All The Rage by Courtney Summers

From Goodreads: The sheriff’s son, Kellan Turner, is not the golden boy everyone thinks he is, and Romy Grey knows that for a fact. Because no one wants to believe a girl from the wrong side of town, the truth about him has cost her everything—friends, family, and her community. Branded a liar and bullied relentlessly by a group of kids she used to hang out with, Romy’s only refuge is the diner where she works outside of town. No one knows her name or her past there; she can finally be anonymous. But when a girl with ties to both Romy and Kellan goes missing after a party, and news of him assaulting another girl in a town close by gets out, Romy must decide whether she wants to fight or carry the burden of knowing more girls could get hurt if she doesn’t speak up. Nobody believed her the first time—and they certainly won’t now — but the cost of her silence might be more than she can bear.　

With a shocking conclusion and writing that will absolutely knock you out, All the Rage examines the shame and silence inflicted upon young women after an act of sexual violence, forcing us to ask ourselves: In a culture that refuses to protect its young girls, how can they survive?

I am a massive fan of Courtney Summer's books and this one is no exception.  It is so good!

It is a very powerful story and I found myself sucked into it straight away.  Summers'  always has the knack of putting me right in there with the main character and really experiencing how they feel.  I felt very angry when I was reading this!

Rape is a tough subject to write about and do it justice.  There are no easy answers here and I thought Summers' really managed to capture that with this novel.  What happens to Romy is awful but the problem is that it does happen - and that in itself is very, very scary.

My only complaint is that I didn't feel as much of a connection between Romy and Leon as I had from the characters in her previous novels.  But in some ways that too felt true to Romy's character - the place she was in during the events of this story meant she would probably have been taking very timid steps before establishing a relationship.

Another brilliant read from Courtney Summers.  I can't wait to read whatever she writes next.

What Goes Around (US & Canada Giveaway)

As most you you know I am a massive Courtney Summers fan! I have loved each of her books and can't wait to read her next one.  In the meantime, What Goes Around - a bind up of the fabulous Cracked Up to Be and Some Girls Are -  is being published 3rd September.  If you haven't read these yet - get reading!  Honestly, they are so good!

If you want to see for yourself just how good they are you can check out the first three chapters of each book by following this link: http://issuu.com/stmartinspress/docs/whatgoesaround_excerpt

And Courtney Summers has a Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Courtney-Summers/145262370138

And... thanks to the lovely people at St Martin's Press I have a copy of What Goes Around by Courtney Summers to giveaway. Check out the rules (below) and fill in the form at the end of this post.  Good luck :D

* Open to residents of US & Canada only
* Book will be sent out by the publisher - please only enter if you are happy for me to pass on your address details to them.
* Giveaway closes on 7th September 2013

This giveaway is now closed.

And the winner is...

BOOKWORM1858.

Thanks to everyone that entered.  Bookworm1858 - you have email :D

This Is Not A Test by Courtney Summers

For Review: Netgalley

Published: 19 June 2012 (US) & 9 July 2012 (UK)

From Goodreads: It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self.

To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live.

But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside.

When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

To say I was excited to read this would be a massive understatement.  I devoured it the moment it arrived on my ereader and I can honestly say it completely lived up to all my expectations for it.

As many of you have probably worked out I adore Courtney Summer's books.  I have been a huge fan of hers since I first read Cracked Up To Be and the minute I heard the synopsis for This Is Not A Test I knew, just knew, I would love it.  As a big horror fan, the idea of her writing a story based around zombies filled me with glee!  And I loved the way she approached it.

The story is narrated by Sloane Price, someone who has reached rock bottom and decided she no longer wishes to live.  Through her eyes we see the Apocalypse unfold, how she and others are forced to fight to survive, but in Sloane's case, with an internal battle raging inside of her.  She was ready to die.  She still is, but with everything going on she's forced to think of the people she is with.  And to fight, even if she thinks she doesn't want to...

