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Two Roads
The only person poetry-loving Cali Monroe hates more than herself is Logan Waters, the geeky kid who lives in the dorm building next to hers.
Ever since Cali's parents told her she would amount to nothing, she has felt entirely inadequate. Friendless and alone, she takes on the mean girl role in hopes it will make her feel better--and Logan serves as the perfect target. He infuriates her with his obnoxiously long lashes, his all too perfect dimpled smile, and his complete lack of personality outside of his intelligence. It doesn't hurt that he's part of the reason her brother is dead, either. So Cali hates him, and he returns the favor. Thus, their prank-filled, insult-driven rivalry is born, and torturing Logan quickly becomes the highlight of her life.
But when Cali's parents set them up on a blind date, she begins to realize Logan might not be as boring as she always thought. He shares her love of poetry, takes a sadistic pleasure in making fun of crepes, and he makes her blush when he calls her smile pretty.
And hey, maybe those long lashes of his aren't that obnoxious after all…
Two Roads is New Adult Romance about finding love, standing out, and learning to embrace who you are. It contains some language and mild sexual content.
Ever since Cali's parents told her she would amount to nothing, she has felt entirely inadequate. Friendless and alone, she takes on the mean girl role in hopes it will make her feel better--and Logan serves as the perfect target. He infuriates her with his obnoxiously long lashes, his all too perfect dimpled smile, and his complete lack of personality outside of his intelligence. It doesn't hurt that he's part of the reason her brother is dead, either. So Cali hates him, and he returns the favor. Thus, their prank-filled, insult-driven rivalry is born, and torturing Logan quickly becomes the highlight of her life.
But when Cali's parents set them up on a blind date, she begins to realize Logan might not be as boring as she always thought. He shares her love of poetry, takes a sadistic pleasure in making fun of crepes, and he makes her blush when he calls her smile pretty.
And hey, maybe those long lashes of his aren't that obnoxious after all…
Two Roads is New Adult Romance about finding love, standing out, and learning to embrace who you are. It contains some language and mild sexual content.
246 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 23, 2013
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2062 people want to read
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November 14, 2013
TWO? THREE? FOUR? MAYBE FIVE STARS ...
I find it completely charming when an author reaches out to request a read and review of their book, I have utmost respect for those who venture into the unknown and publish their hard work. L M Augustine has done just that with his story 'Two roads' and what a reading experience I've just had, I feel completely conflicted over my book thoughts, did I love it? Did I hate it? Did I hate that I loved it? Here are my confused thoughts ...
What's it all about?
Cali Monroe is living her life in a tangle of lies ever since tragedy struck her family she feels alone in a world where only her poetry, anger and hatred keeps her company. Logan an old friend serves as a target for Cali's false persona as a mean girl, treating him to her hate and revenge Cali only ever really feels alive when she is in battle with her arch enemy. But when a blind date means she has to lower her defences she starts to realise that there is a fine line between love and hate. 'Two roads' is a NA novel about love and finding yourself amoungst all the hurt.
What did I like?
This book is refreshingly different, the author has an obvious love of poetry and he definitely likes to write with an air of drama. The characters were well portrayed and the story was engaging for the most part. I feel quite conflicted about this story and it's rating, on the one hand I have no doubt that this story will stay with me and I know it was a well written novel. On the flip side I wouldn't give it top stars for enjoyment factor, This story has a melancholy feel to it that made it more of a self discovery book rather than a book about love. There was something about this book that kept me turning the pages and I truely believe that it's the content rather than the quality that made me give this book a lower rating than some. The story dealt with some heart breaking subjects and it certainly had a quirky mix of amusing and heart felt. The characters were certainly original this author has a vivid and entertaining imagination. All in all I think I still feel conflicted about my feelings, the book deserves a 4-5 for originality and delivery but for my reading tastes it feels more like 2 - 3 stars.
Why not five?
Going into this story I loved the sound of the blurb, it had an original feel to it and I expected a fresh storyline laced with heartfelt and some angst and whilst all that was true it just didn't work for my reading taste. I could be descriptive with my dislikes but I simply want to say that the storyline didnt work for me on the whole. I struggled to connect to a like ability factor and I found the characters a little pretentious and the poem references, although beautifully presented they were somewhat repetitive and took over the storytelling. I know that this book will touch some readers, it will take an ordinary reading experience and make it special, but for me I struggled with the characters, I failed to connect to the storyline until towards the last 30% and I felt confused about spending my time finishing the story off. So although I appreciate this authors writing ability and effort to produce a story that tells of originality this book will continue to confuse my rating ability.
Final thoughts ...
'Two roads' will undoubtably land on some of your five star shelves, I have no doubt that this author has a talent to write and a gift to share, i'm going to be looking out for more from this author and I hope that although this book did not work for me that it will be a book that as a reader you can appreciate and enjoy. With that thought in mind go check it out, it may just be your next favourite read. Enjoy ... Kisses.
*A Copy of the book has been generously provided by the author, L.M. Augustine in exchange for an honest review.
I find it completely charming when an author reaches out to request a read and review of their book, I have utmost respect for those who venture into the unknown and publish their hard work. L M Augustine has done just that with his story 'Two roads' and what a reading experience I've just had, I feel completely conflicted over my book thoughts, did I love it? Did I hate it? Did I hate that I loved it? Here are my confused thoughts ...
What's it all about?
Cali Monroe is living her life in a tangle of lies ever since tragedy struck her family she feels alone in a world where only her poetry, anger and hatred keeps her company. Logan an old friend serves as a target for Cali's false persona as a mean girl, treating him to her hate and revenge Cali only ever really feels alive when she is in battle with her arch enemy. But when a blind date means she has to lower her defences she starts to realise that there is a fine line between love and hate. 'Two roads' is a NA novel about love and finding yourself amoungst all the hurt.
What did I like?
This book is refreshingly different, the author has an obvious love of poetry and he definitely likes to write with an air of drama. The characters were well portrayed and the story was engaging for the most part. I feel quite conflicted about this story and it's rating, on the one hand I have no doubt that this story will stay with me and I know it was a well written novel. On the flip side I wouldn't give it top stars for enjoyment factor, This story has a melancholy feel to it that made it more of a self discovery book rather than a book about love. There was something about this book that kept me turning the pages and I truely believe that it's the content rather than the quality that made me give this book a lower rating than some. The story dealt with some heart breaking subjects and it certainly had a quirky mix of amusing and heart felt. The characters were certainly original this author has a vivid and entertaining imagination. All in all I think I still feel conflicted about my feelings, the book deserves a 4-5 for originality and delivery but for my reading tastes it feels more like 2 - 3 stars.
Why not five?
Going into this story I loved the sound of the blurb, it had an original feel to it and I expected a fresh storyline laced with heartfelt and some angst and whilst all that was true it just didn't work for my reading taste. I could be descriptive with my dislikes but I simply want to say that the storyline didnt work for me on the whole. I struggled to connect to a like ability factor and I found the characters a little pretentious and the poem references, although beautifully presented they were somewhat repetitive and took over the storytelling. I know that this book will touch some readers, it will take an ordinary reading experience and make it special, but for me I struggled with the characters, I failed to connect to the storyline until towards the last 30% and I felt confused about spending my time finishing the story off. So although I appreciate this authors writing ability and effort to produce a story that tells of originality this book will continue to confuse my rating ability.
Final thoughts ...
'Two roads' will undoubtably land on some of your five star shelves, I have no doubt that this author has a talent to write and a gift to share, i'm going to be looking out for more from this author and I hope that although this book did not work for me that it will be a book that as a reader you can appreciate and enjoy. With that thought in mind go check it out, it may just be your next favourite read. Enjoy ... Kisses.
*A Copy of the book has been generously provided by the author, L.M. Augustine in exchange for an honest review.
October 7, 2013
I’m wowed. I’m physicaly and mentaly living in this book, breathing it and thinking about it all the time. It’s definitely one of the best books I’ve read this year and it can’t be passed up. Deep emotional aspect of this novel is equal with witty and sarcastic part. I laughed, I cried, I yelled and cussed. Two Roads is absolutely heartbreaking while being the funniest book ever. I love it when I randomly pick up a book when I know almost nothing about it and then I’m blown away. This is a story about Logan and Cali. Story that will break your heart, make you swoon, laugh hard and feel many different emotions.
Cali is broken and damaged, despite the fact it’s been 4 years after her brother died, she still cannot let him go . She blames everyone, especially herself for his death, so now she’s pretending to live like normal twenty year old, while sulking and reading poetry. She’s pretending to be mean, popular girl that hooks up every night with different boy and is full of hate.
I don't mind being called a bitch. Being a bitch means I'm strong. Being a bitch means I'm surviving, and sometimes that's all I can do : I survive.
So when after 3 and half years of not seeing each other, Logan is back in the same college as she and Cali feels it’s her obligation to make his life hell. She hates him for not helping Ben and giving up on her when she needed him the most. As her brother’s best friend he should have done something, he should have been there for him and her. But he wasn’t and no that he’s back to all his nerd self, with his weird glasses, T-shirts, math textbooks and obnoxious eyelashes. She hates him. Hates that he can live normally, laugh with his friends and study. She hates his hair, glasses, eyelashes and so on, every reason for loathing him is good.
„So I hate him. I hate him for ruinning my life. I hate him for not blaming himself like I blame myslef for what happened. I hate him for moving on with his life, when no matter how hard I try, I just can’t"
She insults him, breaks into his apartment, destroys his things, writes him hateful emails and notes. And he’s doing the same. Prank for prank, insult for insult, hurtful thing for hurtful thing. They are enemies, rivals.
„It’s on, the gesture says, and Logan just smiles.
“Loser,” I continue, trying to sound as cold and calm as possible.
“Heartless freak,” he shoots right back.
“Dickhead.”
“Asshole.”
“Bastard.”
“Jackass.”
“Guy no one wanted.”
“Girl whose parents hate her.”
His friends keep jerking their heads back and forth between us. “Idiot.”
“Jerk.”
“Imbecile.”
“Moron.”
“Asshat.”
“Oaf.”
This book is phenomenal! It connects hearbreak with sarcasm, love with hate, fun with deep emotions. The writing is perfect, so freaking good I couldn’t stop reading! And the poetry that is a great aspect of this book is beautiful. I can’t find words to describe how much it affected me.
Two Roads is one of this stories that wrench your guts and change you as a person. I loved it. It’s everything I needed and I wish I could forget about what I’ve read only for a chance to read this again and feel this for second time. I don’t know, what else to write to make you pick up this book, because it’s a novel that deserves reading again and again. I would hate it if one of my friends passed up opportunity to read it. So give yourself a great gift and start this amazing journey of blame, guilt and loneliness, where love and hate are the same.
October 7, 2013
Update 10.6.13 Two Roads is ON SALE! 99 Pennies!!! Go One Click!
What can I say about Two Roads? I had the pleasure of reading it weeks before it came out, and I quickly fell in love with both Logan and Cali. From the beginning, they love to hate each other, but you can tell that there's a spark there, no matter how hard they try to fight it. You don't know exactly why they feel this way, but we soon find out that it has something to do with Cali's brother and Logan's best friend's death. Cali blames Logan, who blames himself, and it's just a vicious cycle of loathing. And although they claim to despise each other, their sexual chemistry is so intense, so hot, that I want to get in on the action. Although Cali, as badass as she is, may cut me from wanting to get close to her man.
