ARC Review: Rapunzel Untangled by: Cindy C. Bennett

Rapunzel Untangled by: Cindy C. Bennett (Feb. 12, 2013)

Publisher: Cedar Fort

304 pages

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Fairy Tale/Gothic

*I received this free ARC for review from Netgalley, it in no way impacted my honest review, and I received no compensation. Thanks to Cedar Fort publishing for this awesome book!

Goodreads Summary: For one thing, she has a serious illness that keeps her inside the mysterious Gothel Mansion. And for another, her hair is 15 feet long. Not to mention that she’s also the key to ultimately saving the world from certain destruction. But then she meets a boy named Fane, who changes all she has ever known, and she decides to risk everything familiar to find out who she really is.

My Review

I tip my hat to you Cindy Bennett, for giving me the chance to climb into a fairy tale retelling as unique and loveable as they come. I couldn’t put this book down once I started.

This is no ordinary story of Rapunzel. This Rapunzel lives in the 21^st century locked in a tower in an old creepy mansion with Facebook being her only connection to the outside world. I loved the moderness this old fairy tale was given. Not only do I love the modern twist but this story is dark, and reminded me of a gothic novel more than anything. The fact that Bennett has no problem showing how dark these fairy tales can be makes it that much more enjoyable. I was getting kind of tired of the cute little fairy tale stories I’ve run into as of late and this one is anything but.

I loved the characters. Rapunzel was interesting and humorous, just wanting a chance to leave her tower with the ever looming prophecy hanging over her head. Fane is a cute and charming young guy, a perfect prince. I instantly liked him. This book has all kinds of funny dialogue between these two characters with one liners you won't soon forget. You can’t do anything but love them. I even enjoyed Gothel, the evil mother, and the slow revealing of the woman who locks Rapunzel in a tower. This was the most complex and interesting fairy tale retelling I have ever read. Full of mystery, cuteness, and terror, this one is original.

I recommend this novel to anyway and everyone, especially those that love a good fairy tale. Take a chance and read it. You will be surprised at what you find lurking in the pages.

Rating: 5/5   BUY Rapunzel Untangled

Top Bookish News of the Past Week

Here are all the interesting bookish stories, pictures, and blog posts I found this past week. 

All of the titles are linked up to their respective articles/blog posts. Click away!

ARTICLES

Barnes and Noble Plans to Close 200 Stores in the Coming Years

• This makes me sad...

BLOG POSTS

Blogger Tips

• This post offers some great blogging tips, especially to newer bloggers. Also, it was Bookshelvers Anonymous' one year blogoversary this week. Go say congrats or enter her contest!

Top Ten Most Frustrating Characters Ever

• I laughed so hard when reading this post. Check out Writer of Wrongs' Top Ten Tuesday.

All My Reviews Sound the Same (feat. Jennifer Lawrence)

• This was a very interesting post that I personally could relate to.

Review: The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

• I loved this review. I can't wait to get my hands on this book!

PICTURES

• My husband found this picture this week. He even said we could do this once we get a house! I told him I would need more steps and we would have to hire someone that can draw. :)

• Thanks to Pinterest I saw this awesome Harry Potter nursery this week!

Share your thoughts! Did you see any interesting bookish news this past week that you would like to share? Post your comments below.

Book Recommendation Friday #2: If you liked Cinder by: Marissa Meyer...

Book Recommendation Friday is back! 

I will try to come up with different and unique reading suggestions for each post. I only recommend books that I have already read unless noted.

The books I suggest aren't always necessarily the same genre/plot so much as they have the same feel... and are great reads of course.  

Click on the book title to find out more about each one. Enjoy!

If you liked Cinder by: Marissa Meyer...then you should read...

1. Rapunzel Untangled by: Cindy C. Bennet
2. Beastly by: Alex Flinn
3. Wolf Tower by: Tanith Lee 
4. The Pledge by: Kimberly Detring
5. Wicked Lovely by: Melissa Marr
6. Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale by: Carolyn Turgeon (I have not read this one yet.)

For other reccomendations check out my If you liked...then read... page!

Do you have any books to add to this list or do you have any requests on what book I should feature next? Share below!

Book Review: These Girls by: Sarah Pekkanen

These Girls by: Sarah Pekkanen (2012) 

Publisher: Washington Square Press

317 pages

Genre: Fiction

Summary: Three girls, three different personal issues, three different lives intersect in New York and a friendship is born. Cate just got a promotion and is trying to figure out the ropes. Renee, Cate’s roommate, is hoping for a promotion to beauty editor, but the pressure builds and she begins taking diet pills. Then Abby enters into their lives, she is running away from some of her own personal demons. In the process of trying to figure out their lives they form a strong friendship and confront their demons together.

My Review

This is a wonderfully written story of friendship and family. This book did an amazing job at approaching subjects that many don’t like to talk about in public because it makes them uncomfortable.

The setting was enjoyable and new to me. Renee and Cate work at a woman’s magazine called Gloss. I really enjoyed seeing some behind the scene happenings at a magazine. Many times I felt like I was there in New York with these three girls, and I always enjoy a novel where I get sucked into its pages.

Simply put, this is a complex novel. Although there are many hard subject matters that are brought to light all are done well and not pushy. Some of the subjects that are artfully approached in this novel include beauty standards, gender in the workplace, the complexities of families, secrets, friendship, romantic relationships and more that I don’t want to say because it will give away some of the plot.

