The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things

by Ann Aguirre

Sage Czinski is trying really hard to be perfect. If she manages it, people won’t peer beyond the surface, or ask hard questions about her past. She’s learned to substitute causes for relationships, and it’s working just fine… until Shane Cavendish strolls into her math class. He’s a little antisocial, a lot beautiful, and everything she never knew she always wanted.

Shane Cavendish just wants to be left alone to play guitar and work on his music. He’s got heartbreak and loneliness in his rearview mirror, and this new school represents his last chance. He doesn’t expect to be happy; he only wants to graduate and move on. He never counted on a girl like Sage.

But love doesn’t mend all broken things, and sometimes life has to fall apart before it can be put back together again…

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Fiction, Young Adult Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Teen

328 pages, Hardcover

First published April 7, 2015

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Ann Aguirre has been a clown, a clerk, a savior of stray kittens, and a voice actress, not necessarily in that order. She grew up in a yellow house across from a cornfield, but now she lives in Mexico with her family. She writes all kinds of genre fiction, but she has an eternal soft spot for a happily ever after.

Reviews

[Paula M]

Mostly...



 

I know, I know. You're judging me right now. I think this book is just not for me. Every turn of page of is such a struggle for me. I only have two emotions while reading this: Frustration and Boredom. Like, should I be annoyed or should I just let sleep take over? And aside from that..the main character, Sage, really irritates me with her stalker-ish behaviour. Not. Cool.

Basically this is a love story between two misfits. Yes, the guy, Shane is not a playboy and popular. He's the new guy. The brooding and mysterious new guy who plays the guitar and Sage can't get enough of him.

"I wonder if he knows how bad I want to keep him here,just so I can look at him." - Sage

Uhm yeah, she's not my kind of MC.

"Until this moment, I didn't realize I was walking around all this time with a Shane-shaped hole inside of me" - Sage. CHAPTER THREE!

 

This girl is so sad I feel bad...for me. I can't believe I went through with all of this.

I have nothing to say about Shane since he didn't caught my attention that much. Which is a big surprise because she's all Sage can think about. The romance didn't work on me either. It's cheesiness makes me rage because of some unexplainable reason but I have a theory that it's all because of this girl  Sage. She really tested my patience. 

"He wraps his fingers around mine, and I think, I could live in your eyes."

 

I.. I don't know. Sage doesn't really make sense to me. We really don't click. From other reviewers, I learned that the authors other books are really good. So maybe I'll try them because I did like Aguirre's writing in here. Very simple and readable. So. It's not that the book is bad. Okay , Sage, for me, is bad and that's why it didn't work for me. This kind of cheesiness doesn't work for me anymore. The depth that I was looking for wasn't found and the main character really pissed me off. 

I blame all of this to you, Sage.

You can also read my review HERE alt= alt= alt=

[emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

this is a book with a very cute and fun and summery-fluffy-contemporary-seeming cover, and yet it is darkness incarnate.

if darkness incarnate were, like. significantly more boring.

part of a series i'm doing in which i review books i read a long time ago

[Lindsey Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book at RT Booklover's Convention a year ago and I picked it up yesterday expecting a pretty straightforward, cutesy, fun contemporary. I had no idea what I was in for! I am so overwhelmed by everything I felt while reading this. I cried, I laughed, I sobbed, I laughed so hard I had to put the book down. It was such a rollercoaster of emotions for me! I will definitely be checking out more Ann Aguirre books. My only issue with this book is that there was quite a bit of body shaming and it made me pretty uncomfortable.

[Aditi · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I came here looking to finish school quietly. Stay out of trouble. Maybe write some new songs. I never expected you.”

----Ann Aguirre


Ann Aguirre, a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author, pens her latest YA novel, The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things that revolves around a bunch of high-school teenagers with broken hearts and dark past and how they heal those torn-up hearts.


Synopsis:

Sage Czinski is trying really hard to be perfect. If she manages it, people won’t peer beyond the surface, or ask hard questions about her past. She’s learned to substitute causes for relationships, and it’s working just fine… until Shane Cavendish strolls into her math class. He’s a little antisocial, a lot beautiful, and everything she never knew she always wanted.

Shane Cavendish just wants to be left alone to play guitar and work on his music. He’s got heartbreak and loneliness in his rearview mirror, and this new school represents his last chance. He doesn’t expect to be happy; he only wants to graduate and move on. He never counted on a girl like Sage.

But love doesn’t mend all broken things, and sometimes life has to fall apart before it can be put back together again…


Sage Czinski, a high-school senior, is all about goodness-in-your-heart, who loves to leave Post-it-notes on somebody's locker with a positive quote on it. She is crushing on her childhood best-friend, Ryan, but unable to surface her feelings in front of him, but Sage also carries a lot of baggage from not her oh-so-perfect-past. Shane Cavendish is the new boy in Sage's school, who just wants to be all by himself and to write and compose songs on his guitar. He just wants to stay away from trouble who too harbors his broken heart like a baggage on his shoulder. But when Sage takes help from Shane for solving maths, both get to know a lot about their past and couldn't deny that inevitable attraction between them. What happens next is for you to find out?


Having never read anything from this author before, left me with a fresh insight into her writing style and I must say that the author writes elegantly with a lot of deep emotions which are apt for a teenager's heart. I mean the issues those are addressed in the book are pretty mature yet the author depicted them with simplicity and compassion, thus making us contemplate with those issues. Moreover, for me this book was like taking a trip down to the memory lane when I was in high school since the author have strikingly portrayed those moments and emotions of feeling bullied or those unbreakable friendships and promises and most-of-all, first love, first kiss etc.

The characterization is the one thing that makes the book worth reading for. While reading I felt like the author have embodies herself into the character of a high-school girl and a boy and brought out their issues and feelings right through their hearts.

Sage is the perfect child, I mean she tries to act like one, who is in not-so-good-terms with her rude aunt. Sage sounds happy almost all the time at least while in school, but she harbors pretty dark stuff in her heart, some shadows that keeps haunting her but Sage is constantly trying to fight those shadows with her being-perfect demeanor. Sage is into all those environmental social clubs and that's what uplifts her. What I liked the most was Sage's was given a genuine voice unlike those mean high-school-bitches, and Sage's characterization is drawn with enough realism from our everyday life drama and problems.

Shane too is more like Sage, fighting his heart-breaks all by himself. The author have portrayed Shane as someone who is very delicious with all his hot yet rough looks, I mean I was literally swooning over his looks and demeanor. Apart from writing and composing songs and playing the guitar, he's also good in maths. Other than that, he is a very reserved kind of guy.

Ryan, Sage's best-friend who also has a thing for her. He is super-smart, funny and has every quality to be your perfect high-school-boyfriend. While Shane intrigued me, Ryan, on the other hand, made me laugh and fall in love with him.

The chemistry between Sage and Shane is really sweet and a bit cheesy I guess, since they were so perfect with each other and as they learns more about their dark past, they become more strong. I liked how the author featured the high-school romance and those first-time feelings so vividly with a lot of innocence.

What I loved most about this heart-warming story is that the author handled the deep and complicated high-school issues without much hype or drama, and that's what kept me engaged to the core of this story.

Verdict: This YA contemporary fiction is a must read for everyone if you want to relive those high-school days and moments.

Courtesy: Many thanks to the author's publicist, for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things by Ann Aguirre
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication Date: April 7, 2015
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

Sage Czinski is trying really hard to be perfect. If she manages it, people won’t peer beyond the surface, or ask hard questions about her past. She’s learned to substitute causes for relationships, and it’s working just fine… until Shane Cavendish strolls into her math class. He’s a little antisocial, a lot beautiful, and everything she never knew she always wanted.

Shane Cavendish just wants to be left alone to play guitar and work on his music. He’s got heartbreak and loneliness in his rearview mirror, and this new school represents his last chance. He doesn't expect to be happy; he only wants to graduate and move on. He never counted on a girl like Sage.

But love doesn't mend all broken things, and sometimes life has to fall apart before it can be put back together again…

What I Liked:

Gosh, this book was sweet. Sweet in a good way. Sweet in a way that I needed to read, from Young Adult literature. We all know how much of a black-hole-mess my romantic life is at the moment. It's sweet books like these that give me hope - maybe I won't end up forever alone, the crazy book lady (I hate cats, so it's books instead).