Sloane was such a fascinating character.  I loved her.  She's so broken - with very valid reasons to be that way - and seeing the events unfold through her eyes was really interesting.  For someone convinced they no longer wanted to live she still seemed to have a lot of fight in her and still cared for those around her.  I also really loved Rhys.  From pretty early on you could feel a connection between him and Sloane and I really liked the way their relationship progressed.  Cary was also a very intriguing character - someone forced into making the hard decisions.

The setting in the school gave the story both a safe and claustrophobic atmosphere.  The idea of the all that banging and sounds coming from outside gave me the creeps, and of course,  the idea that they could break in at any minute was terrifying.  But at the same time it gave enough of a feeling of safety that the moments and arguments between the characters felt realistic - and it's interesting how in this kind of situation it becomes less about what is happening outside and more about the dynamics and dangers inside.

I loved the ending too.  I know for some it will be too ambiguous but for me it gave me the answer to Sloane's internal battle.  I felt a decision was made.  Of course, if Courtney Summers decided to write a sequel I would be first in queue - I loved this world and wouldn't hesitate to go back there.  It's the first book that has creeped me out so much in a long time (I'm embarrassed to admit I slept with the light on after finishing it!) and if I ever needed more evidence of Summers brilliance as a writer I found it here.  Seriously fantastic!

I want to read that...

This Is Not A Test by Courtney Summers

From Goodreads: It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up.

As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, everyone’s motivations to survive begin to change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life–and death–inside.

When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

Courtney Summer AND ZOMBIES!!!  OMG! How awesome does that sounds???  I always do a happy dance whenever Courtney Summers has a new book coming out because I absolutely LOVE her books!  When I heard it was going to be about zombies I did a ridiculous (and very embarrassing) version of a squee/fist pump/happy dance combo that I can only be glad no one saw (at least I don't think they did...)

My only complaint?  I have to wait UNTIL JUNE NEXT YEAR!  *sobs*

Oh and I luurrvvvee the cover!  The blood splatters in the corner are ace and I love the blue colour!

Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers

From Goodreads: From the author of Cracked Up to Be and Some Girls Are comes a gripping story about one girl’s search for clues into the mysterious death of her father.

When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Culler seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on...but are some questions better left unanswered?

Honestly, I have no idea how Courtney Summer's does it but she blows me away every time. This is such a sad story but at the same time I couldn't stop myself from reading, or thinking about Eddie.  There is something so raw and powerful about it - it was as if I was witnessing something I shouldn't.

The story is centered around Eddie and her friend Milo.  Eddie's father has recently committed suicide, her mother is not dealing with it at all and Eddie herself desperately needs to know why he did it.  When she meets Culler, her father's student, she believes he can help provide the answers she seeks...

As I said earlier reading this felt as if I was witnessing something I shouldn't - but it was as if the book had me in a strangle hold.  As uncomfortable I felt at times - the grief and vulnerability Eddie feels is palpable to the reader  -  I couldn't tear myself away.  I'm not sure I've read such a realistic portrayal of grief  - with someone trying to come to terms with not only the death of her father but also being the one who found him.

Having said all this I appreciate this might not be to everybody's taste.  It's painful honesty doesn't make this a bundle of laughs to read.  Instead it's like an emotional slap to the face - intense and full of exposed emotion -  but I love the characters Courtney Summer's creates - how they feel like real people, flaws and all - and I am a massive fan of her writing.  Since reading her first novel Cracked Up To Be I have looked forward to every new book she releases and I have yet to be disappointed!

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

From Goodreads: Climbing to the top of the social ladder is hard--falling from it is even harder. Regina Afton used to be a member of the Fearsome Fivesome, an all-girl clique both feared and revered by the students at Hallowell High... until vicious rumors about her and her best friend's boyfriend start going around. Now Regina's been "frozen out" and her ex-best friends are out for revenge. If Regina was guilty, it would be one thing, but the rumors are far from the terrifying truth and the bullying is getting more intense by the day. She takes solace in the company of Michael Hayden, a misfit with a tragic past who she herself used to bully. Friendship doesn't come easily for these onetime enemies, and as Regina works hard to make amends for her past, she realizes Michael could be more than just a friend... if threats from the Fearsome Foursome don't break them both first. Tensions grow and the abuse worsens as the final days of senior year march toward an explosive conclusion in this dark new tale from the author of Cracked Up To Be.

