Saturday Pages: Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins!!

As the final entry on this week's Saturday Pages I have the book that was chosen as May's book in the Read Discuss Repeat Virtual Book Club!

I was both drawn to and unsure about this book, but after reading a few reviews for it, like Wendy's at The Midnight Garden and Stephanie at Inspiring Insomnia, I voted for it on the book club poll and crossed fingers so it'd be the one picked to be read!

Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Rebel Belle was one of those books that I wanted to read but I was sort of doubtful at the same time... It sounded interesting but I feared it'd be too much "Mean Girls" and fluff for me.

But when it was chosen as Read Discuss Repeat Virtual Book Club for May, I had the perfect excuse to read it! Thankfully I loved them book and though it has fluff, it also has amazing humour that had me giggling, snorting and chuckling every other page! I remember reading in a review
that this story was like Buffy in the South (minus the vampires) and I have to agree, Buffy was also a very popular girl in high school and not someone you'd expect to go kicking arse at night in a cementery!

The first chapter starts with a bang and it shows you who Harper Price is, with what she shows, what she hides and what is thrown onto her! Harper is an overachiever that is trying to shine on her own right, leaving some events from the past behind and is one of the very popular girls at school. She has a hate-hate relationship with David, the guy in charge of the school newspaper, but she doesn't seem to be one of the "mean girls" that steps on people to be on the top.

But, everything changes when the night that she's gonna be crowned Homecoming Queen... the most bizarre chain of events happen and she ends up with a destiny and a mission and a new set of abilities to fulfill it.

If I had to describe this book using just one word, it'd be "fun". It was a blast reading it! There are plenty of action scenes, some information about the world building, fuffliness for balls and events, witty banter and a very confused Harper that doesn't know how to juggle everything that has come into her life now!

I really liked the idea of the Paladins and Charlemagne and all the background for Harper's abilities and mission and I think that there's much more than we've just seen so far. All the fighting and training reminded me of Buffy, and that's how I'd describe it: Southern Buffy without the Vampires (at least for now, no vampires in this book!).

Something I really appreciated was how much of Harper's family was in the book, mainly her mum and aunts. Her family dinamics are important on who Harper is, who she has become and how she deals with everything. Her three aunts were both adorable and hilarious and I loved seeing them pop up in the pages.

The romance was a bit more complex than I was expecting... mostly because it isn't a love triangle but it is but it isn't, the banter between Harper and David is quite fantastic and that twist at the end made me go " holy shitzu, ha!!".

With plenty of action and humour and fluff without making it ridiculous, Rebel Belle is a book I really enjoyed and very much recommend. Well deserved 4 stars!



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Read Discuss Repeat Virtual Book Club: Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz!!

Today I'm reviewing March's book for my virtual book club, Read Discuss Repeat! I managed to finish it on March 31st, cutting it quite close this time! I couldn't join the chats on Wiggio but I'm hoping I'll be able to for April's book! The best thing about a book club is reading those books you might have wondered about but didn't try before and even some books that are not your usual read.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book was March's book for my virtual book club (Read Discuss Repeat) and I was quite pleased when it was selected cause I had thought of reading it, but wasn't sure about it. This was the right push, and boy am I glad that I read it.

This book is a wonderful and lyrical coming of age story. Two boys growing up, discovering who they are, forging a friendship and discovering how to deal with who they are.

This is not only the story that any guy having doubts about his own self and his own sexuality should read, it is also a book anyone that ever wondered who they really are and what defines who they are would want to read.

Both Ari and Dante and fantastic characters, very different, very real and have you rooting for them since page one. I also loved how present their parents are. Their families don't need to be perfect because they all have to work through things, but they are together and want to help each other, and even if it hurts, in the end they find a way to communicate.

Ari is the one that has the hardest road to walk, because he seems to be the one that is harder on himself and has more silence around him at home. His mother is a wonderful character that is always trying to reach his fifteen year old son and that worries about him in a way that he can't fully understand.

Dante might have a different fight ahead of himself, but he seem to accept himself as he is more easily than Ari does. He becomes Ari's best friend and the one that helps him get out of himself for the first time.

A wonderful book that made me cry rivers but also left me with a truly wonderful feeling. Very much recommended and easily a 4.5 to 5 stars read!



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Mark This Book Monday: All The Truth That's In Me by Julie Berry!!

Hello everyone! Happy St Patrick's Day!!

To start this week's Mark This Book Monday I'm sharing the review for the first book for Read Discuss Repeat, the virtual book club that Octavia from Read Sleep Repeat started and that I'm a member of. It was a book I had in my TBR list for quite a while, so I was very happy when it was chosen as the book for February!

All the Truth That's In Me by Julie Berry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


All The Truth That's In Me was the first book of my online book club, Read Discuss Repeat! I was quite pleased when it was chosen in the poll, and even more once I finished it.

This is quite an unusual book, starting with the way it is narrated, in the second person narrative. Also, the story goes back and forth from remembering past events, to talking about the present and relaying the main character feelings and hopes. There are no real references to a date or geographical location, but we especulate to when and where feels right for the story.

When I started the book I wasn't sure if I was going to like it but I got used to the different narrative and found myself feeling so much for Judith, the main character! Her voice was amazing, so caring, intelligent and observant and she always managed to make the best of her situation, even when the people around her didn't seem to see her as a full human being after her return from her ordeal.

We learn things little by little, small revelations here and there from Judith, how she keeps on remembering. I loved to see how she found allies, even some that she thought would be unlikely, and I loved how she kept on looking out for Lucas, the boy she loves and the one she keeps on talking to in her head (for most of the book).

There's a lot of reflection on the human nature, on love and relatinships. Characters are so well developed and you just feel so immersed in the story! I was kinda scared at some point to keep on turning pages cause I was heartbroken and enraged about some of the situations Judith had to go through!

I just felt such a sense of contentment and even fulfillment after finishing the book, this book made me cry in more than one occasion!

A wonderful book, very much worth of 4 to 4.5 stars!



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