We Won An Award!

So before we start this we just wanna thank Baylee, Cleo and Margaret from Booklopedia & Kay-C, Lynossa and Mithee from The Deranged Book Lovers & LJ from Reader Recommended!

We are very happy to have this award, and we're sorry it took us so long to post about it.



There are four things that you have to do when you receive this award:

1. Thank and link back to the person that gave this award.
2. Write 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass the award to 15 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic.
4. Contact the bloggers you have picked to let them know about the award.

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Legend:

Blue: Both of us

Green: S

Fuchsia: L

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Seven Things About Us

1) We love to read

2) My favourite book series is Harry Potter. And I love the movies as well!

3) I like to write stories & poems.

4) I L-O-V-E chocolate! Can't go a day without it.

5) I'm a regular customer of McDonalds, KFC & various other fast food resturants.

6) I want a dog when I grow up. I shall name him Dog!

7) I have an addiction to music (I have a shirt that proves it).

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The Bloggers (That We Recently Discovered) & Think Are AWESOME!

1) Small Review

2) Bookworm Boulevard

3) Book Are Like People

4) The Slowest Bookworm

5) Ivy's Reads

6) Loren Chase

7) Bookable Reads

8) Book Purring

9) Fiction Spark 

10) YA Bookie Monster

11 )Epic Book Nerd

12) The Book Scoop

13) Nice Girls Read Books

14) The Overflowing Library

15) Icey Books

Congrats to everyone! 

Teaser Tuesday! #2

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Here's how to do it:

-Grab your current read

-Open to a random page

-Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

-BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

-Share the title & author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

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Title: Heist Society

Author: Ally Carter

Number of Pages: 287 

Summary:

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her to the Louvre...to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria...to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own--scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves harder than she'd expected.
Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster's art collection has been stolen, and he wants it returned. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat’s father isn’t just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.
For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it’s a spectacularly impossible job? She’s got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family’s (very crooked) history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

Teaser:
"Like Barcelona wasn't his fault?"
"Yeah, well..." Kat heard herself repeating Hale's words: "We all agreed that that monkey seemed perfectly well trained at the time."

- L

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Title: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian 

Author: Sherman Alexie

Number Pages: 230

Summary:

Junior is a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian reservation. Born with a variety of medical problems, he is picked on by everyone but his best friend. Determined to receive a good education, Junior leaves the rez to attend an all-white school in the neighboring farm town where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Despite being condemned as a traitor to his people and enduring great tragedies, Junior attacks life with wit and humor and discovers a strength inside of himself that he never knew. 

Teaser:
"And Penelope went dressed as a homeless woman. Of course she was the most beautiful homeless woman who ever lived." (pg 77)

- S

Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Title: The Maze Runner

Author: James Dashner

Number of Pages: 374

Rating:  4/5

Release: October 6, 2009

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When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind

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I'm going to keep my review short and sweet because I know you guys have better things to do =P

The Maze Runner was the kind of book that made you want to stop reading but held your interest enough that you just can't put the book down. The main character, Thomas, was alright; a bit whiny and annoying in the beginning but that's only because he wanted answers and no one was willing to give them, so that was understandable. However, he does evolve throughout the novel and accepts the fact that he probably won't get answers unless he finds them himself. My favourite characters were Minho and Newt, two of the few people "in charge" of the the Glade. They were characters that I would want to be friends with; they were funny, sarcastic, determined, hard-working, scared.

There's more than enough mystery to keep you glued to the pages; however, there are many secrets that don't get revealed until the end or not at all. For the first couple hundred pages, I found myself constantly wondering when we would learn about everything that was going on and it was frustrating. But I kept reading because I knew that sooner or later, we would learn a lot of information and it would be worth the wait. The last hundred pages were action packed; I cannot be more anxious to read The Scorch Trials. If you're able to stick with a book to the end no matter what, then pick up this book. The end will be well worth it!

-S

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Follow Friday!

Follow Friday is a meme hosted over at Parajunkee's View.