I adored her debut Cracked up to be and wondered if it was possible for this to live up the hype I had created in my own mind. I needn’t have worried. This is an amazing book!

What amazes me most about this author's writing is her ability to create such raw and honest characters. Regina is essentially a complete cow at the beginning of the story – people hate her and they hate her for good reason. But what we see unfold over the course of the book is that not everyone is as they seem. I found myself warming to Regina almost immediately but at the same time I knew if I met her that might not be the case. It was just that she was written in such a way it was as if I could see right into her character and all of her complexities. Michael was the same. You could really feel how torn he was in seeing a different side to Regina and his need to carry on hating her. Their connection felt tangible. I really felt invested in their relationship and to what happened to these characters.

This is more of a character driven story – it is essentially what happens to Regina at the beginning of the story and how that escalates. Mostly though it is Regina’s journey of self discovery and I really enjoyed taking that journey with her. At times it is very intense and seriousness of the situations scared me. At others I found myself wanting Regina to make different decisions. It felt a very realistic portrayal of bullying and the emotions behind it.

I can’t think of anything negative to say about this book. Some readers may dislike the amount of swear words and the sexual and drug -use references but I felt they were needed to reflect the adult themes portrayed in the book and to keep the story feeling realistic. It wouldn’t have worked so well for me had they were not been included.

I really loved everything about this book - the writing, characters and story - and I can say with absolute certainty that I cannot wait to see what this author writes next.

Some Girls Are Book Trailer

I posted on Friday that I really want to read Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers. I just found a trailer for it on her website.




You can also read the first chapter by clicking here.

I want to read that...

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers.

From Goodreads: Climbing to the top of the social ladder is hard--falling from it is even harder. Regina Afton used to be a member of the Fearsome Fivesome, an all-girl clique both feared and revered by the students at Hallowell High... until vicious rumors about her and her best friend's boyfriend start going around.

Now Regina's been "frozen out" and her ex-best friends are out for revenge. If Regina was guilty, it would be one thing, but the rumors are far from the terrifying truth and the bullying is getting more intense by the day. She takes solace in the company of Michael Hayden, a misfit with a tragic past who she herself used to bully. Friendship doesn't come easily for these onetime enemies, and as Regina works hard to make amends for her past, she realizes Michael could be more than just a friend... if threats from the Fearsome Foursome don't break them both first.

Tensions grow and the abuse worsens as the final days of senior year march toward an explosive conclusion in this dark new tale from the author of Cracked Up To Be.

I absolutely loved Cracked Up to Be so I can't wait to read this! It is published 5th January 2010.

Cracked up to be by Courtney Summers

From Amazon : Perfect Parker Fadley isn't so perfect anymore. She's quit the cheerleading squad, she's dumped her perfect boyfriend, and she's failing school. Her parents are on a constant suicide watch and her counselors think she's playing games...but what they don't know, the real reason for this whole mess, isn't something she can say out loud. It isn't even something she can say to herself. A horrible thing has happened and it just might be her fault.

I fell in love with this and read it in one sitting. I loved how it was edited together giving you brief glimpses of that night and revealing a little bit more each time until you finally found out what happened. Parker was a wonderfully created character – I was there for her highs and lows and while at times I became exasperated with her I never once stopped caring about what happened to her. Sometimes I almost found it heartbreaking to read as I really found myself immersed in the novel. The author also did a great job bringing the other characters to life and the final reveal was great. You could fully understand Parker’s actions throughout the novel once you knew what had happened.

Overall this is a stunning debut and I will be grabbing her next novel as soon as it hits the shelves.