Review: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter
Edition: Paperback
Pages: 284
Published: March 20th, 2007
Publisher: Hyperion

My review:

I originally read Ally Carter's newer series, which is Heist Society. I'm a huge fan of that, which is about Kat, a girl born into a family of thieves. But enough about that book, this one focuses on Cammie, a girl who goes to a spy school, where her mother is headwoman. This book is pretty much a dream to anyone who fantasizes about being a super-cool spy in another life (...me.)

Cammie is a sweet and innocent, (as innocent as a spy who can kill someone with her hands 7 different ways can be) her nickname is the Chameleon because she blends in with her surroundings. She's been at the Gallagher school for girls her whole life, and doesn't know a normal life. So when she meets a regular guy, who thinks she's a regular girl, she's at a loss of how to act.

As a protagonist, Cammie is fine. She starts off seeming unapproachable, but as the book progresses you are exposed to a deeper side of her. All the characters were interesting and different. They all carried the fact that they were at a spy school well, it was very believeable. Bex, Cammie's friend and Josh were the only characters that I never found myself rooting for.

As for the plot, it is rather dull for a spy book. I'd rather read action sequences, not Cammie struggling chapter after chapter to figure out what to wear for her most recent date. I'll forgive this fact though, as I've been told that the coming books get more interesting. In the few scenes with action, I did get lost really quickly. Things would happen, even the character moving just slightly, and it would be only two words and I'd have to read it over again to catch it. Some better explaining doesn't hurt.

I recommend this to fans of any action, spy thrillers, girl-power, and forbidden love. I'll be reading the rest of the series ASAP!

5/5 lightbulbs!

Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
Pages: 236 (hardcover)
Published: January 2nd, 2012
Publisher: Poppy
My Source: Library

My review:
This is bordering on 4 stars. . . it's a really cute love story between Oliver and Hadley. It also has its deep moments between the two and their history.

This book is really just a simple romance. The pair begin traveling to London and at the start, do not know each other. This book has a span of 24 hours that takes the couple from oblivion to love. They both dread what they're receiving in London, and bond in their mutual feeling.

I guess the main thing I disliked was the ending of this book. It was dry and left me unsatisfied at where the characters stood. I actually cried during the more emotional parts in this book (I'm a sympathetic crier and it applies to when the characters cry too. . .) but the ending did nothing for me. Hadley and Oliver were likable, but I rooted for their relationship more than the characters themselves.

Besides these points, the book was charming and a quick read. I recommend it to fans of a love story.

3/5 lightbulbs

Review: Torn by Stephanie Guerra

This book followed Stella, a normal girl who lived in Illinois. She befriends the new girl, Ruby, who is wild and a complete polar opposite of Stella who is a good-girl with good grades. She quickly finds herself in a tough situation when Ruby begins dating a older guy. Stella is unsure what to do (you may say she's torn, haha..) and finds herself struggling about whether to ignore it or try to take action.

This book was very real. It had great description and very developed characters. I could get into Stella's head, and see the realistic reasons for every  action she took. I may have not totally seen understood why she skipped school so often, but that was the only thing I puzzled over. Stella was a perfect protagonist for the role she played in this book. Ruby was so wild and out-of-control, her presence flowed nicely in contrast to Stella. And it coincided with the drama of the guy she was dating, Kenneth. Don't even get me started on Kenneth! He's so creepy, and sketchy, and the writing portrayed that so perfectly it was really easy to get into the storyline with him there.

The only con about this book was probably that it lacked a climax. There are more dramatic scenes than others, but there was no real turning-point. I do love how the book ended though, solving everything nicely but still leaving a few question marks in my head.
I recommend this for book fans of realistic-fiction ya, friendship, and finding yourself in a bad relationship.

Hardcover (263 pages) published April 1st, 2012 by Marshall Cavendish.