My theme for this month was second book in a series. I received this book for Christmas and I desperately needed a contemporary romance to take my mind off things. It totally worked and I ended up loving the book.

 

This is the second book in the Anna and the French kiss series, but you can totally read it even if you have not read the first one, as this book focuses on other characters. Nonetheless, you get a bit of Anna and St. Clair from the first book which was totally amazing, but you could read it without knowing them first.

 

Lola’s parents do not approve of her older rock star boyfriend Max (who is totally badass but kind of a jerk) and she is determined to show them he is the one until she starts wondering if he really is.

 

I loved everything about Lola, she is funny and has a strong personality, she knows what she wants (or at least she thinks she knows what she wants) and she wants to make the most out of everything. I also loved the fact that her family was really present in the story, something (you all know) seems to be missing in most YA books.

 

It was in all a cute coming-of-age story and I recommend it!

Cover: Cute
Rating: 4 Stars
Overall: A cute romance story
Characters: Fun and charming
Plot: When the boy who broke her heart moves back in the house next door, Lola must decide what she wants in life.
Page Turner: Yes
Series Cont.? Yes
Recommend: Yes
Favorite Character: Cricket
Source: I own

I loved Anna and the French Kiss, so I had to give this one a read. At first I wasn't sure what to think. It started out...chaotic. Not necessarily in a bad way, but first her boyfriend Max reminded me on my one and only ex...(still hard to type that) Then she has two dads, which I didn't mind, but with that introduced early on, I really wasn't sure what else the book was going to throw out there. It wasn't until the line: "'Hi' Cricket grinned." that I was fully hooked! As soon as Cricket is introduced I loved him and his odd, quirky ways! From that line on, I was crazy about this book and couldn't put it down! While I still like St. Clair and Anna a little more, I absolutely adored this couple!

Favorite book of the month: Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh

Honorable Mentions: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins, Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith

Longest in pages: Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld

 

Total books ingested: 18

Re-reads/listens: 1

 

Total books read: 18 

Total pages read: 5,765

Average pages per book: 320

Average pages per day: 185

 

 

Scores:

1: 1

2: 1

3: 11

4: 5

5: 0

Did not finish:  2

 

Average: 3.11

 

Reviews Written/Published: 5 (Wow, I really, really need to step this up)

 

May wasn't a terrible month, though much of my reading was continuing series I'd already started (hello Morganville Vampires and The Dresden Files). I am continuing to remain behind (and to fall further behind, apparently) on my reading challenge, and I've also been horrible about updating things here (you may have noticed?); currently trying to play "spread out the time in a rational way" and right now my life includes both actually being social and playing World of Warcraft.

 

Blame my friends, guys, for both of these terrible time sinks. ;)

 

No, honestly, I've just been lazy about things. I have started reviews for what I thought was a good dozen but which actually counting my drafts folder here informs me is 48 books; I'm not finishing them for reasons I can't quite explain. I'll need to set myself up a nice day at home with a pot of tea and no distractions and see what I can't manage to knock out. 

 

I also need to actually finish some of the ridiculous number of audiobooks I have started. I have not had any audiobooks listed in my wrap-up for months, but I am listening; I just keep stopping partway through and starting something else. My reading life is a curious thing, I swear. 

 

How did everyone else's May reading go? Do you even remember at this point? Any curious trends you noted? How is June holding up for you?

 

This book was so adorable.  I usually don't read books like this but Stephanie Perkins is just amazing.  Her writing is so fun and her books always capture my attention.  I flew through this book and could not stop reading.  Cricket is my favorite character in this novel.  He is so much fun and so sweet.  This was a great summer read and I can't wait to pick up the next book in this companion trilogy.  

Nearly a 4.5
Audiobook
Fantastic Narration
Wonderful characters
Beautiful setting
Nice tie in with past characters
Great conflict
Honest emotions
HEA
What's not to love ? This one was set in one of my favorite cities San Francisco, with beautiful descriptions. The way it was written I could see myself there walking down the historical streets with Lola and Cricket. Lola was a complex, independent, loved girl with some normal issues in a bit of an unconventional way. LOL I know sounds complicated but it's really not. Her fathers are so wonderful I wanted them to adopt me, if just for the pie time. One of the fathers makes pies for a living, yum. So she has two fathers, two love interests, one working, one not, she is unique and lets that flag fly, ad smart and balanced and you have one fantastic character. Max, her now love is, loud, musical, artistic and well you'll find out. Cricket the not now but was the love, is shy, intelligent and slightly aloof. The side characters all ad something to the story, each plays their part well. I really enjoyed it, couldn't wait to hear more, and was sad when it ended. I wanted more.