Book Review~From What I Remember by Stacy Kramer and Valarie Thomas

Title: From What I Remember
Author: Stacy Kramer & Valerie Thomas
Publisher: Hyperion
Publish Date: May 15th 2012
Format: e-book (epub)
Pages: 329
Reading Level: 14+
Links: Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Book Site

Summary: KYLIE: MEXICO WHAT? I should be putting the finishing touches on my valedictorian speech. Graduation is TODAY, and is this a wedding band on my finger.

MAX: It all started with Kylie's laptop and a truck full of stolen electronics. Okay, it was kind of hot, the way she broke us out like some chick in an action movie. But now we're stranded in Tijuana. With less than twenty-four hours before graduation. Awesome. 

WILL: Saving Kylie Flores from herself is kind of a full-time occupation. Luckily, I, Will Bixby, was born for the job. And when I found out she was stuck in Mexico with dreamy Max Langston, sure, I agreed to bring their passports across the border -- but there's no reason to rush back home right away. This party is just getting started. 

LILY: I just walked in on my boyfriend, Max Langston, canoodling with Kylie Flores, freak of the century. Still, I can't completely hold it against him. He NEEDS me. It's even clearer now. And I'm not giving him up without a fight.

Rating: 10/10

Source: Bought

Cover Talk: I like it. But to be honest if I saw this on a bookshelf I wouldn't really pick it up. And even if  did, and read the synopsis, I doubt I would have bought it.

Reason I read this book: I participated in My Book Boyfriend last week and a fellow blogger left her link in the comments. I checked out her Book Boyfriend and it was none other than Max Langston! The moment I read the quotes she had posted, I was dying to get my hands on this book. And I finally did! =D

My Thoughts: When I started this book I had no idea I would love it this much! I expected to like it, because most of my friends on Goodreads did, but never thought it would actually end up as a favorite.

I started this book last night at about 12. I read about 2 chapters and then went to go to sleep. But my thoughts kept wandering back to the book. From the moment I started the book I was hooked. And now I wanted to know what happened next. So at last when I couldn't control myself, I went back, turned on my laptop and started reading.

You see, my dad gets really annoyed if we stay up at night. He's a doctor and he says that it's unhealthy. So when he saw me, I got scolded. But hey! How could I stay away from such an amazing book?! So I kept reading and after some time he and my mom stopped trying to get me to go to sleep.

Oh God, this book is a perfect mixture of action, suspense, emotion, humor and romance. I read it all in one go, even when I was so damn sleepy! This happens to me with very few books. In fact the only book (till now) that had me awake all night was A Walk To Remember by Nicholas Sparks. Other than that I've never craved a book more than I craved this one.

Beginning: How in the world does someone start off like that?! I mean seriously? It was such a teaser! And after reading that prologue who wouldn't be tempted to read the whole book? It was a perfect way to start a book, to reel people in....

Story: OK so this book was full of cliches. Like seriously full of them! At times it's so cheesy. And things happen out of pure coincidence that could never happen in real life. With a mixture like this you would think 'how could this book be any good?' But it is! Beyond good! I don't know how it works, but it does! These cliches and cheesy moments and non-real coincidences are what makes this book amazing! 

Oh and the plot of course! Seriously this book is genius! I especially loved the movie quotes at the beginning of every chapter.

Characters: The only other book I've ever read with various POV is Magenta Orange by Echo Freer. And I kinda liked it. It's fun getting the story from different character's POV. And I guess it must be hard to write it too. So Stacy and Valarie did an amazing amazing job at that! Every character's voice is different. And it was nice to get into each of their heads, get their side of the story. 

The other thing I liked about the characters was that they were like regular high school seniors. They were people, teenagers. They had their qualities but they had their flaws too. Their lives were messed up, like most people's are and you could seriously relate to them.

For example I can really relate to Kylie. She a A+ student, so am I. She worries too much and thinks things through a lot, so do I. She has a lot of pressure from the family, so do I because I'm the oldest child. And her temper is exactly like mine. Also, I don't have many friends and I hate to admit it but like Kylie I too shut myself out to the world out of fear of getting hurt.

So anyway, you get my point. I enjoyed reading from Max's POV the most. And next comes Kylie. Will was so funny! I really had a few good laughs while reading his parts (though I had to stifle them because my mom was sleeping). I also liked reading from Jake's POV. He reminded me a lot of my little brother. Just like Kylie, I love him so! Lily really annoyed me sometimes. But I also felt sorry for her. She was a bit selfish. But I don't think she could help it. Charlie annoyed me too sometimes. But it had more to do with the other character's emotions than mine. He was likable.

I really felt connected to all the characters. If they smiled, I smiled. If they were angry, I was angry. If they were scared, I was scared. And you get the point.

Ending: I'm a sucker for happy endings. And seriously? This was the perfect happy ending! I loved it! I wish there would be a sequel because I would love to read more of this!  

Favorite Quotes: (I liked a lot of quotes from this book but I can't fit them all in, so here are a few)

Guys find me neutered, detached, invisible. I’m Switzerland. The girls Max dates are Brazil.

(This really cracked me up! I loved how Kylie compared things. I also loved the nick-names she gave people.)

“Here’s the list of stuff I don’t like: apples, the fork in my bowl, Honey Nut Cheerios, eggplant parmesan, worms, watching baseball, and Taylor Swift.”

(I know it's weird but I found this really sweet. Jake said this to his father. Jake doesn't like Taylor Swift =( But I love Taylor! =P)

“You were worried about me?” “Of course I was, buddy. I would never have forgiven myself if something had happened. You didn’t think I’d be worried about you?” “No. I didn’t think you cared.” Dad looks sad. And surprised. I’m not sure why. “Really, buddy? You didn’t think I cared?” “No.” “Well, I do. A lot.” “Okay.” “I guess I need to do a better job of showing you.” “Yes. You could do a better job.” Dad laughs. And he hugs me again.

(This was such a bittersweet moment. It was the only point in the book that got tears in my eyes.)

“We both smile at the classic misunderstanding. It’s all so cliché-ridden, it’s embarrassing. I wish our story could have some more original twists and turns. Maybe one of us will turn into a vampire or something.”

(Haha! 'nuf said!)