The Betrayal Of Natalie Hargrove

Publisher: Penguin US
Pub. Date: Nov 12th 2009

Age Range: Young Adult

Pages: 248
Format: ARC
Source of copy: from the publisher - Penguin US

A steamy Southern beauty makes one fatal mistake

Natalie Hargrove would kill to be her high school’s Palmetto Princess. But her boyfriend Mike King doesn’t share her dream and risks losing the honor of Palmetto Prince to Natalie’s nemesis, Justin Balmer. So she convinces Mike to help play a prank on Justin. . . one that goes terribly wrong. They tie him to the front of the church after a party—when they arrive the next morning, Justin is dead.

From blackmail to buried desire, dark secrets to darker deeds, Natalie unravels. She never should’ve messed with fate. Fate is the one thing more twisted than Natalie Hargrove.

Cruel Intentions meets Macbeth in this seductive, riveting tale of conscience and consequence.


To be very brief, The Betrayal Of Natalie Hargrove belonged to the could-have-been-better kind. Steamy, sinful and secrecy, the book had so much potential that failed to thrive.

Lauren Kate's writing was very beautiful. It was indeed elegant, the kind that gave you a satisfied feeling from reading something decent and neat (I know I don't make sense here =.=). However, it was the plot that fell short of the readers' expectation. Half of the book turned out bleak for me because the characters were too obsessed over popularity like it was their oxygen. Snobbery, bitchiness and pointless competition came out as boredom and I kept wondering "when will I get to the exciting part?"

Things that should be elaborated like Natalie's painful past with her abusive Dad, the humiliating memories she shared with Justin or how guilty/freaked out the couple were about their homicide didn't cover as many pages as they should. And it was such a pity.

Moreover, I didn't feel much connection with the characters. I actually found Natalie pretty annoying. All she cared about was getting the crowns, even when she just accidentally killed someone, she didn't seem to be affected much by her guilt. Her romance was Mike was based mostly on popularity and lust, or at least that was how I felt about it. For Justin, I didn't have much chance to learn about him. A few scenes with a flashback couldn't form his full personalities although I could tell that the author did really try.

Anyway, I sort of liked the ending. It surprised me to some extent and the story's message was clearly shown in it.

A suitable book to read to kill time was how I defined The Betrayal Of Natalie Hargrove. I'm still looking forward to other books by Lauren Kate though. Like I said, I don't love the storyline of this one, but I love her writing.

Rating: 2.5/5

And the winner is...

2 weeks of Donut Days contest has ended and I picked the winner without delay ^^ We have 167 entries totally and some of you guys have like...up to 14+ entries (huge chance of winning, I know). Unfortunately, there will be only one winner. According to random. org the owner of this copy of DD is

*takes deep breath*

pirate penguin

Congratulations penguin ^^ please send an email to something_maybeATliveDOTcom so Lara and I will have this book sent to you as soon as possible.

For those who have entered the contest, thanks so much. Please check back every Friday cos we'll have more contests coming soon!!!

My Invented Life by Lauren Bjorkman

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Pub. Date: Sept 29th 2009
Age Range: Young Adult
Pages: 240
Format: ARC
Source of copy: from the author

With Roz and Eva everything becomes a contest—who can snag the best role in the school play, have the cutest boyfriend, pull off the craziest prank. Still, they’re as close as sisters can be. Until Eva deletes Roz from her life like so much junk e-mail for no reason that Roz understands. Now Eva hangs out with the annoyingly petite cheerleaders, and Roz fantasizes about slipping bovine growth hormone into their Gatorade. Roz has a suspicion about Eva. In turn, Eva taunts Roz with a dare, which leads to an act of total insanity. Drama geeks clamor for attention, Shakespearean insults fly, and Roz steals the show in Lauren Bjorkman’s hilarious debut novel.



A GLBT novel with a delightful voice, a story of defining true identity and learning to regain someone's trust. Jocular but sincere, My Invented Life depicted beautiful sisterly love and friendship with an implication: be the one you really are.

Roz and Eva drifted apart for no reason - at least not what Roz could recall. Then the two sisters started to go against each other, starting with Roz's fantasies for Eva's boyfriend Bryan. Now Roz suspected that something was up with her sister and she made up a new life for herself on the hope of forcing Eva to come clean. The story was fun from beginning to end, mostly for the mix up of Roz's real life and her pure imagination. At first it was hard for me to tell what was true and what was not - hence the confusion stood between me and the joy My Invented Life could bring. Fortunately when I eventually caught the drift, it cracked me up all the time.

