Review: The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider
★★★☆☆
Release Date: 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Age: YA
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Tragedy, Love, Coming of Age, High School
Format: ebook
Source: Library
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them—a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His particular tragedy waited until he was primed to lose it all: in one spectacular night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra’s knee, his athletic career, and his social life.
No longer a front-runner for Homecoming King, Ezra finds himself at the table of misfits, where he encounters new girl Cassidy Thorpe. Cassidy is unlike anyone Ezra’s ever met, achingly effortless, fiercely intelligent, and determined to bring Ezra along on her endless adventures.
But as Ezra dives into his new studies, new friendships, and new love, he learns that some people, like books, are easy to misread. And now he must consider: if one’s singular tragedy has already hit and everything after it has mattered quite a bit, what happens when more misfortune strikes?

This is a good book, with great writing, that is mysterious enough to make you want to read to the last page and it had everything I needed in a story right now, because my one year old keeps me more entertained than a lot of the books I've sat down to read. But, this one kept me hooked because I had to know how it ended!

The Beginning of Everything is a good coming of age story about a boy who loses everything he thought he was made of only to gain perspective and become more of who he really is. It's funny, yet not mindless, and filled with witty quotes and kids who talk like adults. It's a YA novel that adults can appreciate as well and I found Robyn Schneider's writing style similar to John Green's. It takes place mostly over the beginning of Ezra's (OMG I love that name, Vampire Weekend anybody?) senior year when he becomes reunited with his past and realizes things are different from the outside. The reflective nature of this book is something I always love, characters who change and grow. Cassidy brings a puzzling nature to the story as the reader and Ezra try to figure her out. She's straight forward when it comes to speaking her mind but not her heart. Toby was by far my favorite character. He's Ezra's best childhood friend and they rekindle their friendship as if they've never parted. I think we all have friends like Toby and can relate to their relationship.

I will say, and nothing to do with the writing, but after reading the story I'm just not crazy about the title or cover of this book. I love them, but not for this story. Severed Heads, Broken Hearts is the UK title and I love that so much more for this story.

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Review and Giveaway: In This Moment by Autumn Doughton

In This Moment by Autumn Doughton
★★★★☆
Release Date: August 2013
Age: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance, College, Drama, Tragedy
Format: ebook
Source: Purchased
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Every moment possesses its own kind of magic...
Aimee Spencer learned the hard way that for some moments, there are no take-backs, no rewinds, no do-overs. A year ago her world imploded and Aimee has been running ever since. She doesn't want to feel. She doesn't want to remember. To bury the ghosts that haunt her, she is living a life that has become unrecognizable.

Cole Everly is a golden boy with a cocky smile and an attitude to match. He's grown accustomed to girls throwing themselves at his feet, but when Aimee trips and literally lands in his lap one afternoon, she's not at all what he expects. Difficult, damaged, closed-off. If Cole needed to make a list of qualities to avoid in a girl, Aimee would probably match up with every single one of them. He knows that he should stay away but he's drawn to her in a way that he can't exactly explain.
In this honest and absorbing story, Aimee and Cole struggle to sort out the thin spaces between loss and love. Ultimately, they will need to learn how to navigate through the pieces of the past if they want to hold on to the future and each other.

I kept hearing about this author, Autumn Doughton, and was recommended her books a few times by trusted sources. I was browsing Amazon and In This Moment was only $.99 for Kindle so I snatched it up, read it through, and quickly became a fan of Autumn's myself.

Here's the thing about this book, it is nothing that stands out in the New Adult category. I spent the first half of the story thinking I had read it before (I hadn't) but it's so familiar and similar to the other books out there. There's the popular college jock, emotionally damaged loner girl, their friendship, their romance, rocky times, love, you know. For me, that was a good thing. I needed something to get me back into the reading mood; and Cole and Aimee's relationship pulled me in until I finished their story.

Cole Everly is all strength and charm, with a past full of girls that he doesn't care about. Aimee has had a difficult couple of years and isn't looking for romance and certainly isn't looking in the direction of Cole. She's guarded and locked away inside of herself. Full of blame and depression that's eating away at her, but meeting Cole was a great thing for Aimee. Slowly throughout the book the reader has the opportunity to watch her grow, trust, forgive and eventually love.

The mystery aspect of Aimee's past is enough to keep anyone intrigued and hooked. Autumn does a great job building up to the details of her past and the tragedy she had faced. She's a weak character, full of flaws; but those flaws and weakness make her the admirable survivor. I can't imagine the will it takes to make some of the decisions (good and bad) that she did. But I can appreciate how multidimensional she is.

This book features some tough issues, drama, and sadness. But, it's a book full of tomorrows and possibilities, it's uplifting and challenging and one to not overlook. It's not all dark clouds and sad eyes and it is very well written, lacking the cliches and unsympathetic nature that some books of this genre possess. I say read it! Especially if you enjoy New Adult romances, Cole does not disappoint ;)

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