Review: Dreambender by Ronald Kidd

Author: Ronald Kidd
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Number of Pages: 256

Synopsis:

"Everyone in the City is assigned a job by the choosers--keeper, catcher, computer. Callie Crawford is a computer. She works with numbers: putting them together, taking them apart. Her work is important, but sometimes she wants more. Jeremy Finn is a dreambender. His job is to adjust people's dreams. He and others like him quietly remove thoughts of music and art to keep the people in the City from becoming too focused on themselves and their own feelings rather than on the world. They need to keep the world safe from another Warming. But Jeremy thinks music is beautiful, and when he pops into a dream of Callie singing, he becomes fascinated with her. He begins to wonder if there is more to life than being safe. Defying his community and the role they have established for him, he sets off to find her in the real world. Together, they will challenge their world's expectations. But how far will they go to achieve their own dreams?"

I went into this book blind, so I had no clue what it was about. I think that really made the experience much more enjoyable, and I had a fun time reading the book. It did take me a while to get through though and while I had fun reading it it wasn't the greatest book.

The plot was definitely the best part of the book because it kept me trapped in the entire time I was reading it. It was so original and the characters were so new that the reader just gets caught up into the story. I thought Jeremy and Callie showed two different worlds in a very unique and interesting way that I really enjoyed.

Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy the author's writing style. I felt the book was moving very quickly, and I think if the book was longer I would have enjoyed it more. There were a lot of things that the author tried to add to the plot that felt very unnecessary and rushed. (Sorry that was vague I'm trying to do this with no spoilers!) I wish I could pick through the book and just delete some parts because the book would have been so much better without them. 

Overall, I enjoyed the originality of the book but not the book in its entirety. I wanted more from the book, and it just didn't deliver.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars!

*I recieved a copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Play With Me & Ryan Hunter by Anna Katmore

Author: Anna Katmore

Number of Pages: 238

Synopsis:

"What if you had to do the one thing you hated most to get the guy you loved to notice you?
Ryan Hunter’s parties are legend. And tonight she’s going to be there.
Lisa Matthews anticipates the return of her best friend and only love since kindergarten from soccer camp. But when Tony finally shows up, his mind is more focused on another girl. And worse, she’s a soccer player. Fighting for the attention Lisa craves, she’s just a hairbreadth away from making a very stupid decision. But when extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures, she’s prepared to play ball to get her man.
The tryouts are hell, the first match ends bloody, and the morning after the selection party she wakes up in the worst place possible—in the arms of the captain of the soccer team. The hottest guy in school… Ryan Hunter."

I had this book on my TBR for a while and I had been trying to read some of the books that had been on there so I picked up this book. Harman had read it before me, and she enjoyed it so I had high hopes for it. And it didn't disappoint!

The characters were really likable, but not lovable, and I enjoyed the plot. There were a lot of moments that I didn't expect and the book wasn't predictable, so I didn't know from the beginning what was going to happen. I was happy that it wasn't one of those YA contemporaries that was a repeat of every single other YA contemporary. Although there were some moments that I just got bored but they didn't last long. 

Overall, I enjoyed this book and I would suggest it. Especially since it's free on Amazon! Go pick it up!

 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars!

Author: Anna Katmore

Publisher: Piper Shelly Books

Number of Pages: 350

Synopsis:

"Ryan Hunter kissed more girls than he cares to remember. But the only one he ever wanted is in love with his best friend.
Watching Lisa Matthews’ obsession with Tony Mitchell is a torture Ryan conceals from everyone. Until after a five-week soccer camp, where Tony gets involved with someone else, things suddenly take a different turn. Ryan knows if he doesn’t make a move now and grab his chance, he might never get another.
Asked by Tony to distract Lisa, Ryan is only too happy. He subtly seduces her first into his soccer team and later on to his party. He does all in his power to make her see that he’s not just an insufferable playboy but a guy who really cares about her. Some one-on-one soccer training, a passionate kiss — things seem to be going the way he wants. Except Ryan didn’t reckon on his best friend showing up at the worst possible moment and destroying everything… "

So, this book is just Play With Me but in Ryan's point of view, and I was really disappointed. I didn't hate the book, but it was a downgrade from the first book. Also, the cover.... I hate it. Ugh.

It wasn't the plot (obviously since I liked the first book) or the characters, but it was the writing. I don't think the author was made to write in a guy's point of view because the entire book was really girly. I didn't feel like anything Ryan was doing was something a guy would do or say with friends. I would rather the author stick to girls' POV (which isn't a bad thing!).

Overall, if you're bored and really have nothing else to read then go ahead but I wouldn't really suggest it. BUT! I did like this ending more than the first because it didn't end off in the same place. It had more scenes, and I did enjoy those.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars!

Top Ten Songs I Wish Were Books

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

Everyone needs to go and listen to all these songs, and then you will completely understand why I chose them. Also, it was surprisingly hard to find gifs for this post. Why? I'l never know.

1. Don't Stop Me Now- Queen

2. Piano Man- Billy Joel

3. Company- Justin Bieber

4. Stairway to Heaven- Led Zeppelin

5. Jessie's Girl- Rick Springfield

6. Uptown Girl- Billy Joel

7. In the Night- The Weeknd

8. Water- Pentatonix

9. Locked Away- R.City

10. Something Big- Shawn Mendes