The story was full of characters who seemed to have problems with their sexualities. Some didn't know their real feelings, some had the wrong idea while the others were too afraid to face the prejudice. Roz has gotten herself involved in such a complicated world which did her bad but also helped her learn more about her friends, her sister and herself. I especially loved the part when everything was a bunch of mess and Roz had no clue of what was happening anymore. And the good thing was that no character was bad in the book, if there were, they all ended up redeeming afterward.

Roz? Extremely funny and unpredictable female lead. I couldn't believe that she did such a thing as lying about her sexuality. Her jealousy of Eva never disturbed me at all, I felt bad for her most of the time since it was as if each and everyone had something to hide from her. However, at times she acted so childish and silly I couldn't take her seriously. I also hoped to see more of her and Nico before the story ended though. He was such a sweet guy.

My Invented Life was a different story of a kind which made the somewhat heavy subject easier to digest and lighter to enjoy. I encourage you to give it a try.

Rating: 3/5

Waiting On Wednesday (34)

Idea taken from The Breaking Spine

Sisters Read by Jackson Pearce.

Scarlett never believed in the Fenris—werewolves drawn to the delectable charms of young girls. That all changed when in one swift attack, a Fenris murdered her grandmother and left Scarlett half-blind and horrifically scarred. Only her younger sister, Rosie, escaped unharmed as Scarlett shielded her from the Fenris’s jaws.

Now eighteen, Scarlett’s life’s mission is to destroy the Fenris and save other girls from her fate—a mission she’s grown to love, despite herself. Armed with red cloaks and hatchets, Scarlett, Rosie, and a young woodsman, Silas, move to the city in search of answers—and vengeance. If they can find a Potential Fenris, tainted by the pack but not yet consumed by it, they can unlock the mystery that transforms them- but better yet, use him as bait.

But unlike Scarlett, Rosie doesn't feel the thrill of the hunt in her blood. Longing for a life away from heavy responsibility and something sweeter than steel determination, Rosie finds herself drawn to Silas. More and more often, they find themselves abandoning the search for the Potential, stealing kisses, sharing secrets.

When Scarlett discovers the romance blossoming in her midst, she abandons her sister to the woodsman, certain that her own heart has no room for love, not when it's filled with her mission, her purpose. Still, the bond between Scarlett and Rosie is too deep to truly sever, and when Scarlett discovers a way to bring her sister back to her side for good- even if it means destroying Rosie’s happiness—she is forced to make a decision that will change the course of both their lives.


Now I'm lusting not only after As You Wish, but Sisters Red as well. This modern Little Red Riding Hood version sounds completely amazing (I really hate give-away synopsis but surprisingly this makes me even more hyped for the book haha). I like the fact that the concept is strictly kept but everything seems all refreshing. The other sister falling in love with the woodsman? Never saw that one coming. Oh and, it's not a necessary thing to say but this cover IS <3

Go on the journey of revenge with the sisters on June 3rd 2010. A long way to go, I know. Wish I could complain to the publisher : (

Cover cover cover

Some remake covers I made for this contest. Something was missing in each and every cover but I couldn't tell exactly what it is...anyway, here are the cover for Something Like Fate, The Unwritten Rule & The Six Rules Of Maybe ;)








Pictures credits to deviantart.com


If you're interested, come and join us. You can stand a chance to win a bundle of ARCs. There are The Unwritten Rule, Chasing Brooklyn, Fallen to name a few.

In My Mailbox (35)

Idea taken from The Story Siren

Again, I got new books (who didn't? lol)


Just Listen by Sarah Dessen.

Last year, Annabel was "the girl who has everything; at least that's the part she played in the television commercial for Kopf 's Department Store. This year, she's the girl who has nothing: no best friend because mean-but-exciting Sophie dropped her, no peace at home since her older sister became anorexic, and no one to sit with at lunch. Until she meets Owen Armstrong. Tall, dark, and music-obsessed, Owen is a reformed bad boy with a commitment to truth-telling. With Owen's help, maybe Annabel can face what happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends.

In this multi-layered, impossible-to-put-down book, Sarah Dessen tells the story of a year in the life of a family coming to terms with the imperfections beneath its perfect facade.

Another lovely book from Sarah Dessen. Lot of fans say this is one of her best books so of course I have to pick it up. I love the quotes in Just Listen and I'm curious to see how great Owen is since he sounds very great.


Vampire Academy (book 1) by Richelle Mead.

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

I'm a not a fan ov vampires but Yan and Sharon seem to love this series so much I have to try. Hopefully I'll fall in love with it too. Oh and did I tell you I'm in love with Spirit Bound cover? It's HAWT!


Teach Me by R.A Nelson.

Whut down. From the very first page, Nine speaks in a voice that is at once raw, at happens when a high school student and her teacher cross that line?

Teach Me by R. A. Nelson is a powerful debut novel that readers will not be able to phonest, direct, and unusually eloquent. "There has been an earthquake in my life," she says, inviting you inside an experience that fascinates everyone-an affair between teacher and student-and giving a personal answer to the question: How does this happen?