Cali and Logan are set up on a blind date, and it becomes apparent that there's an underlying attraction there as they begin to spend time together. They find that they have a mutual love for poetry, and they both find themselves actually wanting to be around each other, even if they still keep up their hateful banter. Slowly, over time, the walls between the two of them begin to crumble, but the reasons for them begin to surface. Will the pain of the past be too much for them to find a way to be together?
Sigh. I absolutely adored this book. Read it. It's brilliantly written. The witty banter between Cali and Logan is so much fun to read. Their chemistry is off the charts, and you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat waiting for them to fall into each other's arms. This book brought out all the emotions that I love when I read... I laughed, I cried, I definitely swooned. And in the end, I fell in love with two amazing characters.
Jealous??
What can I say about Two Roads? I had the pleasure of reading it weeks before it came out, and I quickly fell in love with both Logan and Cali. From the beginning, they love to hate each other, but you can tell that there's a spark there, no matter how hard they try to fight it. You don't know exactly why they feel this way, but we soon find out that it has something to do with Cali's brother and Logan's best friend's death. Cali blames Logan, who blames himself, and it's just a vicious cycle of loathing. And although they claim to despise each other, their sexual chemistry is so intense, so hot, that I want to get in on the action. Although Cali, as badass as she is, may cut me from wanting to get close to her man.
Cali and Logan are set up on a blind date, and it becomes apparent that there's an underlying attraction there as they begin to spend time together. They find that they have a mutual love for poetry, and they both find themselves actually wanting to be around each other, even if they still keep up their hateful banter. Slowly, over time, the walls between the two of them begin to crumble, but the reasons for them begin to surface. Will the pain of the past be too much for them to find a way to be together?
Sigh. I absolutely adored this book. Read it. It's brilliantly written. The witty banter between Cali and Logan is so much fun to read. Their chemistry is off the charts, and you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat waiting for them to fall into each other's arms. This book brought out all the emotions that I love when I read... I laughed, I cried, I definitely swooned. And in the end, I fell in love with two amazing characters.
Jealous??
August 30, 2013
First thing first, if you are not familiar with the Robert Frost poem The Road Less Traveled you more than will be by the end of this book. The non-stop references to it wore on my last nerve…sorry.
”I choose the road less traveled by.
And it has made all the difference.”
This story is of Cali, who has been miserable for the past four years since her brother’s death. Her brother’s best friend, Logan has transferred to her college. Cali has taken the role of his tormentor/enemy because it makes her feel better. Cali plays the mean girl at school with prank after prank she plots and counters Logan’s retaliations.
Cali can’t get past her guilt about her brother’s death and she dreams of being a poet. Her relationship with her parents is strained due to the fact that she is immature and their differences in her choice of a future career.
Logan and Cali’s shenanigans continue with pranks and insults till Logan talks Cali into attending a poetry competition with him.
As you may predict, the ending is exactly how you would assume the story would play out.
”And that's the thing about love; no matter how hard you search, no matter how hard you run, sometimes, just sometimes, true love is right in front of you all along."
Overall, this was an okay read. L.M. Augustine’s poetry was well done and although Cali wasn’t my favorite book heroine, Logan’s proclamation of his feelings was definitely high point in the book for me.
I stiffen up and every muscle in my body follows suit as he whispers,"I love you. I love you more than anything in the world, Cali. I love you like in 'I carry your heart with me,' with the purest love in the world. My love for you can keep the stars apart, can take seeds of the tree of life, can do wonders than I will ever know. I love you with every part of me, and I need you because I love you...."
”I choose the road less traveled by.
And it has made all the difference.”
This story is of Cali, who has been miserable for the past four years since her brother’s death. Her brother’s best friend, Logan has transferred to her college. Cali has taken the role of his tormentor/enemy because it makes her feel better. Cali plays the mean girl at school with prank after prank she plots and counters Logan’s retaliations.
Cali can’t get past her guilt about her brother’s death and she dreams of being a poet. Her relationship with her parents is strained due to the fact that she is immature and their differences in her choice of a future career.
Logan and Cali’s shenanigans continue with pranks and insults till Logan talks Cali into attending a poetry competition with him.
As you may predict, the ending is exactly how you would assume the story would play out.
”And that's the thing about love; no matter how hard you search, no matter how hard you run, sometimes, just sometimes, true love is right in front of you all along."
Overall, this was an okay read. L.M. Augustine’s poetry was well done and although Cali wasn’t my favorite book heroine, Logan’s proclamation of his feelings was definitely high point in the book for me.
I stiffen up and every muscle in my body follows suit as he whispers,"I love you. I love you more than anything in the world, Cali. I love you like in 'I carry your heart with me,' with the purest love in the world. My love for you can keep the stars apart, can take seeds of the tree of life, can do wonders than I will ever know. I love you with every part of me, and I need you because I love you...."
January 4, 2015
See more reviews at YA Midnight Reads
3.5 stars
Thank you L. M. Augustine for sending me this copy. No compensation was given of taken to alter this review.
Two Roads, L. M. Augustine’s latest, offered a humorous dialogue, sweet revenge plotting and a cute romance. However this novel is not all just a romance, this novel deals with dark issues in an unpitying way such as death and self-esteem. Despite this, the label of NA did not really seem to work for me and authentic-y was questioned as I progressed through.
Unlike Click To Subscribe, the author creates two characters that are complete enemies and slowly, throughout the story, draw them together. A foretell-able plot idea, but Augustine manages to provide an engaging contemporary seamlessly. Cali Monroe, our protagonist is our shallow and cliché stereotypical girl. Or that is what everyone believes. However, inside Cali is just a thin paper shell of pain, regret and loss. Her brother committed suicide and her parents refuse to come to a compromise for Cali’s undying love of poetry. A raging personality, she dumps it all on her brother’s best friend, Logan Waters. Intertwined with pranks, witty dialogue and a crepe blackmailing, Cali and Logan slowly begin an attempt to uncover what happened to her brother on the day of his death. If they can cooperate first.
The characters in Two Roads were quite a mix, yet similar in many aspects simultaneously. Cali was a character that took much patience to love. In all truth, I wanted to strangle the girl for her ingenuity at the beginning but we soon learn that it was her veil, to hide her real self to the real world- because she’s still in trauma and disbelief of her brother’s death. The only thing keeping her sanity was a poetry blog and the competitive and somewhat satirical rivalry with Logan. Oh Logan, how you are awesome and everything epic. Aside from being a touch too sensitive, Logan was a sweet, hilarious and caring guy, while not being trite at the same time. As for the supporting characters, they were the best at being dumb and oblivious. Nonetheless, this wasn’t a huge bother to be as it wasn’t a huge focus point.
I have a few little qualms. My main concern was the age Augustine allocated to the main characters, Cali and Logan. Even though I believe I’ll be just of a spaz and prank loving girl when I’m 20, in a book I expect much more genuine and more relatable protagonists for older people. Secondly, the romance. I really well and truly relished it. That being stated, there was hidden angst. Sometimes it was just cutesy, however at other times, it was a little needy and wanty and I was like: Get on with it!
Two Roads was a entertaining read filled with more Augustine awesomeness. While Click To Subscribe was more my cup of tea, Two Roads contains more deeper messages and can get tear jerker-y in the end. There is one inappropriate scene which I just skipped awkwardly passed, but I’m, sure older readers will swoon over it.
3.5 stars
Thank you L. M. Augustine for sending me this copy. No compensation was given of taken to alter this review.
Two Roads, L. M. Augustine’s latest, offered a humorous dialogue, sweet revenge plotting and a cute romance. However this novel is not all just a romance, this novel deals with dark issues in an unpitying way such as death and self-esteem. Despite this, the label of NA did not really seem to work for me and authentic-y was questioned as I progressed through.
Unlike Click To Subscribe, the author creates two characters that are complete enemies and slowly, throughout the story, draw them together. A foretell-able plot idea, but Augustine manages to provide an engaging contemporary seamlessly. Cali Monroe, our protagonist is our shallow and cliché stereotypical girl. Or that is what everyone believes. However, inside Cali is just a thin paper shell of pain, regret and loss. Her brother committed suicide and her parents refuse to come to a compromise for Cali’s undying love of poetry. A raging personality, she dumps it all on her brother’s best friend, Logan Waters. Intertwined with pranks, witty dialogue and a crepe blackmailing, Cali and Logan slowly begin an attempt to uncover what happened to her brother on the day of his death. If they can cooperate first.
The characters in Two Roads were quite a mix, yet similar in many aspects simultaneously. Cali was a character that took much patience to love. In all truth, I wanted to strangle the girl for her ingenuity at the beginning but we soon learn that it was her veil, to hide her real self to the real world- because she’s still in trauma and disbelief of her brother’s death. The only thing keeping her sanity was a poetry blog and the competitive and somewhat satirical rivalry with Logan. Oh Logan, how you are awesome and everything epic. Aside from being a touch too sensitive, Logan was a sweet, hilarious and caring guy, while not being trite at the same time. As for the supporting characters, they were the best at being dumb and oblivious. Nonetheless, this wasn’t a huge bother to be as it wasn’t a huge focus point.
I have a few little qualms. My main concern was the age Augustine allocated to the main characters, Cali and Logan. Even though I believe I’ll be just of a spaz and prank loving girl when I’m 20, in a book I expect much more genuine and more relatable protagonists for older people. Secondly, the romance. I really well and truly relished it. That being stated, there was hidden angst. Sometimes it was just cutesy, however at other times, it was a little needy and wanty and I was like: Get on with it!
Two Roads was a entertaining read filled with more Augustine awesomeness. While Click To Subscribe was more my cup of tea, Two Roads contains more deeper messages and can get tear jerker-y in the end. There is one inappropriate scene which I just skipped awkwardly passed, but I’m, sure older readers will swoon over it.
August 18, 2013
5 Obnoxious Eyelashes Stars
So refreshing. Finding a great book by a new author who has a great touch. L. M. Augustine is like a tall glass of sweet tea on summer's day. I read a lot of books. A Lot. I try to find really great books to recommend to my friends and my high school students. This one goes on the list. It is appropriate for young high school and up. There are suggestions and discussions of sex but no steamy scenes. There is cussing but not more than you would hear at lunch in any middle school in America. Not your cookie cutter angsty teen read read. Different, quirky, well written...an all around great read.
Cali is pretending. She believes in fake it til you make it, but she never really believes she is going to make it. She has been pretending to be a girl who doesn't care for 4 years. Since her brother, Ben's death. She can't care about anything because she needs to shut down all emotion. It's the only way she can get through the grief, the guilt, and the anger. It doesn't help that her parents have shut down too. They expectations for Cali that she doesn't have for herself. So she is alone in her grief, guilt and anger.
I don't mind being called a bitch. Being a bitch means I'm strong. Being a bitch means I'm surviving, and sometimes that's all I can do : I survive.
Logan was Ben's best friend. He gave up on Cali too. They used to all be the best of friends, but when Cali lost Ben she lost Logan too. Now he's back. Logan has popped back into Cali's life in college. And she hates him. She hates that he is happy. She hates that he wears geeky math shirts. She hates that he has great hair. And she really hates his long obnoxious eyelashes. Me thinks she doth protest too much. Cali is not shy about letting Logan know about her obsessive hatred of all things him. She throws hot chocolate in his face. She breaks into his apartment. She tells him to his face he is an asshole. Daily. She calls it pranks. Inside she knows it is the only time she is not faking it. She needs to connection to any emotion even if it is anger.
The other thing about Cali. About this book. The thing that makes it unique and lyrical is the poetry. Cali loves poetry. Her parents hate that she loves poetry. Cali devours it. She writes poems and leaves them in bushes and on the sidewalk. She sets them free into the world.
