Novel Review: FML by Shaun David Hutchinson

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Release Date: 2013

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Teaser Tuesday. Wishlist Thursday.

Goodreads Synopsis:

There’s more than one way to get the girl in this fun and fast-paced novel about one epic party and a kiss that could change everything.Tonight’s the night: Simon’s big chance to finally get with Cassie. Cassie, who he’s loved for ages. Cassie, who is newly boyfriend-free. Cassie, who just happens to be throwing the biggest party of the year. Simon’s plan is simple: He’ll go to the party, she’ll fall in love with him, they’ll make out like crazy, and the night will be a complete success.

But things don’t ever go as planned…especially when it comes to Cassie.

In two alternating plotlines, Simon goes after the girl of his dreams and stumbles toward his destiny. It’s one night, one party, and a thousand ways for things to go wrong…but a million ways for them to go right.

The Cover:

I quite like this cover. I think it fits the feel of the book well, and I like how similar it is to the cover for Party by Tom Leveen. It's eye-catching, and fitting.

Review:

“Sometimes love hurts, but it shouldn’t be so damb hard.” (Paperback, pg. 247)

“We’re all imperfect people looking for perfect moments to share with other imperfect people.” (Pg. 275)

Simon has been in love with Cassie for years, and tonight is the night that he’s going to go for it. She’s throwing a party, and he has to choose whether to go and win her over, or attempt going out with someone who actually knows he exists. From there, we follow Simon on two possible time lines, where he goes straight to the party or where he tries to hang out with Natalie instead.

Simon is very stuck on Cassie for this entire book. He’s a little hard to handle at times, how blind he is to everything else. It makes his friends’ reactions very understandable. And about halfway through (more or less, depending on the timeline), we meet Stella. She’s eccentric, funny, understanding, and curious though inexperienced. The banter is immediate, and the attraction is obvious, but Simon ignores it for a long while. I loved her immediately, honestly.

I did actually quite like the way that the two timelines worked, how things developed separately but very similar. I actually got confused a few times on which time line was which, because they were so similar, just different because events moved in a different way. I quite liked how it all wrapped up, though; I think it worked out well, and I liked how it all pulled together in the end. 

This was a fun book, and I enjoyed it.

Manga Review: Black Butler, Volume 9, by Yana Toboso

Rating (Out of 5): ~4-4.5

Publisher: Yen Press

Volumes: 14+

Spoilers?: Minor to this volume, nothing huge, but yes for previous volumes.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Earl Ciel Phantomhive’s quietude is interrupted as Queen Victoria’s very own butlers commandeer Phantomhive Manor for a lavish banquet sanctioned by Her Majesty. Preparations for such an event are quick work in the hands of Sebastian, the house’s most able butler, but corralling the eminent guests may prove to be rather more of a challenge. For this dinner party is anything but festive, and as a stormy night batters the outside of the grand residence, a far more violent storm begins to unfurl within. And no one is safe from the havoc it will wreak—not even one seemingly impervious manservant…

Review:

Oh my God I love this series so much. After the circus arc, because of how much I loved it (and, yea,  I'm still upset about it), I wasn’t sure if whatever was next would be as good. And even when I first started this volume and found out that it was going to be a mystery plot, I wasn’t sure if it would be good, but it was. It’s still amazing and I love it.

I’m just kind of impressed by the fact that this series is still so good.

The volume starts by introducing us to a new character, Arthur, or Professor, who has been invited to a party. He’s nothing special, just someone who sometimes writes stories and only a few has been published (I believe? His background wasn’t totally clear to me, just that he isn’t high up in class like everyone else we see). Mostly he opens things up, letting us know that something deadly is coming. Then it moves to two of the Queen’s bodyguards, who show up at the Phantomhive manor, with a message from the Queen. There’s a fight scene between them and the Phantomhive servants, which is pretty equal. Mostly I just love seeing the servants being badass; it’s kind of like a special treat to me. She wants to impress some man, and has decided that Ciel will be the one to host a party for him. It’s the first party Ciel has hosted, and he’s reluctant, but does it because he needs to get in the Queen’s good graces again after the whole killing-all-of-the-circus-and-the-children-with-little-to-not-good-enough-explanation thing. So he hosts the party and we are introduced to several new characters and we get to see Lau again, who is very cryptic and dark, most of which didn’t leave me with a big impression.

