A bit broken but worth it in the end

Broken by C.J. Lyons

Rating: 3 out of 5 hearts
325 pages
Released: November 2013
Buy it @ book depository

WOULD YOU PUT YOUR LIFE ON THE LINE TO BE NORMAL?

Diagnosed with a rare and untreatable heart condition, Scarlet has come to terms with the fact that she’s going to die. Literally of a broken heart. It could be tomorrow, or it could be next year. But the clock is ticking…

All Scarlet asks is for a chance to attend high school—even if just for a week-a chance to be just like everyone else. But Scarlet can feel her heart beating out of control with each slammed locker and vicious taunt. Is this normal? Really? Yet there’s more going on than she knows. And finding out the truth might just kill Scarlet before her heart does…

Review

I didn't know much about this book, which is the way I like it. The less I know about it, the less I can judge. The problem with that is I don't usually give books I don't know much about a lot of time if I'm not enjoying them. I started off not liking this because I thought it seemed ridiculous that an extremely sick girl who almost died would get bullied for having her heart condition. That teachers and other students wouldn't stick up for her or even do anything for her. I don't like books about bullying so I think this another reason why I wasn't enjoying it. 

I also really despised the stepmother from the beginning, I thought she was weird and extremely uncool. As I read on though I soon realised why the author us (the readers) feel this way - very clever! I almost gave up because of all these things, there were only 7 CD's to listen to (which isn't very many in an audiobook) and I struggled through the first 4 CD's, then I read a few reviews online saying this is a thriller! I was thinking how could it be? I hadn't had any inkling that it was a thriller at all! I thought it was just a typical bullying/high school/sick girl story.

So I kept going and I'm glad I did because that was a pretty awesome ending! Initially this book was getting two stars, but it gets an extra star for the twist at the end. I'm glad I listened to this on audiobook instead of reading it because I would've been more likely to not finish as I have so many other books on my 'to read' list.

The last quarter really makes this book, and that is a shame because I'm sure there are a lot of people out there who may not give it that long. So a lot of people may miss this intriguing book. Hopefully you read my review before giving up!

On the cover

Another black cover with a striking image. Hearts are another thing I'm drawn to, I also really like the blue and red/pink color combo. 

What I'm listening to next: Reason to breathe by Rebecca Donovan

Some girls are witches with a capital 'B'

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

Rating: 3 out of 5 hearts

246 pages

Released: January 2010

Buy it @ book depository

Climbing to the top of the social ladder is hard—falling from it is even harder.  Regina Afton used to be a member of the Fearsome Fivesome, an all-girl clique both feared and revered by the students at Hallowell High... until vicious rumors about her and her best friend's boyfriend start going around.  Now Regina's been "frozen out" and her ex-best friends are out for revenge.  If Regina was guilty, it would be one thing, but the rumors are far from the terrifying truth and the bullying is getting more intense by the day.  She takes solace in the company of Michael Hayden, a misfit with a tragic past who she herself used to bully.  Friendship doesn't come easily for these onetime enemies, and as Regina works hard to make amends for her past, she realizes Michael could be more than just a friend... if threats from the Fearsome Foursome don't break them both first.

Tensions grow and the abuse worsens as the final days of senior year march toward an explosive conclusion in this dark new tale

Review

Wow! What a bunch of cruel girls. A friend recommended this book to me a while ago, so I thought I should give it a go. Well after listening for only a short amount of time I realised what kind of book this is. Most people during their time at school have faced bullying or been a bully, I know I have! Years 8 & 9 at high school were some of the worst years of my life. So this book brought back some bad memories. I don't know why I kept reading, I think it's because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. It was a little like a train wreck where you can't look away. I also think it's because I wanted to see if the girls would realise what they've done and feel some sort of remorse for it. Unfortunately that never happened.

Listening to this it felt very much like the movie "Mean Girls" but 10 times worse mean pranks and no humor at all! The story is about a popular group of girls and one girl from the group is ostracized by the rest because of a rumor that was spread, even though we know the truth and it is horrible. Through the whole book the popular group are making the main character, Regina's life a living hell. Regina does get a bit back though, but after all of this I don't know if the girls really learnt a lesson in realising to take responsibility for there actions.

It's very hard to rate a book that you didn't particularly like the characters or like the story but I guess that's the whole point to this story to make you dislike the characters etc, so actually the author has done her job well. Because of this reason and also it was written so well, I decided to give it 3 stars because it deserves it but not 4 in my eyes. Even saying that I will definitely pick up and read any other books I find by Courtney Summers because I think she has a fantastic way of writing about something that feels so real and everyone can relate to.

On the cover

I wouldn't pick up this book based on this cover, I like the bright red locker but it's not that exciting in my opinion. But after reading this though if I see any book written by Courtney Summers I will definitely pick it up.

What I'm listening to next: On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta