Book Review~Remembrance (The Mediator #7) by Meg Cabot

Title: Remembrance

Author: Meg Cabot

Series: The Mediator #7

Publisher: William Morrow

Pub Date: February 2nd 2016

Format: ebook

Pages: 400

Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Adult, YA

Links: Goodreads ~ Amazon/B&N ~ Book/Author Site

Synopsis: You can take the boy out of the darkness.

But you can’t take the darkness out of the boy.

All Susannah Simon wants is to make a good impression at her first job since graduating from college (and since becoming engaged to Dr. Jesse de Silva).

But when she’s hired as a guidance counselor at her alma mater, she stumbles across a decade-old murder, and soon ancient history isn’t all that’s coming back to haunt her. Old ghosts as well as new ones are coming out of the woodwork, some to test her, some to vex her, and it isn’t only because she’s a mediator, gifted with second sight. 

From a sophomore haunted by the murderous specter of a child, to ghosts of a very different kind—including Paul Slater, Suze’s ex, who shows up to make a bargain Suze is certain must have come from the Devil himself—Suze isn’t sure she’ll make it through the semester, let alone to her wedding night.

Suze is used to striking first and asking questions later. But what happens when ghosts from her past—including one she found nearly impossible to resist—strike first?

What happens when old ghosts come back to haunt you?

If you’re a mediator, you might have to kick a little ass.

Trailer: 

Rating: 9.5/10

Source: Bought

Cover Talk: It's nice but I wish it matched the previous books.

My Thoughts: I was stoked when Meg announced there is going to be a new Mediator book! I've been a huge Mediator fan since I was a kid and these are the books that introduced me to YA. So I couldn't wait to get my hands on the new book! And I finally did! I must say, it did not disappoint! 

Writing: What can I say, it's by Meg Cabot. One of my all-time favorite authors. So obviously I loved it. It had the same feel and atmosphere of the previous books but there was also a more mature and adult tone to it and I loved that! I love how Meg can do comedy that makes me laugh out loud as well as tragedy that makes me bawl. The writing definitely lived up to the previous books!

Story: Again, it was a Mediator book so obviously the story was amazing with mystery and suspense and romance. There were many plot twists that I didn't see coming and the story was very gripping which left me wondering what would happen next. It followed the pattern of the previous books with having a ghost story line and a personal Suze & Jesse story line. The ghost story line hit a little too close to home and made me cry a lot. I felt like the Suze & Jesse story line ending was very anticlimactic especially considering the buildup to it but I still loved it!

Characters: It was so good to meet all my favorite characters again! Suze was just as badass and sassy as ever! Jesse was as swoony and amazing as ever! Paul was as annoying and evil as ever! It was nice to see them all grown up. I loved seeing how everyone's lives turned out! Since this was more adult Meg had the freedom of making it more real. So it was nice to see these characters deal with adult problems. 

Overall: I loved this book! It was just as amazing as the previous ones! And if you haven't read The Mediator series yet then what are you waiting for?! Go and read them and then come back here and fangirl with me! :D

About The Author:

Meg Cabot (born Meggin Patricia Cabot on February 1, 1967 in Bloomington, Indiana, United States) is an American author of romantic and paranormal fiction for teens and adults and used to write under several pen names, but now writes exclusively under her real name, Meg Cabot. She has written and published over fifty books, and is best known for The Princess Diaries, later made by Walt Disney Pictures into two feature films of the same name. Meg's books have been the recipients of numerous awards, including the New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age, the American Library Association Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, the Tennessee Volunteer State TASL Book Award, the Book Sense Pick, the Evergreen Young Adult Book Award, the IRA/CBC Young Adult Choice – as well as many others (see awards section for specific book wins). She has had numerous No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Cabot has more than fifteen million copies of her books—children's, young adult, and adult—in print worldwide.

Extras:

My spotlight post on The Mediator series.

Drama Review~Ex Girlfriend Club (Korean)

Title: Ex Girlfriend Club

Writer: Lee Jin Mae

Director: Kwon Seok Jang

Main Cast: Byun Ho Yan as Bang Myung Soo, Song Ji Hyo as Kim Soo Jin, Lee Yoon Ji as Jung Hwa Young, Jang Ji Eun as Na Ji Ah, Ryu Hwa Young as Rara, Do Sang Woo as Jo Gun

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Original Run: May 8, 2015 - June 13, 2015

Duration: 60 minutes

Original Channel: tvN

No. of Episodes: 12

Language: Korean

Links: MDL ~ Wikipedia ~ Viki/DramaFever ~ Drama Site

Synopsis: Bang Myeong Soo is a popular writer of webtoons. He then writes a webtoon series about his past relationships, specifically his four ex-girlfriends, which includes an older, wealthy divorcee, a chic and successful woman who works at an investment firm, and a third-rate, airhead actress. The webtoon reveals plenty of details about Myeong Soo's love life, and it becomes a huge hit. Soon, Myeong Soo is considered a cross between Public EnemyNumber One and National Heartthrob, and his webtoon gets adapted into a movie.

Kim Soo Jin is a film producer who's prepared to do whatever it takes to save their failing production company. Because of this, she accepts the assignment to produce a webtoon adaptation. But to her horror, Soo Jin belatedly finds out that the webtoon artist is her ex-boyfriend Myeong Soo, and that she's one of the girlfriends he wrote about. And as the movie starts shooting, the project also brings Myeong Soo's other ex-girlfriends back into his life all at the same time.

Trailer: 

My Rating: 9/10

My Thoughts: The was such a different and refreshing drama! Especially the romance. No stupid miscommunication, no disrespect, no unnecessary drama. The couple had real problems and they solved them like real, mature people. It sucks that this drama wasn't very popular and they had to cut down the episodes. But even after the episode cut it was really good and definitely became one of my favorites!

