Review: Right of Way by Lauren Barnholdt

Right of Way by Lauren Barnholdt
Series: Companion to Two-way Street
Source: Borrowed
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: July 9, 2013

Can a road trip repair a romance gone wrong? Find out in this standalone companion to Lauren Barnholdt’s Two-way Street.

Here are Peyton and Jace, meeting on vacation. Click! It’s awesome, it’s easy, it’s romantic. This is the real deal.

Unless it isn’t. Because when you’re in love, you don’t just stop calling one day. And you don’t keep secrets. Or lie. And when your life starts falling apart, you’re supposed to have the other person to lean on.

Here are Peyton and Jace again, broken up but thrown together on a road trip. One of them is lying about the destination. One of them is pretending not to be leaving something behind. And neither of them is prepared for what’s coming on the road ahead…

This isn't Lauren Barnholdt's best, that's for sure.

I enjoyed Two-way Street so I was looking forward to reading this. But it wasn't as good as I hoped it to be. Right of Way is very predictable, and the story line is JUST like the one of the companion novel. And the first paragraph is almost exactly the same too. 

Peyton wasn't a great main character; more often than not, I found her to be extremely annoying. The same goes for Jace, although he's not as bad. I liked seeing Courtney, Jordan, B.J. (LOL), and Jocelyn again but it's really different reading them from a different point of view.

I didn't really understand the love between Peyton and Jace. They've only known each other for a short period, yet they're so attracted to each other. And nothing in their relationship really made much sense (like why they stopped talking, etc.).

And Jace, you're VALEDICTORIAN. Not that I understand how, but go make the stupid speech. Seriously.

The ending felt too abrupt. It ended without much being resolved and everything just left hanging. Peyton and Jace get back together. The end.

Overall, this was an okay read, nothing really special. The characters weren't likeable, the plot predictable, and everything illogical. It was enjoyable at times, but some parts bored me. This is a book I wouldn't recommend if you're looking for a good road trip book.

Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver

 

Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver
Series: N/A
Source: Purchased
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: August 28, 2012

Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Her only friends are the shadows and the mice,until one night a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone.

That same night, an alchemist's apprentice, Will, bungles an important delivery. He accidentally switches a box containing the most powerful magic in the world with one containing something decidedly less remarkable.

Will's mistake has tremendous consequences for Liesl and Po, and it draws the three of them together on an extraordinary journey.

From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver comes a luminous and magnificent novel that glows with rare magic, ghostly wonders, and a true friendship that lights even the darkest of places.

 

I was really expecting to love this one. I really enjoy stories that contain magic and when they are Middle Grade that just makes them even better. Unfortunately this one didn't live up to the expectations that I had going into it.

 

Throughout the book I found myself quite bored. This book just didn't seem to have enough going on in it to keep me interested and even though there was alchemy and ghosts, I just wasn't a fan. At times the pace was really slow and there were spots where there really wouldn't be anything happening. The end however is what saved the book for me. It was fitting and really cute and I found myself glad that it ended the way it did. The characters deserved the happy ending.

 

Po was my favorite character. He was adorable and funny. Plus he was a ghost and that was just plain cool. He kept Liesl safe and helped her with her mission even though he really didn't have to. Liesl was an alright character. She really didn't seem to develop much throughout the book but she did have her moments where she seemed to be getting better.

 

I do have to say that Lauren Oliver does know how to tell a story and her writing is magical. It never seemed forced or unbelievable and because of that I think a lot of people will enjoy this story. It really just wasn't for me.

 

 

 
 

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Series: N/A
Source: Library
Publisher: HarperFestival
Publication Date: October 28, 2008

When Coraline explores her new home, she steps through a door and into another house just like her own... except that it's different. It's a marvelous adventure until Coraline discovers that there's also another mother and another father in the house. They want Coraline to stay with them and be their little girl. They want to keep her forever!

Coraline must use all of her wits and every ounce of courage in order to save herself and return home.

 

This is one of the few books where I actually saw the movie first. After seeing that movie I figured at least books are usually better anyway since I didn't like the movie. I was horribly wrong. This book was just about as bad, if not worse.

It seems that a lot of people really love this book, but I just don't see it. I didn't care about any of the characters.. well maybe the cat since he was so snarky. This book is supposed to be creepy and honestly I was bored throughout the entire thing.

The only really good thing that comes out of the story is that Coraline realizes that her life isn't as bad as she thought and that her parents are perfect just the way they are. Coraline was supposed to be smart girl wasn't she? Then why did it seem that she kept making the worst choices imaginable when all of the signs were right in front of her? Don't even get me started on her parents. They acted like their own child was nothing but a bother to them and that their work was more important. Is it really any wonder that she almost stayed with her "other" parents though?

Will I be checking out another of Neil Gaiman's works? Sure, I won't judge him based on just one of his books. Just because I wasn't a huge fan of this one doesn't mean that you won't be.