Winger

Winger

By Andrew Smith

I decided to read this book after seeing so many posts on instagram about it. I wasn't disappointed. So many people had said it was fabulous or recommended it to be read so I went in with a hope that it would be just as good as they said. I had absolutely no idea what the book was about before I began to read it other than the amazing front and matching back cover.

Winger is about a young boy Ryan Dean West who is only 14, two years younger than any other student in his classes. His a starting player on the schools rugby team, the Winger, hence the nickname. Just before school started in his eleventh year Ryan Dean got into a bit of trouble meaning he got moved to Opportunity Hall, rooming with the very large and very scary teammate Chas. Winger's best friend Annie is 'smoking hot' as too is every girl Winger lays eyes on. Winger's besties JP and Seanie are on the rugby team as well. Unfortunately, Winger and JP have a falling out due to Annie being the rose in both their eyes. Winger makes an unusual friend in captain Joey who is also known as the out of the closet gay kid at Pine Mountain boarding school. Ryan begins the year as a scrawny no body who doesn't even know what a girl is to someone who has kissed multiple girls, cheated on his roomie, ruined a friendship, gained a new one and is known to have the biggest balls out of anyone in the school at the end of the year.

This book made me laugh uncontrollably all the way through, so much so my friends thought I was going crazy. The comics are hilarious as are the bar charts. They definitely provide for light reading that will make you feel happy no matter what is going on. The ending however! Wow! I did not see that coming. In fact it was so unbelievably depressing and mood deflating I don't know whether it was literary genius or destruction. The book almost ended on a sour note. My favourite character throughout the story had to be Joey (cry) and I did like the sexual tension and witty humour between Annie and Winger. From now on anyone who posts on instagram about Winger, well I will now be able to reply with comments because I too have read the book and know what you are talking about.

Loved it! Very funny! Great drawings! Horrible ending (horrible in a good way, maybe)! A recommended light read.

All Fall Down

All Fall Down

By Ally Carter

 

Image from my instagram account @onelittleopinion

I'm a huge fan of Ally Carter and the Gallagher Girls series so I went in to reading this book with high hopes. I was not let down.
All fall down is about a young girl named Grace who, after 3 years, is returning to her home in the US Embassy on Embassy Row. She hasn't been back since her mother's death, a death she believes is murder but no one will believe her. Unfortunately for her not much has changed since she left. Her grandfather is still a powerful ambassador, the Russian boy next door, Alexei, wont leave her alone due to a promise he made to her brother and her old friend Megan is still hanging around. Grace is forced to make new friends and new alliances in order to uncover the truth over her mother's death. What they discover is not what Grace hoped and could have devastation consequences.
I enjoyed this book due to the fact it's not something you see every day. Embassy Row was not something I had seen included in a story before and the inclusion of Grace being an 'unstable,' 'crazy,' 'army brat' was an intriguing design. I wish the story of Grace and Noah was developed more as well as Grace and Alexei. The book was simple in some areas, which I suppose is okay due to the target audience, however, I wish it has a little more sophistication. Saying that I loved reading it and will be one of the first to buy and read the next book in the series. If your an Ally Carter fan you'll love the book and if you want something unlike whats popular at the moment (vampires and werewolves) then I suggest this book.
All in all, a great book.

All I Need

All I Need

By Susane Colasanti

 

This book was one of the cheesy classic romance stories. It is about a girl called Skye and a boy called Seth. Skye is a hopeless romantic, wanting to meet the boy of her dreams. Seth is just getting over a messy break up but when the two meet their instant connection is uncanny. Both teens feel as though they've known each other their whole lives and spend a romantic couple of days together. Seth leaves for college unexpectedly and the two are unable to share contact details. The question is whether or not they'll see each other again, surprise surprise they do, and whether or not their long distance relationship will last.

Usually I'm a fan of Susane Colasanti and her easy light reads, however, All I Need has a little too much cheese even for me. The way the book is written is very in the now #yolo, but I feel as though that takes away from what would be a great storyline otherwise.

If you have time it's a nice light, easy breezy book to read but it was not one of my favourites. Something Like Fate was a much better novel by Susane Colasanti and if I were you I'd read it over All I Need.

Overall, a 2-3/5 - leaning more towards a 2.



The Rapunzel Dilemma

The Rapunzel Dilemma

By Jennifer Kloester

I read this book in the relaxing fresh air by the Murray River. The Rapunzel Dilemma is about a young girl, Lily, whose dream is to be an actor. In order to get there Lily's needs to attend the London Drama Academy. With hard work and help from her uber rich family Lily is accepted into the Academy but it doesn't come without costs. Lily's not used to a life where everything doesn't go her way, so when she starts to get bad critiques and students who do not like her she doesn't know how to handle it. Coupled with the fact Lily has to keep a huge secret from her best friend due to her dad's unreasonable needs, she slowly starts to lose her way. She finds an out of bounds tower where she hides away night after night - the connection to the title of the book. She can't stay locked in the tower, however, and when she meets a mysterious Ronan Carver Lily's not sure she wants to hide away alone forever.
I enjoyed this book due to the romance between Lily and Ronan. Even though their parents and family don't believe they belong together, they know their own hearts. Lily is a spoilt rich kid and Ronan's mysterious past make the novel that much more intriguing. From the beginning I had my suspicions about Lily's new bestie Max at the academy and some were right. I always thought he was the bad guy, however, there is a definite twist at the end that I did not see coming. And can I say, oh how I wish Charlotte's older brother was not gay. He is a total heart throb in my opinion <3
The book was amazing and I recommend it should be read. Love!