Sage is known as the "Post-It Princess", because she writes nice things on Post-It notes and sticks them on people's lockers, when she sees that someone is having a bad day. Sage is sort of okay with this nickname, because it's better than everyone at her school knowing what she did before she came to the school/town three years ago. Now, it's someone else's turn to be new. Shane Cavendish is quiet and reserved, and doesn't want people to look at him or notice him. He wants to be invisible, play his guitar, go through the motions. But little by little, Sage wears him down with her Green World club promotion and her caring attitude when he doesn't come to school. It's not long before Sage learns about Shane's broken past, and Shane learns about hers. Neither of them expected the other, but both of them need each other more than they realize.

I have a lot of trouble with tough-issue contemporary novels, so I was wary of this one. But I love Aguirre's books, and so I decided to give this one a shot. The "tough issues" didn't overwhelm the story like I expected, but they were present and definitely an important part of the book. Both Shane and Sage have extremely crazy pasts. Both of them had to live in difficult situations (foster homes and whatnot), so it was hard NOT to sympathize. I wanted to hug them both.

I liked Sage. I'm a lot like her, minus the troubled past (okay, that's a HUGE difference, but still). We're both super organized, structured, contained - icy, almost. We both try to do nice things for random people (I don't do the Post-It thing, but I literally go up to people and TELL them nice things, like their shirt is cute or their hair looks nice). We differ in academics - Sage sucks at geometry and chemistry (basically the math/science worlds). We're both super into environmental health and living the green life. I could relate to Sage in many ways, and it made it easy for me to like her, to understand her decisions.

I liked Shane a lot, too. He's quiet and almost innocent, but he's got a fire and a temper. But mostly he's sweet and reserved. He doesn't like handouts or people helping him without him asking for it, which gets Sage into trouble a few times, because she always wants to help him, and sometimes, he gets irritated because he doesn't want her help (pride is a strange thing, people).

I love the two of them together. They make each other laugh, they understand each other, they have similar temperaments and attitudes. Shane will do just about anything to make Sage happy, and Sage will do just about anything to help Shane and make him happy. It's sweet.

The romance is so sweet. I thought there would be a love triangle, because Sage's best friend Ryan likes her (he didn't realize it at first, but he does). But Sage doesn't like him like that, and is only interested in Shane. So nothing ever happens between her and Ryan. And in the end, Ryan moves on, also in a sweet way. No insta-love for anyone, in my opinion.

The story is kind of sad and uplifting at the same time. Sage defends her new friend Lila, from Lila's ex-boyfriend Dylan. Dylan gets pissed, and he wants to retaliate. Sage is worried that Dylan will shell out her dark past - which he does. It's terrifying, having your life revealed to the whole school. You'll have to read the book to see what happens. I really felt for Sage - and Dylan, too. The ending has a bit of justice for everyone, and I love how this book ends. Aguirre hits on so many plots, and wraps them all together.

Overall, I'm really pleased with this book. The "tough issues" weren't so cliche and obnoxious that I was rolling my eyes or in danger of throwing the book. The romance wasn't insta-love-y or cliche either. I really liked this story. It was, as I said, sweet. I like sweet.

What I Did Not Like:

I don't necessarily have anything negative to say about the book. It's a four-star read though.

Would I Recommend It:

I liked this one a lot, so I would recommend it! In general, any of Aguirre's ten thousand books are good stuff. She writes adult, New Adult, Young Adult - and within those age levels, paranormal, contemporary, romance, etc. She's a very talented writer, and I've loved everything I've read by her!

Rating:

4 stars. An excellent, heart-warming standalone! I don't always enjoy contemporary, but when I do, I usually LOVE them. I'm so glad this one worked for me! Now, I'll take my own guitar-playing cutie, pleaseee!

[Rachel L · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the Enclave series by this author so I wanted to read this one. The problem with this book is it's instalovey and boring at the same time. I don't think contemporary is this author's genre.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just in case you were wondering, you can not lift these Post-it notes on the cover up. You can't. I tried. For an embarrassingly long time.  

The Queen of Bright And Shiny Things was such a pleasant surprise! 

I loved the adorably quirky characters, the witty banter and how important it was to Sage to make the world around her, better. From cleaning up the environment, posting notes of encouragement on other students' locker, to making sure Shane, the new guy with a dark past and kind blue eyes, got home safely in the dark.
Reflective glow strips and all. 

This is one of those stories that sneaks up on you. You think you know what you're getting into, but that's okay because it's even better! Plenty of moments made me laugh, but it isn't all sunshine and glitter Sharpie's. It kicked me in the feels too--hard. One scene in particular made me cry. But this story is so full of hope that it makes all the heart-wrenching stuff worth it. 

Read it. 

[Norah Una Sumner · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I’ve heard if you pretend long enough—or maybe wish hard enough—faking normal becomes real. I’m counting on that. Until then, I’ll carry on."

This freaking book killed me.Twice.I'm writing this as a ghost because I don't have anything better to do in my after life,whatever.The characters are beautiful-Sage is completely unique and Shane is really interesting.They're both smart and they've both suffered a lot.The supporting characters are amazing as well,I really love Lila(freaking badass) and I love the fact that Sage and Cassie became (kind of) friends.Also,her aunt and Joe.♥

When it comes to books and movies I rarely cry.I do get sad because of the events in the book/movie but crying is not really my thing...Until the day I started reading this freaking book.Two scenes got me bawling my eyes out-the one where the kids from school put Post-it notes on her locker.Man,there were so many sadder scenes in this book but this one really got me. and the one with her and her aunt riding a bike.Ugh,that one was intense!.



The whole story is amazing,I really enjoyed reading this book so much.And yes,it happened again-I totally love a book with (kind of) poor ratings.Guess it's a good thing I don't really give a damn about ratings.

So,overall,this book broke my heart and made my soul ache,but also made me smile so much.
Favourite quote:

"The future sometimes looms like a monster, a horrible scary one with teeth and claws.It’s hard to plan your life when all the news talks about is how screwed up the world’s become."

[Stacee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not usually one to read angsty times, but this was absolute perfection.

Sage is a great MC and I loved being in her head. Her whole thing with the post it's is fantastic and there was one scene involving her locker that I could have cried over.

Of course I loved Shane. He plays guitar and that pretty much sells it for me. But together, these two are...sigh. I don't have words. They provide exactly what the other needs and it's refreshing to read a relationship that's equal and so loving.

The heartfail wasn't as bad as I was expecting, but still pretty bad. The ending was phenomenal. Not only will I be pimping this book out so hard, I'm going to need all of the copies.

**Huge thanks to Macmillan for sending me the arc**

[Kassiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars.

A modified version of this review also appears on Swoony Boys Podcast.

The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things was my favorite "real" book that I read in 2014 ("real" as in the Real Books Challenge), and I reread it so I could talk about Shane in our latest podcast episode. In other words, I loved this book so. freaking. much.

High school senior Sage Czinski is known around school as "Princess Post-it" because she leaves a positive note on someone's locker everyday. Sage is all about spreading goodness, which is in direct contrast to some things that happened to her before moving to a small town with her aunt. She's been through a lot, and no one knows everything about the darkness she feels at times. She's been secretly crushing on her best friend, Ryan, forever, and though they share everything, including Friday night movie nights, there's nothing romantic between them. When Sage learns something about Ryan that lets her see him in a new light, their dynamic changes and though she misses him, she needs space.

Not to mention that she can't get the quiet, soulful new guy out of her mind. Shane Cavendish has a past of his own and is just trying to get by.

"I came here looking to finish school quietly. Stay out of trouble. Maybe write some new songs. I never expected you."

After an undeniable connection, Shane offers to tutor Sage in math, and they realize that what they're each missing in their lives is each other.

Both of them have secrets and have to deal with having someone in their lives that they never expected. What happens when their secrets are revealed? Will their newfound relationship be enough to keep them together?

