[Review] One Night that Changes Everything by Lauren Barnholdt

Title: One Night that Changes Everything

Author: Lauren Barnholdt

Publication: July 2010

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Review Copy: Hardcover, bought

Pages: 242

My Rating:

Blurb from Goodreads:  

Eliza is in a full-blown panic. Her notebook has been stolen—the one that lists everything she wants but is afraid to go after. And the absolute worst person in the world has it: her ex-boyfriend, Cooper.

Like it’s not enough Cooper was lying to Eliza for their entire relationship, now he and his friends are blackmailing her. They’re giving her just one night to complete the most humiliating tasks on her list or they’ll post her secrets online—including the ones that aren’t just about her.

Eliza’s sure of only one thing: she isn’t going down without a fight. Cooper may have what’s left of her dignity, but she’s not the only one with something to hide …

My thoughts: 

I read this about two weeks ago, but *ahem*... One Night that Changes Everything had a compelling and unique storyline and premise-- it was about a notebook full of Eliza's, the main character, deepest secrets and fears, and not all of them about her; and her ex-boyfriend and his friends have it. What should have been a fun weekend with her two best friends Clarice and Marissa turns into an inevitable night of blackmail, overcoming things Eliza had once feared, fallings out, drama, and new love...


This novel was always moving along, and with about 12 hours (not even a day!) for the storyline, there wasn't much time for a dull moment. It was action-packed, in the slightest of ways, since there are no heavy explosions or alien invasions...or vampire biting, for all you paranormalists! 


The relationship between Eliza and Cooper (the ex) was actually nice, and fun to watch unfold and develop. It's really obvious what happens at the end between them, but it was still sweet when I got to read that moment. It wasn't overly sappy, or cheesy; though I think if it wasn't already obvious, this book is highly girl-oriented. I'm sure that guys CAN enjoy this one, but girls may be able to relate to some of the events a bit more...


However, good parts of the novel aside, I did have a few problems. When I was reading, I found that the distinction between Clarice and Marissa, Eliza's best friends, should have been more defined. I don't know, they seemed very similar. While there was that whole Clarice is a hopeless-romantic but keeps running to her "boyfriend" for hookups, or Marissa who...well, I can't even remember now. I remember her being described as the more... racy of the two. But really? I just wanted more of a distinction.


All in all, I enjoyed this one a whole lot. It was a quick read, it was interesting, I liked what was explored-- that, ultimately, the things that compell people to be afraid usually aren't too bad. If you're a sucker for teen girl light, fun and slightly-dramarific stories, you'll enjoy this one. 


This is my first novel from Lauren Barnholdt, so I can't give any comparisons between her other novels and this one.

Amazon | The Book Depository

I am in no way affiliated with the above sites, nor with Barnholdt or publisher. I do not receive any money for reviewing or linking.

Learn more about One Night that Changes Everything and read more reviews at Goodreads!

Waiting on Wednesday (7)

What's happened last week (9-15 Sep)?
- I'm currently reading Minder by Kate Kaynak
- The contest for Nightshade by Andrea Cremer is still rolling along. Hosting for Squeaky Books!
- I'm taking part of the ARC Tour for Daughter of Xanadu {link}
- Review: The Dead by David Gatward {link}

ALSO...
- Epic Giveaway of Epic Epicness! {♥}Ends Sep-25
- Win a copy of Firelight by Sophie Jordan (ARC)! It's international, guys! {♥} Ends Sep-30

- Four prize packs to choose from to win! Intl' {♥} Ends Oct-15
- Six Month Blogoversary Giveaway Intl' {♥} Ends Oct-27

Anyway...

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

For this week, I am swooning over Across the Universe by Beth Revis, which is due for release on January 2011! I actually just received an ARC of this in the mail today. I flipped out when Erin at Penguin Australia (Between the Lines) let me know that it'd been sent over to my place, and now it's here and sitting happily on my shelf! Looking beautiful . . .

Why I'm Waiting on Across the Universe:

On the back of the UK ARC, the first thing it says is "Titanic meets Avatar". Sounds good to me! I've read the first chapter preview and not only does it sound extremely well written, but it's eye catching and intriguing. Definitely a book to look out for! Also, looking through the book, it seems as though the book may be written in DUAL-POVs!! Did I not mention yet that the cover is BEAUTIFUL? Also, on my bookshelf, it is so so so eye-catching and just in your face. I'm usually not for sci-fi, but this sounds really good! It's not even sci-fi, so much as it is a romance, thriller/drama/suspense, YA . . .

Synopsis (Goodreads--US):

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone—one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship—tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn’t do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now, Amy must race to unlock Godspeed’s hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there’s only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

Links:
Goodreads page

There's more! Looking for ARCs or swag for AtU? Well, Beth is kind enough to offer her help. Click the {link} and fill in the form to apply for some ARCs/swag, and she has even given some links to recent giveaways! You won't want to miss this. :)

Thanks for visiting my weekly WoW post. 2011 is looking to be a promising year in the YA book department. ♥

What are you waiting on this week?

In My Mailbox (8)

 In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren.

