Review: Shut Out

Hello there internet! I'm back today with one of many overdue reviews! This one is of a book i loved and i think it's just a super great read...Shut Out by Kody Keplinger!!

As always, i do try to keep my reviews pretty spoiler free - however spoilers happen and i am sorry, so read with caution :)

*I was sent a free copy of Shut Out to review - however all thoughts are my own and 100% honest*

Shut Out follows a girl named Lissa and how she is fed up with the constant rivalry between the Football team and the Soccer team, as are all the other girls at Hamilton High. To finally put an end to this rivalry Lissa comes up with an idea which she shares with all the other girlfriends of the boys on the teams - go on a sex strike. The girls all decide that they will have no sexual contact, including kissing, with any of the guys until they finally end the feud that none of them were around for the start of.

What i really love about this book, is that it has the cute, funny romance that i love about contemporary YA, and excellent character developments which i sometimes find missing in these kinds of books.

Lissa is such a great perspective to read from, and seeing her friendships develop, break, and rebuild is really lovely, and not to mention her romantic relationships during this no-hookup plan!

There are two guys in Lissa's love life - her boyfriend, Randy (perfect name choice) and the ever present rival on and off the field, Cash Sterling. Now Randy is the guy that i hated during this book, and we are definitely meant to. He is the epitome of crappy boyfriend and Keplinger has done an amazing job in making him easy to hate. However Cash is the opposite of Randy, he is lovely, caring, funny, and cute as hell. However, as in real life, there are moments when Randy is likeable, and there are times when you question how nice Cash really is...but it all works out perfectly.

I adored this book. It hit on really important ideas. There is a certain section where the girls are fighting about who is the biggest 'slut' and telling the virgins that they need to 'give it up' to their boyfriends. And then comes the greatest moment i think i have ever read in a YA book...They call out how stupid all of this is. Keplinger wrote such an amazing speech about how girls need to stop shaming each other on whether or not they've had sex, or how much they have sex, or (and this was the best, unexpected moment) on whether they even enjoy having sex! If i could get all girls to read that section at least, i would be so happy, because it is the most important thing that i think i have ever read in YA. 

I love this book, and i hope that everyone goes out and reads it, because my gosh is it a good one!

Meghan xx

Top 5...#12

Hello there internet! I'm doing another Top 5 today, but this one is a little different, and a little special. As we're half way through 2014 already (omg!) i thought i'd look back at the books i have read this year and pick out the five i enjoyed the most!

Let's go!

5: Like and Subscribe by Jay Bell

I adored this story! It was 47 pages of terrific story, and wonderful characters! I've never fallen in love with characters quite that fast. Evan and Orlando were so great, and i loved how they developed. I think anyone who watches youtubers or makes youtube videos should read this story. It was so wonderful, and so perfect. Jay Bell knows how to write a story, break your heart, and then fix it all over again.

4: Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

Every teenage girl, no actually any girl really, needs to read this book. It covers some topics that i think really, really need more coverage in YA, and it's done in such a great way. I have so many feelings about this book, and i know it's one i'm not going to be forgetting for a long, long time. Kody Keplinger really nailed it.

3: City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

This is the most wonderful ending to a series i have ever read, and i have a whole lot of feelings about it (which you can read some of here). I loved how even in the last book we were introduced to new characters, still had character development for characters that we already love, and had the great, bittersweet ending. Amazing ending, so much love for Cassandra Clare.

2: Between the Lives by Jessica Shirvington

I don't think anyone will be surprised at how much i loved this book. It's one of those books that i know i will remember forever, and will go back again and again, because honestly as soon as i finished it it went into my favourite books list. I loved the characters, the plot, the twists, everything. It was so, so, so great, and i hope everyone gives it a read!

and finally, the best book i've read so far this year is...

1: Something Like Winter by Jay Bell

I could honestly put all of the Something Like... books here because honestly they're the best books i've read in a long time. The characters are perfect, the writing is amazing, the story is wonderful, i just love everything about it. Tim was my favourite character from Something Like Summer, and getting to see things from his side was everything i could have ever wanted and more. Jay Bell has really nailed the whole 'make people fall in love with every character, even the ones you hate - you love' thing. Something Like Winter is my favourite book in the series (even though i love them all and it's pretty hard to pick a favourite), i think it's because Tim is one of my favourite characters i have ever read about. I think everyone should read these books, because they are absolutely amazing, will break your heart, re-build your heart, and make you feel all of the feels. I love Jay Bell's writing, and this one is just the most perfect example of how to write the most realistic relationships and characters. 

Meghan x

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