I loved pretty much everything about this book, beginning with Sage. She was seen as almost a goody-two shoes, but there was so much more to her character. She had a dark past that she was doing everything in her power to overcome. She was authentic and had realistic feelings.

I ask myself if he's singing this for a reason, if he saw how much I doubt belonging with someone like him, someone hot and talented.

I'm so not enough. I can't be. I smile, and I act happy, and I pretend. I'm the queen of bright and shiny things, eternally looking for the [positive and seeking a silver lining in the dark. He's dating a girl I invented three years ago because the real me is horrible, and I wanted to leave her behind... I want so bad to be normal, but I never can be.

I loved her aunt and the unconditional love she had for Sage. There were parts between them that seriously made me tear up.

"Everyone deserves a second chance."

I loved her relationship with Lila, her new friend. I love that Lila approached Sage and that she wouldn't let Sage shut her out. I also loved how loyal she was.

"They aren't talking to me. People know I will cut a bitch if they start something with you."

Despite that fact that I didn't love what Ryan did and how he took her for granted, I liked him and felt bad for him, missing his BFF. If you've ever secretly harbored a crush for your best friend who didn't notice that you were a girl, this book is for you.

And of course, I saved the best for last. Shane.

He's a hunk of chocolate cake slathered in frosting that I'm not supposed to have, but can't help wanting.

With his mop of messy brown hair and aquamarine eyes, he's more than just a pretty face. He plays the guitar and sings and writes songs. He's smart and he's crazy swoony.

"I'd love to pull my grade up to a C before midterms."

"I'll get you to a B by the time the grading period ends."

I say without thinking, "If you do, I'll love you forever."

...

"Then I better apply myself," he says softly.

There's more to him than just being swoony. He's independent and he's humble. He's proud and he's loyal. His favorite food is slow-cooker pulled pork, which I have to say is one of the best things I make. So, that makes him mine haha He's a sweet texter and he writes her a song FFS. He's just ...awesome.

"I wish I could have all your firsts, because you're getting all of mine."

*le sigh*



There were a couple of smallish things that I didn't like. I felt like it was out of character for Sage to let Shane sleep over when her aunt was out of town. Knowing that Sage is so worried about rocking the boat with her aunt and is always trying to be perfect, I was just surprised that she did that. I also felt like there wasn't enough resolution to the situation with Ryan. I guess that's real life--you don't always get a big speech and everything isn't always wrapped up into a bow, but I wanted a conversation or something to show what would happen next with them. Maybe I was in a Shane-induced stupor and missed it. :)

The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things is truly a story of broken hearts coming together to heal into something stronger than either of them ever imagined. It's a story about a swoony boy, a sweet girl, and second chances. And it's one of my favorites.

[Sophia Sardothien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Official rating 3.5
Despite the mixed reviews on goodreads, I find myself fairly enjoying this book.

Being numb is good for a while, until it's not anymore. "They're fooling themselves," I say. "It's better to deal with your shit head on. Life doesn't get better if you look away."

The book revolves around a girl name Sage Czinski, everyday in her life she tries as hard as possible to appear positive and her definition of "perfect". She believes that if people believes this version of her people would not look on her past.

I walk on, brightening the smile through sheer determination. I've heard if you pretend ling enough- or maybe wish hard enough- faking normal becomes real. I'm counting on that. Until then, I'll carry on.

And then she meets a guy name Shane Cavendish, a guy that is everything she ever wanted. Well Shane has secrets on his own, he only wants to stay low and get out of trouble, plays his music and graduate. But oh well he never thought he'll meet Sage.

But he most be fronting because nobody ever wants to be lonely. You just pretend not to care if anyone talks to you because otherwise, you're the desperate loser begging for friends.

Sage, I think by far she is the most relatable character I've ever read about. Though I did not have a past as rough as hers, mines was not shiny either. I deeply understood how it's feels like to want to forget and trash your past utterly, afraid of losing the ones you love.

I never get down- that I don't have shitty days and dark thoughts. I've just learned not to follow them down the hole. I've seen what lives in there, and it's pretty awful. Depression threatens.

Given the rough past she has, she did not choose to turn bad. But she decided to turn her experience into something good, helping others when they are in the bad day. So she'd write notes to encourage people.

I do this daily, scope for somebody having an awful day, and look for a bright side. Sometimes it's lame, but at least I'm trying.

But what I appreciate most about her is her determination to stay good and positive, even when people annoys her.

There's always a part of me that wants to make people sorry when they pissed me off, but I've swallowed her whole, wrapped the shadow me in plastic, and I'm waiting for her to stop breathing.

I believe that it's always important to find the silver lining in every bad day, to keep ourselves going. Sage is insecure of her self, so she uses sarcasms to hide that part of her. The part that's afraid.

As for Shane....

His head jerks up; he was totally into the book and didn't hear me at all, Which makes me like him instantly.

Well, you could say he is a decent male lead, but I did not really like him.

Which I'm saying I'm a fan of the plot or the romance, it's predictable and it gets boring from times to times.

Overall I think this is decent read, could have been better. But good enough for me to stay for the entire time.

[Marynea Collina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish there are enough words for me to be able to say how much I adore this book. The Queen Of Bright and Shiny Things was something I never knew I needed to read until now. Ann Aguirre had breathed life onto this book and it had felt as though it was my own words wrapped into a lovely prose. Connection is something I often feel towards books, but with The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things, it was different, much stronger even. There's no word for it, but it feels like .. serendipity, perhaps?

One of the things I loved about this book was about how much I saw myself in Sage. I don't think I was as selfless and caring as her, and truth be told I am far from being those, but still there was something about her that made me feel as though I wasn't alone. Perhaps the reason why I loved this heroine so much was because she was everything I had wanted to be when I was younger, and maybe until now. She was amazing, strong (even if she thinks otherwise), witty, and a very loveable heroine. Regardless of all that, I had seen her flaws, but none of that made me think less of her. In fact, it only made her more genuine and real to me. On top of that, Aguirre has done a wonderful job crafting Sage. I suppose you can tell that Sage has definitely has made her way to being one of my all-time favourite heroines ever written.

Meanwhile, Shane was wonderful. He was complex without being overwhelming, and he is exactly the hero that is both admirable and swoon-worthy. He plays the guitar and sings! What more can I ask for? His story was written very well, and I connected to him just as much I had for Sage. I loved him, just like I had loved Sage, for they were both written so wonderfully that I wish I had lived in the world where I had them as friends. I loved them so much that they felt so real to me; it's like, I'm convincing myself that they are from a book, not in real life. And it breaks my heart whenever I remember that they are not real.

Together, Sage and Shane proved to be one of the most admirable fictional couples that I've ever come across. I don't know how Aguirre had done it; she weaved these two together as though they were one, but never once diminishing the elements that make them be distinguished from one another. Does that make sense? I had gotten to know Sage as Sage, and Shane as Shane. I never felt as though Sage was defined by Shane, nor was it the other way around either. However, when they are together, it is evident how much they bloom as one. You can see and feel how much they care for each other. Even in the beginning, it never once feel forced; their connection was very unique and genuine that it sometimes felt as though I ought to not be looking. Aguirre had written a romance that reminded me exactly of how it felt to love, and how much I wish I could experience it again. (Hopefully with someone like Shane, please.)

Along with that, there were some characters that we got to know as the book progressed. Ryan, Lila, Aunt Gabby, her other friends at school, and even the "antagonist" in this book, which was Dylan. If there's anything that I had found lacking, it was with the characterization of these secondary characters, for I had already found them compelling, and I can't help but to want to find out more. It's not really a big deal, since I know it wouldn't have turned out this way if it was done differently. Dylan, especially, was someone I wanted to understand more. Even if he was a jerk, he was written so well that you can't help but to want to give him second chance too.

The Queen Of Bright and Shiny Things was very well-paced, and its craftsmanship, beautiful prose, and wonderful characters had definitely hit home to me. It's been awhile since I felt connected to a young adult book without being annoyed at anybody; for a moment, I felt as though I was 16 again and falling in love with a boy for the first time. Thank you, Ann Aguirre, for making me feel all of these, despite how much I had thought I wouldn't be able to anymore.