Each character was well crafted and full of secrets. I could relate in some degree to each character even though I don’t have personal experience with some of the subject matter. I could feel what these characters were feeling. When I first started reading the book I thought that maybe Pekkanen was revealing the character’s inner secrets too quickly, which would have been a big turn off for me, but I turned out to be wrong. There were still plenty of surprises as the novel progressed.

Lately I have been doing a lot of funny light reading. This was a big difference and I was slightly worried how I would respond to this huge jump in genre. Usually I have to be in a certain mood to read a heavy book like this, but I ended up really enjoying it. Plus, even though it hits on touchy subjects, there are still quite a few laughs from the main characters.

If the mood strikes you, or even if it doesn’t, you should read this one. It does a really good job at approaching tough subjects, and even though some of the characters make frustrating choices, I still really liked them.

Rating: 4/5   BUY These Girls

Waiting on Wednesday #2: Monument 14: Sky On Fire by: Emmy Laybourne

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Monument 14: Sky on Fire by: Emmy Laybourne

Release Date: May 28

Goodreads Summary: In this sequel to MONUMENT 14, the group of survivors, originally trapped together in a superstore by a series of escalating disasters, has split in two. Most of the kids are making a desperate run on their recently repaired school bus for the Denver airport where they hope to reunite with their parents, be evacuated to safety, and save their dying friend. 

But the world outside is dark and filled with dangerous chemicals that turn people into bloodthirsty monsters, and not all the kids were willing to get on the bus. Left behind in a sanctuary that has already been disturbed once, the remaining kids try to rebuild the community they lost. But when the issues are life and death, love and hate, who can you really trust?

I read the first book Monument 14 and the cliffhanger ending has me anxiously waiting for the sequel. Side note: I love the cover!

What books are you waiting for?

Top Ten Tuesday #4: Top Ten Most Frustrating Characters Ever

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly event hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish. 
This topic rocks! I read so much and I am sure I am missing some characters, but here it goes in no particular order of some characters that I wish never existed (harsh I know, but I do want to point out that I love some of these characters even if they are frustrating)...

1. Zoey - The House of Night Series: She can be too drama filled and whiny for my taste. She needs to grow up. Also, the crazy love triangles are too much.
2. Dolores Umbridge - Harry Potter Series - I'm not sure I need to go into detail here. She makes me so mad and gives me the creeps. I hate her.
3. Peeta - The Hunger Games - I'm just not a fan of Petta, especially in book one. He is annoying... and not Gale.
4. Luce - The Fallen Series - Her not knowing her true identity, her automatic love for Daniel, and these books taking forever to explain Luce and Daniel's relationship makes her one of my least favorite characters. Also, did she really not know who Bill was? Come on!
5. Jacob - Twilight Saga - This childish character drives me insane.
6. Scarlett 'O' Hara - Gone With the Wind - I couldn't leave her off this list.
7. Mr. Dimmesdale - The Scarlet Letter - No thanks! He is sad.
8. Anastasia - 50 Shades of Grey - It was hard for me to chose between her and Grey, both are painfully frustrating.
9. The Greek Gods - Percy Jackson Series - They just don't listen to their demigod children! On the other hand, they are pretty cool. 
10. People that don't believe Mara Dyer - It really is frustrating when she keeps getting punished for things that she shouldn't be punished for. (I don't count her older brother in this list because he rocks.)

What characters frustrate you?

Review: Size 12 and Ready to Rock by: Meg Cabot

Size 12 and Ready to Rock by: Meg Cabot (A Heather Wells Mystery #4) (2012) 

Publisher: William Morrow

361 pages

Genre: Mystery/Romance/Comedy

Summary: Heather Wells, an assistant residence hall director for New York College, is once again knee deep in a mysterious death. Her ex-boyfriend, Jordan, and his wife, the popular singer Tania Trace, are in town. Tania announces that she is holding a Rock Camp where Heather works. After finding out this shocking and dreadful news, things get even crazier for Heather when the producer of the Rock Camp ends up dead at the residence hall where she works. Now, not only does Heather have to deal with the snotty teenagers who are attending the camp, but she is up against a killer.

Review: Meg Cabot finally brought this series back to life…the wait was totally worth it.

Heads up, this can be a standalone novel! So don’t let the fact that this is book number four in the series keep you from checking this out.

Simply put, I love Heather. She is human (aka believable, down to earth, and connectable), funny, charming, an oddball, and quirky. What more could you want out of the main character/heroine in a novel? I would have to say not much. Also, her love interest, Cooper, is just as awesome. I promise.

I don’t really have anything negative to say about this book, which is kind of a nice thing since lately I feel like I haven’t been reading the best books. The plot is nicely paced, the characters were interesting and there were many laughs to be had. I also enjoyed the mysteriousness of the novel, it wasn’t always easy to guess what was coming next, and usually with these lighter comedies it is pretty easy for me to figure everything out. I guess the only reason I’m giving this book a 4.5 instead of a 5 is because when I was reading it I just didn’t get that 5/5 feeling. You know what I’m talking about? The one where you want to scream at the top of your lungs “read this book!” at the next person that you see.

Seriously, this book is great for a fun light hearted read. So if you are feeling down, it’s raining out, or you just read a book that made you think a lot, then pick this one up and start reading. If you are already a Meg Cabot fan, I don’t think you will be disappointed. I also think fans of Janet Evanovich would enjoy this series as well.

Rating: 4.5/5   BUY Size 12 and Ready to Rock 

This book counts towards my Series Catch-Up challenge. Check it out HERE.