The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin

Hello, there!
So, recently I read this book you may have heard of: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. I'm going to try to keep this review coherent, because if you are familiar with this book, you'll understand all the feels (emotions, if you don't speak internet) it can stir up. It's just one of those marvels that you stumble upon and just don't know how to let go of. I read on a car ride from Quebec to New York (9 hours) and was practically shaking, holding up my legs with foam slipping from a corner of my mouth after I'd finished it. Well, maybe not quite that bad, but almost. This book is absolutely wonderful, and if you haven't read it yet, just go buy it, I swear you won't regret it.
So. The story revolves around Mara, a teenage girl who moves to Florida from Rhode Island after a building collapses on her and her friends, killing the latter and causing Mara to show severe PTSD symptoms. I won't say anything more because I might start crying if I do. Well, I won't, but you know what I mean.
So. Why do I like this book, you might ask? Well, I could tell you that the story is wonderfully written, gripping and that every single character is like a work of art. But I'll give you two words instead. Two words that you'll understand perfectly once you read the book. Noah Shaw. 'Nuff said. Noah Shaw is one of the main characters of this book, and he is pure perfection. From his beautiful sarcasm to his extreme intelligence to his overwhelming physical attractiveness, which is described at various occasions throughout the book. I won't tell you too much about Noah Shaw because I don't want to be spoilery, but whether you are gay, straight, bi or asexual, you will fall in love with him. It's just how life is. You won't be able to help it, but your love for him will grow with every word you read from the series.
Now I understand I may sound slightly creepy and/or emotionally unstable in this book review, but bear with me. Once you read the book, I think you'll understand where all these feels are coming from. You'll probably end up shipping Nora as much as I do. So please, I beg you, go read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, I promise you won't regret it.
So, as you might have gathered, I loved, loved, loved this book! It was pure genius and I think that anyone who is gifted with the ability to read it, should. I'll give it an 11/10, because it surpasses perfection.
Toodlepip,
x Clara
P.S. I realize now that I failed miserably at keeping the review coherent, but whatever. Coherence isn't always available when you need it.

The Perks of Being A Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky

Hi, there!
So. Unless you live under a rock, you've probably heard of The Perks of Being a Wallflower at least once during the past year. It was recently adapted into a film with Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller. I haven't yet seen it, so I can't give you an appreciation of said film, though I've heard quite marvellous things from fellow readers.
The book, however, I can tell you was great. I really loved reading from the point of view of a completely socially inept teenager; I found it was very intriguing. The fact that the narrator didn't quite understand how to interact with anyone, even the friend he sent all the letters to, made the interactions between characters that much more interesting, in my opinion. I liked how the side story with his aunt unravelled throughout the book to end up with it's quite shocking conclusion. I fell completely in love with Patrick and sincerely wish I had someone like that in my life. Charlie's evolution was a nice story to follow and I found that the book depicted high school in a very truthful and interesting way. I know that not everyone will find that to be true, everyone lives high school in his own way, but that's how it felt to me, and I liked being able to read about a similar experience from a fictional character's point of view.
So. Short summary: Charlie start high school and doesn't exactly fit in. He doesn't have any friends, until he meets Patrick, a senior who takes him under his wing. He introduces Charlie to a whole new group of people whom Charlie grows to love.
I really loved The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and give it a 9.5/10. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. If you haven't already read it, well, what are you waiting for?
Enjoy the holidays!
Toodlepip,
x Clara

It's Kind of a Funny Story - Ned Vizzini

Hi, there!

You may or may not have already heard about this book. It's Kind of a Funny Story has gained a lot of popularity over the past few years, thanks, in part, to it's movie adaptation, which featured Emma Roberts, Keir Gilchrist and Zach Galifianakis. I would recommend watching this movie; I quite enjoyed it. But I digress. Back to the book.

I really liked It's Kind of a Funny Story, mainly because I related to it so much. I found the story to be very true and honest, which may be due to the fact that the author, Ned Vizzini, lived some of the events related by Craig. I really appreciated most of the characters (Nia wasn't quite up my alley, but she was well-written nonetheless), and the storyline was very interesting to me. I liked the fact that the story felt more like reality than fiction. There were many passages throughout the book that I felt I could've lived myself, and I enjoyed relating to what Craig thought and felt. 

I guess I should give you some sort of a plot summary. I'll make it as unspoilery as possible, seeing as I really think you should go read this book and that I shouldn't ruin the story for you. So here goes it. The story is narrated by fifteen year-old Craig Gilner, whom I've already mentioned a few times. He checks himself in to the psychiatric unit of a hospital after experiencing serious suicidal thoughts. He is sent to the adult ward, because the teenage one is being repaired. There, he meets a variety of interesting characters with different degrees of mental illness, who help him understand himself and his life a little better. That's as much as I'll tell you. 

I recommend this book to pretty much anyone who isn't too sensitive to the subject of depression and suicide. Anyway. I really enjoyed this book and therefore will give it 9/10. 

Hope you enjoyed this book review! If there's any book out there that you'd like for me to review, please send me a message and I'll try to read it as soon as possible. 

Toodlepip,

x Clara