Definitely 5/5 stars!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on One Curvy Blogger

When you see the cover of The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things you probably think bubbly contemporary romance – I know I did. I’m all for the cute YA romances these days so I picked it up thinking I would probably enjoy it, but I never expected an true emotional connection! So while this book was cute in some parts and the main characters, Sage and Shane, were “awwh” inspiring, the book wasn’t just ponies and rainbows and everything nice. It had a darker theme to it that I would never have guessed if I hadn’t picked it up and given it a try. (Just another reason not to judge a book by its cover, Tika and Blessie!)

One of the biggest things that I enjoyed about The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things was the fact that these characters all have flaws. We can all list off some popular young adult and even adult books where the main character is the best person ever whom never makes a mistake and if they do, they never have to atone for them. This is not the case with Sage. Though she may try to appear like the epitome of a perfect young adult, the more I read the more I knew she had done something horrific in her past that she was trying to make up for by helping others the best way she can – taking care of the Earth that we all have to live on and writing out notes of encouragements to those who need who need them.

In some ways, this book made me ashamed of the way I hid in books when I should have been trying to better myself and my community. Even though I tried to help out an underdog when they needed someone to stand up for them, I never made a point to go out of my way to notice who was having a bad day and cheer them up and I would never have stood up for anyone if it meant compromising my own safety. I would more often tell a teacher or anonymously send in reports of bullying than draw attention to myself. I had thought I was doing enough – I wasn’t ignoring bullying, instead I was helping out behind the scenes – but after reading about what Sage did for her friends and for Shane, I knew I could have done more.

In my review of The Fault in My Stars, I noted how irregular it was to find a young adult MC that I could actually see as a role model for future young adults, but I am glad to find out that I have read two new books this year that have defied the odds. Even in realizing that Sage used her “save the world” campaign to mask the emotional trauma from her past, she does it a helluva lot better than most troubled young adults. It was nice to see her and her new circle of friends grow as characters in the course of getting to know one another. Sage isn’t your average “flawed” YA character, and the plot wasn’t the most unpredictable but it was a fun, emotional read that made me a better person in the long run. I would recommend everyone – even readers who aren’t usually a YA fan – read The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things at least once!

[Christina (A Reader of Fictions)]

Pages Read: 50ish

I actually DNFed this a couple of days ago, so I'm a little blurry on the exact reasons, but here's the short version:

1) The MC is the bad kind of judgmental, aka she doesn't seem to realize how mean she is. Also, she insulted Gillian's hair, which is fabulous.

2) The central conceit that her best friend was pretending to be dating her so that he could engage in a sexual relationship with a 21 year old who thought he was 19 skeeves me out. He's making that girl a statutory rapist.

3) Just a couple chapters in, Sage describes herself as having a Shane-shaped hole inside of her, even though they've barely spoken. Not feeling this ship at all.

4) A number of unnecessary details that distracted me from the overall story. No, I don't care why the other patrons of the coffee shop named Coffee Shop are there.

I loved Ann Aguirre's Razorand trilogy, but her contemporaries don't seem to work so well for me. *sighs*

[Carina Olsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. I was excited about reading this book, but I did not know that I would love it so much. But I did. I loved this book to pieces. Which surprised me, as I don't like contemporaries. But this was different. It did not have any silly drama. Instead it has beautiful writing, stunning characters, perfect romance.

There is so much I adored about this book. I can't even say that there was anything about it I disliked. Because there are no silly break-ups. There is not kissing of other people. There is no drama that ruins the relationship. There is one other thing, but I understood it, and it was done really well. I didn't dislike it.

Mostly I just loved this book to pieces. The writing is stunning and a bit fun, because Sage is all kinds of awesome. My god. I adored this girl. I loved how she is described; with her big butt and her huge heart. And her shadowy past. I adored every part of her. She's all kinds of amazing. Just.. I adored Sage. I loved how she did the post-it thing on her school; it was so kind. And I loved getting to know about her past too. She's been through a lot, and I just adored her more for it, because she's so awesome now. Sigh. And her Aunt Gabby. Eeek. She was amazing as well, and I loved getting to know more about her as well. She cared a lot for Sage, which I loved so much. Their house is just the cutest. And Sage rides a bike everywhere! I adored how she cares about all things Green. And not getting into a car. She's awesome. I loved reading about Sage.

In the beginning of this book, she spends all her time with best friend Ryan. And no one else. But then Ryan does something really stupid, and I won't get into all of that, but yeah. I didn't like Ryan much. And I'm glad she didn't go back to being with him all the time. He acted like an idiot. Sigh. But they were great friends, still. Anyway. Because of what he did, she's finally getting knew friends. She meets Lila. Whom I adored so much. I loved reading about her; she's all kinds of sweet. I loved their friendship.

Then there is Shane. Sigh. I loved him from the moment he arrived in this book. And I adored how taken Sage was with him. And then their friendship began. And it starts small, but it gets so big, and it is the bestest thing. Their friendship is the sweetest. Especially as Sage is into him all the time, lol. Her thoughts are just the most awesome. Then their friendship turns into more. And it happens sort of slow, maybe, but either way, I adored it to pieces. The relationship between Shane and Sage was the best :)

But then there is just Shane. Whom is such an amazing person. He is so shy at times. Yet he has such a big heart. And he's so sweet. And getting to know his past. Sigh. It made my heart hurt. And his dad. Ugh. Wishing he cared more. Shane deserves to get all the love. Because he is the best boy. I loved how kind and sweet he is. I loved how he plays and sings. I just loved how he is trying his best. He has my heart. I adored how neither of them had been in a relationship before; made me care even more. <3

There isn't much happening in this book, it is more about relationships. And I adored that to pieces. Because there is no silly drama. And the characters are all so adorable and fun and I loved them all. And the romance. Sigh. I cannot wait to re-read this book. Because the romance is the best and it made me smile so many times and I just. I would love a sequel to this book. <3 I would read anything that has more of Sage and Shane together. And Lila. And Aunt Gabby. Yeah. I just want more of everything :)

The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things is a stunning book. It is full of amazingly done characters, great friendships and heartbreaking pasts. This book is special to me. And I'm so glad I read it. The writing is perfection. The characters are the best. And I cannot even talk about the romance. It is so so good. It's sweet and fun and just perfect. I'm so glad I read this book. And I know it will be a book I shall re-read a bunch of times. <3 Because, yeah. No drama and lots of love. This book was pretty amazing. Much love.

Huge thank you to Fierce Reads / Macmillan Kids for hosting the very amazing twitter giveaway that I won, so that I could get this very amazing review copy. <3 Thank you. This ARC will forever be special to me, as I adored this book so much. I cannot wait for my hardcover to arrive in April as well. Which feels forever away. Hmph. But oh. I just really think you should all read this book. Because it is sweet and real and just all kinds of amazing. I loved it so much. And I think everyone else will too. Go pre-order it. <3

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite thing about this was the teenagers acting like teenagers without acting like what adults think teenagers act like. These teenagers had been abused, neglected, and had suffered major trauma, but were trying to be better. They overreacted, they made poor choices, but it wasn't because they were stupid or weren't taking things seriously. It was because they're teenagers. I remember being 16 vividly. I remember how important everything was and how I felt everything as if it was magnified a thousand times. I had my first boyfriend and fell madly in love with him for no reason. Then I got my heart broken as was more sad than I had any real right to be. This book conjured a lot of those feelings for me. I felt like the author did a pretty authentic job of recreating what it feels like to be 16 (at least in my experience). Maybe it's that I live in a small town too (it's called "Niceville," for goodness sake), but I could relate to being able to bike every where and walking around town with friends.

Sage's thing with cars was so silly that it would have made me want to stab my eyeballs out if not for my brief experimentation with veganism for absolutely no reason when I was 16. When I say no reason, I mean no reason. I had no moral objection to anything. I just thought being a vegan was cool. So I could see why 16 year old Sage would decide cars = bad. Especially with her past negative experiences with them. Sage had several reasons to avoid cars. I had zero reasons to justify being a vegan. I mean, besides being an unbearable idiot.

