Pocket Book Reviews {May 2015} + U by Kotex's #SaveTheUndies

So I didn't read as much as last month, but I still did very well. Seven books is a lot for me, but it helps that I went on vacation and read two books while traveling and one graphic novel while chilling in my hotel. For the most part, I enjoyed the books I read. What did you read this month?

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares*
★★★★★ (4 out of 5)

Written by David Levithan & Rachel Cohn, this YA romance follows Lily, a teenage girl who left a red journal in the Strand bookstore in New York City with instructions for any boys who come across it, and Dash, the boy who finds the notebook and follows said instructions. The two start a back and forth through the notebook and send each other on a scavenger hunt across Manhattan. 

This book is absolutely adorable! Dash and Lily are such real teenagers; they act irrationally, do stupid things, and are flawed people. I liked Dash and Lily a lot, although they both got on my nerves at times, Lily more so than Dash. Their back and forth through the journal and the adventures they send each other on are bookish and fun and utterly enjoyable. 

Buy the book: B&N | Amazon | Goodreads

The Room**
★★★★★ (3 out of 5)

Written by Jonas Karlsson, Bjorn discovers a secret room at a government office where he works that no one else can see. His coworkers find Bjorn's behavior getting increasingly bizarre and want him fired, but he uses the secret room to get ahead in his work. 

This book is...interesting. And not what I expected at all. This book was more about conformity and society rather than the secret room. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I actually liked Bjorn, but I found him annoying and unfriendly. 

Buy the book: B&N | Amazon | Goodreads

The Girl With All The Gifts
★★★★★ (4 out of 5)

Written by M.R. Carey, Melanie is a special little girl. Every morning she waits in her cell to be collected for class. Sergeant Parks points his gun at her while two other soldiers strap her into a wheelchair. Melanie's world is small, but when something goes wrong her world gets bigger and scarier. 

This is another book that's not what I expected at all, but in a good way. Without giving too much away, Melanie's world is very different, one in which you have to be careful at every turn. There's a lot of science in this book, but it was fascinating to read. The story slows down a lot in the middle, but the pace picks up the end. 

Buy the book: B&N | Amazon | Goodreads

The Winner's Curse (The Winner's Trilogy #1)
★★★★★ (5 out of 5)

Written by Marie Rutkoski, Kestral, a general's daughter, lives in a world in which there are conquerors and those who are conquered. Living in a country that her father's army conquered years before, Kestral has only two choices: join the military or get married, but she has no desire to do either. Her world changes forever though when she buys a slave named Arin. 

Wow, this book! Rutkowski's poetic writing sucks you into this world of slaves and slavers, merchants and military, and revels and rebellion. Kestral and Arin's slow burn, off-limits relationship from hatred to friendship to flirtation is wonderful and almost feels like a Jane Austen novel. This story is fantastic and kept me on the edge of my seat with all its twists and secrets and shady characters. (P.S. -- I'm showing the second book in the pictures because I gave the first one back to the library already.)

Buy the book: B&N | Amazon | Goodreads

Before Tomorrowland
★★★★★ (3 out of 5)

Written by Jeff Jensen, Brad Bird, Jonathan Case, and Damon Lindelof, this story takes place in 1939. While a secret society of genuises begins preparations to share an extraordinary discovery with the world, a man that is half-machine will stop at nothing to prevent them from sharing this knowledge. 

I had high hopes for this, considering the names attached to it and the fact that it was coming from Disney, but the story was all over the place. It started off with several unconnected and confusing stories that eventually merged together. I did enjoy reading the adventure aspect of it and reading from the point of view of Lee, a young man who gets caught up in the middle of it all. 

Buy the book: B&N | Amazon | Goodreads

Locke & Key, Vol. 1
★★★★★ (5 out of 5)

Written by Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodriguez, this dark fantasy graphic novel follows a family after the father is murdered. The mother, two sons, and a daughter move into Lovecraft, an old family home with doors that can change you or transport you if you walk through them. 

Dark, creepy, and cool. That's how I would describe this story. There are magical doors, a creature that wants a powerful key, and someone out for revenge, and that all comes together in an intriguing way. I didn't want to stop reading and I already want to read the rest of the volumes to see what happens and what other doors will be opened next. 

Buy the book: B&N | Amazon | Goodreads

The Look of Love
★★★★★ (4 out of 5)

Written by Sarah Jio, Jane has a powerful yet subtle gift: she can see love. On her 29th birthday, Jane receives a card telling her that she must identify the six types of love before her 30th birthday or she'll be able to see love, but never get to experience it. 

I picked this up at the Pittsburgh airport because I wanted to read something light, cute, and romantic for the journey home and this book is just that. It's a little sappy and predictable, but it's also sweet. I really liked most of the characters, but sadly I wasn't a fan of Jane's love interest, Cam. He felt one-dimensional and boring. Despite that, I really enjoyed this story. 

Buy the book: B&N | Amazon | Goodreads

*I received this book via giveaway. 
**I received this book for free via Blogging for Books. All opinions are my own. 

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**This post is sponsored by Kotex, but my opinions are all my own.**

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