Tag Archives: Love Stories

The Girl She Used To Be by David Cristofano

American Literature March 26, 2009 Superfast Reader 1 Comment

Synopsis: Hidden in the witness protection program since she was a child, Melody wishes for the chance to be herself, and unwisely starts to fall for one of the gangster’s she’s hiding from. Review: The Girl She Used To Be by David Cristofano is a straightforward, enjoyable, affecting story about a young woman in an awful predicament. I really found myself trusting Jonathan, the young mafioso who recognizes Melody, and believing she’d be safe with him, despite all evidence to the contrary. The female voice…

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

American Literature March 21, 2009 Superfast Reader 9 Comments

Synopsis: Katniss Everdeen takes her sister’s place in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death between teenagers, televised for the whole world. Review: I asked my YA librarian friend if The Hunger Games was any good, and her report was that it wasn’t the best book she’d ever read but she couldn’t keep it on the shelves and the kids in her school were passing it around like crazy. Being a fan of YA literature and of Rollerball-type stories, I had to check…

Jane Austen Ruined My Life by Beth Patillo

American Literature March 9, 2009 Superfast Reader 1 Comment

Synopsis: Jane Austen scholar Emma hunts Austen’s lost love letters in the hopes of restoring her besmirched academic name and to prove to the world that Austen was wrong about happy endings. Review: I came to Jane Austen relatively late in life. We were assigned Pride and Prejudice as summer reading in ninth grade. Honestly? It bored me to tears. For this sole reason I eschewed majoring in English in college in favor of a theater/American Studies combo just so that I could avoid British…

Stop Me if You’ve Heard This One Before by David Yoo

American Literature December 18, 2008 Superfast Reader 2 Comments

Synopsis: After winning the heart of the most popular girl in school, dorky Albert risks losing it all when her alpha ex-boyfriend develops Hodgkin’s. Review: Imagine the dorkiest kid you can imagine–the guy with no social filter, the one who’s never seen talking to anyone, who eats lunch in the cafeteria and never makes eye contact. Now picture the pretty popular girl with perfect calves and bouncy hair and a smile that’s an invitation to share in eternal happiness. Now make them kiss. You can’t…

Your Roots are Showing by Elise Chidley

British Literature December 11, 2008 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: Lizzie wishes her husband hadn’t accidentally gotten that email complaining about him, because now he wants a divorce and she can’t figure out how to win him back. Review: Your Roots are Showing belongs firmly to the Bridget Jones school of chick lit. Lizzie is pudgy, disheveled, and fashion unconscious. She’s prone to charming outbursts of clumsiness, and despite her lack of self-awareness she still manages to be self-deprecating. And of course she always wins the heart of the hottest guy in the room.…

The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner

American Literature October 16, 2008 Superfast Reader 4 Comments

Synopsis: A wealthy young woman takes a job transcribing the diary of a victim of the Salem witch trials, discovering a powerful love story that changes her perspective on her privileged life. Review: Deftly interweaving the very different stories of three headstrong women, Susan Meissner has crafted a novel that delivers a powerfully moving reading experience. I found myself on the verge of tears many times, overcome by Lauren’s journey as she inhabits the world of Mercy, a young woman fated to die by hanging…

Cycler by Lauren McLaughlin

American Literature August 26, 2008 Superfast Reader 3 Comments

Synopsis: High school senior Jill is “all girl”–except for 4 days out of the month, when she turns into Jack, who happens to be in love with her best friend. Review: Cycler has quite the premise, with Jill literally transforming from girl to boy once a month, right after her period ends. Girly girl Jill wants nothing to do with horny boy’s boy Jack, and has an elaborate ritual to keep memories of his four days at bay. Her mom loathes Jack as well, and…

There’s No Place Like Here by Cecelia Ahern

Irish Literature January 29, 2008 Superfast Reader 2 Comments

Synopsis: When a missing persons investigator goes missing herself, she discovers a world where the lost can be found–but can she find her way back home? Review: There’s No Place Like Here is the second book by Cecelia Ahern, author of the immensely popular PS, I Love You, which I have not read. I picked up an ARC of this book at Book Expo, but put off reading it because I was anticipating something light and fluffy and not worth my time. I was certainly…

Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder

American Literature November 26, 2007 Superfast Reader 6 Comments

Synopsis: After finally returning to her homeland, having been kidnapped as a child, Yelena must tame the magic she never knew she had even as she’s suspected of being a spy and embroiled in the hunt to catch a nefarious serial killer. Review: It’s been a little exciting up in here lately, with new baby being WAY more interesting than any book in the world. Strangely enough I was between books when she made her arrival, having just finished Red Seas Under Red Skies. I…

Breathing Water by T. Greenwood

American Literature August 30, 2007 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: After learning of the death of her abusive ex-boyfriend, a woman returns to the home by the lake she once loved to build a new life and exorcise old ghosts. Review: I am a very big fan of T. Greenwood’s second novel, Nearer than the Sky, and I have no excuse for why it took me so long to read Breathing Water, her debut. Simply put, Greenwood is a beautiful prose stylist who isn’t afraid to explore dark and scary places with characters who…

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