R. A. Nelson's strong writing is paired with a story we all want to hear, resulting in a novel that will speak to every teenager. A novel about a love so intense that the person you're with becomes your world, and when you lose that person, you lose your world.

This is a hard subject, I wonder how R.A Nelson dealt with it. In another aspect, I love seemingly scandalous books, so I requested for this copy.


Thanks awesome Erin for the books. Once again, you rock :D

Tell me buddies, how was your last book week?

Goth Girl Rising by Barry Lyga

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Pub. Date: October 19th 2009 by
Age Range: Young Adult
Pages: 320
Format: ARC
Source of copy: from the publisher -Houghton Mifflin

Time is a funny thing in the hospital. In the mental ward. You lose track of it easily. After six months in the Maryland Mental Health Unit, Kyra Sellers, a.k.a. Goth Girl, is going home. Unfortunately, she's about to find out that while she was away, she lost track of more than time. Kyra is back in black, feeling good, and ready to make up with the only person who's ever appreciated her for who she really is. But then she sees him. Fanboy. Transcended from everything he was into someone she barely recognizes. And the anger and memories come rushing back. There's so much to do to people when you're angry. Kyra's about to get very busy.


Another impressive production by Barry Lyga. Fast paced, intense and full of anger, Goth Girl Rising is ready to take you on a ride to find true love and leave the haunting past behind.

I had to say that I loved the author's style of writing more and more after reading this book. Whenever I stumbled upon a story by Barry Lyga, I unfailing felt this rush of adrenaline inside me. Like the books were forcing me to read on and on. And I loved that everything of real life was exposed in each and every word. Nothing was held back, nothing was hidden just because it wasn't supposed to be in a book. Just like Boy Toy, Goth Girl Rising was completely courageous.

The story focused on Kyra, who was back from the hospital and suddenly felt like an outcast. Her biggest problem, however, was her mother's painful and shocking death. Kyra found herself in a tangle of confusion and fury: Fanboy seemed no longer need her as his best friend or comic book buddy, Jecca and Kyra herself were acting strang, and she couldn't but mess up with her Dad's mind. The main emotion throughout the story was anger and let me tell you something, it was awesome. Sometimes it was as if the anger was sneaking into me too. Some parts were unique, like the description of Kyra last time with her mother, which was jaw-dropping.

Needless to say, Kyra's character was super strong, or should I say rebellious. The most remarkable thing about her character was that it was such a surprise how the author built her without any difficulties. Like he actually knows really well what was on a girl's mind, how she felt, how she loved, how she reacted to certain situations. However dangerous and fearless Kyra could be, she appeared silly and crazy at times too.

Overall it was an amazing book that will please readers who loved intense and honest stories, especially fans of The Astonishing Adventures Of FanBoy and Goth Girl.

Rating: 4/5

Into The Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pub. Date: Oct 2009
Age Range: Young Adult
Pages: 245
Format: ARC
Source of copy: from the publisher - Feiwel & Friends

It's Jessie's sophomore year of high school. A self-professed "mathlete," she isn't sure where she belongs. Her two best friends have transformed themselves into punks and one of them is going after her longtime crush. Her beloved older brother will soon leave for college (and in the meantime has shaved off his mohawk and started dating...the prom Princess!)... Things are changing fast. Jessie needs new friends. And her quest is a hilarious tour through high school clique-dom, with a surprising stop along the way--the Dungeons and Dragons crowd, who out-nerd everyone. Will hanging out with them make her a nerd, too? And could she really be crushing on a guy with too-short pants and too-white gym shoes? If you go into the wild nerd yonder, can you ever come back?


Into The Wild Nerd Yonder was such an endearing book. Something as cute as a cookie. Julie Halpern did not just deliver a fun story of a girl trying to seek her real place but also gave the "nerd" label a totally different look. You think being a nerd is embarrassing? Think again.

New school year began and Jessie thought everything would be as interesting as it always was. It'd have, had it not been for the fact that everyone was changing and she remained the same old girl. Now she realized that maybe her bestfriends weren't the true ones, and perhaps she didn't want to be with these kinds of people even from the beginning. Jessie's story of how she broke away from her comfort zone to find the place she belonged and the ones she wanted to be with was joyful and witty.

Simple as it might sound, Into The Wild Nerd Yonder had more than just a message of "just be yourself". I liked the way the author explored such sentiment in Jessie. All the doubt she had for love, all the fear she wanted to surrender to, unnecessary prejudice she built. The seriousness of those sneaked in between moments of laughter and chuckle, so at no time would the readers feel heavy with the story. In fact, all you'd have was excitement and the attractiveness of the so-called nerdy game - Dungeons and Dragons. Julie Halpern, in my opinion, made nerds proud with this book. Nerds are kind, lovely, unique people; there is nothing to be embarrassed if you're called a nerd. The label doesn't make you. You make it. And the nerd crowd Jessie just joined made it so fantastic.

