Princess Serafina’s life changes in one day. Her kingdom is attacked and she is forced to flee with only her strange dreams as a guide. Her dreams lead her on a search for five other mermaids – all spread throughout the seas – and together they must save the future of their world. Sounds interesting, right? And look at that cover? Gorgeous!

Well…this one was interesting. My initial read through of this book didn’t leave me very excited. It took me almost a month to finish it because I just couldn’t get into it. This being a new world and all, there was quite a bit of info dumping that happened throughout the book and honestly left me feeling weighted down and confused. This being the first in a series, I realize that author was just trying to set up the world and get us as readers to understand the way everything worked. However, this left me feeling a little unattached to the characters and a very unsatisfied feeling upon reaching the end.

Then I went to a signing the author was having at a local bookstore. Hearing her talk about the series and the concept and where everything was going actually got me excited for the books to come. Donnelly talked a lot about each mermaid and her part of the sea and I felt like it explained everything a little better and helped me understand the girls – especially Sera who came across to me as extremely immature. So while I didn’t love Deep Blue, I feel like it was just setting up everything to come and the next books won’t be filled with information overload.

Original review can be seen on Books and Swoons .

Unravel Me has to be one of my top favorite book of 2013. It was also one of my most highly anticipated book and let me tell you, it was worth the wait. Tahereh Mafi has become one of my favorite writers and this book shows why.

Unravel Me picks up right where Shatter Me end. Juliette is thrust into Omega Point, where she is having a hard time adjusting to her new environment, which is understandable considering all that she went through in Shatter Me. We get our Adam swoons pretty early on and sighhh... If I thought I had forgotten how swoony Adam can be, he definitely reminded me that he is a pretty good competitor against Warner. He has a way with words and gestures that makes me putty in his hands.

I have to admit, that there were several times where I wanted to shake Juliette. She internalizes everything and she was moping around and letting everything happen to her. She didn't know how to be strong. Which brings me to my next point: Kenji. Kenji is favorite character of mine because he is not afraid of telling it like it is. So I loved when he told Juliette to snap out of and to go and do something. That she could either sit there and lament her bad luck or that she could go out there and save herself. She needed a little hard love thrown at her and he did a great job at it.

There were so many things that we learn that even thinking about it, almost a year later, still shocks me. Mafi did an awesome job at keeping her readers guessing all throughout the book. Like with Warner's father and his very surprising connection. Also, we learn a lot about Omega Point and it leader and how it came about.

And for my Warner lovers, the swoons we get in this book, HOMGGG. I get chills just thinking about it. Unfortunately, Team Warner also get their heart broken and are given mini heart attacks several times throughout the book. I worry how this is going to turn out for him.

Basically, this book has to be one of the best sequel I've read and I need for Ignite Me to come out already. I need to know what happens next after that crazy ending. Although I have to admit that I'm sad that I'll be saying goodbye to these character that I've come to know and love. If you haven't already read this, go out and buy it. Now.

Review can be seen on Books and Swoons.

Through the Ever Night was a great follow up from the first book, Under the Never Sky. It is one of the few books that I feel like the sequel is better than the first. The problems that I had in the first book are all gone. Gone is the confusion of trying to guess which character was talking. Veronica Rossi did a great job in keeping her readers entertained and invested in the characters.

Roar and Perry's friendship is one my favorites ever and I always love the scenes when they're together. They know each other so well that they already know what the other is going to do without having to speak first. I think that this the first time that I enjoy reading about a "bromance" more than about the love interest.

Not to say that I don't like Aria, because I do. Aria has grown so much since Under the Never Sky and you can tell she is a lot more confident and knows how to defend herself. Her relationship with Perry, I like how they don't need to be together all the time to know how much they care about each other. All they have to do is share a look and you know that they share something special between them.

Now, you know I don't like love triangles, but I think that this series might be the only one where I wouldn't mind one. Aria and Roar just seem to understand each other so well and always have a great time together. However, I would never actually want them to be together. I just think they would be cute together and I would want Roar for myself.

