Chocolate S.O.S by Sue Limb

Series: Jess Jordan, Book Six

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Format: Paperback

Published: 5^th January 2012

Number of Pages: 304

Book: For Review*

Genre: Realistic-Fiction, Humour, Chick-Lit, Contemporary, Romance, Pre-Teen, YA, YA-Child Crossover

Recommended Age: 9+

Contains: Mild Swearing and Dangerously Short Chapters

No Alcohol, Drug References

Author's Site: Sue Limb

Jess has broken up with Fred, though really she is waiting for him to come to her door and beg to get back together again.  But is that the sort of thing Fred would do?  He has said himself that he hads no backbone…  Meanwhile, a gorgeous boy has moved in next door and, to Jess’s mingled horror and delight, is making it very, very obvious that he would like to be a lot closer than next door…  Surely, now, Fred will be driven, in a fit of jealousy, to sweep Jess back off her feet?  Won’t he?

Fans of Jess Jordan will be thrilled to have a new Fred and Jess story, full of Sue Limb’s very funny take on early teenage life and problems.

Review:

A clumsy heroine, a cowardly ex, a bubbly girl chasing said ex and a hot guy next door.  A recipe for disaster?  Definitely where Jess Jordan is concerned!

Jess has just dumped Fred.  Why?  Because he dumped her in the deep end, leaving her to organist a charity dinner all by herself before turning up and stealing the show!  But really, all Jess is waiting for is for Fred to perform a chivalrous act to win her back.  Only, soon, over-enthusiastic Jodie has her eyes set on Fred, and Jess is furious.  But then… hottie Luke moves in next door.  Can getting Fred back really be as easy as making him jealous?  Well, Jess will find out soon, that’s for sure!

I’m not sure how I thought I would find this one.  I guess I was thinking that, being oh-so-mature myself, I wouldn’t find Chocolate S.O.S quite as funny as I did.  But the wonderful and wacky range of characters were ever amusing – even the gloomy, scary Mr Barclay.  Yes: what I got was a book that really did make me laugh myself silly.  With a loveable lead gal, a hot boy-next-door and a “spineless” ex-boyfriend, with a love square like no other, Chocolate S.O.S was really funny!  In other words: an awesome book!

Jess Jordan was funny – and kind of a drama queen!  She was really, hilariously snarky and rather absent-minded.  But I loved that she was also a really quick thinker, because it made her really imaginative and witty.  In social situations, Jess really did have to be the unluckiest person ever, and sometimes her own worst enemy.  I mean, sometimes she believed her own lies!  Clutzy, eccentric, bonkers and melodramatic, Jess Jordan was hilarious!  She absolutely killed me!  But I could also tell that Fred had really hurt her and she still really loved him…  Though, her not-thinking-about-Fred routines were absolutely bananas and really funny!

Flora Barclay was the best friend: sweet, supportive.  I loved Flo: she was such a good friend!  Poor Flo’s family was having a little bit of a crisis, and even though she did have a few minor saying-things-wrong crises, I knew she really loved Jess and that she was, as I said before, really sweet.

I got an outsiders view of Fred Parsons: having not read the books before (except for one before my blogging-days), I was purely judging Fred based of Chocolate S.O.S.  I must admit, he baffled me for a while.  He had the weirdest way of delivering compliments, and he seemed rather spiteful and odd.  I couldn’t figure him out, couldn’t tell what he was thinking.  Did he still love Jess?  Did he just not care?  What I did know what that he was absolutely hilarious – sarcastically and ironically funny.  He was in his own words a coward, but I think, really, he’s just shy and maybe insecure.

Luke Appleton, Jess’ new next-door neighbour, was cute, great at cooking and surfing, plus he had a cute smile…  He was really polite, but also really confident: rather (in Jess’ own words): “daring and unexpected” in his actions.  In my opinion, Luke was wonderfully bonkers and really funny, rather pushy and unpredictable – in a good way.  But I found myself wondering more and more what his past was, ‘cause I’m still not sure about the story he gave us…

Luke and Jess were so cute together.  They really made me laugh!  Dressing up as vamps, chasing each other: they were like little kids!  And they wanted zombie babies on leads…  And now I do too!

Jodie was a bit of a drama queen, as well as being really loud mouthed and energetic.   Almost annoyingly so.  She was occasionally sweet – ok, normally, always sweet, but as she’s after Fred and Jess doesn’t like her for that, I don’t like her either. 

I love the family dynamics in this, the range.  You have Jess’ close-knit, cosy family.  The relaxed librarian mother, the sweet, funny, totally loveable gay father and the homicidal-obsessed grandmother (on TV, not in real life!  She was hilarious, slightly inappropriate and really sweet!).  The ideal family, all of whom felt so, so real to me: I just loved them!  You also have Flora’s more privileged family, with her stern father and graceful mother.  Luke’s family was also really lovely: just him and his dad, both of them really close.  Still not sure about his Mum… something makes me think the story he gave isn’t the truth…

I really do not read enough funny books.  Chocolate S.O.S made me realise that I can’t remember the last book I read that can be classed under comedy.  Shocking, seeing as I do love a good laugh!

