♥!The Young Adult Book Club!♥ discussion

2nd Monthly Read Start: May 11. Finish: May 21

by Ramona Wray

Like most girls at Rosemound High School, seventeen-year-old Lily Crane is acutely aware of Ryder Kingscott. Hands down the cutest guy in school, Ryder is cool, mysterious, and utterly untouchable…especially for Lily. For when she touches someone, Lily instantly learns all about their lives. And while such a skill might seem nifty, in truth it is wrecking Lily’s life.

So she is shocked when Ryder asks her out — and even more shocked to discover he has a rival. Lucian Bell is the gorgeous new kid who can’t take his eyes off of Lily. Being pursued by two hotties should make a girl happy, but Lily is skeptical. The boys act as if they’ve met before, hating each other with a passion that could only be rooted in a dark, dangerous past. A past full of terrible secrets. The kind of secrets that could get a girl killed.

Get a Copy: HERE


Who's going to be reading along with us?

My Review: HERE

Looking forward to it :-) Very excited!!

I think I'll read this one.
Edit: If I can find it at the library. =P

Kirsten wrote: "I think I'll read this one.
Edit: If I can find it at the library. =P"

I'm always happy to have a couple of copies sent out to school libraries. Librarians have contacted me about it before :-) But I don't know, maybe your library already has it, in which case - happy reading :-)

Here's my review for Hex. I loved it so much, it was such a fantastic novel! :)

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Don’t judge a book by its cover. More importantly, don’t judge this book by its cover. The first thing that anyone says when they first look at Hex’s cover, including me, is, “OMGOBLINS THAT’S SO CUUUTE!” Admit it, you just had a little gush session over the pinkness. But this book is so much more than just a pink cover. It’s deep and superbly written, with a twisting and winding plot line that spans several centuries. Hex is a romance and a mystery all in one, with illicit love affairs, vengeful sisters, half-angel hit men, and a love that is doomed to die just as it's starting.

From the very first pages, I was hooked. Ramona has a way of writing that takes a short while to get into, but eventually, I fell into the rhythm of the book and I couldn’t stop reading. There is a constancy to the plot that kept it going steadily, without a dull moment or a lag.

Lily, our main character, has this tiny problem… every time she touches someone for longer than a few seconds, she passes out. This of course makes her the freak at her school. Growing up with this problem (she can’t even touch her own parents) she’s learned to be very independent. She was logical for the most part, although there were some parts in the end where I wanted to jump into the book and smack a little sense into her. She has a best friend J, who is eccentric and totally loveable, and their relationship added depth to Lily. Every girl needs that one best friend that she can confide everything with. Lily’s parents were also great characters, even if we didn’t see too much of her dad. What surprised me was that Lily already knew she was a witch, or at least understood that she had magical capabilities, and was very level-headed with them.

And now we come to my favorite part: Ryder and Lucian. Okay, I’ll admit for the millionth time that I’m a sucker for the bad boy… but how do you choose when both of them fit the bill? Ryder wasn’t necessarily a ‘bad boy’ per se, but he rode a motorcycle, and he was pretty damn sexy, so in my head it counts. Lucian… well, he was my favorite character. I was never able to figure him out completely, and that’s what I liked best. He acted a little… forward in ways that made me want to slap him senseless, but he was still my favorite. But Lily, Ryder, and Lucian are all entwined somehow, Lily just has to figure out how.

The only thing I have as ‘critique’ is that I wished Lily and Ryder’s relationship had built up more. I understand that they were soul mates, and they were meant to be together, but the earlier tension of Lily’s hesitation and inner-conflict over what she should do, as well as the tense chemistry between them, were some of the best parts.

Overall, I loved Hex. I loved it all the more because it was nothing how I thought it would be, yet it still blew me away, greatly surpassing any preconceived notions I had of it. A DEFINITE must read!

Plot: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Uniqueness\Creativity: 5/5
Writing: 4/5
Cover: 5/5
Overall: 5/5

Sophia, don't you think that review was a bit spoilery about Ryder and Lucian? I mean, you just ruined that for someone who hasn't read the book yet. Even if you could see it coming, that doesn't mean others will.

And your review was a little rude. I respect that you have your own opinion, but the way you conveyed it wasn't very respectful to the author, especially since Ramona posted RIGHT ABOVE YOU. There is a way to say things that will get your meaning across, but still remain tasteful and respectful to the author.


You said that you loved the novel, yet you practically bashed everything about it. To be honest, I had no idea what exactly you were trying to say with your review.

Please don't take this in the wrong way, but I felt I needed to defend one of my favorite authors.

Ramona wrote: I'm always happy to have a couple of copies sent out to school libraries. Librarians have contacted me about it before :-) But I don't know, maybe your library already has it, in which case - happy reading :-)

O_O I didn't know you were in this group. xD

I requested the book as inter-library loan and I'll see what comes of that. I'm homeschooled so... I don't exactly have a school library. But I'll go up to the local library and see if I can request the book anyways. Usually my library has a really wide selection of teen books, so I'm surprised they don't have it. =/

At any rate, I logged onto Amazon and got a sneak peek. Now I REALLY want to read it. I'll keep poking around to see what I can find.

