The Day Before - Lisa Schroeder

Amber’s life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.

Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell he’s also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.

The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she’s drawn to him. And the more she’s troubled by his darkness. Because Cade’s not just living in the now—he’s living each moment like it’s his last.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Title: The Day Before

Author: Lisa Schroeder

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Publication Date: June 28, 2011

Format: E-ARC

Source: Galley Grab. Many thanks to the Galley Grab team for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

Look for it: Amazon, Book Depository

My rating: 5/5

My review, in verse. 

There was a girl.

There was a boy.

There was a day.

The Day Before.

New realities

Converging under

The stars.

The rustle of the wind

Enticing, beckoning,

Follow me.

Waves roaring in,

Water lapping

Against the shore.

One girl. One boy. One day.

Experiences felt,

Remembered.

Committed to memory.

One girl, one boy. 

Heartbreaking reality,

Haunting faces.

Empowering moments.

I want to break free!

Always, tirelessly

Caressing the sky.

Unrepentant, embracing

New directions.

The Day Before.

Realistic and heartbreaking

In portrayal.

Goosebumps erupt

As time draws to a close

For one girl.

One boy.

One day.

Lisa Schroeder

Has done it

Again.

Turbulence erupts

As emotions

Break free.

Mesmerizing an audience,

held captive.

Rising for

A standing ovation.

Chasing Brooklyn - Lisa Schroeder

RESTLESS SOULS AND EMPTY HEARTS

Brooklyn can't sleep. Her boyfriend, Lucca, died only a year ago, and now her friend Gabe has just died of an overdose. Every time she closes her eyes, Gabe's ghost is there waiting for her. She has no idea what he wants, or why it isn't Lucca visiting her dreams.

Nico can't stop. He's always running, trying to escape the pain of losing his brother, Lucca. But when Lucca's ghost begins leaving messages telling Nico to help Brooklyn, emotions come crashing to the surface.

As the nightmares escalate and the messages become relentless, Nico reaches out to Brooklyn. But neither of them can admit that they're being haunted. Until they learn to let each other in, not one soul will be able to rest.

Title: Chasing Brooklyn

Author: Lisa Schroeder

Genre: Young Adult, Verse Novel, Grief

Publisher: Simon Pulse

My Rating: 5/5

I was so emotionally invested in this book. I was drawn in immediately and was thoroughly captivated by this story. For a novel in verse, it is brilliantly done. I can't believe how much emotion and depth is conveyed in just a few short sentences. We get to feel what the main characters are feeling, what they are thinking, their very personalities. It was a genuine show of emotion, and I really got the characters. I couldn't help but fall in love with them and hope that they could find happiness after the deaths of a boyfriend, brother, and friend. I was deeply invested in the outcome and held my breath as I kept turning the pages, voraciously reading every word. I can't believe how one sentence could be so powerful, and portray so much. The story was heartbreaking, breathtaking, mesmerizing, and all around beautiful. I loved the humorous passages interjected in with the more serious passages. The characters ran the gamut of emotions and I was there through every word. Through the sadness, grief, despair, fear, happiness, joy, love, heartbreak; all of it. This novel was exceedingly well crafted and I can't wait to read the next one when it comes out.

I Heart You, You Haunt Me - Lisa Schroeder

Girl meets boy.
Girl loses boy.
Girl gets boy back...

...sort of.

Ava can't see or touch him,
unless she's dreaming.
She can't hear his voice,
except for the faint whispers in her mind.
Most would think she's crazy, but she knows he's here.

Jackson.
The boy Ava thought she'd spend the rest of her life with.
He's back from the dead,
as proof that love truly knows no bounds.


Title: I Heart You, You Haunt Me
Author: Lisa Schroeder
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Simon Pulse
My Rating: 4/5

This was a light and easy read. I wasn't expecting this book to be all in verse. I enjoyed the style of the writing. It flowed quite well, especially for being set in a poetic format. I loved Ava's character, she has a strong voice, and we follow her after the tragic loss of her boyfriend, and first love, Jackson. We see how she copes with his death, as well as his ghost. It was a very heart-warming story. I don't want to say too much more as I don't want to give out any spoilers. All in all, it was a unique format, and a quick read. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants something "light-hearted", but deals with tough subjects, to read.


This book counts toward the 2010 100+ Reading Challenge hosted over at J. Kaye's book blog.