So, Happy Follow Friday, and to all our American followers I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

Review: Matched by Ally Condie

Title: Matched

Author: Ally Condie

Number of Pages: 366

Rating:  3.5/5
Release: November 30, 2010

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In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.

Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s hardly any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one… until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one else has ever dared follow — between perfection and passion.

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Matched by Ally Condie was a great romance read; one of the most highly anticipated books this year. I know it's dystopian but it leans more towards romance than anything. The cover is beautiful, the premise is intriguing and it's been getting a lot of great buzz around the blogosphere.


Ally has created a world in which the Society controls everything. Cassia is constantly struggling to make her own decisions. But it's obvious that without certain people, like her grandpa, her mom, her dad, and Ky, she wouldn't have ever realized how wrong the Society is. She slowly moves towards breaking the mold that the Society has set for her. As you follow her on her journey towards picking who she really wants to spend her life with, Xander or Ky, you can tell that she's not only focused on love. She's ultimately trying to break away from the Society's manipulation and control. he wants to be her own person; she wants freedom. She wants love.


Cassia begins as a naive, innocent young girl who wouldn't dream of defying the Society. But by the end of the book, you can tell that she's learned a lot and is willing to go against the Society for herself and those she loves. One thing about Cassia that I found annoying was that she kept destroying things; why couldn't she just have found a REALLY good hiding spot? The boys, Xander and Ky, have completely opposite personalities. Xander is outgoing and fun while Ky is mysterious and quiet. They both mean something to Cassia but her issue is deciding who she'd rather be with. I, personally, prefer Xander because he's stable; I was always very uncertain about Ky.


Brent, over at The Naughty Book Kitties, wrote in his review of Matched that the book was very monotone and I couldn't agree more. I was able to look past that after the first few chapters but I know it really bugs some people.


Overall, Matched was a fun read. In terms of romance, it definitely plays up to the hype. I'm hoping the following books expand on the Society and how it came to be but I have a feeling the entire trilogy will focus on romance. Ally certainly leaves the ending open for many possibilities and I can't wait to see how she continues. 


Happy reading :D

-S
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ARC won from Brittany the Book Slayer. Thanks!

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine by Jill, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

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Title: Demonglass (Hex Hall #2)

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Number of Pages: 368

Release Date: Feburary 15, 2011

Summary:

Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

-L

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Title: Wither (Chemical Garden #1)

Author: Lauren DeStefano

Number of Pages: 356

Release: March 22, 2010

Summary:

What if you knew exactly when you would die?

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limted time she has left.

-S

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What are you guys waiting for? Let us know, mkay?

Teaser Tuesdays!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
Here's how to do it:

-Grab your current read

-Open to a random page

-Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

-BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

-Share the title & author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

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Title: Nightshade
Author: Andrea Cremer

Number of Pages: 454
Summary:

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything— including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?


Teaser:

~"Who I am, who I love...they'd never accept it. Neither would the elders in the pack, nor my parents." page 164


- L

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Title: The Maze Runner

Author: James Dashner

Number Pages: 374
Summary:

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.

Teasers: 

~"Going out there at night is beggin' for death. We'd just be throwin' more lives away." page 109

- S

Who's writing what?!?!

So, as you may know, there are two of us contributing to this blog. And I know that when you guys see a blog post you're going to say, "Well, who the hell wrote this one?!?!?" Or, maybe you won't say that and you just don't give two shits (pardon my french =D ) Either way, I want you guys to be able to differentiate between the two of us. So, I will sign my posts with S at the end and my partner will sign hers with L. Get it? Got it? Good! Hehe =P

I really should be doing homework....screw you chem!

-S

Firelight Giveaway!

Mkay, so cool contest going on over at BurningxImpossiblyxBright. Ambur's giveaway a copy of Firelight by Sophie Jordan plus a whole shitload of swag. The contest is international (BOOK DEPOSITORY FTW!!) and there will be six winners. That's right, I said SIX! Contest ends November 26th so haul your ass over there and enter!! And make sure to follow her!