She never wanted to feel like this,
She never wanted to be broken,
She never wanted to be alone.
She never got what she wanted.
The writing in the book is just...just so freakin' good. The story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Logan calls Cali persistent but he is the one who does not give up. Read this book. So good. Sooo good. I will be following Mr Augustine's writing. So good. Insert high five with Disney Character in Drag here.
So refreshing. Finding a great book by a new author who has a great touch. L. M. Augustine is like a tall glass of sweet tea on summer's day. I read a lot of books. A Lot. I try to find really great books to recommend to my friends and my high school students. This one goes on the list. It is appropriate for young high school and up. There are suggestions and discussions of sex but no steamy scenes. There is cussing but not more than you would hear at lunch in any middle school in America. Not your cookie cutter angsty teen read read. Different, quirky, well written...an all around great read.
Cali is pretending. She believes in fake it til you make it, but she never really believes she is going to make it. She has been pretending to be a girl who doesn't care for 4 years. Since her brother, Ben's death. She can't care about anything because she needs to shut down all emotion. It's the only way she can get through the grief, the guilt, and the anger. It doesn't help that her parents have shut down too. They expectations for Cali that she doesn't have for herself. So she is alone in her grief, guilt and anger.
I don't mind being called a bitch. Being a bitch means I'm strong. Being a bitch means I'm surviving, and sometimes that's all I can do : I survive.
Logan was Ben's best friend. He gave up on Cali too. They used to all be the best of friends, but when Cali lost Ben she lost Logan too. Now he's back. Logan has popped back into Cali's life in college. And she hates him. She hates that he is happy. She hates that he wears geeky math shirts. She hates that he has great hair. And she really hates his long obnoxious eyelashes. Me thinks she doth protest too much. Cali is not shy about letting Logan know about her obsessive hatred of all things him. She throws hot chocolate in his face. She breaks into his apartment. She tells him to his face he is an asshole. Daily. She calls it pranks. Inside she knows it is the only time she is not faking it. She needs to connection to any emotion even if it is anger.
The other thing about Cali. About this book. The thing that makes it unique and lyrical is the poetry. Cali loves poetry. Her parents hate that she loves poetry. Cali devours it. She writes poems and leaves them in bushes and on the sidewalk. She sets them free into the world.
She never wanted to feel like this,
She never wanted to be broken,
She never wanted to be alone.
She never got what she wanted.
The writing in the book is just...just so freakin' good. The story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Logan calls Cali persistent but he is the one who does not give up. Read this book. So good. Sooo good. I will be following Mr Augustine's writing. So good. Insert high five with Disney Character in Drag here.
September 29, 2021
My beautiful friend had to suffer with me ranting about the MC for 200 pages.
To her, thank you!
And side note, this book made me just a tad frustrated with everything.
Like, literally everything.
I need some knives to sharpen or something while I work on a full fledge rant.
To her, thank you!
And side note, this book made me just a tad frustrated with everything.
Like, literally everything.
I need some knives to sharpen or something while I work on a full fledge rant.
August 10, 2013
Two roads
One covered in dirt and overgrown with weeds
The path unclear
The trip unseen
The other, paved smoothed and full of weary wanderers
Sealed in pain
Lies
Secrets
She has a choice
She always has a choice
Travel the busy road, lonely and regretful
Or follow the one less traveled
Hand in hand
Openhearted
With him, to him, for love
"You stole my heart and now you won't let me have yours."
One covered in dirt and overgrown with weeds
The path unclear
The trip unseen
The other, paved smoothed and full of weary wanderers
Sealed in pain
Lies
Secrets
She has a choice
She always has a choice
Travel the busy road, lonely and regretful
Or follow the one less traveled
Hand in hand
Openhearted
With him, to him, for love
"You stole my heart and now you won't let me have yours."
August 26, 2013
Two Roads is the second book by L.M. Augustine, although it’s his first venture into the New Adult genre. While there are a few similarities to his Young Adult novel, Click to Subscribe, in terms of the overall vibe and witty dialogue, the tone of Two Roads is a bit darker and a lot more intense, dealing with more serious subject matter. The story is told from the perspective of Cali Monroe, a young woman whose life has been derailed by tragedy. She masquerades as a mean to keep everyone at arm’s length, unable to share the pain that lurks beneath the surface of her façade.
Cali’s preferred method of coping with the aforementioned tragedy is by engaging in an increasingly creative game of cat and mouse with her arch nemesis, Logan Water. Their mutual animosity is immensely entertaining. I was often torn between wanting to laugh at and being mesmerized by the intensity of their dislike for each other as well as the lengths they go through to continue their rivalry. It’s easy to get caught up in their back and forth banter, which creates a tension so palpable, it almost reaches character status.
Cali’s anger and despair is a tangible presence, making it feel as though there’s an invisible weight pressing down on the story. As humorous as her interactions with Logan are, the deep-seated emotions that motivate her actions are likely to cause her to self-implode at any given moment. Reading the story solely through Cali’s point-of-view allowed me to better connect with her character and become emotionally invested in the outcome of her journey.
I’ve never been a huge fan of poetry, but I recognized the poem referenced in the book’s title. Two Roads gave me a newfound appreciation for poetry, especially because Cali’s love of reading and writing poems is a large part of her character. She bares her soul in the poems she writes, which express her deepest thoughts and emotions and reveal what she’s reluctant to admit aloud. I must’ve highlighted quotes on every other page, fascinated by Cali’s insights. Most importantly, Two Roads is a book that made me think and what I think is that L.M. Augustine did an amazing job with this story.
Cali’s preferred method of coping with the aforementioned tragedy is by engaging in an increasingly creative game of cat and mouse with her arch nemesis, Logan Water. Their mutual animosity is immensely entertaining. I was often torn between wanting to laugh at and being mesmerized by the intensity of their dislike for each other as well as the lengths they go through to continue their rivalry. It’s easy to get caught up in their back and forth banter, which creates a tension so palpable, it almost reaches character status.
Cali’s anger and despair is a tangible presence, making it feel as though there’s an invisible weight pressing down on the story. As humorous as her interactions with Logan are, the deep-seated emotions that motivate her actions are likely to cause her to self-implode at any given moment. Reading the story solely through Cali’s point-of-view allowed me to better connect with her character and become emotionally invested in the outcome of her journey.
I’ve never been a huge fan of poetry, but I recognized the poem referenced in the book’s title. Two Roads gave me a newfound appreciation for poetry, especially because Cali’s love of reading and writing poems is a large part of her character. She bares her soul in the poems she writes, which express her deepest thoughts and emotions and reveal what she’s reluctant to admit aloud. I must’ve highlighted quotes on every other page, fascinated by Cali’s insights. Most importantly, Two Roads is a book that made me think and what I think is that L.M. Augustine did an amazing job with this story.
January 16, 2014
I was so lucky to get an eARC of this fabulous book. Cali and Ligan's story took me on a roller coaster of emotions. Their witty and sarcastic conversations and their ridiculous pranks made me smile. The tragic incident that scars Cali was poignant and authentically described. I really felt for her. And the rest of the book was amazing. My favorite NA book hands-down. And to think it's L.M's NA debut, and second novel! I definitely recommend this story to fans of his CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE and fans of sweet love stories.
November 17, 2013
Reviewed on: http://totallybookedblog.com/2013/11/...
I just fell in love with a sweet, funny and beautifully written story, because that’s what ‘Two Roads’ is. Beautiful.
‘I carry your heart with me…'
It was also emotional and devastating, tragic even. It had beautiful characters and real heart. It was poetic and visually descriptive. I loved it. I have so much geek love for this story! Though I will say that I’d class this as YA not NA in respect of the characters behaviour and the storyline.
Two Roads is quite a slow but well-built read, and you know what, sometimes this is just what you need. Not too much angst, misunderstanding nor darkness. Yes it has tough topics like suicide and the loss of a loved one but it also has humour, hope and healing. It shows strength and inspiration and has a great message. Sure, at times I thought hmmm pass the cheese but at no stage did it become overwhelmingly annoying. The beauty, the humour and the innocence surpassed it on the whole.
So we have Cali, our sweet and sassy heroine who’s experienced real tragedy and heart ache. She puts up a great front and hides behind sarcastic humour and a tough girl facade.
‘I don’t mind being called a bitch. Being a bitch means I’m strong. Being a bitch means I’m surviving, and sometimes that’s all I can do: I survive. I do everything I can to get by, even if it makes me sick to my stomach.’ – Cali
Cali looks to poetry to help her survive her past and her present. It’s the only way she can make sense of her emotions, her heart and her mind.
‘I still cry myself to sleep every night. I still spend my days wishing I could go back to before four years ago. I still feel worthless, but at least pretending to be someone else dulls the pain.’ – Cali
I really felt for Cali and understood her struggles. However, she really annoyed me a few times with her ‘fake act’ behaviour and at one stage she does something which pissed me off so much I actually had to put my kindle down. I was like, no way did you just do that, girl that shit is NOT funny or cool!!! GAH!! I wish she hadn’t done that because it took me a while before I warmed to her again.
Then we have Logan, who I fell in absolute love with. He was so not the usual guy I’d fall for but wow, yeah, there’s a first for everything right?! There’s so much to Logan, he’s not just a very hot geek…Yeah hot geek, and how often can you say that? He has a heart of pure gold and a mind that’s intriguing and addictive. Oh and he pulls fab pranks!
Cali and Logan had a love hate relationship filled with pranks, regret, emotional dependency and I got it. I wish it had been explored in more depth and had been more appropriate to their ages but then, would it have been as beautifully innocent? I don’t actually know to tell you the truth.
‘The truth is, when Logan and I are going at it like this, we’re in our own little world…..It’s just us, just me and him, just our insults and our pranks and our twisted refreshing, perfect and so screwed up hate for each other. In a really strange way it’s kind of nice….My hatred for Logan is terrible and refreshing, wonderful and horrible all at once.’ – Cali
I have to say, I had tears in my eyes so many times yet I also laughed along with most of the pranks, oh and Logan’s t-shirts. But above all I felt it. And to me, because I truly felt the emotion, this is why I enjoyed ‘Two Roads’ as much as I did.
Sure, this is a story of love but it’s also a story of survival and unravelling yourself from the layers of protection and defences you’ve built up and trusting another person by letting them in.
”And that’s the thing about love: no matter how hard you search, no matter how hard you run, sometimes, just sometimes, true love is right in front of you all along.”
I just fell in love with a sweet, funny and beautifully written story, because that’s what ‘Two Roads’ is. Beautiful.
‘I carry your heart with me…'
It was also emotional and devastating, tragic even. It had beautiful characters and real heart. It was poetic and visually descriptive. I loved it. I have so much geek love for this story! Though I will say that I’d class this as YA not NA in respect of the characters behaviour and the storyline.
Two Roads is quite a slow but well-built read, and you know what, sometimes this is just what you need. Not too much angst, misunderstanding nor darkness. Yes it has tough topics like suicide and the loss of a loved one but it also has humour, hope and healing. It shows strength and inspiration and has a great message. Sure, at times I thought hmmm pass the cheese but at no stage did it become overwhelmingly annoying. The beauty, the humour and the innocence surpassed it on the whole.
So we have Cali, our sweet and sassy heroine who’s experienced real tragedy and heart ache. She puts up a great front and hides behind sarcastic humour and a tough girl facade.
‘I don’t mind being called a bitch. Being a bitch means I’m strong. Being a bitch means I’m surviving, and sometimes that’s all I can do: I survive. I do everything I can to get by, even if it makes me sick to my stomach.’ – Cali
Cali looks to poetry to help her survive her past and her present. It’s the only way she can make sense of her emotions, her heart and her mind.
