Books Plus Thoughts #3 - All Things Kasie West - The Fill-In Boyfriend + The Distance Between Us

Every now and again I binge on Young Adult contemporary romance - this happens most often during summer or after I've finished reading a heartbreaking, sad or intense book. Both the Kasie West books in this post I read back-to-back, and both are lighthearted reads. 

1. The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West

Summary: When Gia Montgomery's boyfriend, Bradley, dumps her in the parking lot of her high school prom, she has to think fast. After all, she'd been telling her friends about him for months now. This was supposed to be the night she proved he existed. So when she sees a cute guy waiting to pick up his sister, she enlists his help. The task is simple: be her fill-in boyfriend—two hours, zero commitment, a few white lies. After that, she can win back the real Bradley. The problem is that days after prom, it's not the real Bradley she's thinking about, but the stand-in. The one whose name she doesn't even know. But tracking him down doesn't mean they're done faking a relationship. Gia owes him a favor and his sister intends to see that he collects: his ex-girlfriend's graduation party—three hours, zero commitment, a few white lies. Just when Gia begins to wonder if she could turn her fake boyfriend into a real one, Bradley comes waltzing back into her life, exposing her lie, and threatening to destroy her friendships and her new-found relationship.

Rating: ★★★★

This one I really enjoyed! It was 100% cute and swoon worthy as well as very much uncomplicated. It is likely that you will close the book with a big smile on your face. Gia doesn't start off as a very likeable character but by the end she sheds some of her immaturity. This is definitely a book to pick up after you've finished some heavy/intense reads. The ending was rather abrupt but I found that to be the case for this book as well as Kasie West's other standalone The Distance Between Us.


GOODREADS

Favourite/Memorable Quotes:

“We rarely find a depth by looking inside of ourselves for it. Depth is found in what we can learn from the people and things around us. Everyone, everything, has a story, Gia. When you learn those stories, you learn experiences that fill you up, that expand your understanding. You add layers to your soul.”

“Well, if you're a mess then I'm a natural disaster."

"The cutest natural disaster I've ever seen.”

2. The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Summary: Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop. So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she's beginning to enjoy his company. She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.

Rating: ★★★

I did not love The Distance Between Us as much as I did The Fill-In Boyfriend. With this one I had a harder time connecting with both the characters Caymen and Xander. But otherwise it was another really cute read and I was cheering them both on the whole way! Again I felt the ending was really abrupt and slightly rushed - there was a lot more I wanted to find out especially with regards to the revelations that were made near the end.

GOODREADS

Favourite/Memorable Quotes:

“I wonder why some people seem to be born knowing what they want to do with their lives and others - mostly me - have no idea.”

“This is me facing failure. This is me putting everything on the line even though I know I might lose. And I'm terrified. But like you said, anything worth having is worth the risk.” 

 

Books Plus Thoughts #2 - Burn for Burn + Throne of Glass

Both the books on this post of Books Plus Thoughts are the first in a series but for both I am still considering whether to continue the series on.

1. Burn for Burn by Jenny Han (Book #1)

Summary: Postcard-perfect Jar Island is home to charming tourist shops, pristine beaches, amazing oceanfront homes—and three girls secretly plotting revenge. KAT is sick and tired of being bullied by her former best friend. LILLIA has always looked out for her little sister, so when she discovers that one of her guy friends has been secretly hooking up with her, she’s going to put a stop to it. MARY is perpetually haunted by a traumatic event from years past, and the boy who’s responsible has yet to get what’s coming to him. None of the girls can act on their revenge fantasies alone without being suspected. But together…anything is possible. With an alliance in place, there will be no more “I wish I’d said…” or “If I could go back and do things differently...” These girls will show Jar Island that revenge is a dish best enjoyed together. (Goodreads)

Rating: ★★★

It took me YEARS to get round to reading Burn for Burn, it was falling further down my TBR pile and was at risk of never being read. Miraculously I was able to make time just before my exams to pick this one up. This book is written from the POV of Kat, Lillia and Mary - I am not usually a fan of changing POVs but it really worked here. Each girl has a distinct voice and personality, there wasn't one I preferred over the other - all three girls had interesting backstories that kept me intrigued. The pace builds up as the story progresses, it was a real page-turner from the halfway point. The last few chapters were crazy intense! However I felt like there was something missing. After finishing the book I didn't feel the urge to pick up the next book even after such a big cliffhanger - is it worth picking up the next book, yay or nay?

Note: The cover is gorgeous!

Favourite Quotes:

“It took a long time for me to get better, but I did. I got better. But suddenly it's like the last four years never happened, and I'm feeling all the same terrible feelings about myself that I did back then.” 

