BOOK REVIEW: Leaving Paradise (Leaving Paradise #1) by Simone Elkeles

I finally got my copy of Leaving Paradise after month of waiting for it. I really loved Simone's Perfect Chemistry Series and when I love an author reading her other works is definitely a must. So I ordered this a month ago as soon as I finished reading Perfect Chemistry. The novel is written in alternating POV's between Caleb and Maggie.

I must admit that I'm still letting the story sink in. My God. This is probably one of her best work to date. I really got into it. It was about finding love in the most unexpected places, forgiveness and a lot more other things. I really liked the chemistry between Caleb and Maggie. Both of them are seriously screwed up after everything they've been through. The first 2 or 3 chapters in Caleb's POV made me think that he was such an ass for doing what he did to Maggie and I found myself feeling really bad for Maggie. She didn't deserve everything that's happened to her and the way her so-called friends treated her was just inexcusable. But I did think that she is a very strong person for going through life after everything that's happened. I really liked both Maggie and Caleb. Admittedly, I didn't fall in love with Caleb from the get-go but as the story progressed and as I started to get to know Caleb more I knew I was falling for him. Hard. Anyway, both are awesome characters and are very inspirational in their own way. I usually hate girls with insecurities but for some reason I really loved Maggie. I got her. For some reason, I truly understand where all these insecurities and barricades are coming from.

Overall, I was immersed in this novel. I don't really know if I was happy or sad or whatever. I have mixed feelings. There were moments that made my lips form a smile and my heart flutter. But there were also moments that broke my heart and made me cry. I was inspired. I was in awe. This is such a wonderful story that I can't even begin to describe how I feel about it. I liked most of the characters even if I did dislike some namely Kendra and Leah. I think both are really selfish and I just wanted to strangle them both. The revelation towards the end simply broke my heart. I was teary-eyed to be totally honest. I don't have enough words to describe how much I love this novel but I can confidently say that this is one is on the top of my all  time favorites. I just love all of her novels. I always finish her books in one day. I'd skip eating  and going on toilet breaks if I could. Haha. I'd give this an easy 5/5 stars. And I am a certified Simone Elkeles fan.

BOOK REVIEW: CITY OF LOST SOULS BY CASSANDRA CLARE

I finished City of Lost Souls the fifth book in The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. I could probably say that this is one of the best books in the series even if Clary managed to annoy me up to the very end. haha. Seriously, how can a main character be that annoying? Anyway, the story’s main characters are still Clary and Jace plus Sebastian a.k.a. Jonathan Morgenstern, Simon, Izzy, Alec and Magnus.

First of all, I loved the way this books was written. I think Clare focused on the development of the characters relationships with each other. She didn’t stick to the Jace and Clary storyline that much which to be honest I think is kinda overrated by now.Don’t get me wrong, majority of the pages still involved Clary and Jace but still I liked the fact that Ms. Clare decided to spice things up with Simon and Izzy. I am more of a IzzyXSimon fan since Clary just can’t help but piss me off every single time.There were parts that just broke my heart but still I loved this book as much as I loved the third book which is my favorite in the series btw.

Anyhoo, moving on to the characters. Seriously, Clary annoyed me so much in this book there were moments when I just wanted to hurl the book out the window. I think she was just too immature for her own good in this book. She’s just too hormonal for a teenager. When she wasn’t with Jace all she managed to do was mope around and pretend that the world has stopped because her Jace is gone. Seriously girl, the world has moved on and she should to. I’m not saying that she should just give up on Jace but I think she should also think about the people around her. She’s not the only one who lost someone. And by the time she decided that she should follow Jace wherever he’s going just to find out what he is up to all she managed to accomplish was think of how intimate the two of them can get. And not just that, somehow based on what I read she also had this tension (Don’t ask me if that “tension” is sexual or not because I am not sure myself but there is definitely tension.) with her own brother,Sebastian. Incest much?Anyway, I honestly don’t care if she has an incestuous relationship with her brother or whatever I just wanted her to forget her hormonal urges for just a second and focus what she’s supposed to do. Seriously, Clary just infuriated me every single time.