‘I still cry myself to sleep every night. I still spend my days wishing I could go back to before four years ago. I still feel worthless, but at least pretending to be someone else dulls the pain.’ – Cali
I really felt for Cali and understood her struggles. However, she really annoyed me a few times with her ‘fake act’ behaviour and at one stage she does something which pissed me off so much I actually had to put my kindle down. I was like, no way did you just do that, girl that shit is NOT funny or cool!!! GAH!! I wish she hadn’t done that because it took me a while before I warmed to her again.
Then we have Logan, who I fell in absolute love with. He was so not the usual guy I’d fall for but wow, yeah, there’s a first for everything right?! There’s so much to Logan, he’s not just a very hot geek…Yeah hot geek, and how often can you say that? He has a heart of pure gold and a mind that’s intriguing and addictive. Oh and he pulls fab pranks!
Cali and Logan had a love hate relationship filled with pranks, regret, emotional dependency and I got it. I wish it had been explored in more depth and had been more appropriate to their ages but then, would it have been as beautifully innocent? I don’t actually know to tell you the truth.
‘The truth is, when Logan and I are going at it like this, we’re in our own little world…..It’s just us, just me and him, just our insults and our pranks and our twisted refreshing, perfect and so screwed up hate for each other. In a really strange way it’s kind of nice….My hatred for Logan is terrible and refreshing, wonderful and horrible all at once.’ – Cali
I have to say, I had tears in my eyes so many times yet I also laughed along with most of the pranks, oh and Logan’s t-shirts. But above all I felt it. And to me, because I truly felt the emotion, this is why I enjoyed ‘Two Roads’ as much as I did.
Sure, this is a story of love but it’s also a story of survival and unravelling yourself from the layers of protection and defences you’ve built up and trusting another person by letting them in.
”And that’s the thing about love: no matter how hard you search, no matter how hard you run, sometimes, just sometimes, true love is right in front of you all along.”
September 27, 2013
“We have this strange way of making each other happy by making each other miserable.”
In this story, you will meet a boy (a hot nerd at that one) with obnoxiously long eyelashes and a girl who is feisty on the outside but a softie on the inside.
When I first started reading, I’ll have to admit that I didn’t like Cali that much because I didn’t see the point as to why she was pretending to be a tough, mean girl and hanging out with the girls she didn’t even like. But as I kept reading, I realized why. This book does not only offer us a fun, and witty banter between the two main characters, but also lessons that we must remember as life goes on.
The story started with a light mood, with all the teasing and pranks that Cali and Logan played at each other. At first, I think that it was pretty obvious that they already liked each other, especially when Cali thought “My hatred for Logan is terrible and refreshing, wonderful and horrible all at once.” So, I think, after that, things got more interesting. I was especially entertained with their “the one word face-offs” because they don’t run out of ideas on how to annoy each other even more.
“Dickhead.”
“Asshole.”
“Bastard.”
“Jackass.”
“Idiot.”
“Jerk.”
“Imbecile.”
“Moron.”
“Asshat.”
“Oaf.”
There were even times wherein I thought that they would already grab each other and make up and kiss, but I am telling you, it won’t happen anytime soon and IT IS FREAKING FRUSTRATING BUT IT IS ALSO DAMN REFRESHING! :)(Kudos to Augustine for that *fistbump*) Don’t get me wrong, I love reading about some mushy moments, but this love/hate relationship between Cali and Logan just.. amuses me.
And let us start talking about Logan. My cutie, nerdy boy. (Yes, he is mine.) I think he is the only person who can put Cali in her place, because not even her own parents can do that, by the way. I think that even if Logan was pulling pranks on Cali, he still cared for her and still thought about her even if they haven’t been talking for years. What I also liked about Logan is that he isn’t your usual ‘nerd boy’, who sits alone in a corner and all that. He is a lean, young man, with a physique that can make girls fall off their feet. (That is how I imagined him to be, and honestly, I find nerds kind of sexy. Am I the only one??)
One thing that I wish could’ve been different was the way the author fixed Cali’s relationship with her parents. I felt that it was kind of rushed, but I’m still glad they were able to accept her for who she really was.
L.M. Augustine surprised me with this one. When I read the blurb, I didn’t expect Cali to be this young woman who was just trying to cope with her brother’s suicide. To add to that, she also didn’t have a harmonious relationship with her parents and this made it harder for her. I think we can all learn lessons from this because I know that it is happening out there, somewhere.
Another thing that made me go “awww” while reading Two Roads were the poems that were included in it. I especially remembered I Carry Your Heart With Me, Logan’s favorite! And who could ever forget the swoon-worthy lines that Logan wholeheartedly confessed? “My love for you can keep the stars apart, can take seeds of the tree of life, can do more wonders than I will ever know. I love you with every part of me…” *happy sigh*
Two Roads is a refreshing, cutesy and swoon worthy novel that will make readers go “ooooh” then “awww”. Be ready for the ‘Augustine Awesomeness’ with the kickass witty lines and fun, playful prank ideas! And I am sure that you will alllike LOVE Logan too!
In this story, you will meet a boy (a hot nerd at that one) with obnoxiously long eyelashes and a girl who is feisty on the outside but a softie on the inside.
When I first started reading, I’ll have to admit that I didn’t like Cali that much because I didn’t see the point as to why she was pretending to be a tough, mean girl and hanging out with the girls she didn’t even like. But as I kept reading, I realized why. This book does not only offer us a fun, and witty banter between the two main characters, but also lessons that we must remember as life goes on.
The story started with a light mood, with all the teasing and pranks that Cali and Logan played at each other. At first, I think that it was pretty obvious that they already liked each other, especially when Cali thought “My hatred for Logan is terrible and refreshing, wonderful and horrible all at once.” So, I think, after that, things got more interesting. I was especially entertained with their “the one word face-offs” because they don’t run out of ideas on how to annoy each other even more.
“Dickhead.”
“Asshole.”
“Bastard.”
“Jackass.”
“Idiot.”
“Jerk.”
“Imbecile.”
“Moron.”
“Asshat.”
“Oaf.”
There were even times wherein I thought that they would already grab each other and make up and kiss, but I am telling you, it won’t happen anytime soon and IT IS FREAKING FRUSTRATING BUT IT IS ALSO DAMN REFRESHING! :)(Kudos to Augustine for that *fistbump*) Don’t get me wrong, I love reading about some mushy moments, but this love/hate relationship between Cali and Logan just.. amuses me.
And let us start talking about Logan. My cutie, nerdy boy. (Yes, he is mine.) I think he is the only person who can put Cali in her place, because not even her own parents can do that, by the way. I think that even if Logan was pulling pranks on Cali, he still cared for her and still thought about her even if they haven’t been talking for years. What I also liked about Logan is that he isn’t your usual ‘nerd boy’, who sits alone in a corner and all that. He is a lean, young man, with a physique that can make girls fall off their feet. (That is how I imagined him to be, and honestly, I find nerds kind of sexy. Am I the only one??)
One thing that I wish could’ve been different was the way the author fixed Cali’s relationship with her parents. I felt that it was kind of rushed, but I’m still glad they were able to accept her for who she really was.
L.M. Augustine surprised me with this one. When I read the blurb, I didn’t expect Cali to be this young woman who was just trying to cope with her brother’s suicide. To add to that, she also didn’t have a harmonious relationship with her parents and this made it harder for her. I think we can all learn lessons from this because I know that it is happening out there, somewhere.
Another thing that made me go “awww” while reading Two Roads were the poems that were included in it. I especially remembered I Carry Your Heart With Me, Logan’s favorite! And who could ever forget the swoon-worthy lines that Logan wholeheartedly confessed? “My love for you can keep the stars apart, can take seeds of the tree of life, can do more wonders than I will ever know. I love you with every part of me…” *happy sigh*
Two Roads is a refreshing, cutesy and swoon worthy novel that will make readers go “ooooh” then “awww”. Be ready for the ‘Augustine Awesomeness’ with the kickass witty lines and fun, playful prank ideas! And I am sure that you will all
September 11, 2013
There comes a moment in every bloggers life where they want to hug an author.There are a select few that I would love to hug and do a happy dance with Im pleased to add L.M Augustine in that group.
Two roads is the story of Cali and Logan.They hate each other.But at the same time they don't. These two go full blown prank wars on each other but with one blind date their worlds are turned upside down as the two get to know each other.
I don't want to compare authors But I will say Watch out Book world because Here comes L.M Augustine.This story was way too short for me and it wasnt even short so don't think that!Its that it was THAT good.I didn't want it to end.Seriously.I may have cried.Okay I did.Two Roads brought me out of my book funk that I've been in for a little bit.It was refreshing and wonderful to read.I fell in love with the characters and they were both on each others level.Neither overpowered each other.Simply put You will fall in love with Logan and Cali.
The writing was superb.The story flowed so smoothly.I LOVED the poety.Im not a poetry lover either,so that was a surprise that I actually read it and didnt just skim through the poetry part.There is a part where Logan and Cali are sitting on a roof and Logan just bares his soul and I swear.Be still my heart.
I was swooning majorly.If you haven't been watching out of L.M. Augustine you better.I truly believe he is going to be the next big thing.Now if I could just get L.M. to write more books I will be in heaven.You.Must.Read.Two.Roads.This is for sure going on Le'BookSquirrels TOP 2013 list.In short It left me in pure Book Bliss.I may not recover.
January 19, 2014
I received a copy of this book in place of an honest review.
I will warn you when you read this book you should have some Kleenex's near by. This book really touched a place in my heart that I try to hide. Three years ago next month my dad committed suicide and this book really brought some things home for me.
Cali Monroe loved her brother Ben and they had plans to do things when they were older. Only thing is when Ben was nineteen he killed himself on top of the roof of his house. Cali blames herself, her parents, and her brothers friend Logan Waters. She used to sit in her room at night and hear him crying. She thinks if she wasn't as involved in her own life she could've done something. She still suffers four years later.
Logan thought of Ben as his own brother and he does blame himself for what happened to Ben. He never tells anyone the secret he holds deep inside. He especially keeps it from Cali. The girl that was the bright spot of the three of them. He transfer college and realizes that Cali is also going to the same college. There are some things he wants to tell her but he just doesn't know how.
Cali and Logan try to get over the pain they feel by being mean to each other and playing mean tricks and calling each other names. Their parents set them up on a blind date and things start changing a little after that. Especially when Logan finds out that Cali wants to go to the Poetry Convention but won't. That is when the story really starts getting interesting.
The author really did a wonder job writing this story. It is something that not many people talk about. There is no way to stop someone from killing themselves. No matter how much they get help they will always try to commit suicide. My father did it for years and finally one night he just snapped. We tell ourselves that we should've seen it coming and we could've stopped it. The thing is that we really didn't know. Yes he acted strange for several day but we never could've known. The thing that makes me mad at myself is that I had been mad at my dad for almost two years and wouldn't talk to him. The last words he said was I do love you. I just walked away.
I won't tell you how much I cried while I read this book. I will tell you that I also laughed and enjoyed it. I am so glad that I got the chance to read this book and it has helped me a little. So I say read this book. It is a great story and will be one that you will cherish.
I will warn you when you read this book you should have some Kleenex's near by. This book really touched a place in my heart that I try to hide. Three years ago next month my dad committed suicide and this book really brought some things home for me.