Click HERE!

And don't forget to read the Perfect Chemistry review located below =D

Now, it is time for homework! BLEH D=

-S

Review: Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Title: Perfect Chemistry

Author: Simone Elkeles

Number of Pages: 357

Rating:  4/5

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A modern tale of star-crossed lovers with a fresh urban twist. 

At Fairfield High School, on the outskirts of Chicago , everyone knows that south-siders mixing with north-siders can be explosive.  So when Brittany Ellis and Alejandro “Alex” Fuentes are forced to be lab partners in chemistry class, this human experiment leads to unexpected revelations – that Brittany ’s flawless reputation is a cover for her troubled home life, that Alex’s bad-boy persona  hides his desire to break free from gang ties, and that when they’re together, life somehow makes more sense.  Breaking through the stereotypes and expectations that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart, Perfect Chemistry takes readers to both sides of the tracks in a passionate love story about looking beneath the surface.

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Brittany Ellis is blond, blue-eyed, rich and a cheerleader. Alex Fuentes is hot, poor, Mexican and a gang member. However, as opposite as all that is, the one thing that separates them from each other the most is that Brittany is from the north side of town and Alex is from the south. In Fairfield that's all that matters. So what happens when they get paired up in chemistry class...well, they discover that they have chemistry. 

Not everyone is happy with their new found friendship, especially Brittany's boyfriend, Colin and Alex's ex-girlfriend Carmen.

As Brittany's home life starts to go from bad to worse as she's faced with the possibility of saying goodbye to her sister, she starts to lean on Alex more and more. 

And Alex, busy trying to keep his brothers off the streets, only seems to keep digging himself deeper into the gang life. 

Then finally Alex has to make a choice. The gang who has fed and protected his family these past years or the girl of his dreams.

I really thought this was a great book. The characters and the plot were believable and easily relatable. You don't have to know the ins and outs of gang life, or grow up in a segregated town to relate to this book, and I think that's what makes it so great. 

The dual narrative adds a great perspective to the story, and the smexy moments make the story more interesting. I guarantee you, you will like (if not love) this book.

-L

My Epic Day

Yesterday my day started at 7:44 a.m. 
I know what your thinking, who wakes up that early on a Saturday? I assure you, I woke up for two very good reasons:

1) A Suzanne Collins book signing

AND

2) Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Part One!

Last week, four of my friends and I lined up outside of Indigo Yorkdale (a Canadian bookstore, for those unaware) at 7am in the morning, just to make sure we all got one of the 250 tickets they were handing out for the Suzanne Collins signing event.Needless to say, we got them.


So yesterday,  the signing started at 1pm, but we got there at 9:30am and there was already a small line up. We were part of the first ten or so people there, so not too much of a draw back. While we were in line, we chatted with other crazy Collins fans like ourselves and read books to pass the time.


At 1 o'clock we were led downstairs and there she was! She read a passage from both Catching Fire and Mockingjay to us and she read Katniss with the accent that she imagines in her head. Very southern, btw. But it was interesting to hear what she hears when these characters talk to her.


After the reading we went up and got our book stamped (she couldn't sign, since her wrist was injured & she was only stamping one book per person) and we got our pictures taken, all the while trying not to be too star-struck (which we all failed at). Then after our turn was up, we went back upstairs to chill for an hour or so while Mrs. Collins signed everyone else's book.

After the line was done, we went back down and asked her publicist (among other people surrounding her) if we could get our other books stamped. They said YES! So we left the signing as star-struck, happy fans with all of our books stamped and all agreeing that Suzanne Collins is such a sweetheart.


After the signing, which ended at 2pm, we wandered around the food court looking for a table before getting our food. After eating we went back to the bookstore and just sat around because the Harry Potter movie was set to begin at 7pm (the theater and the bookstore were conveniently located in the same mall). We periodically went to the theater to see if there was a line up beginning for the movie and sure enough, people began lining up at 5:30. Again, we were part of the first ten or so people there, and we made friends with other crazy Harry Potter fanatics. At 6:30, they opened the doors and we were ushered in. Correction, the doors were opened, the workers stood aside and we stampeded in for good seats (We landed the middle of the last row, awesome seats if I do say so myself).