And I found Chocolate S.O.S hilarious!  Jess was brilliant, Fred was snarky-funny, and all the other characters were funny in one way or another. But the scene that killed me most was one between Luke and Jess, when they were discussing how a fictional guy would kill his fictional girlfriend.  I was almost crying by the time that scene had finished!  Somehow Sue managed to portray various dramas in a way that cracked me up – even when I probably shouldn’t be laughing!  I found myself laughing at the silliest little every-day chore: Jess was just so bonkers and funny!

The writing was stunning!  Normally, I’m not keen on the 3^rd person, but I loved the way this was written!  I totally got to know Jess and quickly fell in love with her wacky personality.  I felt what she did, although my sympathy and cringing were usually accompanied by rather a lot of giggling.  I love Sue’s writing: simple, teen and completely hilarious!  As for Jess’ tips on getting over your ex… they were absolutely hilarious!  And so original!  (Lots of choccie involved, of course!)

Now, the chapters are dangerously short: be warned!  The kind of short where you go: ‘oh, five pages…  It’s only midnight!’  And you end up reading the whole book!  I read the book in one day, one day only, with many breaks to do your everyday stuff.  It was addictive, hilarious and pure awesome!  I loved every moment: even the cringey bits!  The bonkers-ness is just irresistible!  I can’t wait for Jess’ next book!

And if you want to learn how to write laugh-out-loud literature, pop over tomorrow - Sue's giving us a guest post as part of her blog tour!  I can't wait!

Star Rating:
4 Out of 5

Read this book if you liked:

Jess Jordan Series by Sue Limb
Confessions of Georgia Nicolson by Louise Rennison

Gallagher Girls by Ally Carter

Or Anything by Sarah Dessen, Meg Cabot or Jacqueline Wilson

Challenges It's Taking Part In:

Happy Reading

100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2012 (Hosted by Book Chick City)

YA Contemporary Challenge 2012 (Hosted by Reading Angel & Katie's Book Blog)

British Books Challenge 2012 (Hosted by The Overflowing Library)

Megan

* This book was received from Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Series: The Lunar Chronicles, Book One

Publisher: Puffin

Format: ARC

Published: 5^th January 2012

Number of Pages: 400

Book: For Review*

Genre: Dystopian, Science-Fiction, Action-Adventure, Romance, Fairy-Tale, Fantasy, Steampunk, YA, Pre-Teen

Recommended Age: 11+

Contains: Mild Violence, Death, Mild Swearing

No Alcohol, Drug References

Author's Site: Marissa Meyer

A forbidden romance.

A deadly plague.

Earth's fate hinges on one girl . . .

CINDER, a gifted mechanic in New Beijing, is also a cyborg. She's reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's sudden illness. But when her life becomes entwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she finds herself at the centre of a violent struggle between the desires of an evil queen - and a dangerous temptation.

Cinder is caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal. Now she must uncover secrets about her mysterious past in order to protect Earth's future.

This is not the fairytale you remember. But it's one you won't forget.

                                                                   Review:

Cinder is the best mechanic in the kingdom.  She’s also a cyborg.  A plague is sweeping through the land of New Beijing.  A manipulative alien queen is trying to force young Prince Kai into a marriage alliance, threatening his kingdom with war.  Cinder is stuck in the middle of it all, trapped by loyalties and her growing feelings for Kai.  When the truth behind Cinder’s mysterious past is revealed, it changes everything.  Caught between love and hate, freedom and war, Cinder’s actions could change the future forever…

Cinder, Cinder, Cinder.  Where do I start?  How do I describe the pure awesomeness that makes up this book?  Imagine the Cinderella fairy tale.  Now imagine it in a futuristic world, where Cinderella is a cyborg in a kingdom on the brink of war with a non-human race with freaky powers.   There’s also an incurable plague sweeping through the land.  And throw in a gorgeous prince with an irresistible smile, just for luck...  Ah, Cinder…  loved it!

Cinder herself was someone I liked straight away.  She was funny and sarcastic, as well as being totally awesome, with some really cool cyborg powers!  Cinder was just a really sweet person, who didn’t deserve any of the bad things that happened to her.  She was also the perfect heroine: kickbutt, strong, witty, caring and not perfect.  She was real.  I loved her, and seeing her grow into herself.

And Prince Kai (our very own Prince Charming) was really sweet and kind and down to earth.  And drop-dead gorgeous, obviously.  I found him really funny and brilliantly sarcastic.  And you just know that he would do anything for his people from the moment you meet him.  I loved him: I mean, forget Prince Charming, I want me a Prince Kai! 

Now, I just have to mention Iko, a little android with a unique personality.  She was so cute!  And funny.  She was like a totally juvenile (and freakin’ hilarious) teenage girl.  I never thought I could love a little robot as much as I loved Iko! 

