The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Synopsis:
Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumors in her lungs...for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even through she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumors tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

My Review:
♫♫♫♫♫- Presto!
Okay. I have no idea where to start with this. This book is a roller coaster of emotions from page 1! I was laughing, crying, smiling, frowning, everything.

The main character, Hazel, and her love interest, Augustus act older and wiser than their age. But that's expected with all that they've gone through at their age. Hazel held back on her feelings for Augustus because she didn't want to be someone who loved him, died, then left him all alone. She didn't want to cause him the pain of her leaving. But of course events are turned and Hazel gets the unexpected. Hazel is witty, intelligent, and beautiful. Augustus is extremely good-looking, funny, and forward (but of course, he has to be. You only have so much time to live).

This book left me thinking long after I finished reading it. That ending cause you to think and wonder. Everything in this book is straight-forward harsh realities. Nothing is softened by graceful dying, pretty days with horrible cancer. It shows the truth with every page written by John Green. This book was such and amazing book and has got to now be one of my favorites!

All in all. It's definitely a must read!

Touch by Jus Accardo

**This review was written before this blog was made.**

Touch by Jus Accardo

Synopsis:
When a strange boy tumbles down a river embankment and lands at her feet, seventeen-year-old adrenaline junkie Deznee Cross snatches the opportunity to piss off her father by bringing the mysterious hottie with ice blue eyes home.

Except there's something off with Kale. He wears her shoes in the shower, is overly fascinated with things like DVDs and vases, and acts like she'll turn to dust if he touches her. It's not until Dez's father shows up, wielding a gun and knowing more about Kale than he should, that Dez realizes there's more to this boy – and her father's "law firm" –than she realized.

Kale has been a prisoner of Denazen Corporation–an organization devoted to collecting "special" kids known as Sixes and using them as weapons–his entire life. And, oh yeah, his touch? It kills. The two team up with a group of rogue Sixes hellbent on taking down a Denazen before they're caught and her father discovers the biggest secret of all. A secret Dez has spent her life keeping safe.

A secret Kale will kill to protect.

My Review:
♫♫♫♫♫- Presto!

Before I Read: This book sounds like Shatter Me by Taherah Mafi but in a different point of view. In Shatter Me it was in the view point of the person with the supernatural powers. While in this one it is in the perspective of a normal person who finds a supernatural powered person. Though, the summary of Touch reminds me of Shatter Me. I hope it is just as good!

After I Read: I'll start out by saying this, I'm not a big reviewer. I review very few books. But I've already started so i have to finish. And I'm also not a very good reviewer, Iusually just rave about the stuff I liked and disliked, not really saying why. This review will contain many spoilers, do not continue if you do not want to read spoilers. Read at your own risk. Anyway's with that out, I will start my review:

This book was GREAT! It started with this amazing scene where she's about to skateboard off a roof. I really liked Dez's character. Interestingly enough, she didn't annoy me very much. I loved how she was so sarcastic. It's hard to write sarcasm, and I feel Jus Accardo did well with it.

On to Kale. OMGGGG. I'm not a sucker for blue eyes (I actually don't like people with those bright blue eyes, I believe the darker blue eyes are better looking), so that is not what lured me in. I think it was just his personality. His character made me laugh. I don't usually laugh while reading books, but reading few of the sentences and awkward moments he and Dez have, it's totally funny.

So now I've got those two out. Moving to Alex. I disliked his character. It's not like a total hate kind of dislike, just more of an annoyed dislike. He was so undecided. He kept switching from helping Dex to bailing on her. He needs to make up his mind. And plus, was it necessary for him to be on Denazen's side? I understand he wanted to get Dez back and didn't care at all for Kale, but he didn't need to start fighting the opposing side for it. He himself said he hated Denazen, and he goes and fights with them. Betrayel.

And last but not least, Sue (Dez's mom). I really liked her character from the last few chapters of the book. The only thing i didn't like was how she wasn't more thoroughly explained. I wish she had more of a part. Or at least had a chapter where Dez got to know her. I wanted to hear her side of Denazen and everything she's missed out on for the past 17 years.

And to respond to the top portion of my review, this book was a lot like "Shatter Me" by Taherah Mafi but also VERY different. The point of views were switched though. It was the secondary character learning everything rather than the main character. Although, in Shatter Me the main character already had an idea of what the outside world was like because she lived in it for a few years. While in Touch, Kale was totally oblivious to everything about the outside world. They are very similar because the person with the touch power kills and they go to a place where they can control it in the end (well technically in Touch he hasn't quite gotten to a place to control it, but it's getting there). Overall this book was very good and I recommend it to all. Along with this, anyone who liked this book should try Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi.

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Synopsis:
Set on the island of Nantucket, STARCROSSED tells the tale of Helen Hamilton, a young woman whose destiny is forever altered when she meets Lucas Delos and tries to kill him in front of her entire school. Which is terribly inconvenient, not only because Lucas is the most beautiful boy on the island, but also because Helen is so achingly shy she suffers physical pain whenever she is given too much attention. 