Additionally, I really liked how fully the author developed her characters. I felt like I had a good idea of who each person was. She really took the time to develop everyone and their relationships with each other. I loved this. The last book I read did an extremely poor job of drawing me into the book's world so I was very ready to be fully absorbed in the book characters' lives.

The book was, at times, super cheesy. Shane says himself that he doesn't know how to be a boyfriend and the romantic things he does for Sage seem to be ripped out of an after school special. The rest of the book was so well done that I could get past it. And to be honest, the cheese sort of fit in with the rest of the book. Teenagers doing what they thing they should be doing because everything is so important and momentous and real to them.

I had 2 main complaints though:
1. Ryan. WTF was the point of this character. He seemed to exist only to be the catalyst to Sage's transformation. As soon as she meets Shane it's like the author was like "oh man. I better get this other dude out of the way so he doesn't cause any drama between Shange." I get that a lot of the consequences of Ryan's quasi-removal from the story were essential to the plot and were super interesting to read, but I wish he would have been better incorporated back into the story. They're BFF's at the beginning and then all of a sudden (due to something super crappy Ryan does) he's pretty much exiled from Sage's life and only allowed back in as a very minor supporting character. I think a lot more could have been done with Ryan in the story. It seemed like a waste.

2. How awkward was that sex scene? I mean, I wanted it to happen, but I wish it would have happened after Shane came back from juvie or something. It's revealed after, that Sage doesn't take her clothes off while doing the deed because she doesn't want him to see her scars on her arms. I feel like this should have been an indicator that the sex shouldn't have occurred. I didn't like this revelation. It made me uncomfortable and took away some of the sweetness of the "first time" I was imagining took place behind that fade to black that was written.

[Mary BookHounds · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY THOUGHTS

Sage moved to Farmdale three years ago and changed everything about herself. She now tries to make at least one person smile each day by putting a post it with a postiive message on a locker in sparkly pen when she knows someone needs it most. She hasn't had an easy life and moving in with her aunt has given her a new chance at life that she doesn't want to mess up. Nicknamed "princess" because of her attitude, she has stayed away from friendships, except with Ryan, who she thinks is just friendly with her as a cover for another relationship that wouldn't be viewed kindly by the jock bullies at school.

When a new boy, Shane, shows up and becomes the bullies' punching bag, she tries to deflect them and when Ryan confesses that his other relationship was with an older woman, her world falls apart. Now divorced from her protective relationship with Ryan, she moves forward and sits with her Green World recycling group. She also drags Shane along with her to sit with freshman, sophmores and a senior. Of course, Shane has some secrets of his own and Sage thinks she understands exactly what is going on with him, but it is much worse than she imaged.

Sigh, these two are just perfect for each other, both with bad starts in life and are given a second chance at life and want to succeed. Shane has a love of music and in a small town, he becomes someone when he is seen playing at the local coffe house. He comes into his own through his talent and the bully gets his. I am not going to write about that situation because it would be too spoilery. This is a nicely done story that discusses some hard issues but not as gritty as Katie McGarry or Jennifer Echols. Parents: this is a pretty clean read with just a bit of language, some violence, and some allusions to sexual situations (a few kisses too!).

[Kaitlyn Abshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

The publisher provided me a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest and unbiased review.

Sage is seriously amazing. Everyday she looks for someone who has had a bad day and leaves compliments and words of encouragement on a post it note of their locker. I wish I was still in high school because I would have stolen this idea. Sage is kind and quick to forgive. Even though she may have her days, she tries to be the better person.

Then there is the new kid, Shane. Sage is almost immediately attracted to him and goes out of her way to make him feel welcome at school. Shane isn’t used to the attention and he doesn’t know if Sage is genuine or messing with him. Once Shane realizes that Sage is genuine, they fall for each other in the most wonderful way possible!

This romance is one of my favorite romances to date! No instalove and no love triangles! It’s a miracle! Shane makes Sage truly happy and Sage will always look out for Shane. Shane sticks with Sage even when her ugly past is dug back up.

I didn’t realize how much I would love this book when I first discovered it. I read this book purely by chance and I’m so, so happy I did. This book is one of my favorites of the year and I will always recommend this book. I will forever read anything that Aguirre writes. Do yourself a favor and read this book NOW.

[Susane Colasanti · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful story that will inspire you to take a stand against injustice and fight for the life you want to be living.

[Tanya (Girl Plus Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 STARS

The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things delivered so much more than I expected. To be honest, when this was released a few years ago it didn’t make much of a blip on my radar. It wasn’t until I saw a review by a trusted blogger friend that it truly caught my attention and convinced me I had to read this one. And thank goodness I did because I was gifted with a warm, funny, heartfelt, and genuinely emotional story of a girl doing her very best to overcome a devastating past and become the best version of herself.

I'm so not enough. I can't be. I smile, and I act happy, and I pretend. I'm the queen of bright and shiny things, eternally looking for the positive and seeking a silver lining in the dark... the real me is horrible, and I wanted to leave her behind, along with the group home and the court-mandated therapy sessions. I want so bad to be normal, but I never can be.

Sage came to live with her aunt three years ago and has spent that time cultivating an image of herself that she wishes were true. The carefree girl, the do-gooder girl, the girl that leaves encouraging notes on her classmates lockers. Internally, Sage struggles with guilt and an almost overwhelming anger that she must always keep contained. When a new guy arrives at school, Sage is instantly drawn to him. Shane is dealing with his own grief and guilt and seems determined to stay on the fringes and not engage. As these two slowly form a friendship, and more, they find in each other a way to truly be themselves – and just maybe make peace with the past.

“I want to be the person who never lets you down.”

I fell in love with both Sage and Shane. These two people had already been through so much at such a young age and were dealing with it in the best way they could – although not always successfully. Sage’s evolution felt completely realistic and watching her slowly change and open herself up to wide variety of friends made me want to cheer her on. And her loyalty to those friends and her desire to help others made me wish she was my friend. Shane quickly won me over as well. This was a kid who was virtually on his own at the age of seventeen and, instead of feeling sorry for himself, he was simply doing what it took to get by. He truly didn’t know what to make of Sage and her eagerness to help at first and I loved how her persistence slowly chipped away at his aloofness. Neither of them seemed to know exactly how to navigate their budding relationship and it made for such a sweet and believable connection.

“I don't know how to be a boyfriend," he warns me.

I cock a brow at him, smiling. "That's too bad...since I have a PhD in girlfriendology from the University of So Many Feelings.”

As more of Sage’s background was revealed, and as Shane’s circumstances took a drastic change, the book took on a slightly darker tone and this was where my emotions were really put through the wringer. I definitely shed some tears for Sage and Shane. This is also where the relationships they had formed with others began to pay off and Sage’s aunt in particular was a shining example of love and support.

“God,” he whispers. “What am I supposed to do with you? Why do you care when nobody else does?”

Sage fought hard – both for herself and for Shane. I loved her determination and the lengths she was willing to go to for herself and for those she loved. Aguirre did an amazing job of developing both characters (as well as the cast of secondary characters) and had me totally invested. My heart may have broken a few times along the way, but it was totally worth the experience.

[mith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initial Reaction
I LOVED THIS BOOK.
Which, believe it or not, is a surprise! Because this is a contemporary! And because I wasn't the biggest fan of the Enclaved series! And because I never thought this would make me kick my legs in sheer happiness and 03:30 in the morning. Not squealing over bands and songs mentioned in the book.
Oh yes, this was a real surprise to me.
My only faults with this book would be the writing. Otherwise, 4.25 stars because I'm picky like that.