Then there’s Jace. I honestly could not find myself to like him as much as I liked him in the first four books. I miss the sarcastic and self- absorbed Jace. Well, yeah he was possessed or something but still I missed the old Jace. I didn’t hate him as much as I hated Clary though.
Then of course, there’s Sebastian a.k.a. Jonathan. This boy is seriously evil reincarnate. He’s so evil and Ms. Clare managed to make me hate him but not as much as I hate his sister.He is just so evil it’s just too difficult to like him. And I think he’s very effective as a villain. I’m so intrigued by whatever it is that awaits him in the last book.

And lastly, I would like to commend how Ms. Clare wrote Izzy, Simon, Alec and Magnus Bane’s storyline. I just love these characters. I love the way their relationships were developed especially Simon and Izzy’s.Damn! It’s about time.I love the intimacy between these characters although there were definitely heartbreaking moments but still I love the fact that their stories were given time to develop. Oh, almost forgot about Jordan and Maia. I think it was pretty obvious from the fourth book that they would somehow end up the way they did in this fifth installment.

Overall, I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed reading books 1-4. It’s just that this time around Clary managed to annoy me up to the very end. Don’t get me wrong. I am not being biased. I am trying to like her as much as I can but I simply can’t find myself to do it. She’s annoying and selfish as hell and she never learns. I actually liked her more in the first trilogy. I think this character was able to redeem herself in City of Glass but somehow managed to go back to being annoying as the books continued. I’d still give this a 4/5 star rating though since I seriously loved the way the relationships and the other characters developed. I can’t wait for the last book. :)

BOOK REVIEW: DEMONGLASS BY RACHEL HAWKINS

I just finished the second book from the Hex Hall Trilogy by Rachel Hawkins which is Demonglass a few minutes ago. And I have to say I’m loving this as much as I loved the first one. Anyway, the novel centers around the adventures of Sophie Mercer and the Prodigium.

Sophie meets her father, James, for the first time in her seventeen years of existence and she’s less than thrilled to be spending some time with him after all these years. I actually sympathized with her in this aspect since my relationship with my own father is not exactly all roses and bunnies. Anyway, as head of the Prodigium Council her father came to Hex Hall to meet his daughter due to the events that took place in the first book. And off she flies to England!

Again, I can’t help but love Sophie. I just love the way her character grew up from the first book. Her smart mouth and sarcasm never fails to make me laugh. I also think she’s one of those heroines that you can’t just help but love. A lot of things were revealed that somehow shocked me.It was a pleasant kind of shock though.I love the fact that she didn’t just mope around like some other female characters after everything that she went through. I just love Sophie.

Then there’s Cal. He had a bigger role in this book and I definitely liked that. It always seemed to me that Cal is not just your typical groundskeeper/ healer/ white warlock.I always believed that he had his own story to tell. Anyway, it turns out he is actually connected to Sophie through…….No, I won’t say it! I don’t want to spoil anyone who has not read this awesome book yet. I seriously loved Cal and I am utterly confused right now because I cannot choose who to root for. Will it be Archer? Or Cal?

And of course, there’s Archer. I missed him in some parts of the book. It turns out he’s actually a warlock raised by The Eye.But even so, I am still in love with him. He’s just so dreamy and everything. haha. I am so confused right now. Will it be Cal? Or Archer? Seriously, how can Ms. Hawkins right two awesome male characters. Anyway, I love Archer and I just can’t wait to read the last novel.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book as much as the first one. I love the fact that Ms. Hawkins did not turn Sophie into a mopey character after everything that she’s been through. Plus, the fact that Jenna is still the pink loving vamp! She’s just so adorable!Anyway, I somehow hated the fact that the ending is such a cliffhanger! haha. Now, I need to get my hands on the third book. I need a paperback soon!

Rating: 5/5 stars
Recommendations: Everyone! :)