Story: Ex Girlfriend Club had a pretty unique story. It may seem typical but the way it played out was very different. It involved real-life problems but in an exaggerated way so it wasn't exactly a slice of life but the exaggeration made it interesting instead of unbelievable. I loved the conflicts and how our main characters overcame them. There was never a dull moment and the story was pretty interesting.

Actors/Characters: I loved all the different characters we got to see in this drama. Each girl had her own unique personality and quirks and the best part was that all of them were flawed, real characters. They had some good traits and some bad which made them real people and hence easy to sympathize with.

Romance: This was my favorite part of the drama. It was just so sweet and comfortable and real. It's the kind of relationship I dream of having. Myung Soo and Soo Jin were such good friends and so comfortable with each other. They loved each other in more than just a romantic way. They're definitely one of my all-time favorite drama couples!

Overall: I loved this drama and it really sucks not many people know about it. Highly recommended if you're in the mood of a light rom-com with good solid characters, a real romance and a interesting  story.

Interesting Reads Set in Exotic Places (Guest Post by Caroline @ Culture Coverage)

 

Books have the power to transport us to amazing places, and with summer finally here, for those of us not lucky enough to get away on holiday this year, delving into the pages of these fantastic reads offers a perfect cure for our wanderlust.

These five novels, with relatable characters, exciting plotlines and fantastically described settings, provide incredible vicarious traveling experiences and are sure to have you hooked in an instance.

1. The Devil & Miss Prym – Paulo Coelho

Set in the quaint coastal town of Viscos in southern France, this installment in Coelho’s famed series of moral narratives follows a young man seeking to instigate unrest in this peaceful and isolated community.  Miss Prym, a young and idyllic barmaid who longs to make her escape from the sleepy hollow, is thrown into a crisis of morality when the stranger explains he is willing to swap a large amount of gold for an unspeakable deed.

Th novel is set largely around the dynamics of remote village life. It includes picturesque descriptions of the scenic town that are reminiscent of Italy’s famed Cinque Terre and many other beautiful continental cliff-side settlements of coastal Europe. You can almost imagine the seaside breeze on your face and the smell of salt in the air as you turn the pages.

2. Eat, Pray, Love – Elizabeth Gilbert

What’s better than a novel set in one exotic place? A novel set in three! In terms of indulging in spectacular scenery, local culture and mouthwatering cuisine, “Eat, Pray, Love” does it best. This famed book has been gaining fans all over the world and is a wonderful representation of the transformation traveling can produce.

Liz is a divorcee, failed girlfriend and altogether discontented with her stale life in America. Instead of accepting her mediocre fate, she buys three tickets, boards a plane and grabs the world by the tail—visiting Italy to eat, India to learn the art of meditation, and Bali to follow her destiny.

Fans of this memoir will be pleased to know that the film version is available on Netflix, but only for subscribers from the U.S. and certain other countries. If you find it’s blocked where you are, then you can follow this Netflix guide by Secure Thoughts to help gain access. 

3. A Thousand Splendid Suns – Khalid Hosseini

Many know of “The Kite Runner,” Hosseini’s legendary novel and subsequent film, which is also available on Netflix. This fantastic release looks at growing up in war-torn Afghanistan from a female perspective.

The book follows two women: the first, a young illegitimate child whose hot temper regularly finds her in trouble at the hands of men; the other a lovesick young girl who is forced to succumb to her family’s wishes to marry her off to an older man when she discovers she’s pregnant.

It’s a harrowing tale, but also an inspirational one, as the two women eventually find solidarity in each other and a strength of spirit that can only be harnessed after so many years of abuse and oppression. Beautifully painted onto a background of the breathtaking Afghan landscape, this tale is truly an unmissable read. 

4. Wanderlove – Kirsten Hubbard

|A combined delight of pictures and drawings, this book does an incredible job of transporting readers to the many spectacular destinations that its plot ventures. “Wanderlove” tells the story of a young, rebellious girl named Bria who has set out on a journey of self-discovery. Readers are treated to tales of remote Belizean islands, ancient Mayan settlements and hikes beneath jungle canopies.

Another key text about womanhood and what it means to find yourself, this story is an essential read for all young girls who have felt the bite of wanderlust. The lessons Bria learns throughout her travels are poignant and relevant to every one of us. The book is a beautiful testimony to how being unsettled can eventually bring you to a place of true peace and understanding.

You can also follow the author, Kirsten Hubbard, and her own amazing adventures on her social media sites. For in-depth recounts of her travels and wonderful photography check out her Tumblr account, which she updates after every journey.


5. The Violet Hour – Whitney A. Miller

If you’re a fan of a little darkness and mystery alongside your vicarious travel, then this one is definitely for you. As part of a strict spiritual movement set in the Far East, Harlow is expected to be perfect at all times. With high hopes for her future and suspicions she will go on to be the next leader, there is no room for error.

However, Harlow fails to take the cult seriously and instead believes it’s all fiction and is more interested in the pop culture of the day than archaic beliefs. After embarking on a journey from Tokyo to Beijing, she realizes that all she’s been told is merely an understatement of reality. Skillfully navigating the supernatural, this epic tale is well crafted and ends with an incredible twist. It’s well paced, descriptive and perfectly structured, making it a truly successful piece of literature.

The sequel to this book, “The Crimson Gate,” has also recently been released, so it’s a great time to get involved with the franchise.

These fives books are all truly interesting reads that will transport you to exotic locations; however, there are many more to chose from. If you know of a novel or author that deserves a place on this list, then be sure to leave a comment below.

About the Author: Caroline is an entertainment blogger for Culture Coverage and a lifelong bookworm. When she’s not curled up with her latest must-read, she’s scouring the internet in search of new and exciting tales.