The Lunas, the ones New Beijing was almost at war with were terrifying!  They were more-than-human-humans, with freaky mind-controlling powers.  They were the perfect ‘bad-guys’, for lack of a better word: scary, imposing with an evil, manipulative queen… 

Now, while I am aware this is a book, that the things in it are fantasy, the way the cyborgs were treated… it made my blood boil.  They were taken, against their will, and used as guinea pigs.  Treated like slaves, second class citizens.  It was a brilliantly crafted mirror of what has happened in the past in some cultures.

Before I say anything else, can I just say: I loved this world!  Cyborgs, androids, dashing princes, evil stepmothers.  It has seriously got to be the best Cinderella twist EVER!  And it was just insanely addictive, with a killer ending that has left me desperate for Book Two!

Although I managed to guess a few twists, I loved every turn Cinder took.  I loved the plot, I was never bored.  I was on the edge of my seat, unable to put it down.  I fell in love with all the characters – the amazingly strong Cinder, the adorable Iko, the sweet Peony, the gorgeous Kai.  I adored the relationships: the horrid one between Cinder and her stepmother, the amazingly slow and beautiful one between Kai and Cinder, the teacher-student bond between the brilliant Dr Erland and Cinder.  I just loved every moment of Cinder and I’ve been left desperate to know what happens next.  I need to get back into Cinder’s world!

The writing was amazing.  It was written so younger kids will love it, and instantly get stuck in, but so older readers can see some parallels between their world of the future and our past.  Discrimination, plague, wars, forced alliances.  Somehow Meyer managed to effortlessly weave the old with the new, the young and the old, the future and the past, science fiction and fantasy.  I was just sucked in, absorbed in the story.  Cinderella has been given a new lease of life in the brave Cinder, a kickbutt awesome heroine who most definitely trumps Disney’s princess.  And she felt real. Like I knew her, which is even more important for me.  Meyer nailed it!  In other, shorter words.

Star Rating:
4½ Out of 5

Read this book if you liked:

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Iron Fey by Julie Kagawa

Challenges It's Taking Part In:

100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2011 (Hosted by Book Chick City)

Megan

* This book was received from Puffin in exchange for an honest review

Happy Reading

The Dead of Winter by Chris Priestley

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Format: Hardback

Published: October 2010

Number of Pages: 224

Book: For Review From Bloomsbury*

Genre: Ghost, Thriller, YA, Pre-Teen, Fiction

“My name is Michael: Michael Vyner.  I am going to tell you something of my life and of the strange events that have brought me to where I now sit, pen in hand, my heartbeat hastening at their recollection.”

A boy, a mysterious guardian and a haunted house with a terrible secret.

When Michael Vyner goes to spend the Christmas holidays with his distant and aloof guardian, he finds himself in a dark and desolate East Anglian house – a house that harbours a terrible secret which it will fight to retain.  Michael’s lonely task soon becomes clear as he is haunted not just by a solitary woman in the mists but by the terrible reason behind her death.

Review:

I don’t know whether it was the writing, the characters or the anticipation and hints of what was to come, but I sped through this book, completely addicted from page one. 

It starts off at the end of the story, with flashbacks that make no sense at the time, but make you want to read on to find out what they’re about more than anything.  You know something huge and scary is there in the book, but you don’t know where or what and you just need to find out. 

Told from the point of view of the main character, Michael, it is about how after his mother dies, he is sent to live with a man (Lord Stephan) he’s never met, but knows because his father died to save him.  The house he’s sent to is thoroughly depressing from the beginning, the only points of light being the servants.  But there’s something evil, dangerous in the house...  Is Michael just going mad or did something terrible really happen there?  Was the woman he saw really there?  And if so, why could no one else see her?

Well, I just had to know the answer to that question from the first sighting of her. 

Michael’s a good character, smart, brave and very good at noticing the little things.  The other characters are good too, getting a nice range, from the mad Lord Stephan to the beautiful Miss Charlotte to the cheerful .

And I must admit, I really didn’t see what happened in the end coming, although I had a mild suspicion on a couple of things.  I would definitely recommend this book, as it has a nice blend of ghosts, scare-factor, and mystery.  Perfect mix!  The only downside is that it’s too short, which makes the end a little abrupt, and that I never found out the time period it’s set it, which kind of bugged me all the way through.  But, despite all of that, a brilliant, smart and spine-tingling read that’s positively addictive.  A must read!

Star Rating:

4 Out of 5

Read this book if you liked:

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

Tyme’s End by B. R. Collins

Tales of Terror by Chris Priestley


Challenges It's Taking Part In:
100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2011 (Hosted by Book Chick City)
British Book Challenge (Hosted by The Bookette)
Horror and Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge 2011 (Hosted by Book Chick City)
Off The Shelf Challenge (Hosted by BA Reading Challenges)

Happy Reading

Megan

*This book was recieved from Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review