Making matters worse, Helen is beginning to suspect she's going crazy. Whenever she's near Lucas or any member of his family she sees the ghostly apparitions of three women and irrational hate. She soon learns that she and Lucas are destined to play the leading roles in a Greek tragedy that the Three Fates insist on repeating over and over again throughout history. Like her namesake, Helen of Troy, she's destined to start a war by falling in love. But even though Lucas and Helen can see their own star-crossed destiny, they're still powerfully attracted to each other. Will they give up their personal happiness for the greater good, or risk it all to be together? 

My Review:

♫♫♫♫♫- Presto!

This book was really good and definitely a must read! This wasn't exactly one of those books where I read it all in one sitting, but a book where I had to put it down once in a while so that I could think about what I just read and endure it all. In the next part of this review, I may be ranting and skipping around, but try and follow. 

Helen Hamilton: This girl was very timid and weak (mentally) in the beginning of this book. She knew she was different and tried to hide herself. By the end of Starcrossed, Helen became so much more confident in herself and showed her strength. On to her looks...Although she is extremely beautiful, and very mary sue-like she doesn't flaunt it or notice her beauty, and I loved that about her. Helen was always trying to be normal. She knew that she was way stronger and faster than an average person, which gave her all the more reason to try and blend in. When Lucas (and the rest of the HOT Delos family) came to the town, she didn't really care. She didn't even bother to see how good-looking they were. She could have cared less about their looks, because she had more to worry about. Her nightmares, the hate for Lucas, her odd super powers. In my opinion, Helen was one of the best Heroines I've seen. One that has her OWN opinions, an actually convincing relationship (not one that goes from Hate to *BAM* I Flipping LOVE you!), and isn't self-centered. 
Lucas Delos: MMM, this guy is so crush-worthy and lovable. His love for Helen is so genuine and expressive. Though he tries not to get to close to her for several reasons. I was really frustrated with his and Helen's relationship at some parts of the story but I got over it. I could see why Lucas was so conflicted with what to and what not to tell Helen. I reallllly hope we get to see more Lucas and Helen love.
Claire Aoki: Oh man, I really loved Claire. She was hilarious and such a great best-friend throughout the book. I just loved some of the things she said. She made me laugh out loud when I was reading this. 
"'It was when we were seven! And she wasn't hurt!' Clasire yelled back. 'Anyway. I knew about the knife thing because, well, I tried to stab you once, too.'"
Daphne Atreus: I really don't like her. She made me mad every time I read a scene with her in it! I mean all those things she did? Was that necessary? *MAJOR SPOILERS (From this point on)* Yeah, fine you didn't think Creon would kill. But, you didn't think it's a bad idea to tell Lucas and Helen they are related when that's a total lie! You didn't think leaving Jerry and Helen was a bad idea?! Daphne is such a trouble maker I just really disliked her. 
When Creon killed Pandora I was really surprised. I didn't think he would do that either. I'm sure most of you guys saw that coming, but it really did surprise me! And Daphne better tell, or Helen better find out, that Lucas and Helen are NOT related! I can't bear them not being together. They need to know! Though, there was one part in this story that really confused me. Two different time frames were mentioned for Ajax's death. In chapter 10, Pandora had said he died 21 years ago, but it chapter 18, Daphne said that Ajax "left the world 19 years ago..." I was so totally confused with this part. There are so many unanswered question that leave me excited to read Dreamless! 

In Short:
This book was so totally amazing and you must read it. The characters are so great and not at all what you expect. Such a great heart-wrenching, entertaining story that will leave you wanting more! GO and put it on you to-read list right now! 

Some Things About Me...and other stuff

Hey, it's Erica! And I'm here to leave you guys an intro post to my blog, Friction to Fiction! First, let me tell you a little about myself. I'm just an ordinary teenage girl who likes–wait, scratch that, loves–to read in my spare time. Other hobbies included are playing viola, piano, tennis, and...blogging! Below are a few answers to favorites and random facts about me.
Favorite Color: That's actually tough because I like pink, blue, and purple all equal amounts...
Favorite Animal: Cow
Favorite Food: Well, if I was picking a general food, I would say Tomatoes. But if I was picking a meal, I'd say Tacos or Lasagna.
Favorite Candy: Skittles. Yes, definitely skittles.
Fantasy vs. Sci-Fi: Yeah, this is another hard one. I love Paranormal (just not vampires), but I also love Dystopian.
First Person vs. Third Person: I'll read both. But I prefer First Person stories.

Now onto some things about my blog. If you ever wanted to contact me some how, you can click here or go to the tab that says, "Contact Me." If you want to request a book for me to review make sure you read my policy before submitting one. You can get to my Policy by clicking here or clicking the tab that says "Policy." You can also read all my reviews that I've ever posted right here or by clicking the tab that says, "Review Archive" (Reviews WILL be put up shortly).

Last but not least, just a short heads up. I might not be able to do many reviews within the next 8 months or so because I'm in school. But if I review on schedule, most reviews will be put up during Christmas time, Easter Time, and the 3 Summer months. (that's when I have breaks in school).