Finding Audrey

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Audrey is a young teenager that apparently had something traumatic happen to her by other girls in her school, resulting in her having anxiety & social issues. This causes her to stay to herself, stay at home & away from people except her family & also causes her to wear big sunglasses so she can avoid eye contact with others.
We see Audrey's journey as she tries to get a "straight line" on a chart - instead of the two steps forward, one step back mentality that life seems to give to everyone.
I did enjoy the book - loved the family dynamics & especially loved her brother Frank who is witty & a perfect big brother for Audrey. Also love the introduction of Linus, Frank's friend, who Audrey starts to open up to & starts letting into her world.
The mom - totally got on my nerves.
& the most frustrating part of it all - we never found out what happened to Audrey. Maybe we dont REALLY need to know for the story, but it was such a big part of her life, & even throughout the book, it would have been nice to hear what caused Audrey to become the person she was.
... still enjoyed it.

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To All the Boys I've Loved Before

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

So I had a weird relationship with this book.
I started off thinking this was going to be TOO YA for me & I wasn't going to be able to tolerate it, & then somewhere in the middle of the story, I got totally wrapped up in it & could remember all the feelings of teenage love drama & I was anxious to see how this was all going to end with Lara Jean... & then got equally as mad about the ending.
Side Note: I get an open ending in a way to close a book - let your imagination kind of fill in the blanks. But when you don't even really get a path in my mind on how it could end? I was a little frustrated with the ending... & am glad that the 2nd book is already out so I can get on that waiting list at the library & continue with the story of Lara Jean & Peter.

The story revolves around a girl who would write letters as her way of saying 'good bye' to the boys she had feelings for. A way of letting go & moving on. & one day, these letters get sent to the boys & Lara Jean is now trying to figure out what to do when the boy she really does like, her sisters ex-boyfriend, gets his letter. She does what any junior in high school would do - fake a relationship with another boy she had a crush on in middle school but now can't really stand. They make a contract since he's trying to make his ex-girlfriend jealous as well & they are off to convince the world they are now the 'hot couple' of their high school.
See, very YA... but totally lovable & sweet & a great book about family relationships, friendships & of course, how quickly things can turn when you have the emotions of a teenager.

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Exposure to a Billionaire

Exposure to a Billionaire by Ann Menke
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

This is probably one of the worst books I've read in a long time.
It just felt like it was written by a high school kid. It just skipped so fast through the story, leaving out so much detail & always repeating itself. If I heard one more time that the 2 pilots were like Anna's brother or that Stuart would say, "You are like family" again & again, I would scream. Or the gifts or the $25,000 bonuses & the notes & the reminding how beautiful Stuart's wife is.... just stop.
The story is about Anna, who becomes a personal assistant to Mr. Stuart Manning - a billionaire - & the life she now gets to experience traveling the world & the people she meets.
It was really a bunch of Karadisian dreams to me & not story telling.
For instance, there is a man who repeatedly shows up trying to kidnap Anna for some reason... & not to spoil anything, the results of this story showing up throughout the book - all gets handled in one paragraph. No real depth ever happened with this story.
I do have to say, I feel like this book took me all over the world though because I'm exhausted.

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The Last Time we Say Goodbye

The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Whew... this was a heart tugger.
The story of a girl whose brother committed suicide.
We go through Lex's year at school & in her life, going through counseling as she's encouraged to write in a journal about how she is feeling & the memories she has of her brother.
We see how her brother - Tyler - & his decision to end his life effects everyone - from his parents, to his girlfriend he just broke up with & his 3 Amigo friends & how Lex struggles to find peace in it all when she promises him she'd always be there for him.
It really is a heavy read where it left me in tears at some points with its forwardness. But I appreciated it.
I imagined that this is very much what I could see someone that lost someone to suicide would go through.... & in the closing, we see the author did indeed loose a brother to suicide.
I think this one will sit with me for awhile.

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