Kirsten wrote: "Ramona wrote: I'm always happy to have a couple of copies sent out to school libraries. Librarians have contacted me about it before :-) But I don't know, maybe your library already has it, in whic..."

So *happy* you liked what you read so far! :-)
If your local library doesn't have it, just give me a shout and I'll have some copies shipped asap.

Ashley wrote: "Sophia, don't you think that review was a bit spoilery about Ryder and Lucian? I mean, you just ruined that for someone who hasn't read the book yet. Even if you could see it coming, that doesn't m..."


Well i've since deleted my "review" from this book discussion which i thought what this page was about. and you if you didn't want me to take the message the "wrong way" why the disclaimer?
Oh well no worries if you want to read my review on the book page you can you could also see that the Author did respond to my review.
Please also know that you also have a right to your opinion as well. I just don't think you needed to "bash" my review. I never claimed that my reviews would be the best I just write what I felt.
I've also marked my review with spoil alert hopefully i won't ruin it for other readers.
I'm just feeling a little disappointed now I thought we were talk to talk about the book...

Ramona wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "Ramona wrote: I'm always happy to have a couple of copies sent out to school libraries. Librarians have contacted me about it before :-) But I don't know, maybe your library already..."

Hi Ramona,
I checked my local library Santa Clara County Library, Cupertino Branch. They don't have any copies. I think the readers there would enjoy the book. Just a thought if you are offering to public libraries!

Sophia wrote: "Ramona wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "Ramona wrote: I'm always happy to have a couple of copies sent out to school libraries. Librarians have contacted me about it before :-) But I don't know, maybe your ..."

Sophia, could you please confirm the address for me?
10800 Torre Avenue
Cupertino, CA
Thanks!

Ramona wrote: "Sophia wrote: "Ramona wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "Ramona wrote: I'm always happy to have a couple of copies sent out to school libraries. Librarians have contacted me about it before :-) But I don't kn..."

Yup that's the address! Thanks!!

Sophia wrote: "Ramona wrote: "Sophia wrote: "Ramona wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "Ramona wrote: I'm always happy to have a couple of copies sent out to school libraries. Librarians have contacted me about it before :-)..."

Two copies will be sent out later today. Thanks!

Hey, so I checked around the libraries in my area--even Denver library which is GIGANTIC. The upshot is that I can't find it. =(

My library's address is:
Carbon Valley Regional Library
7 Park Avenue, Firestone, CO 80504
You're officially awesome for sending these out. 8D

Kirsten wrote: "Hey, so I checked around the libraries in my area--even Denver library which is GIGANTIC. The upshot is that I can't find it. =(

My library's address is:
Carbon Valley Regional Library
7 Park Aven..."

Agreed!

Kirsten wrote: "Hey, so I checked around the libraries in my area--even Denver library which is GIGANTIC. The upshot is that I can't find it. =(

My library's address is:
Carbon Valley Regional Library
7 Park Aven..."

Aw, thanks :-) Took care of it. Two copies on the way. And it's my pleasure. I've always loved libraries (they make such good hiding spots, right? :-)

"Aw, thanks :-) Took care of it. Two copies on the way. And it's my pleasure. I've always loved libraries (they make such good hiding spots, right? :-)"

Yay! Thanks!

Our library is awesome for hiding. I've been standing in PLAIN VIEW and my mom couldn't find me when she came to pick me up! It must be a magical...

Tell me about it! My mom used to say I've got a talent for melting into the stacks. Like I was wearing camouflage or something :-))

The day I started this book I was reading in the back of my brother's truck and we hit a bump and I looked up and what did I see? I saw this, tons of these trucks

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I was so excited! I mean what are the odds that I found the place the same day I started readig about Ryder, and that I looked up at the exact time to see it :D

Sign from above!! Wow! Beautifully eerie :-) Obviously, you are meant for Team Ryder :P

I just downloaded this to my Kindle and I'm really looking forward to reading it! The cover is just so cute!!

Kayla wrote: "I just downloaded this to my Kindle and I'm really looking forward to reading it! The cover is just so cute!!"

Thanks, Kayla! You know, I got the idea for Hex while watching Bewitched (the old TV show, with Elizabeth Montgomery) and the cover was designed on purpose to remind people of it (my way of saying thank you for the inspiration :-) I'm so glad you like it! I hope you enjoy the book too :-) Happy reading!

Ramona wrote: "Sign from above!! Wow! Beautifully eerie :-) Obviously, you are meant for Team Ryder :P"

I know! I was meant to like Ryder,
but I have to admit I loooved Lucian's preppyness too.

"I know! I was meant to like Ryder,
but I have to admit I loooved Lucian's preppyness too."

That's exactly how I felt too. I was supposed to root for Ryder, but I ended up so very torn. Lucian made a great character in the end. Kind of hard not to love him :-))