Review (I guess?)
Okay, like I have said, I loved this book. I was not expecting to adore the quirky main character or the super adorable love interest, but I did.
See, I picked this up with caution. I wasn't expecting a lot because I've read the first two books of the Enclave series by Ann Aguirre, and I wasn't that impressed. But after reading this... wow. I'm amazed.
Sage Czinski and I have something in common--people cannot pronounce our names or spell them correctly. For Sage, it's obviously her last name (even I couldn't say it at first (and if you're wondering/having trouble, it's pronounce suh-zin-ski), while for me, it's my atrocious first name.
Another thing we have in common: we're juniors and terrible at the maths and sciences. It's pretty horrifying to see.
But Sage Czinski is more than a person with a strange last name and mediocre geometry grades. She is a person who cares for the environment (part of a club, electric cars only, biodegradable trash bags, everything. Literally everything you can think of. Vegetarian included (though that may have more to do with her Aunt Gabby).) and who cares about people even if not all of them deserve that. She has a pack of pink post-it notes, a glittery purple pen and an eye out for people who are having a bad day. And everyday, she writes a sweet and lovely little message for that someone and puts it on their locker.
Everyone calls her Post-it Princess
Of course, there is more to Sage (no one can be that nice). And that's what I loved most. So many people say they want to change, but their actions don't always show that. Sage has had a rough past, has done something she isn't proud of, and yet. Yet, she walks around the halls of her small town school and does these little acts of kindness. She's done so much to change, to become a better person, and it's amazing what she's done, what she's doing. I really found her a likeable character throughout the book.
Although I feel as is the attraction (on Sage's part) happened a bit too soon, I'm glad it existed in the first place. Shane Canvendish is the new boy in school, and so, naturally, he's the boy everyone will be talking about and picking on. Sage picks up on that and gives him her infamous pink post-it.
Their chemistry felt very real. I loved it. Neither of them expected it to happen, which kind of makes it better. See, Shane doesn't really want to be seen. He wants to get by, stay under the radar, play a little bit of music--just get it over with. But with Sage around, her too-caring attitude, Green World promotion, and the glow-in-the-dark tape she has to wear at night, it's kind of hard.
Both of these characters have hard pasts and they each find out about it, too. There's no insta-love and dropping their sad tales in one night--well, not mostly. But they find things out about each other, little by little, and it causes their relationship to grow. They just work for each other, trying to make the other one smile and laugh.
Sometimes it's so cheesy and it's absolutely perfect.
But keep in mind that their romance isn't the entire novel. Throughout it, there's more friendships that come up. Before, it was just Sage and Ryan. Now it's Sage and Shane and Lila (who's too beautiful for their school) and a handful of freshmen and sophomores. It's all new to Sage and she never really imagined something like that happening to her, which is understandable. You see Sage grow from that quiet Post-it girl to someone new, kind of, I guess.
You also get hints at what happened in Sage's past. It grows more and more because of Dylan, who's Lila's ex. Being the bully, he threatens to ruin her and does exactly that--just because Sage stood up for Lila. It's not exactly pretty (I didn't expect it at all) but how Sage overcomes it, and the consequences that follow, it's really something amazing.
I loved the music the author picked for the book. I really do need the playlist (SHE PLAYED ALL TIME LOW OKAY. And I'm suspecting 5 Seconds of Summer, but I can't be sure. Nonetheless--I need a playlist.)
I found the writing style a bit iffy at times. It wasn't the intervals, it was more of the voice at times. Though it fit Sage perfectly, it felt... a bit immature at times, I suppose. But that's just me being very weird I guess--I'm not entirely used to the tone being like that so it was hard to enjoy fully.
Overall, this was a brilliant read and I would definitely recommend it.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC provided by author/publisher in exchange of honest review

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The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things by Anne Aguirre is the second book that I have read from this author. The setting of this book takes place in High School. Either you had fond memories of high school or it was the place you couldn't wait to get out. Let's face it, its all about cliques and the place where you begin to realize and find your identity and voice. And in Anne Aguirre's latest novel, she tackles on the subjects of loss, bullying and finding love and hope.



Ahhh... you got to love a character who loves those sticky Post-It Notes. The inner nerd in me loved the idea of a heroine who writes postive messages on those colorful post-it notes. The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things really emphasized the message that the only opinion that matters are the people who truly cares and understands you. This book chronicles a young woman who hides her darkness behind the words of positivity on her post-it notes and a boy whose darkness is exposed to all those who see.

Behind the post it notes, Sage is a young girl who has secrets. Her life is filled with pain and heartache. So when Shane appeared, she was intrigued with the new guy since he was not like the other kids in school. There was a special connection that was brewing between Shane and Sage. A friendship that easily blossomed and transitioned to a romantic one naturally. Slowly, they became entangled into each other's lives and began to heal the broken pieces of their hearts and past. So can two people who are struggling with their darkness find healing in each other?

The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things was one of those books that will speak to anyone who is dealing with any issues of secrets and darkness. It is about trying to find the courage to no longer hide. For all those Young Adult, New Adult, and Contemporary Romance fans this book is one of those books that could relate to either of these genres. The writing and story-telling was well paced and had characters that felt real and genuine. Overall, this book was a great emotional and realistic book of life, love, happiness and high school.

Ann Aguirre

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Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review can also be found on A Thousand Lives Lived, check it out for more!

I can't even comprehend my thoughts or organize my thinking at the moment, honestly. Speechlessness? That's a sure factor of enjoying a book so much (or horribly loathing it). But since I actually completed it and can't stop thinking about it, then I'm pretty sure that we're at the so-in-love moment of a book hangover. I'm not sure if I'm able to read anything else after this for a few... years. The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things was a complete blur when reading, and I can't even stop talking about it.

For months, this cover has haunted me in my sleep. No, I swear, I'm pretty sure that I've even dreamt about it once, no lie. This is my first Ann Aguirre book, and I actually never pictured this one to be the first. I could've went with Mortal Danger or her 2B trilogy, but this one somehow caught my attention the most. It's pure YA contemporary-romance, although a million times more believable than anything else I've read this year, and that's a mega-huge compliment, you have to take me seriously for this. I actually just headed onto my library's catalogue and requested her other books... because I just need more.

"You just pretend not to care if anyone talks to you because otherwise, you're the desperate loner begging for friends. Whatever, Shane's gone, long strides eating up the hallway, and he's not even rubbing his shoulder, like he's used to pain. For some reason, that bothers me." (Hardcover, page 9)

With this kind of spectacular, memorable writing, I'm actually not even afraid to sound like a greedy, unreasonable bookworm. You see, if you give this beauty a chance right now, then we'll all be greedy and there won't be enough copies left in the world to enjoy and devour. So really, everything goes either way. You don't decide to read this, there'll be tons of copies in the world that I can purchase and add to my collection. You decide to read this, there'll be a shortage which will lead me to the saddest catastrophe of my life. I think we know which option we'll all rather take. *snickers* Moving on to what Aguirre handed readers through her moving story...

Sage has been living in her small town for three years with her Aunt Gabby. After a troubling past, it's the only option that she can take, and she's done with being the new girl. When Shane walks into her math classroom one day, with him being the new student, she can't keep her eyes off of him. It turns out that he's had a rough past as well and Sage wants to be there for him. Eventually, their friendship turns into something more and this is about their relationship forming together into something that's inseparable.

One cannot argue that this is insta-love. It's not. Sage eyes Shane from the first day when he gets to JFK (their school), and is it wrong to think someone's attractive? Absolutely not. Her character and personality is just the type to always be there for people, just like when she puts sticky-notes on people's lockers to make them feel good about themselves. It's not like it's her choice to only be nice to Shane. It's her spectacular character which leads this book into something memorable. Readers evidently question what's her shadowed side, who she is that she's hiding throughout the big part of the novel until Dylan, the 'bully,' steps in and basically tries to ruin her life. She's a troubled teenager who tries to make the past a blur, but she does it in a way that readers will surely never forget about—by doing good deeds for others, even if they're the worst person on the planet. I'll never forget about the way she showed compassion to Dylan in the end, I don't know if I'd be capable of doing something that kind. Shane is a fucking lucky guy, although they both had their flaws.

"I'm glad he didn't offer sympathy for my loss. That's bullshit. Most people who spout platitudes have no idea how you feel, the way loss chews at you until you're a bottomless hole. They just want to fill an awkward silence." (Hardcover, page 135)

Another factor that still lies in my mind, especially after reading is the way the characters changed each other. Their affection and romance wasn't just about the physical stuff, like kissing or touching each other, there was so much more to it, and understanding what they've gone through in the past is the biggest and most affecting. It's not everyday when you spot a couple who've been through a similar story. Both protagonists were struck with loss in different ways, and they'd do anything to save each other. The suffering that Sage went through while Shane was at juvie? That killed me, so toughly. Aguirre certainly knows how to play with our feelings, and she added mixtures of humour, passion and sorrow to give us the 5 star experience.