Cali Monroe loved her brother Ben and they had plans to do things when they were older. Only thing is when Ben was nineteen he killed himself on top of the roof of his house. Cali blames herself, her parents, and her brothers friend Logan Waters. She used to sit in her room at night and hear him crying. She thinks if she wasn't as involved in her own life she could've done something. She still suffers four years later.
Logan thought of Ben as his own brother and he does blame himself for what happened to Ben. He never tells anyone the secret he holds deep inside. He especially keeps it from Cali. The girl that was the bright spot of the three of them. He transfer college and realizes that Cali is also going to the same college. There are some things he wants to tell her but he just doesn't know how.
Cali and Logan try to get over the pain they feel by being mean to each other and playing mean tricks and calling each other names. Their parents set them up on a blind date and things start changing a little after that. Especially when Logan finds out that Cali wants to go to the Poetry Convention but won't. That is when the story really starts getting interesting.
The author really did a wonder job writing this story. It is something that not many people talk about. There is no way to stop someone from killing themselves. No matter how much they get help they will always try to commit suicide. My father did it for years and finally one night he just snapped. We tell ourselves that we should've seen it coming and we could've stopped it. The thing is that we really didn't know. Yes he acted strange for several day but we never could've known. The thing that makes me mad at myself is that I had been mad at my dad for almost two years and wouldn't talk to him. The last words he said was I do love you. I just walked away.
I won't tell you how much I cried while I read this book. I will tell you that I also laughed and enjoyed it. I am so glad that I got the chance to read this book and it has helped me a little. So I say read this book. It is a great story and will be one that you will cherish.
September 30, 2013
Cute, funny, sweet, and short.
"Our rivalry is everything a hot half-year-long fling is and more, just without the sex."
"We love the things we love for what they are. . ."
"Let everything happen to you, beauty and terror, just keep going, no feeling is final."
"Everything is okay in the end. If it's not okay, then it's not the end."
***
The plot is centered on a typical YA-NA "enemies-to-lovers" trope. Usually, the SHIFT from enemy to lover is really obvious in other books that follow the same trajectory. Yet in this book, the shift wasn't overly blatant, obvious, and cheesy. The back-and-forth banter between the "LEMENIES" were outright HILARIOUS.
This book was a total pick-me-up, and though there were other factors involved in moving the story along, I loved that the main focus revolved around these LEMENIES and poetry. ('cause who DOESN'T love Robert Frost & E.E. Cummings?!)
Additionally, the heroine: Cali, ROCKED. She was bad-ass with her sass, attitude, and bad-girl persona. Real or not, she embodied the kind of heroine I love to root for. And Logan, in all his geekery, he was so smooth, so charismatic, and plenty funny. He definitely made me swoon a little, and I LOVED that he wasn't the typical "HOT BAD-BOY SUPER MODEL" jock and/or rebel.
Take away points: Logan & Cali had that *it* factor; I loved their chemistry, but the shift from enemies to lovers (though subtle and easy to follow), happened a bit too quickly. The momentum kind of died down toward the end, and their hot & fiery chemistry slowed down after their transition (strangely). I kind of preferred their rivalry over the lovey-dovey scenes. The banter & dialogue was delicious, and laugh-out-loud funny, but the overall story did not leave me breathless, stupefied, and speechless with my jaws dropped in awe.
If you liked Impossible, you'll probably like this one too. Just don't expect to be blown away at the end of it all.
*2.5 stars out of 5*
"Our rivalry is everything a hot half-year-long fling is and more, just without the sex."
"We love the things we love for what they are. . ."
"Let everything happen to you, beauty and terror, just keep going, no feeling is final."
"Everything is okay in the end. If it's not okay, then it's not the end."
***
The plot is centered on a typical YA-NA "enemies-to-lovers" trope. Usually, the SHIFT from enemy to lover is really obvious in other books that follow the same trajectory. Yet in this book, the shift wasn't overly blatant, obvious, and cheesy. The back-and-forth banter between the "LEMENIES" were outright HILARIOUS.
This book was a total pick-me-up, and though there were other factors involved in moving the story along, I loved that the main focus revolved around these LEMENIES and poetry. ('cause who DOESN'T love Robert Frost & E.E. Cummings?!)
Additionally, the heroine: Cali, ROCKED. She was bad-ass with her sass, attitude, and bad-girl persona. Real or not, she embodied the kind of heroine I love to root for. And Logan, in all his geekery, he was so smooth, so charismatic, and plenty funny. He definitely made me swoon a little, and I LOVED that he wasn't the typical "HOT BAD-BOY SUPER MODEL" jock and/or rebel.
Take away points: Logan & Cali had that *it* factor; I loved their chemistry, but the shift from enemies to lovers (though subtle and easy to follow), happened a bit too quickly. The momentum kind of died down toward the end, and their hot & fiery chemistry slowed down after their transition (strangely). I kind of preferred their rivalry over the lovey-dovey scenes. The banter & dialogue was delicious, and laugh-out-loud funny, but the overall story did not leave me breathless, stupefied, and speechless with my jaws dropped in awe.
If you liked Impossible, you'll probably like this one too. Just don't expect to be blown away at the end of it all.
*2.5 stars out of 5*
September 10, 2013
One of the things I love the most about L. M. Augustine's books are the references. THE REFERENCES!
Voldemort.
Yoda.
FANFICTION.
The Hunger Games.
Also, "And she was totally awesome". That was either a StarKid reference or just a coincidence.
Putting aside all the awesomeness (as if that's even possible), the character development was amazing!
So, I'm just going to say this book was, in a GIF,
Voldemort.
Yoda.
FANFICTION.
The Hunger Games.
Also, "And she was totally awesome". That was either a StarKid reference or just a coincidence.
Putting aside all the awesomeness (as if that's even possible), the character development was amazing!
So, I'm just going to say this book was, in a GIF,
August 29, 2013
DNF...I hate doing this, but I couldn't read anymore. I feel terrible leaving a bad review, but the heroine was awful. She was acting like a 14 year old. The way she spoke to her parents and her actions in general were very juvenile. I really tried, but I just couldn't read anymore. :(
August 28, 2013
Where to start? Well, first let me note that I received an ARC from L.M. in exchange for an honest review ~ this is the first book I've read of his and I can't wait to read more! Yep I totally was ...
Two Roads is told solely from Cal's POV. Cal has ongoing rivalry with Logan who happened to be her brother Ben's BFF. Ben passed away a few years back and Cal notes that she blames Logan for Ben's death. When the story starts Cal very eloquently explains that her "mean girl" rep is just a façade ~ one to protect her fragile heart! The more involved I got in the story it became clearer to me why Cal reverted to stories about hook up's, hateful gossip and exchange of pranks and hateful words with Logan. I really was...
I could literally feel Cal's pain while reading ~ She was lonely, hurting and missed her brother so much it was ruining her life but surprisingly the one positive thing in her life was Logan and their exchanges and pranks. The repeated "I hate you" felt a little more than hate to me in fact I had I think it was more ....
I did have a few ..
as the pranks between Cal and Logan were quite funny and inventive but what happens when you take something too far? Well, I think guilt is something that comes into play and apologies too but I think in Cal & Logan's case it probably was one of the best things to happen. A blind date arranged by her parents sure had Cal ....
when she see's exactly who that date is. An agreement to attend a Poetry Convention with Logan went to show just how much these two former friends really did have in common! Oh yes, I was totally...
I wanted something to happen between these two I wanted the "hates" to become "loves" I wanted Cal to not be so lonely but I also wanted her to admit what she was scared of when it came to letting others in to her heart. There were times in this book where I was..
it was really heartbreaking ~ a loss of life and the way that life left this earth was so freaking sad ~ guilt on the parts of others that needed not to have such guilt also broke my heart~ I could certainly understand why they felt guilty but by no means was Ben's death was either of their faults. There were parts where I could picture Cal saying.....
I kept thinking okay Cal you took that too far ~ but there were parts where I wanted to .....
her just get her to open her eyes to what was in front of her. A revelation had me ....
and then I was totally
and when FINALLY acceptance came and admissions where made I was...
Two Roads was a beautiful 5 star read which shows that those left behind after the death of a loved one are the ones who suffer the most. The questions, what if's, why's and could've they done something different pull every emotion out of you. To feel Cal's pain as my own while reading this one is a sign of an author getting it "right" and this one was written perfectly! I loved that although things ended for me with a huge smile on my face things took time for Cal to work through and she didn't all the sudden wake up the next day with everything 100% right in her world! I completely recommend this one to everyone I think L.M. did a fantastic job writing from a female's POV and I totally adored the Poems that Cal wrote which proceed each chapter of the book! I have to say great job L.M. this book hit it's mark and I can't wait to read more from you in the NA genre!
Two Roads is told solely from Cal's POV. Cal has ongoing rivalry with Logan who happened to be her brother Ben's BFF. Ben passed away a few years back and Cal notes that she blames Logan for Ben's death. When the story starts Cal very eloquently explains that her "mean girl" rep is just a façade ~ one to protect her fragile heart! The more involved I got in the story it became clearer to me why Cal reverted to stories about hook up's, hateful gossip and exchange of pranks and hateful words with Logan. I really was...
I could literally feel Cal's pain while reading ~ She was lonely, hurting and missed her brother so much it was ruining her life but surprisingly the one positive thing in her life was Logan and their exchanges and pranks. The repeated "I hate you" felt a little more than hate to me in fact I had I think it was more ....
I did have a few ..
as the pranks between Cal and Logan were quite funny and inventive but what happens when you take something too far? Well, I think guilt is something that comes into play and apologies too but I think in Cal & Logan's case it probably was one of the best things to happen. A blind date arranged by her parents sure had Cal ....
when she see's exactly who that date is. An agreement to attend a Poetry Convention with Logan went to show just how much these two former friends really did have in common! Oh yes, I was totally...
I wanted something to happen between these two I wanted the "hates" to become "loves" I wanted Cal to not be so lonely but I also wanted her to admit what she was scared of when it came to letting others in to her heart. There were times in this book where I was..
it was really heartbreaking ~ a loss of life and the way that life left this earth was so freaking sad ~ guilt on the parts of others that needed not to have such guilt also broke my heart~ I could certainly understand why they felt guilty but by no means was Ben's death was either of their faults. There were parts where I could picture Cal saying.....
I kept thinking okay Cal you took that too far ~ but there were parts where I wanted to .....
her just get her to open her eyes to what was in front of her. A revelation had me ....
and then I was totally
and when FINALLY acceptance came and admissions where made I was...
Two Roads was a beautiful 5 star read which shows that those left behind after the death of a loved one are the ones who suffer the most. The questions, what if's, why's and could've they done something different pull every emotion out of you. To feel Cal's pain as my own while reading this one is a sign of an author getting it "right" and this one was written perfectly! I loved that although things ended for me with a huge smile on my face things took time for Cal to work through and she didn't all the sudden wake up the next day with everything 100% right in her world! I completely recommend this one to everyone I think L.M. did a fantastic job writing from a female's POV and I totally adored the Poems that Cal wrote which proceed each chapter of the book! I have to say great job L.M. this book hit it's mark and I can't wait to read more from you in the NA genre!
August 26, 2013
“There are not two roads when it comes to you;
there is only the road that leads to your love.”
“Two Roads” is one of the best books I've read this year!! It's an emotional yet witty and funny story that should not be passed up, for any reason! I knew this was going to be a good book, hell I thought it was going to be great. What I did not know was that it would blow me away!! ‘Un-put-down-able’.
