Quick Review: Shopaholic & Baby

Last night I finished the final (or at least I think it’s the final) book in the Shopaholic series, Shopaholic & Baby.  Here is the synopsis from the author's website:

Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) is pregnant! She couldn’t be more overjoyed–especially since discovering that shopping cures morning sickness. Everything has got to be perfect for her baby: from the designer nursery . . . to the latest, coolest pram . . . to the celebrity, must-have obstetrician.

But when the celebrity obstetrician turns out to be her husband Luke’s glamorous, intellectual ex-girlfriend, Becky's perfect world starts to crumble. She’s shopping for two . . . but are there three in her marriage?

This final book is a fun, easy read that wraps up the series nicely.  Becky gets into all of the trouble you would expect.  If you've never read any of the books and have seen the movie I say forget you saw the movie and pick up the books.  Becky Bloomwood is a fantastic character.  She is a little obsessed, fanatical, and spontaneous, but always well intentioned.  I think my mind works a bit like hers.  So if you want to some insight to how I think… get to know her. ;)

Quick Review: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

I recently read Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater  (it is the February pick for the With A Good Book book club).  Here is synopsis from the author's website:

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human... until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever. 

I really enjoyed Shiver.  The chapters alternate telling the story from both Grace and Sam's point of view.  I liked this style of storytelling because it allowed me to get to know both of them well.  Since this story involves teenagers and werewolves I couldn’t help but think of Twilight while I was reading it. Bella always made me want to punch her in the face… Grace never made me feel that way. How can you not give it a try?

2010 Read List

I set a goal of 50 books for the year.  I'm curious to see how close I can get to that goal.  The list is in the order that I read the books.  If I wrote a quick review of the book the title is linked to it. Wish me luck! *e = ebook *l = from library

36. Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz (December 28)
35. The DUFF by Kody Keplinger (December 24) *l
34. The Help by Kathryn Stockett (December 19) *e
33. Wither by Laurence DeStefano (December 15)
32. Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohen and David Levithan (December 4) *e
31. You'll Never Blue Ball in This Town Again by Heather McDonald (December 4) *e
30. The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz (December 2) *e
29. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson (November 29) *e
28. MockingJay by Suzanne Collins (October 5)
27. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (August 2) *e
26. Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life by Bryan Lee O'Malley (July 31)
25. The Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives by Josie Brown (July 11)
24. Getting the Pretty Back by Molly Ringwald (July 6) *l (I ended up buying it.  I love her so much!)
23. She Ain't Heavy, She's My Mother by Bryan Batt (July 2) *l
22. uncharted terriTORI by Tori Spelling (June 21) *e
21. Something Borrowed by Emily Griffin (June 5) *l
20. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson (May 31) *l
19. Greek: Double Date by Marsha Warner (May 15) *e
18. Get Lucky by Katherine Center (May 5) *l
17. Here's The Story by Maureen McCormick (Apr 23) *e
16. This Time Together by Carol Burnett (Apr 19)
15. Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler (Apr 14)
14. The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks (Apr 8) *e
13. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (Apr 4) *l
12. Percy Jackson & the Olympians The Lighting Thief by Rick Riordan (Mar 20) *l
11. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Mar 12) *l
10. Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot (Mar 8) *l
9. The Sixty-Eight Rooms by Marianne Malone (Mar 2) *e
8. Shopaholic & Baby by Sophie Kinsella (Feb 23) *l
7. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (Feb 21) *l
6. The Straight Road to Kylie by Nico Medina (Feb 11) *l
5. Shopaholic & Sister by Sophie Kinsella (Feb 6) *l
4. Specials by Scott Westerfeld (Feb 3) *l
3. Pretties by Scott Westerfeld (Jan 31) *l
2. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (Jan 19) *e
1. Shoe Addicts Anonymous by Beth Harbison (Jan 8) *e

Reading Challenge for the year:
YA Reading Challenge

2010 YA Reading Challenge

I've decided to participate in my first reading challenge.  I found out about this from Jody at With A Good Book.  The challenge is being hosted by J. Kaye's Book Blog.  The rules are pretty simple:

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.
2. There are four levels:
--The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.
--Just My Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 25 Young Adult novels.
--Stepping It Up YA Reading Challenge – Read 50 Young Adult novels.
--Super Size Me YA Reading Challenge – Read 75 Young Adult novels.
3. Audio, eBooks, re-reads all count.
4. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.
5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010.

I'm going to do the Mini YA Challenge.  Some titles are linked to a quick review of the book.

1. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (Jan 19)
2. Pretties by Scott Westerfeld (Jan 31)
3. Specials by Scott Westerfeld (Feb 3)
4. The Straight Road to Kylie by Nico Medina (Feb 11)
5. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (Feb 21)
6.  The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Mar 12)
7.  Percy Jackson & the Olympians The Lighting Thief by Rick Riordan (Mar 20)
8. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (Apr 4)
9. Greek: Double Date by Marsha Warner (May 15)
10. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson (May 31)
11. MockingJay by Suzanne Collins (October 5)
12. Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohen and David Levithan (December 4)