I feel like I have the ability this afternoon to drone on and on about this novel. But then of course, you'll get bored and decide to leave. I don't even have to mention anything about the literary elements like the plot or premise because it wasn't prominent. This was a love story, a story that has nothing to do with a book, except for the fact that it's written like one. That's all. If someone told me the story, it wouldn't be the same at all because of the millions of details added that left me teary-eyed or gushing. I can't even count on my fingers and toes the number of times I smiled like an idiot while reading. It sounds like such a typical, predictable story, but none of that is true—there's so much more to the depth that it produces.

Every character in this novel has their own storyline that's far from the pages and the words written. Ryan, Lila, Gabby, Joe, Shane's dad... everyone made some kind of addition to the relationship whether it was great or not, positive or negative. I can't even speak or write anymore or else I'll just burst into tears, my friends, but it's now or never to discover your Shane or Sage.

Before I end this off, I realize that I haven't even spoken my true heartfelt feelings about Shane, but you've most likely guessed them. He's hot, adorable and makes my heart skip a beat. He plays the guitar, writes his own songs and lyrics, and will do anything to make his love happy. He always said that Sage is too good for him, but I also do think that it can be interpreted vice versa and the other way around, too. I'm not asking you, I'm pleading and begging you to go and buy yourself a copy and then we'll gush about it together. Ann Aguirre has written a story that's more than just what the words say. It's about a queen of bright and shiny things and an once antisocial teenager who found his voice. *gushes* I'm in love with you, beautiful novel, and it happened slowly and all at once at the same time.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

YA contemporary doesn't always do it for me. But, when I received THE QUEEN OF BRIGHT AND SHINY THINGS from the awesome folks at Mac Kids, and noticed that it was Ann Aguirre's newest book, I knew I had to give it a go. And, I am so happy I did. I was so impressed by the characters in this book and what they stood for and HOW they stood for it. Only 50 pages in, I was wishing I could get high schoolers in my district to read this book. They need to read this. Book.

"You're the one who makes me whole. When I'm broken in my soul. The queen of bright and shiny things. Not designer clothes or diamond rings."

Sage is looking for a second chance. She has one, living with her quirky aunt, but it feels like it could fall apart at any minute. So, Sage resolves to be the best, most helpful, most perfect girl so that no one wants to let her go. Shane thinks he's out of chances and is just hoping to coast by unnoticed until graduation. But, Sage notices everyone, and she won't let him fade into the shadows. Together, they help each other face their fears and learn to really live

I loved the dichotomy that was Sage Czinsky. She is a girl living in fear every day. She's afraid her aunt will send her back to the dangerous and brutal group home that she was in after her mother died. She's afraid of her feelings for Shane. She's afraid of the anger that still lives within her. And, yet, in school, when she sees an injustice or an unhappy person, she is not afraid to do something about it.

High school is hell and I'm trundling around passing out ice water. Maybe it doesn't end the torment, but if the nice balances out some of the crap, then I feel like it was worth my while.

Let's face it - a lot of times, being singled out in high school isn't a good thing. Most definitely, a person who ran around with pink Post-its and a purple glitter pen who wrote positive affirmations and left them stuck on people's lockers would garner a lot of gossip. Not all of it would be good. In Sage's world, that's exactly what happens, and yet, she does it day after day after day. That is such a brave thing.

The notes are only one thing that Sage does to try and offset the darkness inside of her left over from her first 13 very hard years of life. Sage is also on a mission to save the planet. She recycles, cleans up her neighborhood, and refuses to ever ride in or drive a car because of their enormous carbon footprint. Sage's persistence in all things sparks something in her peers. All they needed was a leader, and that came in the form of a scared brave girl with a checkered past. One who didn't think she was worthy of any of their love or attention.

I'm so not enough. I can't be. I smile, and I act happy, and I pretend. I'm the queen of bright and shiny things, eternally looking for the positive and seeking a silver lining in the dark... the real me is horrible, and I wanted to leave her behind, along with the group home and the court-mandated therapy sessions. I want so bad to be normal, but I never can be.

As it turns out, she was just what was needed to spark something in Shane Cavendish, too. This poor boy just lost his mother and his father is too busy to take care of him. He's completely on his own and perfectly content with things that way. Except is IS only 17, and has no car or job, which means, none of the basics like food. In addition to saving the planet, Sage makes it her mission to save Shane as well, from the moment she first put a note on his locker, telling him he played his guitar beautifully.

"I wish I could have all your firsts, because you're getting all of mine."

When Sage wasn't looking, Shane ended up saving her too. When someone stands up for another person, no matter what the cost, it changes something in you. It caused Sage to see that she wasn't doing any favors to the people who loved her when she was always thinking the worst about them. And Shane caused her to realize that sometimes harnessing that anger leftover from her experiences to make someone else's situation isn't a bad thing.

"I want to be the one person who never lets you down."

Sage's and Shane's relationship was incredibly sweet and inspiring. I also loved Sage's friendship with Lila and how it started. Sage's friendship with Ryan was a bit frustrating at times. Ryan was like Sage's safety blanket, and I felt like she treated him unfairly at times, which was out of character for what I knew of Sage.

The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things is a book about love and forgiveness and seeing the good in everyone. It's about seeing what happens when one random act of kindness comes back around. It brought me to tears and then gave me the warm fuzzies. I'm so glad I read it.

[Erin Arkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things is the first contemporary that I have read by Ann Aguirre and I absolutely loved this book. I wasn’t sure what to expect going in considering the series I love by Aguirre is an apocalyptic series with plague and zombies…this is not that.

Sage Czinski is good at pretending everything is fine and great. She is known at school as “princess” and every day she makes a point to put a post it note on someone’s locker that looks like they need some cheering up. What everyone doesn’t know is that she has worked hard to build an image that doesn’t reflect anything of her past. I won’t go into any detail here because I don’t want to give her story away.

What I will say is the Sage has been through some tough times and she has a hard time thinking she won’t lose everything she now has in the blink of an eye. She for sure has a dark side and although she does everything she can to hide it, we get glimpses of it through the story as she begins to face the things that are happening at school. Because of her past and what she has experienced, Sage is very understanding of the people around her (to an extent) and I loved that about her.

Shane Cavendish has the words “swoony boy” written all over him…ok, don’t take that literally. When he walks into Sage’s math class, she is immediately drawn to him and although he tries hard to avoid connecting with anyone at his new school, Sage finds a way to get past the walls he has put up. He also has some secrets in his past and as the story moves forward, we get to find out just how much these two need each other.

I loved seeing how these characters gravitated toward each other and ultimately became such an important part of each other’s lives. Neither of them have had an easy life but they don’t just throw in the towel and complain about it. They do what they need to do in order to move forward and although they are both hesitant to open themselves up for potential pain (with due cause) they get beyond that fear and come to realize that they do need other people.

Aguirre did a wonderful job of developing these characters and I loved how she was able to yank me into their stories and get me to care so much about these two….even without knowing everything about them. The post-it piece was brilliant and added a wonderful piece to the story that says a lot about who Sage is as a person without Aguirre coming out and just saying it.

If you are looking for a great story with some wonderful characters, definitely consider checking out this book - I will for sure be checking out more contemporary from Aguirre when I can.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.

[ɑƨħŵɑɡ ♥Team Magnus Damora FOREVER♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was really beautiful.. It's the kind that makes you believe in happy moments and good in the world. I did not expect such a feeling with this book.

This book is about Sage, a high school student who is living with her aunt and trying to stay as positive as she can. The arrival of a new student, Shade Cavendish, turns her days into something she did not expect. The few acts of caring she offers to him bring them closer. However, both of their world are not perfect, as much as they try to act like it. And they're each other's undoing.

I loved how this book was written. It was not drama-heavy despite the heavy issues its characters had. The writer managed to not use too many emotions and just use them whenever it was best for her characters. I applaud her, really. It was so good to read.