The previews ended, and the movie finally began at 7:20; some people screamed out cheers, only to rudely be told to "Shut up!". Everyone was aware that they were among crazy fans as the entire theater hushed up in anticipation. It was as if a live current was running through the air.

At about 9:30 the movie ended, and I had two thoughts going through my mind,
"Ohmygawd! Was it supposed to be that scary?" and "OHMYGOD! When's part two?! I must reread this series!"


And so ends my epic, awesome day. 


My friends and I discussed the movies afterward and we all agreed that it was one of the best Harry Potter movies EVAR! It was dark and scary at all the right places with humour thrown in to cut the tangible fear. The acting was just brilliant! Emma really stole the show in this one and Bellatrix was, well, Bellatrix; fanatically fantastic! Another character that stole our hearts was Dobby. I'm not going to spoil it for you guys; all I'm saying is get up off your butts and RUN to the theater to watch this latest installment. It will not disappoint!


Have you guys watched Harry Potter yet? If you have, you must tell me what you thought!

-L & S

The Naughty Book Kitties

Hey guys! First off, I wanted to say welcome to the new blog followers. Hope you guys enjoy the blog! Second, I wanted to talk to you guys about a boy named Brent. He runs The Naughty Book Kitties, a fricken fantastic, funny-as-hell blog! I can't get enough of his blog; it's pretty to look at and the content is funny and legit. So make sure you check it out and follow him if you're not already. I'm telling you, this boy is mind-blasting, he has me laughing on a daily basis! 

The Naughty Book Kitties 

And don't forget to follow his twitter as well!

-S

Follow Fridays (I Know It's Not Friday Yet)

So Follow Friday's is a meme that happens over at Parajunkee's blog, and it seems really interesting.
First PJV will be featuring one blogger from this great community each Friday along with having the Follow My Book Blog feature. Each week one blogger will be selected as a feature, so sign up for the Follow Feature. Future features are picked randomly.

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So I just signed up for this wonderful meme, and was told to put it in a post. 

Oh, while your checking out Follow Fridays you should also check out PJV Book Blogging 101. There are some helpful tips there.
Now on to the question:

How Long Have You Been Book Blogging?
   Well this is my third attempt at a blog in the past month, but this is my first day of blogging on this specific blog.

-L

Review: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Hex Hall
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Number of Pages: 336
Rating: 3/4

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Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It’s gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie’s estranged father—an elusive European warlock—only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it’s her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.


By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.


As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

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So the book starts off with Sophie at her prom, in the washroom and being the good person that she is, she decides to help the girl crying in the washroom on Prom night by getting her a date- except she uses magic.
From there everything goes to hell.
Next time we meet Sophie she is with her human mother infront of a magical reform school. 
The council decided that it would be best for everyone if Sophie went there.
But this is where things get interesting.
On her first day she gets attacked by a werewolf, gets saved by a warlock, finds out she's rooming with a Vampire, finds out said vamp might have killed someone AND manages to piss off three of the most popular girls at school, not to mention some of the most powerful. Not to shabby for a day's worth, right?
It only gets worse from there. 
As one shocking secret is revealed after the next, the number of victims keeps rising, and as every finger points at Sophie's roommate, Sophie has to wonder will she be next?
As we learn more about Sohpie through the book, you won't be able to stop reading. I sure as heck didn't; I read it all in one go.
But the number one thing that you'll find the most shocking, is the last sentence of the book. 

However, there was one thing I didn't like about the book. Sophie's naivety. It's not even a normal naivety! She's sarcastic, naturally suspicious, and has a temper. How can you be naive, AS WELL?
But I guess that's just Sophie, and all in all, I really enjoyed reading this book and can't wait for the next installment in the series. Which is called Demonglass, out in March.

