[Mid-Week Read] Just One Night by Gayle Forman

Mid-Week Reads focuses on novellas, short stories, graphic novels and anything in between.

Typically these stories will be under 100 pages making for a nice evening read.

Buy on Amazon for 99 cents!

Title: Just One Night

Series: Just One Day #2.5, 40 pages

Author: Gayle Forman [Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Website]

Publisher: Viking Children's Books an imprint of Penguin

Genre: Young Adult - Contemporary Romance

Release Date: May 29, 2014

Format: personal copy – review policy here.

Synopsis via Goodreads:

After spending one life-changing day in Paris with laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter, sheltered American good girl Allyson “Lulu” Healey discovered her new lover had disappeared without a trace. Just One Day followed Allyson’s quest to reunite with Willem; Just One Year chronicled the pair’s year apart from Willem’s perspective. Now, back together at last, this delectable e-novella reveals the couple’s final chapter.

General  thoughts:

Taking place when Willem open the door to see Allison and concluding after only one night together we learn about their respective adventures, missed connections and steamy love for each other. 

Oh Willem, I've missed you. One thing about Gayle's writing is that the duologies have always been told from the female's POV first and then the male's in the second book. This novella is told in third person and I'm not sure that I like it, but I do see the necessity. All the inner dialogue which carries the drama and humor is lost, instead we must rely on body language and speaking dialogue which falls flat in places. If anything, we learn never to assume you know the situation. Even if it unfolding in front of you. Missed connections will happen, but so do coincidences, and happy ones at that.

Does it add the story?

Not really, Just One Day and Just One Year filled in their respective gaps and the endings give us closure. However, this novella continues on to set up a more comfortable happily ever after with Allyson and Willem living in the same place. Maybe. Probably. 

3 Stars: While I love a vague ending, this is the happy ending that readers were waiting for. 

[Mid-Week Reads] The Isobel Journal by Isobel Harrop

Mid-Week Reads focuses on novellas, short stories, graphic novels and any thing in between.

Typically these stories will be under 100 pages making for a nice evening read.

Title: The Isobel Journal

Author: Isobel Harrop [Twitter | Blog]

Publisher: Switch Press an imprint of Capstone Young Readers

Genre: Young Adult - Contemporary, Graphic Novel

Release Date: UK- November 7, 2013; USA- August 1, 2014

Format: review copy via the publisher – review policy here.

Synopsis via Goodreads:

This quirky, narrative scrapbook gives readers a witty, honest look at what it means to be a teenager. Using mini-graphic novels, photos, sketches, and captions, The Isobel Journal offers a unique glimpse into the creative life of eighteen-year-old Isobel, just a northern girl from where nothing really happens.

The Story

Isobel is an English teenager who ruminates life using quote-worthy phrases designed for a social media driven audience. Each page could easily be shared on instagram or tumblr with full repost potential, however if you're expecting a progressive story line you'll be disappointed. Instead, readers are treated to the internal musings of a teenager as she navigates everyday life on the topics of Beyonce, love and breaking up. The prose is reflective of the female inner dialogue filled with doubt, dreams, and sprinkled with tidbits of motivation.  

Do you ever see those super cool looking girls in the street
and you just wish you could make them your friend
– and then they vanish?

The Art

Drawn with a childlike innocence, Harrop is able to convey an array of emotions in a raw state, while maintaing a connection between the teenage character's journal and an audience peeking in. At first the rough sketches made me *side eye* with the hauntings of a hipster trend, but combined with the prose the jaggedness the illustrations became an extension of Isobel's humanity. The artwork becomes more intimate with the scanned images of her journals, and photograph and illustration mash-ups allowing for an intimate view of Isobel's life. 

Overall Isobel's Journal has great potential to become a graphic series. With questions of how her parent's came to divorce, her living with dad, who broke her heart, why she felt left out of the art group and so much more!

Switch Press is an imprint of Capstone Young Readers and will officially debut at Book Expo America 2014.

3.5 Stars - Cute, authentic and relevant to teens today! Hope to see more on Isobel.

[Mid-Week Reads] Red at Night by Katie McGarry

Mid-Week Reads focuses on novellas, short stories and those in between.

Typically these stories will be under 100 pages making for a nice evening read.

FREE on Amazon

Title: Red at Night

Author: Katie McGarry (Twitter, Facebook, Website)

Publisher: Harlequin Teen; More Than Words

Genre: Young Adult - Contemporary, Romance

Release Date: April 1, 2014

Format: free ebook via Amazon, 84 pages

Synopsis via Goodreads:

In Red at Night, Stella and Jonah are total opposites. She's the girl with purple hair from the wrong part of town. He's a high school senior who hangs with the cool crowd. Until a car accident leaves him haunted by guilt, and Jonah starts spending time at Stella's favorite refuge…the local cemetery.