As for the characters, I don't know where to begin. Sage, the eco-aware teenager with a haunting past. Or Shade, the anti-social new guy who has his own tragedy to live. Or Lila and her issues with her boyfriend who becomes the antagonist for the main character, and he too has his secret. Or Ryan, Sage's best friend, and his secret affair that was no less troubling for Sage. I mean all the characters came to life for me and it was like seeing their world through the words.

I loved the ending so much. So much has happened and I rarely get satisfied with such plots to be more specific, the high school revenge plots, but this was different. I think it has everything to do with how I perceived Sage and how she changed in the end. In fact, most of the characters had their share of character development and they've become different than they were before. It was all worth it.

My most favorite part is definitely when Sage's aunt came after her after she went to visit Shane's dad in his motel room and told her that she loved her. I nearly cried myself. So beautiful and such a crucial moment in the story.

Overall, this is definitely my #3 favorite book in 2016

[Catastrophe Queen · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE FEELS!!! I didn't expect to love this book!

When I first saw this book I thought, oh my gosh! That cover is gorgeous! And that title? Sounds like a keeper. So without reading the blurb, I got a copy of the book.

At first, I felt excited. I genuinely liked Sage Czinski. I thought the story was going to be about her romance with Ryan but then I met the swoony Shane Cavendish.

This book isn't extraordinary but the way it was written just reeled me in. Basically, it's about two teens with troubled pasts trying to live better lives. Sage is Princess Post-It. She is kind and sweet and eco-friendly. She leaves positive post-it messages to students who are having a bad day. Yes, I admit Sage was a bit of a stalker when she started pursuing Shane but I admit, I may have done what she did when I was in high school.

Anyway, I liked how this book focused on positive values and discouraging social labels. What Sage did for Shane was truly worth noting. This book promotes good works and altruism. And even though there was romance, the focus wasn't purely on their sexual relationship. But I must admit the pace was slow halfway through, and I did feel a bit bored but I could see how the author used that to illustrate character progress.

In the end I was like, I enjoyed this book very much. It wasn't just fluffy romance, it tackled relevant contemporary issues that today's youth should be aware of. So I highly recommend this book to teenagers and I hope more books like this are written.

[Maria Angelica]

DNF at 35%. I just found it a little too preachy and honestly boring.

[malayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY OPINION: *****

Wow. Just wow.

This book was so beautiful, so wonderful, so amazing.

I love these one-day reads!

Well, technically, I finished after midnight, but it still counts.

Anyways, this book was definitely one of the best books I've read this summer, if not this year. It's definitely one of my favorite books now...

This book is about a girl named Sage (what a beautiful name) who has had a hard past. She now lives with her Aunt Gabby and goes to high school dubbed as "Princess Post-It" because she has a thing where she writes something really nice or inspiring on Post-Its and puts it on people's lockers if she thinks they're feeling "down" or "in the dumps." Sage has been trying to hide her past for forever but everything changes when anti-social Shane walks into her math class one glorious day.

From the start, Shane gets bullied by the jocks, who are led by Dylan Smith, the bully of the school (we'll get to that later). When Sage tries to help, he ignores her.

Then Shane and Sage actually meet when he is found in the library reading, where a Green World meeting, a club Sage is a part of, is being hosted. She insists that he stay and he does. Thus, we have a budding romance.

I really enjoyed reading about Sage's character. She was really determined to keep the old her out of the way and stay with the new her, despite how angry she got. She was brave and independent and I loved how she refused to ride in cars and ended up riding 100 miles on a bike to try to save Shane. She's a really strong female protagonist if you're looking for a book like that.

Shane was definitely my favorite character. He was smart, brave, determined, and even though he let his anger get the best of him, he was still loyal and kind. I loved how he played guitar and I wish he was real so I could hear some of his music.

This was one of the books that featured music that I really enjoyed reading. Most books that have guys who play music make me annoyed for some reason, but this one was so pretty and I really loved reading the lyrics and I wish they were real so bad.

Oh, and I almost forgot. Step in: Ryan.

Ryan has been Sage's best friend for three years. He's kind, sweet, loving, etc. But for those two to three years, everyone had been under the impression that they were dating because he always put his arm around her, held hands with her, or whatever. It turns out that Sage never knew and she thought it was a friendly gesture.

Then we find out that Ryan has been having an "affair" of sorts with an older woman named Cassie. Cassie is under the impression that Ryan is 18 or 19 when in reality, he's 16 or 17. Ryan has just been pretending to be dating Sage in order to keep his social status and not be considered gay or something.

Of course, Sage is angry and depressed and their friendship takes a break. I mean, if it were my friend, I honestly don't think I would have ever forgiven them. At least not for three or four months.

Thus ended my shipping of Ryan x Sage and thus started my shipping of Shane x Sage.

Lila. I don't know what I really thought about her. At first, she seemed gothic and kind of depressing but soon she lightens up after deciding to become friends with Sage. I don't really know... I didn't hate her but I didn't really LOVE her.

THE ENDING. We uncover the secrets of Sage's past and it's insane. But I'm not going to go into that so you need to read the book if you wanna know.

When Shane gets taken away after fighting with Dylan, I was really depressed. I knew he was gonna come back but I couldn't stand not reading about him. I LOVED THE GUY, OKAY. (We're talking about Shane if you didn't read the spoiler) Then when he came back, I loved this one quote.

"This was my life before he left, but I had to lose him to understand what a miracle this is. Now I can appreciate just how special small things can be." Page 323-324

So yeah. I want to talk more and more and forever and ever, but imma cut it short. Please read this book. It was beautiful and amazing and I would recommend it to people who are in for a good romance. Beware if you're younger though. There are some... suggestive elements and themes. :D

Main Character: Sage
Sidekick(s): Shane, Ryan, Lila, etc
Villain(s): Shadow Sage, the past, etc
Realistic Fiction Elements: This book was all very real to life.

[Teresa Mary Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Reviews Here: Readers Live A Thousand Lives

This book knocked me on my ass. It sounded good and I expected to like it, but I did not expect to love it as much as I did. This book was everything. It was sweet and funny and heartbreaking and adorable and quirky and just everything. It’s the kind of book that had me flailing and squealing.

I absolutely adored Sage. She strives so hard to bring positivity into the world. She wants to be a better person and a good person. She has always been quiet and reserved. She isn’t the popular girl and she isn’t your normal MC. Teen Teresa related to Sage so much and I loved that. Reading this book I remembered what it was like in high school, surrounded by a bunch of people you couldn’t stand, waiting for the day I didn’t have to deal with the stupidity anyone, playing second fiddle to some friends, and the struggle of being identified as an individual and not as “someone’s friend”. I was Sage in many ways. I mean, we are different in A LOT of way too. I’ve been very fortunate and my childhood isn’t like Sage’s, but I really understood high school Sage. I really wish this book had been around when I was in high school.

And then we have Shane, and I can’t even begin to express my love of Shane. He is so swoony guys. He is quiet and sweet and shy and man oh man I fell hard. I loved how sweet Shane was and I loved the awkwardness between them in the beginning. The stage where both are unsure of how to proceed, but both are clearly crushing hard on each other. It was absolutely adorable and sweet. I loved that it wasn’t this whirlwind crazy romantic relationship that as a reader you have a hard time believing is realistic, it was beautiful and sweet and believable.

I also loved how accurate this portrayed high school. High school sucks sometimes and this book showed that. Kids can be cruel and bullies and unfortunately they get away with it sometimes. But it also showed that if you find the right people you can survive it. I loved how the friendships were portrayed, as exactly that, friends. Friends that don’t give up on you when it’s no longer convenient for them. More YA books need relationships like that. And while we are talking about relationships, I need to mention Sage’s relationship with her Aunt Gabby. I loved their bond. There is one scene in particular that both crushed my heart and filled it with love and made me cry.

While this book was fun and adorable and swoony and quirky, it was also heartbreaking. This one sneaks up on you and just when you think you’re safe; your heart gets ripped out. Just when I thought I’d seen the worst, the rug was ripped out from under my feet yet again.

The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things really is a fantastic read and I cannot recommend it enough. I was truly surprised by how much I adored this book and I really just loved it. It’s the kind of book I want to put in everyone’s hands.