The plot was captivating, very realistic and definitely not the light read I was expecting. I mean yes, it had a lot of moments where I laughed and grinned while reading, but there were also deeply emotional and even dark moments that literally brought me to tears. There’s a serious subject discussed in this book that practically
“The world seems to go silent, and when I glare at Logan, he’s all I see.”
Cali and Logan love to hate each other. It’s that simple. In fact, they lived for it. It was funny seeing them go through all the trouble just to prank each other. (BTW, LOVED the lemonade prank!!! Epic!) They both used these pranks and their so called “hatred” to cover up the fact that they were deeply hurt, and in a way, emotionally scarred by what happened with Ben- Cali’s older brother and Logan’s best friend. Basically, Cali had her reasons for “hating” Logan, but you can totally tell from the very beginning that the very thin line between love and hate was always blurred… though that’s something she would never admit, not even to her own stubborn self.
“Everything else fades away, and it’s just him in front of me right now, him and me in our own little world. And I love it. And I hate it.”
“Our rivalry is beautiful because it makes us both forget about everything else.”
Throughout this book we see how Cali and Logan get under each other’s skin, how even though they are very different, they are, in many ways, very much alike. We see them push their limits – at times too far, but we also see them just be there for the each other when they seem to need it most. More importantly, we see Cali and Logan face reality.
“I just, I need him, and I don’t care if we’re enemies or friends or whatever the hell we are, but I need him here. By my side. With me.”
I have NO complaints about this book. None. I guess you can say I fell in love with “Two Roads”. The buildup throughout the story line had me turning pages desperately wanting to read more and more. And on top of everything else, the characters were simply put, uh-ma-zing!! Very well developed!!! FYI, I freaking LOVED Ruby! I could sooooo see her as my bff!!! She’s über cool!
OH!!! And something ELSE I abso-freaking-lutely loved about this book was how poetry played such a crucial role in the plot!!
OMG!!! Those poems!! Seriously, WOWZA! Mind = *BOOM* blown :)
This is a book I’ll definitely be re-reading and one I highly recommend all of you to buy!
“I love you with every part of me, and I need you because I love you.”
P.S.
LM, that’s 2 for 2 in the crying department, thanks! *scoffs* :)
***ARC was provided by author in exchange for an honest review, thanks!!!
April 4, 2014
I am a total English nerd, and when I read the synopsis for Two Roads, I got giddy. What English nerd/teacher doesn't enjoy a book with poetry interwoven throughout the story line, especially one with her favorite poet Robert Frost? But when I began the novel, it was apparent that poetry was not the only driving force that connected the two main characters.
College student Cali Monroe is trying to recover from her brother’s suicide in a less than desirable way. She has created a persona for herself full of deceit, gossip, and random hookups which never occur. This bad girl persona is her way of coping with her brother’s death, but deep down, Cali is broken. She hates to pretend to be something she is not in order to escape the guilt she carries from her brother’s suicide. She blames everyone for his death, including his best friend.
Logan Waters is the essence of hot math geeks. He even wears the geeky shirts to prove it. Logan was Cali’s brother Ben’s best friend and the last person with him before he took his life four years earlier. When they were younger, the three were inseparable. Cali even crushed on Logan as a teenager, but things quickly changed after Ben’s death. The once deep-rooted friendship became something of the past, one that neither wants to admit to, and Cali engages in a six-month prank fest with Logan when transfers to the same college as she. Together, they produce a whirlwind of back-and-forth degrading banter. However, throughout the pranks and name calling, it is obvious that Logan is harboring some guilty feelings for Ben’s death, too. For both Cali and Logan, pranking and hurtful words are the only coping mechanisms that seem to take away the blame for Ben’s death.
When Cali’s pushy parents set up a blind date for her, she is less than thrilled. And then, she discovers that the date is with Logan, her arch nemesis. It is at the end of this blind date that the mention of a poetry convention is leaked out. Unbeknownst to Cali and Logan, each one is a poetry lover, and the tables begin to turn. Yes, there are still goofy pranks between them, but the entrance of crepes and a little sound advice from Cali’s roommate Ruby make everything better.
The two attend the convention, sharing their love of poetry. Cali quickly realizes that there is much more to Logan than his math knowledge, and Logan sees another side of Cali. Through their love of poetry, the two reconnect, bonding over a poem entitled “Two Roads.”
I loved this book. Yes, I knew the Robert Frost and E.E. Cummings’ references, and I enjoyed playing the quote game along with Cali and Logan as they were on their way to the convention. However, the one aspect that I enjoyed the most is how L.M. Augustine is able to take such a dark theme (suicide) and present it in a way that enables the characters to find peace in the end.
This is my first novel to read by L.M. Augustine, and I have now placed him on my go-to list. I applaud you, Mr. Augustine, for tackling a hard topic and delivering it in a way that doesn’t glorify it, but shows the true emotions of those who are left behind to pick up the pieces and choose their own roads to travel.
College student Cali Monroe is trying to recover from her brother’s suicide in a less than desirable way. She has created a persona for herself full of deceit, gossip, and random hookups which never occur. This bad girl persona is her way of coping with her brother’s death, but deep down, Cali is broken. She hates to pretend to be something she is not in order to escape the guilt she carries from her brother’s suicide. She blames everyone for his death, including his best friend.
Logan Waters is the essence of hot math geeks. He even wears the geeky shirts to prove it. Logan was Cali’s brother Ben’s best friend and the last person with him before he took his life four years earlier. When they were younger, the three were inseparable. Cali even crushed on Logan as a teenager, but things quickly changed after Ben’s death. The once deep-rooted friendship became something of the past, one that neither wants to admit to, and Cali engages in a six-month prank fest with Logan when transfers to the same college as she. Together, they produce a whirlwind of back-and-forth degrading banter. However, throughout the pranks and name calling, it is obvious that Logan is harboring some guilty feelings for Ben’s death, too. For both Cali and Logan, pranking and hurtful words are the only coping mechanisms that seem to take away the blame for Ben’s death.
When Cali’s pushy parents set up a blind date for her, she is less than thrilled. And then, she discovers that the date is with Logan, her arch nemesis. It is at the end of this blind date that the mention of a poetry convention is leaked out. Unbeknownst to Cali and Logan, each one is a poetry lover, and the tables begin to turn. Yes, there are still goofy pranks between them, but the entrance of crepes and a little sound advice from Cali’s roommate Ruby make everything better.
The two attend the convention, sharing their love of poetry. Cali quickly realizes that there is much more to Logan than his math knowledge, and Logan sees another side of Cali. Through their love of poetry, the two reconnect, bonding over a poem entitled “Two Roads.”
I loved this book. Yes, I knew the Robert Frost and E.E. Cummings’ references, and I enjoyed playing the quote game along with Cali and Logan as they were on their way to the convention. However, the one aspect that I enjoyed the most is how L.M. Augustine is able to take such a dark theme (suicide) and present it in a way that enables the characters to find peace in the end.
This is my first novel to read by L.M. Augustine, and I have now placed him on my go-to list. I applaud you, Mr. Augustine, for tackling a hard topic and delivering it in a way that doesn’t glorify it, but shows the true emotions of those who are left behind to pick up the pieces and choose their own roads to travel.
September 2, 2013
Two Roads is L.M. Augustine's second published novel, however this is his first attempt in the New Adult category. This is everything that a New Adult book should be. It is full of witty dialogue, angst, and plenty of swoonworthy moments.
“Our rivalry is beautiful because it makes us both forget about everything else.”
Cali. She is a complex character. At first I wasn't a huge fan, but I think that is part of the point. Cali is battling depression that has been brought on by a death of a loved one. That loved one was her brother Ben, who was also Logan Waters' best friend. When Logan enters Cali's life again in college, she turns up the mean girl act. She starts engaging in an all out war of pranks with Logan. It soon becomes clear that the outward hostility that is shown to Logan is all an act. Cali is suffering inside, but feels that by picking on Logan, it is the only way for her to escape her own reality.
That is until she is forced to spend some real time with him, and she finds that they are not all that different. And most importantly, they both share a love of poetry.
“Everything else fades away, and it’s just him in front of me right now, him and me in our own little world. And I love it. And I hate it.”
Logan. oooOOOooohhh how I have fallen in love with Logan Waters. He is so sweet and caring. Logan is suffering also, but it is not as evident as it is in Cali. Which is why she finds herself disliking him so much. He laughs, he has real friends, he walks around in his geeky t-shirts... Cali despises that outwardly it would appear that Logan is perfectly normal, and that he doesn't miss Ben at all.
“There are not two roads when it comes to you; there is only the road that leads to your love.”
As the story unfolds, more secrets are discovered that help you to understand the deep hurt that both Cali and Logan have been carrying around. Your heart will ache for them, but then as they slowly start to lower their walls, your heart will be bursting with love. There are so many wonderful moments and quotes in Two Roads, but my favorite will always be Logan professing his love for Cali. Talk about a swoonworthy moment. You knew it was always going to happen, but it truly touched my heart. *sigh* He is such a romantic.
“And that's the thing about love; no matter how hard you search, no matter how hard you run, sometimes, just sometimes, true love is right in front of you all along.”
I strongly suggest that you read this book, you will fall in love with Logan and your heart will break for Cali as she tries to rebuild her life after the loss of her brother. L.M. Augustine has proven he can write Young Adult with Click to Subscribe, and now New Adult with Two Roads. I can't wait to see what he has in store for us next.
Christine
Rainy Day Reads
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
“Our rivalry is beautiful because it makes us both forget about everything else.”
Cali. She is a complex character. At first I wasn't a huge fan, but I think that is part of the point. Cali is battling depression that has been brought on by a death of a loved one. That loved one was her brother Ben, who was also Logan Waters' best friend. When Logan enters Cali's life again in college, she turns up the mean girl act. She starts engaging in an all out war of pranks with Logan. It soon becomes clear that the outward hostility that is shown to Logan is all an act. Cali is suffering inside, but feels that by picking on Logan, it is the only way for her to escape her own reality.
That is until she is forced to spend some real time with him, and she finds that they are not all that different. And most importantly, they both share a love of poetry.
“Everything else fades away, and it’s just him in front of me right now, him and me in our own little world. And I love it. And I hate it.”
Logan. oooOOOooohhh how I have fallen in love with Logan Waters. He is so sweet and caring. Logan is suffering also, but it is not as evident as it is in Cali. Which is why she finds herself disliking him so much. He laughs, he has real friends, he walks around in his geeky t-shirts... Cali despises that outwardly it would appear that Logan is perfectly normal, and that he doesn't miss Ben at all.
“There are not two roads when it comes to you; there is only the road that leads to your love.”
As the story unfolds, more secrets are discovered that help you to understand the deep hurt that both Cali and Logan have been carrying around. Your heart will ache for them, but then as they slowly start to lower their walls, your heart will be bursting with love. There are so many wonderful moments and quotes in Two Roads, but my favorite will always be Logan professing his love for Cali. Talk about a swoonworthy moment. You knew it was always going to happen, but it truly touched my heart. *sigh* He is such a romantic.
“And that's the thing about love; no matter how hard you search, no matter how hard you run, sometimes, just sometimes, true love is right in front of you all along.”
I strongly suggest that you read this book, you will fall in love with Logan and your heart will break for Cali as she tries to rebuild her life after the loss of her brother. L.M. Augustine has proven he can write Young Adult with Click to Subscribe, and now New Adult with Two Roads. I can't wait to see what he has in store for us next.
Christine
Rainy Day Reads
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
September 3, 2013
5 worthy stars
This has to be one of the best books I have read in a long time. No joke a long long long time.
From the first page I was really into this book. I didn't want to put to down. Good thing I had a 6 plus hour flight to read this entire thing in one sitting because if I didn't I would have been up all night reading it. It was that good.