I received 3 books this week! All are YA-- paranormal/fantasy. :)

I will try to get up a photo, but I'm not sure if it's going to happen. I'd be thrilled if a miracle happened, and I were to have my first fully-functional IMM post in a month... Nope, still not working.

For Review {1}

Mieradome by Kate O'Hegarty
Thanks to the author for the ARC!

Won {2}

Scarlett Dedd by Cathy Brett

Thanks to Jessica at Nayu's Reading Corner!

Minder (#1, Ganzfield series) by Kate Kaynak

Thanks to Cari at Cari Blogs!

Bought {0}

Bookmooch {0}

Library {0}

Swag {0}

~~~

Note: eBooks will only be counted in here if they are for review/won. Netgalley is NOT included in this.

Packages (3)

My bookshelf is beginning to overflow. :\ Also, I'll be receiving some books from Penguin, for review pretty soon. I'm so excited! I'm already being sent Across the Universe by Beth Revis, which is a YA sci-fi/dystopia type novel. The cover is beautiful, and the first chapter is vexing and enticing.

What did you get in your mailbox?

NEWS: 

• Currently Reading: Minder by Kate Kaynak (#1 of The Ganzfield series)
• September Spectacular! Reading Challenge: Book 2 (The Dead) has been read and reviewed already. :) {review}
•  A few days late, but here is the jacket copy of Where She Went by Gayle Forman! {link}

Blog Hop (7)

Hey fellow bloggers and/or readers,

Thanks for hopping along to my little blog. :) Hope you enjoy your visit, and like what you see. If you do, feel free to follow. It's free!

If you'd like to hop around, too, then visit Jennifer at Crazy for Books for all the details! 

~~~

Here's this week's question:

Post a link to a favorite post or book review that you have written in the past three months.

Kind of cheating, but I'll give you a choice, since I loved both of these books so very much, and their respective reviews by me. The Light of Asteria by Elizabeth Isaacs {link} or Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupala {link} I loved both of them, and believe I had a lot of good things to say about them. :) Hope you add them to your TBR if you haven't already done so!

Last Week at Words on Paper

• What I received in the mail this week: {In My Mailbox}
• Review for The Dead by David Gatward {The Dead}
• Waiting on Wedneday: The Locket by Stacey Jay {WoW}
• Great news + Contests {Penguin...}
• ARC Tour -- Daughter of Xanadu {ARC tour} Enter now!
• Giveaway -- Nightshade by Andrea Cremer {Win!} Ends September 21st!!

Upcoming at Words on Paper (September 2010)

• In My Mailbox (12, 19, 26)
• Waiting on Wednesday: Across... (15), & undecided (22, 29)
• Review for One Night that Changes Everything by John M. Cusick (16)
• Review for Minder by Kate Kaynak (20)
• Review for The Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood (23)
• Review for Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler (30)

[Review] The Dead by David Gatward

Title: The Dead

Author: David Gatward [debut novel!]

Publication: July 1st 2010

Publisher: Hodder Children's Books

Review Copy: ARC

Pages: 240

My Rating:

Blurb from Goodreads:  

Lazarus Stone is about to turn sixteen when, one night, his normal life is ripped to shreds by a skinless figure drenched in blood.

He has a message: The Dead are coming.

Now Lazarus is all that stands in their way. To fulfil his destiny, he must confront not only the dark past of his family, but horrors more gruesome than even Hell could invent. And it all begins with the reek of rotting flesh ...

 My thoughts: As a contemporary YA lover, this is the first horror novel I have read. Ever. The beginning of the book is great, powerful and really left a great impression on me. The first chapter title is ROTTING MEAT. And yes, throughout the novel, Gatward writes in a way that appeals (or rather, affects) the senses: sight, smell, hearing, a bit of touch... Which is, I guess, especially important to have in a horror story. Leaving the choppy editing (it IS an ARC, after all . . .) aside, this isn't actually half bad. It read pretty quickly for me, and at 240 pages, it was short; not necessarily a bad thing.


The character development could have been more, well, developed. But maybe that's not such a crucial factor for horror, and my limited knowledge in this area is making it kind of hard for me to critically look at this, since this the first time I'm looking at something like this. This is kind of hard.


Last thing I can will myself to say about The Dead is, that there was a fair amount of dialogue. Perhaps a bit too much. Also, some of the dialogue was really unnecessary, or didn't help with pulling along the plot. Um... but, in my opinion, the story wasn't all that bad. The execution was about as good as I could expect of it, and I'm sure as Gatward writes more and more books, some of the things I didn't like so much will be ironed out a bit. {my goodreads "review"}


All in all, if you enjoy anything horror, especially ones dealing with the Dead (what else does horror really address?), you'll probably like this one. I'm interested to read the next book in the series; hopefully I find it as good as I thought this one was. 


Watch out! I'll be giving this copy away next week, on Saturday! (05/09 - 12/09) It will be international, and I will be including a *surprise* bookmark. :) I am giving it away since it's already released, and I'd like another person to read it, too! Please enter only if you're genuinely interested in reading this one!!!

Amazon | The Book Depository

Learn more about The Dead and read more reviews at Goodreads!
The Dead is David Gatward's debut novel, and is book ONE of a planned horror trilogy.