-L

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Have you read it? Tell me what you think, I'd like to hear your opinion on it.

Review: The Duff by Kody Keplinger

Title: The Duff
Author: Kody Keplinger
Number of Pages: 228

Rating: 4/5

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The Duff 
(Designated Ugly Fat Friend)
  
    Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "Duffy," she throws her Coke in his face.
But things aren't so great at home right now. Desperate for a distraction, Bianca ends up kissing Wesley. And likes it. Eager for escape, she throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with Wesley.
Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out that Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone. 

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Recently I've been in a reading rut, but The Duff pulled me right out of it.

I loved this book. The main and sub characters, the wording and the flow of the book were fantastic. 

Bianca is a girl I would enjoy sitting down with and talking to. She was not ditzy or too stubborn, and she's not afaird to tell it how it is. I promise you throughout the whole story you'll be rooting for her. 

Another person you'll be rooting for is Wesley. Ah, Wesley Rush. The guy is smoking hot, a player, a flirt and not to mention, he's RICH but the reason why you'll love him is because of how he treats his baby sister, Amy, and Bianca. Not to mention beneath all the playa-playa attitude is someone whose hurting. Like Bianca, Wesley doesn't seem to have the picture perfect family. 

Now let me just tell you, this book has some very smexy moments. One in a janitor's closet by the way.

There was only one part where I was shaking the book a bit with frustration. It had to deal with Bianca and her relationship with her two best friends, Jessica and Casey- who by the way you will also enjoy reading about.

All that aside what I loved most about the book was the message it sent about labels, specifically the Duff. I have at moments felt like the Duff on many occasions, but now that I know a sarcastic and cynical girl like Bianca is a duff as well, I feel much better.

I am telling you right now. You will love this book. Go read it. Now.

-L

Review: Artichoke's Heart by Suzanne Supplee

Title: Artichoke's Heart
Author: Suzanne Supplee
Number of Pages: 276
Rating: 3/5

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Rosemary Goode is smart and funny and loyal and the best eyebrow waxer in Spring Hill, Tennessee. But only one thing seems to matter to anyone, including Rosemary: her weight.
Rosemary's only boyfriends are the "secret lovers" stashed under her bed: Mr. Hershey, Mr. Reeses, and Mr. M&M. Worse, Christmas brought nothing but unwanted presents: a treadmill from Mother and two tickets to the Healing the Fat Girl Within conference from nosy Aunt Mary. And when your mom runs the most successful (and gossipy) beauty shop in town, it can be hard to keep a low profile…especially when the scale just hit an all-time high.

Rosemary resolves to lose the weight, but her journey turns out to be about everything but fat. A life-changing, waist-shrinking year is captured with honesty and humor—topped with an extra-large helping of Southern charm—in this enchanting debut by Suzanne Supplee.

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When I first got this book, I didn't expect much. I thought it was just gonna be a chick-lit book. 
Boy was I wrong.
From the first chapter you fall in love with Rosie. We're first introduced to Rosie as she tells us about her very dissapointing christmas and we soon find out that Rosie has just reached an all time high in weight gain. If that isn't bad enough, her mother owns a popular salon where people won't just let Rosie be and she has one heck of a nosy Aunt. 
When she was small, Rosie was dubbed Artichoke one fateful day when she wore a green winter jacket to school. That name stuck with her and she still gets called Artichoke, or fatty, but Rosie refuses to live up to their stereotypes of fat people. She's not lazy or stupid. She works at her mother's salon and get's straight A's. Rosemary is one person you will love.
Throughout the book we go with Rosie as she develops a crush on a good-looking jock, Kyle, as she deals with teasing from mean skinny girls at school, as she helps Kay-Kay get back up from her fall from grace, as she deals with her mother's issues, her nosy aunt and of course her weight.
The best part though was Rosie's sharp tongue and smart aleck mindset. It keeps the book light and a silly grin on your face as you read. 

-L