The story centers around Cali Monroe. She is in a bad place but she pretends to be happy and fun going. Her brother died 4 years ago and since then her and her parents barely get along. She is going against all their wishes but not going to school to become an engineer. She would rather be a poet. Poetry is her only real coping mechanism to deal with everything that is going on in her life.
Logan Waters transfers to Cali's college and since he has, Cali has vowed to make his life miserable with pranks and just all around meanness. There is a reason Cali hates Logan. She is not just being a mean girl to him for no reason. She blames him for the death of her brother. She is hurt and has not dealt with her brother's death. To make herself feel better she acts out towards Logan. And for reasons soon to be discovered Logan takes the pranks and torture. He not only takes all she dishes out, but he give it right back to her.
Cali parents manage to trick Cali into a blind date. She aggress to the date, only if her parent s promise to not try to set her up anymore. Logan's parents also set him up on a blind date. Come to find out their blind date is with each other. Instead of leaving, the 2 of the sit down and have a somewhat pleasant time. From this point on you can feel where this is going.
Logan finds out that Cali wants to go to a poetry convention. He makes it his mission to get Cali to go knowing how much she has always wanted to attend. She was suppose to go with her brother. Since he is no longer alive she is torn if she wants to go at all or just not go with Logan. Logan constantly asks her to go until she finally decided this is what she needs to do. Together they take a road trip to the convention.
This book is so much more than a "love story'. Cali is a hurt girl who needs someone to help her get through her loss. And Logan. Omg I LOVED Logan. He is the "geeky" math/engineer who reminds me of Sheldon Cooper from Big Bag Theory with those crazy t-shirts he is always wearing. Only the t shirts. He is not weird like Sheldon.
This book had me laughing out loud with Cali and Logan's crazy pranks on each other. It also had me crying because these two had pain that ran deep from their loss. The writing in this book was nothing short of PHENOMENAL. I have never read anything the author has written before but I will read anything she writes in the future.
This has to be one of the best books I have read in a long time. No joke a long long long time.
From the first page I was really into this book. I didn't want to put to down. Good thing I had a 6 plus hour flight to read this entire thing in one sitting because if I didn't I would have been up all night reading it. It was that good.
The story centers around Cali Monroe. She is in a bad place but she pretends to be happy and fun going. Her brother died 4 years ago and since then her and her parents barely get along. She is going against all their wishes but not going to school to become an engineer. She would rather be a poet. Poetry is her only real coping mechanism to deal with everything that is going on in her life.
Logan Waters transfers to Cali's college and since he has, Cali has vowed to make his life miserable with pranks and just all around meanness. There is a reason Cali hates Logan. She is not just being a mean girl to him for no reason. She blames him for the death of her brother. She is hurt and has not dealt with her brother's death. To make herself feel better she acts out towards Logan. And for reasons soon to be discovered Logan takes the pranks and torture. He not only takes all she dishes out, but he give it right back to her.
Cali parents manage to trick Cali into a blind date. She aggress to the date, only if her parent s promise to not try to set her up anymore. Logan's parents also set him up on a blind date. Come to find out their blind date is with each other. Instead of leaving, the 2 of the sit down and have a somewhat pleasant time. From this point on you can feel where this is going.
Logan finds out that Cali wants to go to a poetry convention. He makes it his mission to get Cali to go knowing how much she has always wanted to attend. She was suppose to go with her brother. Since he is no longer alive she is torn if she wants to go at all or just not go with Logan. Logan constantly asks her to go until she finally decided this is what she needs to do. Together they take a road trip to the convention.
This book is so much more than a "love story'. Cali is a hurt girl who needs someone to help her get through her loss. And Logan. Omg I LOVED Logan. He is the "geeky" math/engineer who reminds me of Sheldon Cooper from Big Bag Theory with those crazy t-shirts he is always wearing. Only the t shirts. He is not weird like Sheldon.
This book had me laughing out loud with Cali and Logan's crazy pranks on each other. It also had me crying because these two had pain that ran deep from their loss. The writing in this book was nothing short of PHENOMENAL. I have never read anything the author has written before but I will read anything she writes in the future.
September 11, 2013
This review and more at Sab The Book Eater
L.M. Augustine is back, this time with an emotional New Adult book with the right dash of nerdy cuteness that is sure to charm its way into readers' hearts.
While I enjoyed the book to an extent, I had some issues with it too. My biggest concern is that Cali and Logan remind me so much of Cat and West from Click to Subscribe. It's like they could pass off as college versions of themselves except they have intense pasts and that's totally not Cat and West. I suppose this wouldn't have bothered me had I not read Click before. It may seem unfair but I like characters from two different books to have distinct voices. Reading Two Roads was a bit like déjà vu.
Another thing I didn't quite like about the writing were the long paragraphs describing all the feels. I like detailed descriptions of how the protagonist feels but in Two Roads, it reached a point where Cali was being repetitive. I like feels, really, but you have to offer the reader something more. I wanted a clearer explanation of Cali and Logan's rivalry for one. The whole time I was reading the book I didn't really see their rivalry to be anything serious. I just thought they were being playful. Flirty, even. As Cali's backstory unraveled though I finally got the idea that, oh okay so she really is mad at Logan. I just wish that they weren't so freaking cute together. The message would've come across clearly without having to explain it all in long paragraphs.
Did I say they're freaking cute together? Despite my complaints, I still found myself enjoying their cute nerdy banters. I'm all for nerds falling in like so this pair's romance was definitely for me. They had terrific chemistry and it showed whenever they would loosen up. You just know they're bound to get together but the anticipation was frustrating. In a good way. Forget about the fake rivalry and just kiss her already, Logan! Yes, Cali and Logan are adorable like that. Oh and I also like that this is a clean New Adult book. It's a nice break from the usual, you know?
Three stars for for L.M. Augustine's first New Adult book. It was sweet alright but my biases got in the way. The romance was very enjoyable though and that's something you'd want to check out.
P.S.
The term "nerdhole" was used in this book. Win.
(I received a copy of this book for review. This review is based solely on my opinion.)
L.M. Augustine is back, this time with an emotional New Adult book with the right dash of nerdy cuteness that is sure to charm its way into readers' hearts.
While I enjoyed the book to an extent, I had some issues with it too. My biggest concern is that Cali and Logan remind me so much of Cat and West from Click to Subscribe. It's like they could pass off as college versions of themselves except they have intense pasts and that's totally not Cat and West. I suppose this wouldn't have bothered me had I not read Click before. It may seem unfair but I like characters from two different books to have distinct voices. Reading Two Roads was a bit like déjà vu.
Another thing I didn't quite like about the writing were the long paragraphs describing all the feels. I like detailed descriptions of how the protagonist feels but in Two Roads, it reached a point where Cali was being repetitive. I like feels, really, but you have to offer the reader something more. I wanted a clearer explanation of Cali and Logan's rivalry for one. The whole time I was reading the book I didn't really see their rivalry to be anything serious. I just thought they were being playful. Flirty, even. As Cali's backstory unraveled though I finally got the idea that, oh okay so she really is mad at Logan. I just wish that they weren't so freaking cute together. The message would've come across clearly without having to explain it all in long paragraphs.
Did I say they're freaking cute together? Despite my complaints, I still found myself enjoying their cute nerdy banters. I'm all for nerds falling in like so this pair's romance was definitely for me. They had terrific chemistry and it showed whenever they would loosen up. You just know they're bound to get together but the anticipation was frustrating. In a good way. Forget about the fake rivalry and just kiss her already, Logan! Yes, Cali and Logan are adorable like that. Oh and I also like that this is a clean New Adult book. It's a nice break from the usual, you know?
Three stars for for L.M. Augustine's first New Adult book. It was sweet alright but my biases got in the way. The romance was very enjoyable though and that's something you'd want to check out.
P.S.
The term "nerdhole" was used in this book. Win.
(I received a copy of this book for review. This review is based solely on my opinion.)
August 28, 2013
********ARC received in exchange for an honest review********
Holly’s 5 Star Review
It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of L.M. Augustine’s debut novel Click To Subscribe and so of course I was desperate to read Two Roads once he started writing it and there may have been a small bit of bugging on my part for him to hurry the hell up so I could read it. And because he’s so super awesome, he stayed up late one night and sent me it at 2am so I could read it the next day on the train home from London.
So there I am, sat on train and reading away, and I was so wrapped up in Logan and Cali’s story that I nearly missed my stop. LM sucked me from the very first chapter and left me not wanting to put it down and miss even a second of the love-to-hate relationship playing out between the two main characters. I Laughed so hard at so many different parts of this book from the crazy pranks Cali and Logan pulled, to the never ending list of names they called each other – my personal favourite being “nerdhole” (a mix of “nerd” and “asshole”) <—- seriously, that one needs to be in the dictionary, and Logan’s math pick up line t-shirts <— they would totally work on me.
I really liked Cali and my heart kind of broke for her because not only did she feel that she had to pretend to be someone that she wasn’t, but her parents were pretty shitty towards her and she was still trying to deal with the grief of losing someone she loved. The only times she seemed to be happy were when she was reading/writing poetry, and when she was torturing Logan (which she did a LOT).
This wouldn’t be a book by LM if one of it’s main characters wasn’t a dork, and in Two Roads we are blessed with Logan who proves that you don’t have to be an alpha male to make the ladies go weak at the knees. I loved him hard! He not only put up with the crap that Cali gave him but he gave it back just as much and that just made me love him even more.
It’s not all fun and games though. There’s a good helping of angst and heartache thrown in, and yes, there were most definitely tears. That’s always the sign of a truly great book for me. If you can make me cry with your writing then I will love and hate you for life! And if all this isn’t reason enough to buy Two Roads, it has the best Acknowledgment section in the whole entire world! *flails* But in all honesty, LM is a fantastic author and I really can’t wait to see what he brings us next.
Holly’s 5 Star Review
It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of L.M. Augustine’s debut novel Click To Subscribe and so of course I was desperate to read Two Roads once he started writing it and there may have been a small bit of bugging on my part for him to hurry the hell up so I could read it. And because he’s so super awesome, he stayed up late one night and sent me it at 2am so I could read it the next day on the train home from London.
So there I am, sat on train and reading away, and I was so wrapped up in Logan and Cali’s story that I nearly missed my stop. LM sucked me from the very first chapter and left me not wanting to put it down and miss even a second of the love-to-hate relationship playing out between the two main characters. I Laughed so hard at so many different parts of this book from the crazy pranks Cali and Logan pulled, to the never ending list of names they called each other – my personal favourite being “nerdhole” (a mix of “nerd” and “asshole”) <—- seriously, that one needs to be in the dictionary, and Logan’s math pick up line t-shirts <— they would totally work on me.
I really liked Cali and my heart kind of broke for her because not only did she feel that she had to pretend to be someone that she wasn’t, but her parents were pretty shitty towards her and she was still trying to deal with the grief of losing someone she loved. The only times she seemed to be happy were when she was reading/writing poetry, and when she was torturing Logan (which she did a LOT).
This wouldn’t be a book by LM if one of it’s main characters wasn’t a dork, and in Two Roads we are blessed with Logan who proves that you don’t have to be an alpha male to make the ladies go weak at the knees. I loved him hard! He not only put up with the crap that Cali gave him but he gave it back just as much and that just made me love him even more.
