Alex (otterpuff) - Mexico (1,214 books)

1042 ratings (3.49 avg)
663 reviews

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Alex

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Alex is Currently Reading

Alex is currently reading

Just Listen

by Sarah Dessen (欧宝娱乐 Author)

bookshelves: favorites, contemporary, favorite-authors, lived-up-to-the-hype, teen-ya, currently-reading

Reading for the 2nd time

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Alex said: " At First Sight: Annabel Greene is dreading the first day of school, even after a summer spent in near complete isolation; because school means she'll have to face Sophie - her former best friend with whom she had a fall out at the end of the last sch At First Sight: Annabel Greene is dreading the first day of school, even after a summer spent in near complete isolation; because school means she'll have to face Sophie - her former best friend with whom she had a fall out at the end of the last school year.
At home, things aren't easier: her family is dealing with her older sister Whitney's eating disorder, and their mom's only distraction from it comes in the form of Annabel's modeling career.

锘匡豢When school turns out to be as dreadful as she thought it would be - and with rumors about her flying about, thanks to Sophie - and after a particularly bad day, Annabel finds herself speaking to Owen Armstrong for the first time.

Owen is a bit of a town loner, known for being big (well over six feet tall), never taking his headphones off and having a violent streak - just the kind of guy Annabel would have never spoken to while being friends with Sophie. But he's also the only one who doesn't seem to care about the rumors as they strike a tentative friendship.

锘匡豢As they get to know each other, Annabel gets a crash course on Anger Management lingo, she learns that Owen likes all type of music and has his own radio show, that he always tells the truth. The 'Truth' is not something Annabel is very familiar with, not because she outright lies maliciously but because she's used to hiding her feelings behind white lies to keep her family happy, to keep them from worrying about her; because she sometimes just doesn't share what's happening to her- like what really happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends.
锘�
Second Glance: Just Listen is is probably the last of Sarah's books that I truly loved - not just liked like Lock and Key, or thought it was OK like Along for the Ride. Annabel is the peace keeper of her family, the one her parents don-t have to worry about and she's not used to voicing out her feelings, but that all changes when she meets Owen, whom by telling the truth helps her find her own voice.

Now, I love Owen. I love that he deals with his temper, that he puts up with his little sister Mallory - much as he tries his patience - and that he's a pretty decent guy without advertising it. He can be a little snobbish about music, but no guy is perfect, right?

Also love how their lives start to slowly intertwine when they become friends - and that they truly become friends before anything else. Plus, I found the book quite funny, what with Mallory and Rolly - Owen's best friend - and just how crazy Owen gets about music.

Bottom Line: I actually love this book. It's one of my favorites both by Sarah Dessen and in general. I do think that it starts a little slow, and that it takes time for Annabel to build up her courage, but she's very likable and I find Owen kind of swoony (not as much as Wes, but no one is as swoony as Wess. Even Wes)

Favorite Quote: "There comes a time in every life when the world gets quiet and the only thing left is your own heart. So you'd better learn to know the sound of it. Otherwise you'll never understand what its saying." ...more "

progress:

(15%)
— Jan 16, 2025 10:50AM

May 18, 2011 01:06AM · see review

Alex is currently reading

Good as Gold (Giltmaker, #1)

by Sarina Bowen (欧宝娱乐 Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Jul 27, 2024 07:49PM

Alex is currently reading

My Most Excellent Year

by Steve Kluger (欧宝娱乐 Author)

bookshelves: contemporary, favorites, teen-ya, rainy-day-reads, made-of-awesome, lived-up-to-the-hype, currently-reading

Reading for the 2nd time

read in November 2015

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Alex said: " The Plot: When three high school juniors - T.C. Keller, Augie Hwong and Alejandra Perez - are tasked to describe their "Most Excellent Year", they go back to their freshman year, when Al茅 (a diplomat's daughter whom has managed to offend almost 20 ma The Plot: When three high school juniors - T.C. Keller, Augie Hwong and Alejandra Perez - are tasked to describe their "Most Excellent Year", they go back to their freshman year, when Al茅 (a diplomat's daughter whom has managed to offend almost 20 major countries in her short 14 years of life), transferred to Augie and T.C.'s school in Boston.

In alternating voices they all tell the story of that year, when T.C. fell in love with Al茅, but she wasn't ready to like him back, and how Augie fell in love with another boy and everyone knew before him; and how they helped Al茅 find her own voice, too.

First Date: All right, this is going so well. T.C. you're adorable in your fourteen-year old way. Al茅 is feisty without falling into any 'latina' stereotypes - big props for that, seriously - and Augie, he puts the F on Fabulous! (and the exclamation sign too!). I love these kids.

Second Date: I keep falling in love with this people. Now I also love Andy and Lee and Hucky - even if he's a bit surly. Also, I love the parents in this book! particularly the Dads, here is a book where grown ups act like grown ups and care for their kids. Imagine that!

Third Date: For a moment there, I wasn't loving Andy so much, but he came around. Same with Al茅's dad, though her Mom is OK. Also, I can't decide if I wanna date T.C. or want him for a big brother, because the things he does for Hucky are so sweet and amazing.

Relationship Status: So In Love With You Am I

My Most Excellent Year made me happy in a way no book had made me in a while. These were kids were so easy to relate to, I got a quick education of musicals courtesy of Augie, and of Red Sox history and Mary Poppins.

I loved how fiercely everyone loved in this book and how they weren't afraid to show it, how they had fears and likes and causes without ever going completely over the top, I loved how they thought about stuff other than tv shows and cellphones and brands.

They were extremely interesting people that I just wanted to hang out with, that I wished would have gone to my school - though then I really would have had no chance with T.C. - so we could have all been friends.

Also, the musicale stuff was great!!

I love this book, is one of those rare types that really does live up to the hype, probably more than any other I've ever read. ...more "

progress:

(page 120 of 403)
— May 11, 2024 09:22PM

Nov 12, 2015 09:16PM · see review

Alex鈥檚 Quotes

“A book is not supposed to be a mirror. It's supposed to be a door.”
― Fran Lebowitz

861 likes

“The heart that gives thanks is a happy one, for we cannot feel thankful and unhappy at the same time.”
― Douglas Wood

586 likes

“There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.

1242 likes