Basically, Through the Ever Night just solidified my love for Roar and after that ending, I would gladly help him feel better. I can't wait to see what Into the Still Blue will bring to these characters. I'm excited to see how Veronica Rossi will end this series and I just hope she gives them the ending that they deserve.

Original can be seen on Books and Swoons .

I had really difficult time writing this review and I spent weeks and weeks working on it and I still feel like I can't properly do the book justice. I guess I'll just break things down:

1. It doesn't feel like Young Adult
- Eleanor and Park are wise beyond their years
- There are issues and topics that are normally not seen or dealt with in YA books.
2. Swoony but realistic
- We have to remember that this is first love but I just found it to be so cute and made me all happy sigh and reminding me of my first crush.
3. Eleanor
- I loved her
- Strong and independent and doesn't change herself for a boy, not even Park. My kind of girl.
- I want to be a friend to her, she needs one. If there ever was girl that needs a girlfriend, it Eleanor. There were so many times that I just wanted to take her and hug her and just shield her from the world.
4. Where the hell was Department of Children and Family in this book?! Her mom made me rage. Richie = squm. Remember what I said about issues not normally seen in YA books? It comes into play here. 
5. Park
- The sweetest boy ever. Seriously.
- During the drive to Minnesota
- Broke my heart how sad and angry and hurt he that she was asleep. He was so conflicted. He wanted to spend time with her but he knew that she need to rest and escape for a little while. 
- Also broke my heart at how he was after she was gone. The feels.
- Loved how he fell in love. How things suddenly changed for him. So realistically done. Kudos to Rainbow for doing such a great job.

I really enjoyed this story. It was so well done and Rainbow managed to bring back all the memories of first crushes and first love and how exciting and nerve-wracking things are when you're a teenager. I wouldn't mind if Rainbow decides to do a sequel but it not something that I'm absolutely dying for. I guess my heart can only take so much angst. But on a side note, anybody want to take guesses with me and what those three words were?

Original review can be seen here .

My rating: 5 stars
Nahomi's rating: 5 stars
Our Overall rating: 5 stars out of 5 stars

Jenn:

I think Beautiful Beginning has to be the best of all the novellas. It wrapped up all the loose end very nicely and left you feeling satisfied. Christina Lauren managed to end a wonderful series with all the happy feels and all my favorite characters happy.

Beautiful Beginning starts off with a very stressed out bride and a very focused groom. Chloe and Bennett are down to the wire with wedding preparations and Chloe is about ready to head off to Las Vegas. Bennett is more focused on keeping his bride sane but also on how to make their wedding night special. So he decides that weren't going to have sex until the wedding night. Which is 5 days away and Chloe, being who she is, decides she needs to fight Bennett on that and what ensues if a test of restraint for Bennett.

We get a glimpse of how life is working out for our beloved characters, Max and Sara and Will and Hanna. There were some surprising twists and lots of funny, laugh out loud moments. Beautiful Beginning left me feeling nostalgic but really happy where these characters I’ve come to love are in their life. I can easily picture them living their happily ever after.

“Straightening up, I pushed off the wall and patted his cheek. “I am excited. I like seeing that the only thing that will change after this week is that Bennett will a ring on his finger and my last name after his first name. I like knowing that you guys will continue to escalate this big testicle war. You and Hanna will continue to be adorable and giddy, Max and Sara will continue to be disgustingly in love. Bennett will continue to alternately rock my world and make me insane. It’s life as it should be.” - Chloe pg 122-123

Just like Chloe, I can picture them doing just that.

Nahomi:

I completely agree with what Jenn said above, I really enjoyed Beautiful Beginning. For me it was the perfect ending to a wonderful series. Christina Lauren had me laughing out loud for the majority of the novella. And when I wasn't busy laughing I was busy swooning over Bennett, Max and Will. I really enjoyed how realistic Christina Lauren made the novella.


True to the series the sexy scenes were really HOTT but I feel that in this novella it wasn't so much the focus of the entire story, which is one of my many favorite things about this novella. I feel very at peace with the ending and where everyone ended up. A job well done by Christina Lauren, now I am left anxiously awaiting their next book.