Stella knows she should keep her distance—after all, she spent her girlhood being bullied by Jonah's friends. Once he's sorted out his tangled emotions, Jonah won't have time for her anymore. Too bad she's already fallen for him…

I always enjoy reading the synopsis after the read... That last sentence should definitely say "Too bad he's already fallen for her..." 

"A storm's always coming," I state. "Some don't have rain."

It's such a short read!!! I need more Stella and Jonah in my life. Both of the characters are a little bit broken and find a pathway to becoming whole after developing a friendship that leads to more. Yay, for relationship building and not insta-love, though there's definitely some insta-lust. 

"I fist the material of his shirt and it's not to keep him close, it's to prevent me from running." 

Everything about them is completely opposite with the exception that they are both genuinely good people. Which is good because I feel like this story is about drawing out the good in yourself, and washing away guilt, doubt and all the haters. Sometimes you just have to "do you" and make sure you surround yourself by those who are going to prop you up. As the story says, change is a choice. You can change your spots if you want to because it's all about attitude. 

Quick Pic Review

Read this! It was a nice reprieve from my dark contemps and paranormal reads.

Plus, it's cute... like makes you believe in love-for-life love cute.

Did you read it? What did you think?
Would you want to read more about Jonah and Stella?

[Mid-Week Reads] Divergent Edition - The Transfer & Inside Divergent: The Initiate's World

Mid-Week Reads focuses on novellas, short stories and those in between.

Typically these stories will be under 100 pages making for a nice evening read.

 

FREE on Amazon

Title: Inside Divergent: The Initiate's World

Author: Cecilia Bernard

Publisher: HarperCollins, Katherine Tegen Books imprint 

Genre: Young Adult - Dystopian

Release Date: February 11, 2014

Format: free ebook via iBooks, 144 pages

This is a nice "look book" style companion to introduce someone to the Divergent series who has not read the novels and would like to know more before seeing the movie. Maybe best for a significant other, mom, dad or sibling you are dragging to see the film. However, I would always recommend you read the novels!! 

I do feel like there are a few items in this look book that may be considered spoilers. But that may just be me who feels that way and my love for surprises! So if you plan on reading the book, I would download it and save for after you've read Divergent. If you've read at least the first book you'll be fine.

The major pro is you get to see lots of movie stills! It was definitely something to preview each Faction's attire, exploring the sets and key scenes. 

"What makes you different makes you dangerous." 

Buy on Amazon for $1.99

Title: The Transfer a Divergent Story

Author: Veronica Roth

Publisher: HarperCollins, Katherine Tegen Books imprint 

Genre: Young Adult - Dystopian

Release Date: September 3, 2013

Format: purchased ebook, 34 pages

The love for Four is undying!! Since the Divergent series is told in first person via Tris (mostly) Roth explores Four's voice as we learn about his journey into Dauntless. This short novella begins with Four taking his aptitude test and follows his journey through Choosing Day and ends with the first day of Dauntless training coming to a close. For such a short read I feel like it fills in some of the gaps I was looking for after reading the first book and even gave me some feels. 

The awesome news is more and more of these gaps will be filled come July 8, 2014!!

Four: The Initiate a Divergent Story

Four: The Son a Divergent Story

Four: The Traitor a Divergent Story

You could read this novella without having read the series. However, if you plan on reading the series or seeing the movie I would read this afterwards.  

"I have to get out." 

What are you looking forward to seeing
in the movie or the future novellas?

[Mid-Week Reads] The Blue-Haired Boy by Courtney C. Stevens

Mid-Week Reads will focus on novellas, short stories and those in between.

Typically these stories will be under 100 pages making for a nice evening read.

Buy ebook on Amazon for 99 cents!

Title: The Blue-Haired Boy

Author: Courtney C. Stevens (Twitter, Blog)

Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books

Genre: Young Adult - Contemporary Fiction, Realistic Fiction

Release Date: March 4, 2014

Format: ebook novella

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Set before the events of Courtney C. Stevens's debut novel, Faking Normal, this digital short story focuses on Bodee Lennox, otherwise known as the Kool-Aid Kid.

Bodee Lennox has secrets. About where he got the four-inch scar on his leg. About the bruises on his back. About what it's really like to live in the Lennox household. These are things he doesn't share with anyone . . . until he meets Gerry, a girl with bright-green hair and a smile the size of Alaska. When Gerry falls out of a bus in Rickman, Tennessee, and lands at Bodee's feet, she gives Bodee two things he desperately needs: a friend and a chance to leave Rickman behind, even if it's just for a few hours.

He joins Gerry on her epic bus trip for as far as his money will take him. And by the end of the day, more of Bodee has changed than just the color of his hair.

Courtney C. Stevens gives the readers a taste of Bodee's story prior to Faking Normal. While the novella is so short it hurts, it is beautifully crafted to answer two key questions I had about Bodee after reading Faking Normal. The biggest being, Why Kool-Aid?, and the second I wouldn't dare to spoil. The ending was bittersweet, but left me with peace and closure since I know what's to come as Bodee grows. 

Read my review of Faking Normal here.

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