Jessie was undoubtedly an honest protagonist. Although she wasn't specifically powerful or loud as other female heroines I'd met with, she didn't fall boring or flat. Her voice sometimes was a bit childish but I liked cute characters so to me that wasn't a big deal. Actually, Jessie was like a little sister that you wanted to be with all the time. Her love story with Henry was just as sweet even when it failed to impress. My other favorite character was her older brother. Ones that I disliked? Bizza and Char.Seriously, I'm tired of seeing selfish, attention-hungry, stupid friends in like almost every novel. What's wrong with those girls?

To sum up and to say it again, this is a really cute book. You'll adore it.


Rating: 3.5/5

Waiting On Wednesday (34)

Idea taken from Breaking The Spine

Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey.

Jill Jekel has always obeyed her parents’ rules – especially the one about never opening the mysterious, old box in her father’s office. But when her dad is murdered, and her college savings disappear, she's tempted to peek inside, as the contents might be key to a lucrative chemistry scholarship.

To better her odds, Jill enlists the help of gorgeous, brooding Tristen Hyde, who has his own dark secrets locked away. As the team of Jekel and Hyde, they recreate experiments based on the classic novel, hoping not only to win a prize, but to save Tristen’s sanity. Maybe his life. But Jill’s accidental taste of a formula unleashes her darkest nature and compels her to risk everything – even Tristen’s love – just for the thrill of being… bad.


Maybe I'm the slowest person on earth but I just found out about the Jekel and Hyde concept, which is just amazing. That's why Jekel Loves Hyde intrigued me more and more these days. I love that there seem to everything: love, secrets, insanity, magic(?) and a little bit of chemistry; all mixed in a good and exciting way. The cover is just okay to me. I don't like the colour much. Well, at least the models look cool :)


Why Jekel loves Hyde? Find in answer on May 3rd, 2010.


Seriously I can't wait. Cannot wait :(

In My Mailbox (34)

Idea taken from The Story Siren

I'm squealing for these books because they're S&S releases and I've been wanting to read it for forever.


Wake by Lisa McMann.

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can't tell anybody about what she does -- they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can't control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant....

I've heard enough great things of this series to jump at whoever got this book that's in my sight. I love dreams, especially dreaming interpreting. But it's nothing close to this. Sadly the sequel isn't available from this publisher so wish me luck so I could find other ways to read the rest of Dream Catcher!


Bloom by Elizabeth Scott.

There's a difference between falling and letting go.

Lauren has a good life: decent grades, great friends, and a boyfriend every girl lusts after. So why is she so unhappy?

It takes the arrival of Evan Kirkland for Lauren to figure out the answer: She's been holding back. She's been denying herself a bunch of things (like sex) because staying with her loyal and gorgeous boyfriend, Dave, is the "right" thing to do. After all, who would give up the perfect boyfriend?

But as Dave starts talking more and more about their life together, planning a future Lauren simply can't see herself in -- and as Lauren's craving for Evan, and moreover, who she is with Evan becomes all the more fierce -- Lauren realizes she needs to make a choice...before one is made for her.

A title by Elizabeth Scott. What else can I say? She's fantastic and I really do hope I'll enjoy her books as much as I enjoy reading her blogs. This book has a real beautiful cover. I love the colour of green. So peaceful yet so sad.


The Center Of The Universe (Yep, That Would Be Me) by Anita Liberty.

Welcome to the story of my life. Well, at least the story of my junior and senior years of high school. It's a profound, touching, and hilarious (if I do say so myself) tale told through cunning poems, revelatory diary entries, perspicacious (look it up) word definitions, shrewd bits of advice, and off-the-cuff (but brilliant) insights.

You'll probably relate to a lot of it. Especially the parts about hating my parents, never feeling cool enough, failing my first attempt at the SATs, having an incredibly romantic (but one-sided) relationship with the coolest guy in school, and getting hexed by my ex-best friend who became a Wiccan.

And if you can't relate? Well, step to the back of that humongous line. You'll probably be right behind my family. If you're lucky, my mom'll bring snacks.
How can I be who I am and who my family wants me to be when the person I am wouldn't be caught dead with the person my family wants me to be?

The synopsis promises a hilarious read (which the title alone can do too) so why not pick it up? I heard that it's like a diary with many SATs words on it so this may be my chance to improve my vocabulary. Perfect book, ain't it?


Millions thanks to Rose from Simon & Schuster Australia for sending these to me<333


So what have you got last week? Spill! :D