and Addie, share a body, but have separate souls which mean two people controlling one body. It's a bit confusing when I explain it, so it's better if you read the book yourself! Eventually, one of the soul has to fade, or die, so the dominant soul controls the body without the recessive their taking up space. But there are also people that are hybrids. The souls that never faded and are still living. Society considers them a threat so there are always signs and posters asking to report hybrids to the police. Eva and Addie are hybrids so that's the main things you need to know!

Addie and Eva are the main characters, but while Addie is the dominant soul, Eva does most of the narrating. It was different but awesome! Obviously if it was Addie's point of view it would be much more boring because we wouldn't be able to see how Eva struggled being the recessive soul. So, thank you Kat Zhang! I have to say, I like Eva better than Addie. Maybe because I feel bad for her being the recessive soul, but I also like her personality better. She is a lot more...I don't know how to describe it, but she was like the opposite of Addie who was more serious and thought through with decisions. Eva was in no way care free, but she yearned for the feeling of her body and she would do what she had to to feel and that is what made me admire her.  

I did and didn't like how the romance was there but not. Does anyone ship for Eva and Ryan? Because I was the first one on board. I would have liked to see their relationship develop more and maybe a kiss or two, but I understand that it wasn't as important as the main issue in the book, which is a spoiler if I describe it the way I would. I do hope Kat Zhang decides to get them together in the next book! And anyways, I think Ryan did say something about how one of the souls could go to 'sleep' so they didn't have to witness and lovey dovey stuff that could happen, so yay for the Eva and Ryan ship!

The main problem I don't understand is why hybrids are such a threat. I don't think the author mentioned that, but I hope she clears it up in the sequel. I don't think the people of the society even know why hybrids are a threat. All they see are signs telling them to report suspicious people that may be hybrids so they do. Just because the police say they're dangerous, but they never give a real reason why. That's just one of the examples of how brainwashed their society is. 

Overall, I really did like this book and I can't wait to read the next! Props to you Kat! 4 Stars!

Kiss Me by Jillian Dodd

Kindle Edition

Published November 28th 2012 (first published November 25th 2012)

Summary:

I've always written scripts for my perfect life.But no way could I have ever scripted this.My life is so far from perfect, it’s not even funny.All because of a stalker.
I’m at a boarding school where I have to lie about who I am.I can’t see my family.I’m tutoring a Hottie God that tortures me with his smile.The most popular girl already hates me.But there’s this boy.This hot, sweet, sexy boy.So I’m going to stop trying to script my life and just live it.Because who knows how long I have left

My Review:

I really thought this was a great book! I loved the first one and can't wait to read the next!

I love Keatyn and the story line. The love triangle..well not really a triangle. Maybe a square. Kinda. It's really confusing until you read it! There's Riley, Dawson, Aiden... Wow. Haha. A bit boy crazy, but it's a relief after reading so many dystopian books. I've always loved romantic books and this really tugged at my heartstrings!

I really love her with Dawson. They need to be together forever and ever and ever. I have to admit though, Keatyn really gets into things fast. Look at her past relationships. They've all crashed and burned. And Brooklyn, I can't even think about him now. He's gone from my list. But her and Dawson are so cute and I know I probably said that about her and Cush, I still love Cush even with what he did, but her and Dawson are actually very cute together.

If you're trying to get into a romantic book, this is the one for you! Don't forget to read the first book though! 4.5 Stars.

About The Author:

Jillian Dodd grew up on a farm in Nebraska, where she developed a love for Midwestern boys 

and Nebraska football. She has drank from a keg in a cornfield, attended the University of
Nebraska, got to pass her candle, and did have a boy ask her to marry him in a bar. She met her
own prince in college, and they have two amazing children, a Maltese named Sugar Bear, and
two Labrador puppies named Camber Lacy and Cali Lucy.
She is the author of the That Boy Trilogy and The Keatyn Chronicles Series.