“This is Karma. I’m a bitch. Can you think of anyone who deserves a bitch slap?” 

2. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (Book #1)

Summary: Meet Celaena Sardothien. Beautiful. Deadly. Destined for greatness. In the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake. She got caught. Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament—fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin’s heart be melted? (Goodreads)

Rating: ★★★

Throne of Glass is a book with glowing reviews and the series is loved by many. When I was reading the book, I really did understand its appeal - the main character is badass, I loved the backdrop and premise of the story and the friendship between the female characters. There were just a few down points for me. I had a love/hate relationship with Celaena, she had some great moments and some not-so-great moments, I'm still somewhere in the middle about her. Also, there were some characters I REALLY disliked and I was tempted to skip the pages every time they appeared. Other than that, I did enjoy the book and overall thought it to be 'okay'. Maybe this is a series that gets better with each book?

Favourite Quotes:

“Libraries were full of ideas—perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons.”

“You could rattle the stars," she whispered. "You could do anything, if only you dared. And deep down, you know it, too. That’s what scares you most.”

Which of these series would be worth carrying on?

Books Plus Thoughts #1 - Dreamology + Things We Know by Heart

1. Things We Know by Heart by Jessi Kirby

Summary: After Quinn loses her boyfriend, Trent, in an accident their junior year, she reaches out to the recipients of his donated organs in hopes of picking up the pieces of her now-unrecognizable life. She hears back from some of them, but the person who received Trent’s heart has remained silent. The essence of a person, she has always believed, is in the heart. If she finds Trent’s, then maybe she can have peace once and for all. Risking everything in order to finally lay her memories to rest, Quinn goes outside the system to track down nineteen-year-old Colton Thomas—a guy whose life has been forever changed by this priceless gift. But what starts as an accidental run-in quickly develops into more, sparking an undeniable attraction. She doesn't want to give in to it—especially since he has no idea how they're connected—but their time together has made Quinn feel alive again. No matter how hard she’s falling for Colton, each beat of his heart reminds her of all she’s lost…and all that remains at stake. (Goodreads)

Rating: ✩✩✩✩

I absolutely loved Jessi Kirby's Golden so I knew I had to read Things We Know by Heart. The book was a quick and beautiful read - Jessi Kirby's writing was emotional and magical, it brought me back to how I felt when I read Golden. I loved that she included quotes at the start of the chapters, little pieces of information to help the reader better understand the heart and organ transplantation. It was a book about healing and moving forward, and the message that came with it was uplifting, and by the end my own heart was touched. I really came to love Colton's character - I felt the sincerity behind his actions (+ he was super cute too!) 

This is the perfect light read with countless heart fluttering moments, and even more perfect to read during these summer months.

Favourite Quote:

“But it's terrifying to realise how much of your world is wrapped up in loving another person.”

“The days passed, one after another, measured out in an unbroken, never-ending rhythm. Seemingly infinite, but gone in the blink of an eye—like waves crashing on the shore, or the seasons passing.

Or the beating of a heart.”

2. Dreamology by Lucy Keating

Summary: For as long as Alice can remember, she has dreamed of Max. Together, they have traveled the world and fallen deliriously, hopelessly in love. Max is the boy of her dreams—and only her dreams. Because he doesn’t exist. But when Alice walks into class on her first day at a new school, there he is. Real Max is nothing like Dream Max. He’s stubborn and complicated. And he has a whole life Alice isn’t a part of. Getting to know each other in reality isn’t as perfect as Alice always hoped. Alarmingly, when their dreams start to bleed into their waking hours, the pair realize that they might have to put an end to a lifetime of dreaming about each other. But when you fall in love in your dreams, can reality ever be enough? (Goodreads)

Rating: DNF

The second book I'm highlighting in this post is on the opposite spectrum of number one. This one was a 'DID NOT FINISH' for me. I must say the cover of this book caught my eye, I really do thing it is pretty. Moving on, the synopsis of this book sounded really good and totally up my street. The beginning was promising, dreamy and the premise seemed interesting. But this book lost me at around the 50% mark. I was greatly disappointed in the actions of the two main characters, and it just made me not want to read any further. All I will say is that the love interest Max already has a girlfriend. Also, as I kept reading I was finding it more and more difficult to connect with Alice. I know that some people will be able to enjoy this book but I guess it just wasn't working for me. You may give this one a go and it might sit better with you than it did with me.

Have you read any of the books I've mentioned in this post, and if yes, what did you think? Any recommendations based on either book above?