Smart Girls Get What They Want

Title: Smart Girls Get What They Want
Author: Sarah Strohmeyer
Publisher: Balzer + Bray June 26th, 2012

Plot Summary from Goodreads:
Gigi, Bea, and Neerja are best friends and total overachievers. Even if they aren't the most popular girls in school, they aren't too worried. They know their "real" lives will begin once they get to their Ivy League colleges. There will be ivy, and there will be cute guys in the libraries (hopefully with English accents)! But when an unexpected event shows them they're missing out on the full high school experience, it's time to come out of the honors lounge and into the spotlight. They make a pact: They will each take on their greatest challenge--and they will totally "rock" it.

Gigi decides to run for student rep, but she'll have to get over her fear of public speaking--and go head-to-head with gorgeous California Will. Bea used to be one of the best skiers around, until she was derailed. It could be time for her to take the plunge again. And Neerja loves the drama club but has always stayed behind the scenes--until now.These friends are determined to show the world that smart girls really can get what they want--but that could mean getting way more attention than they ever bargained for. . . 

Fiona's Grade: A for being Adorable! 

This book is super  cute and adorable with surprising depth. Reading the title and the blurb, I thought it was going to be a cute story about the shy nerdy girl becoming the prom queen and date the sweetheart jock. And while this book does have a dance and a sweetheart jock in it, it's really a book about coming out of your shell and adolescence in general.

Gigi is falsely accused of cheating, and has to set the record straight and change the ridiculous cheating policy. But in order to do that she has to run for student rep- a recently vacated position. But in order to do that, she must give a speech and she has incredibly stage fright. The plot is both predictable and unpredictable at the same time- like I knew which guy she would end up with, I just didn't know how. It definitely kept you interested.

One thing I also liked was that while the plot focused on Gigi, her two best friends were also doing things like skiing and acting and they were as real as she was. I really enjoyed both Bea's love of skiing and Neerja's pursuing acting. I also enjoyed the French grandmother and all the other characters. Even Ava and Will were interesting in some respects.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It is a super cute contemporary read that made me wish I had branched out more in high school. If you love a good contemporary this is the book for you.

Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier Book Review

photo from Goodreads

Title: Sapphire Blue
Author: Kerstin Gier
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. Oct. 26th, 2012
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Gwen’s life has been a rollercoaster since she discovered she was the Ruby, the final member of the secret time-traveling Circle of Twelve. In between searching through history for the other time-travelers and asking for a bit of their blood (gross!), she’s been trying to figure out what all the mysteries and prophecies surrounding the Circle really mean.

At least Gwen has plenty of help. Her best friend Lesley follows every lead diligently on the Internet. James the ghost teaches Gwen how to fit in at an eighteenth century party. And Xemerius, the gargoyle demon who has been following Gwen since he caught her kissing Gideon in a church, offers advice on everything. Oh, yes. And of course there is Gideon, the Diamond. One minute he’s very warm indeed; the next he’s freezing cold. Gwen’s not sure what’s going on there, but she’s pretty much destined to find out.

Fiona's grade: A 
This book continues right where Ruby Red left off. It then continues at a world-wind pace. It is remarkable how much time does not pass from the start of the book to the end of the book, and so much happens! It's really rather ridiculous. Like Ruby Red, this book leaves you on a weird cliffhanger, and it makes you really want the next one. I was appreciate the complexity of the plot. I have no idea what's going on sometimes with the Circle and it's wonderful.

I really love all the characters in this book. I love that we got to see more of Gwen's family. I really liked her grandfather and would love to see more of him in the future. I also liked that we got to see a little more of Mr. George. Charolette irked me; I don't know if she just wasn't as annoying in the first book or if I just realized how much I was annoyed by her. The count was the same as ever. And I'm a little confused about whether I like Gideon or not, he's an interesting one.

One thing that I find interesting about this series is the fact it is originally written in German and is being translated into English. It's a really interesting series and it would be very different if it had been written by an American author. I really enjoy it for that reason.

This was a great book and I really enjoyed reading it. They just need to translate the next one a little faster.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing Me

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme run by The Broke and the Bookish. Every week, there is a new topic and you make a list based on that topic. This week's topic is the "Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing Me". Let's get started! 

1.ALL my textbooks!
Seriously, what college student could complain if Santa brought them textbooks? None.

2. The Diviners by Libba Bray 
When I first saw this topic, this is the book I instantly thought of this book because I really want to read it! I currently have it from the library and I'm really excited to read it soon.

3. Any book listed last week
Seriously, guys, I am so excited for all these books that if Santa were to bring them, I would be delirious with joy.

4. Original Nancy Drews
I'm a Nancy Drew nerd, more so when it comes to video games, but they are also fun to read. I would love a 1930s copy of Secret of the Old Clock. Who wouldn't?

5. The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson 
I loved this book when I read it last year and would love my own copy.

6. Shine by Lauren Myracle
I read this book last spring, and it is so beautifully written and makes you think and I love it and I want my own copy to read again and again.


7. Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill
I really want to read this book, but unfortunately my libraries do not have it available yet. Hopefully I will get to read it soon!

8. The Percy Jackson series
I have read all of these books, but I do not own any of these books. I would like that to change.

9. Anything on my TBR pile on Goodreads
Anything I have marked TBR is something I would love to get as a gift. No lie.

10. Lots of Book Shelves
Part of the reason I don't own a lot of books is because I do not have the shelf space for a lot of books. I have one book shelf in my room and it is stuffed to the brim with books.

This weeks topic was really, really hard for me because I do not buy books that often and when I do it is often on a whim. I am much more of a "go-to-the-library" kind of girl. I actually did some catalog cruising to decide what books I wanted to put on this list.

What books do you hope Santa might bring you?

P.S. I also changed my blog template! What do you think?

Semi-Charmed Winter Challenge Update

Hello! It's time for my update post for Semi-Charmed's Winter Book Challenge. I read 4 books this month.

 5 points: Read a book written by an author you have never read before. The Stranger by Albert Camus
5: Read a book you already have at home but haven’t gotten around to yet (from the library, from a bookstore, borrowed from a friend, on your e-reader, whatever). The City of Bonesby Cassandra Clare
10: Read a book written in the decade that you were born. 
10: Read a book that takes place in the state/province where you were born. If you were born outside the U.S. and Canada, read a book that takes place in the country you were born.
15: Read a book titled The _______'s Daughter or The _______'s Wife.
15:  Read a book that was originally written in a language other than English. Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier
20: Read a book with a number in the title. This could be an actual digit or a number like “hundred” or “thousand.” No arbitrary numbers are allowed (e.g. several, few, many, couple).
20:  Read a book set during Christmas or another winter holiday.
20: Read a book written by an author who shares your initials.
25: Read a Pulitzer Prize winner or finalist for fiction.
25:  Re-read a book. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
30: Read three books from three different genres (e.g. romance, historical fiction, horror, biography, etc.). Remember, the books used for this category cannot count for any other category. 
The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera (philosophy) (Is philosophy a genre? Because otherwise I would stick in as literary fiction)
The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan (fantasy)
My third will probably be a contemporary young adult romance. I just don't know which one yet

Total Points: 35

I don't really know what other books to put int the other categories, so if you have any suggestions please let me know.

Are you doing this challenge? How many points do you have?