Amy & Roger's Epic Detour

by Morgan Matson, 343 p.

This might possibly be the perfect book for me: romance (check), road trip (check), not obviously falling in love (check), awesome music references (check).  I totally couldn't stop thinking about it when I wasn't reading it, and when I was reading it I couldn't bear the thought of putting it down.  Amy isn't obnoxious, Roger is a normal dude with his own life.  I just love it and want to read it again and again.

Flash Burnout

                     by LK Madigan, 332 p.

I really enjoyed this book.  There's something about guys reads that really works for me sometimes.  The voice is really clear and easy to get through sometimes.

(Sorry to be so brief.  Got lots to write!)

Partials

by Dan Wells, 480 pages (ARC)

I'm trying to fill the void left by Divergent and The Hunger Games, and this really fits the bill.  It's slow to start, but the twists make it more than worth it.  I felt like I really understood what was happening to the folks left behind on Long Island (although it turns out I had no clue), but I wouldn't have had that without the slow build-up.  And I'm a sucker for imagery, and I still can't stop thinking about the crazy images Dan Wells has conjured in my minds eye.  Way to go!

Love & Leftovers

by Sarah Tregay, 432 p.

I chose this book for an upcoming book discussion without reading it - man did I have some good luck.  This is just a beautiful story of heartbreak and confusion and finding out that when you've finally got things figured out, you don't really know anything in the first place.  I'm not normally a fan of books written in verse, but this story really couldn't have been written any other way.  It's so much more personal and makes everyone come to life.

Two thumbs way, way up.

The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight

by Jennifer E. Smith, 236 p.

This is another lovely romance-y book.  It's a fast story, but it totally fit the bill.  It starts of with a meet cute, then ends with two young lovers finding each other again in a huge city.  Ah!  I couldn't have asked for more from a new book I didn't know anything about.  Way to go.

What To Wear Where

by Hillary Kerr and Katherine Power, 158 p.

I like books about clothes.

Sue me.

In the Garden of Beasts

by Erik Larson, 448 p.

I wouldn't even be able to imagine what it was to live in the early days of Hitler's Germany as an American.  Thankfully this is a wonderful account of the American ambassador's family's lives in Berlin.  It's personal, inquisitive and, frankly, shocking.

I'm an Erik Larson fan to begin with (he of "The Devil in the White City"), and this was a great follow-up.

Chopsticks

by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral, 272 p.

As I was reading this originally I thought the book was sloppy, but then as some things were explained to me and I reread it, stuff makes a little more sense.  It's a tragic story, but sweet nonetheless.  But is the story really happening?  That's what you need to ask yourself when you read and re-read it.

150 Pounds

by Kate Rockland, 332 p.

This is, by far, one of the worst books I've read in a long time.  And I"ve read a bunch of horrible books.  It's reminiscent of a Jennifer Crusie/Jennifer Weiner book gone wrong.  Catty, bitchy, crazy chicks. The one redeeming quality is the description of the farm in New Jersey.  I totally want to live on an apple farm.   Other than that, skip it.  Just do.