It’s not all fun and games though. There’s a good helping of angst and heartache thrown in, and yes, there were most definitely tears. That’s always the sign of a truly great book for me. If you can make me cry with your writing then I will love and hate you for life! And if all this isn’t reason enough to buy Two Roads, it has the best Acknowledgment section in the whole entire world! *flails* But in all honesty, LM is a fantastic author and I really can’t wait to see what he brings us next.
August 31, 2013
TWO ROADS by L.M. AUGUSTINE
There’s just something about a book written by a guy. I said this before and I will say it again, a book from a male point of view is really different (in a good way) and there’s something about it that’s so mysterious. IDK bout you but I feel that way when I found out that the book I have just read is written by a male author.
This is my first from L.M. Augustine and I didn’t even know that he is a guy after I read the book. So my reaction was, “Oh, that’s why!”. He wrote this beautifully without the mushy & cliche lines. The book is right in your face with tits brutal scenes and at the same time, the sad ones.
Cali Monroe & Logan have something in common. A sad & tragic event made them such a rival that they always end up confronting each other with nasty and horrible lines and sometimes they also like giving pranks to each other. At first, I find it absurd and ridiculous. It’s not like they are in HS so why do such things to each other but as I read along I found out why. They are both hurting, feels lost and guilt is eating em. Logan just mask his feelings in a more pretentious way than Cali. He acts all happy and contented and Cali is pissed that he gets to be happy and at peace while she feels all the guilt and sadness. But one poetry event, all pretending stops and feelings are revealed and both of them can finally let go and start living life.
I like how feisty they are to each other. It is mean and horrible but it is also romantic. I know, I am weird but I like it. I understand that it is their way to say what they feel to each other. It makes em alive and their rivalry is the reason why they want to wake up each day even if they try to admit it or not. The story was a bit slow. I was waiting for something horrible to happen or something romantic but it came right before the story ends. The anticipation was good though, I like that L.M. gives the readers right anticipation and it was worth it in the end.
Two Roads is a book about acceptance, letting go, healing and living the life you have with its flaws and using that as a motivation to move on and be happy. Losing someone you love is hard and so as moving on from it. L.M. gave us a glimpse of two people who are struggling with that loss and overcoming it. I find the story unique and inspiring.
♥♥♥♥
** Also posted on my TUMBLR account & AMAZON
http://xoxopimpimxoxo.tumblr.com/post...
There’s just something about a book written by a guy. I said this before and I will say it again, a book from a male point of view is really different (in a good way) and there’s something about it that’s so mysterious. IDK bout you but I feel that way when I found out that the book I have just read is written by a male author.
This is my first from L.M. Augustine and I didn’t even know that he is a guy after I read the book. So my reaction was, “Oh, that’s why!”. He wrote this beautifully without the mushy & cliche lines. The book is right in your face with tits brutal scenes and at the same time, the sad ones.
Cali Monroe & Logan have something in common. A sad & tragic event made them such a rival that they always end up confronting each other with nasty and horrible lines and sometimes they also like giving pranks to each other. At first, I find it absurd and ridiculous. It’s not like they are in HS so why do such things to each other but as I read along I found out why. They are both hurting, feels lost and guilt is eating em. Logan just mask his feelings in a more pretentious way than Cali. He acts all happy and contented and Cali is pissed that he gets to be happy and at peace while she feels all the guilt and sadness. But one poetry event, all pretending stops and feelings are revealed and both of them can finally let go and start living life.
I like how feisty they are to each other. It is mean and horrible but it is also romantic. I know, I am weird but I like it. I understand that it is their way to say what they feel to each other. It makes em alive and their rivalry is the reason why they want to wake up each day even if they try to admit it or not. The story was a bit slow. I was waiting for something horrible to happen or something romantic but it came right before the story ends. The anticipation was good though, I like that L.M. gives the readers right anticipation and it was worth it in the end.
Two Roads is a book about acceptance, letting go, healing and living the life you have with its flaws and using that as a motivation to move on and be happy. Losing someone you love is hard and so as moving on from it. L.M. gave us a glimpse of two people who are struggling with that loss and overcoming it. I find the story unique and inspiring.
♥♥♥♥
** Also posted on my TUMBLR account & AMAZON
http://xoxopimpimxoxo.tumblr.com/post...
September 10, 2013
This book is full of cheesiness and humor that will bring out the inner nerd in you. If you have not been introduced to L.M. Augustine’s witty writing style, you are missing out! This is L.M. Augustine’s second book and I liked it just as much as his debut novel, Click to Subscribe. Whereas, Click to Subscribe is Young Adult, Two Roads is a New Adult novel.
Normally, I’m not a huge fan of cheesy reads, but I’ve decided that there are two types of cheesy… (1) the kind that makes you cringe and (2) the kind that makes you grin. This is most definitely the type of cheesy that has you grinning until your cheeks hurt. But don’t let the humor and cutesiness fool you, this book tackles some dark issues.
Our main two characters in this read are Cali and Logan. Cali had an older brother who died and Logan was his best friend. There is some mystery around his death and Cali expresses guilt over his untimely departure, as well as blame towards Logan. Logan and Cali haven’t seen each other in 4 years since the death of her brother until he shows up at her college. Cali quickly discovers that taking her anger out on Logan and pulling pranks on him helps her to work through her grief and heals her heart a little with every jab… and from that their war against one another begins. Their prank wars, although sometimes a little too elaborate to be believable are pretty funny and entertaining.
Early on it’s obvious that behind all the nastiness and pranks there is a mutual affection. It isn’t until the two discover they both share a secret love for poetry that they begin to really look at each other different. I loved their relationship and it was really heart-warming to watch it grow and watch the two of them work through their issues related to Ben’s death.
I’m not one to really seek out poetry, but I will say the poetry is fantastic. I’m a little disappointed there wasn’t more rhyming though (kidding) :) . This book is very quote worthy… and sorry I can’t share any with you at this time lol! (I read this book on my phone instead of my kindle and although I can highlight, I can’t figure out how to bring all my highlights up, but as soon as I figure it out I will add them.)
Overall, this is a must read if you are looking for a light-hearted read with dark undertones that is laugh out loud funny. <——— None of that really sounds like it goes together, right? But trust me, when I say it works!
Normally, I’m not a huge fan of cheesy reads, but I’ve decided that there are two types of cheesy… (1) the kind that makes you cringe and (2) the kind that makes you grin. This is most definitely the type of cheesy that has you grinning until your cheeks hurt. But don’t let the humor and cutesiness fool you, this book tackles some dark issues.
Our main two characters in this read are Cali and Logan. Cali had an older brother who died and Logan was his best friend. There is some mystery around his death and Cali expresses guilt over his untimely departure, as well as blame towards Logan. Logan and Cali haven’t seen each other in 4 years since the death of her brother until he shows up at her college. Cali quickly discovers that taking her anger out on Logan and pulling pranks on him helps her to work through her grief and heals her heart a little with every jab… and from that their war against one another begins. Their prank wars, although sometimes a little too elaborate to be believable are pretty funny and entertaining.
Early on it’s obvious that behind all the nastiness and pranks there is a mutual affection. It isn’t until the two discover they both share a secret love for poetry that they begin to really look at each other different. I loved their relationship and it was really heart-warming to watch it grow and watch the two of them work through their issues related to Ben’s death.
I’m not one to really seek out poetry, but I will say the poetry is fantastic. I’m a little disappointed there wasn’t more rhyming though (kidding) :) . This book is very quote worthy… and sorry I can’t share any with you at this time lol! (I read this book on my phone instead of my kindle and although I can highlight, I can’t figure out how to bring all my highlights up, but as soon as I figure it out I will add them.)
Overall, this is a must read if you are looking for a light-hearted read with dark undertones that is laugh out loud funny. <——— None of that really sounds like it goes together, right? But trust me, when I say it works!
November 27, 2013
Braine's Talk Supe review
I had a blast reading TWO ROADS. Suicide is a serious issue and losing someone close to you because of it is not only painful but polarizing. Cali and Logan has been wallowing over Ben's death for years and they blamed everyone and everything, including themselves, for Ben's suicide and dealing with that kind of guilt over something you can't control is brutal. Now though TWO ROADS' theme is heavy, I liked how L.M. Augustine tackled it with a lot of humor which I think is more effective than presenting it in a dark and sorrowful way.
TWO ROADS is definitely a winner! It gave me lots of LOL moments stemming from the back and forth pranks these two are throwing at each other. I was beyond entertained over their verbal foreplay, felt warm and fuzzy over their love for poetry and more tender moments. I also felt sad and a little helpless over Cali and Logan's feeling of loss. Mr. Augustine did a great job in writing a heartfelt story about loss and love from a girl's POV. He wielded his wit carefully and tastefully without sacrificing the message that death is one of the most permanent kind of pain there is and the polarities of grief that go with it. Mr. Augustine is fast becoming one of my favorite contemporary romance authors and you can bet that I will gobble up his upcoming adult contemporary novel. I'm sure it'll be another hit.
I had a blast reading TWO ROADS. Suicide is a serious issue and losing someone close to you because of it is not only painful but polarizing. Cali and Logan has been wallowing over Ben's death for years and they blamed everyone and everything, including themselves, for Ben's suicide and dealing with that kind of guilt over something you can't control is brutal. Now though TWO ROADS' theme is heavy, I liked how L.M. Augustine tackled it with a lot of humor which I think is more effective than presenting it in a dark and sorrowful way.
TWO ROADS is definitely a winner! It gave me lots of LOL moments stemming from the back and forth pranks these two are throwing at each other. I was beyond entertained over their verbal foreplay, felt warm and fuzzy over their love for poetry and more tender moments. I also felt sad and a little helpless over Cali and Logan's feeling of loss. Mr. Augustine did a great job in writing a heartfelt story about loss and love from a girl's POV. He wielded his wit carefully and tastefully without sacrificing the message that death is one of the most permanent kind of pain there is and the polarities of grief that go with it. Mr. Augustine is fast becoming one of my favorite contemporary romance authors and you can bet that I will gobble up his upcoming adult contemporary novel. I'm sure it'll be another hit.
September 2, 2013
It was a great read. The characters where realistic and very likable. The main character Cali Monroe when through some heart wrenching pain for the lost of her brother Ben/Benjamin Monroe. As well her screw up relationship after that with her parents and her wrath/love for Logan Waters, her brother's best friend and the only person who could bring up the memories of her long ago out of reach happy life. The story really developed well and presented great the topics such as death, suicide, and learning to move on. This will make readers heal and love along with Cali and Logan. This read will make people to stand up for what they believe and be brave enough to grab ones dream no matter what. But more importantly to make it happen.
"Sometimes the right thing is the hard choice, the road not many people take, and sometimes you must have to go for it." - Two Roads by L.M. Augustine
"Sometimes the right thing is the hard choice, the road not many people take, and sometimes you must have to go for it." - Two Roads by L.M. Augustine
September 13, 2013
This is not something I enjoy doing, but I could not finish the book. The MC was annoying and the majority of the book (I finished half), was her internal thoughts (which were repetitive and often boring) or childish mocking between her and Logan. The "pranks" they played on each other were not amusing. I was excited for a book where the love interest was the "nerdy" cute guy, but I could not get into this. Sorry, it just wasn't for me.
October 19, 2013
DNF....got to 48% and getting to that point was PAINFUL! I should've listened to myself and given up much, much sooner.
I have no idea how this book got so many good reviews. All the reasons Cali feels the way she feels are repeated over. And over. And OVER. As I was reading, all I could think was, "Shut up already!!!"
I have no idea how this book got so many good reviews. All the reasons Cali feels the way she feels are repeated over. And over. And OVER. As I was reading, all I could think was, "Shut up already!!!"
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