Also, at first I thought Arthur was the special guest, but then we found out that he wasn't. At least, I'm pretty sure. And if it was Siemens, then I'm confused as to why. He doesn't really seem all that special. Maybe it's only because of his status, then? And I guess the only reason Arthur was invited was because Ciel liked his stories, which I find interesting. 

The whole volume focuses on the party, and then someone is killed, and then another person is killed, and then someone is killed who I totally don’t believe is dead (specifically because it has been proven to us, several times within this series, that he cannot be killed). At least one of the murders is locked-door murder (meaning that someone had to have left the room and hooked something up to lock the inside lock from the other side of the door), and all of the people within the mansion are suspects, particularly including Ciel, since they are all stranded at the mansion from a storm. Most of the mystery stuff reminded me of Case Closed, which pretty much sums up my mystery watching experience (not that that’s bad; I pretty much love that show, no matter how repetitive and pointless it is).

There were a couple of spots in the volume that were suspense driven, mostly with Sebastian, which just didn’t do much for me. Although there was this one, big scene with Sebastian that wasn’t cleared up by the end of the volume, which is bothering me, but that I still don’t really believe. Because, really? There was foreshadowing and the makings of a set-up, along with the whole, there’s no possible way that could be real thing.

Aside from that, there was this one scene between Arthur and Ciel that was so cute and sweet. Ciel is just adorable, and so broken, and I love him and want to hug him. He’s just so… huggable. And lovable. (Also, while it kind of bothers me, I see the makings of yaoi in this series. There’s so many scenes between Ciel and Sebastian, and this one with Arthur [although this one was a little more fatherly and loverly], and I can see why people would go to yaoi fanfic. Which, normally I wouldn’t admit, or even think much about, because I’m not a huge yaoi fan, but I can honestly see it in this series.)

Oh, and Mey-Rin. In the anime, I was really annoyed with her voice and how she talked, but now I’m thinking it was rather spot-on with the manga. I can actually hear the voice actors voice when I read her lines, and it annoys me to no end. Except for when she’s being her badass-y self; then, she is just plain awesome and I want more of her. Why can’t she be like that all the time?

Um, anyway.

I’m mostly intrigued for the next book. I'm not sure who's doing the killing or why, although I have a few guesses, but I do want to find out. I hope that the next volume gets darker, more intense, like it did with the circus. Also, that I get to know the characters better, particularly Arthur. And, of course, excited. I really do quite love this series, and I’m always anticipating the next one. I mostly hate waiting so long for the next one, but that’s alright.

Review: Party by Tom Leveen

~4 of 5 Stars
 Publisher: Random House 

Goodreads Synopsis:

It's Saturday night in Santa Barbara and it seems like everyone is headed to the same destination. The reason is simple: to celebrate the end of school. But for eleven different people the motives are bit more complicated—to be noticed, to hook up, to make friends, to numb the pain, to get over an ex, to say goodbye. As each character takes a turn and tells his/her story, the eleven individuals intersect, reconnect, and combine in ways that none of them ever saw coming.

Combine the poignancy of Thirteen Reasons Why with the energy of films like American Graffiti, Dazed and Confused, and Sixteen Candles and you get Party—a sneak peek into the lives of contemporary teens over the course of a single night. Alternating points of view and the timeless setting of an end-of-school party make this a compelling read. Those who pick it up cannot put it down.

Review:

I was a bit surprised by how much I liked this book. It's a short story in lots of points of views, and it's really good. Very well written, and all of the characters are interesting.

It's about a big party at the beginning of summer, and what is happening to all of these entwined people. All of the characters are really well written, with their own style and voice. There's a fight, and people getting drunk, and best friends being betrayed, and a small wreck, stupid boys and girls, and also a very cute boy, and a depressed girl. Lots of things happen.

I especially liked Beckett, Josh, Max; Morrigan was interesting; and what happened in Ashley's chapter was a very good, satisfying conclusion, even if I did want more of the characters. And I did want more. I wanted to know what happened with Beckett and Max, and with Josh and Morrgan, and what happened to Beckett in general now that she's patched things up with Ashley.

I really liked this book, and it was much deeper, while also very adorable in certain parts, than I thought it would be. Books about parties and with multiple points of views like this one has are usually not as well done as this one, so I was a bit surprised and very glad about it.

It would be amazing if Leveen wrote a follow up novel, but I'll just be content to read his next book.