A Dream Within A Dream: Love & Other Theories Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

http://theunofficialaddictionbookfanclub.blogspot.com/2014/10/ffbc-blog-tour-love-and-other-theories.html

Welcome to my stop on the Love & Other Theories blog tour! Today I have my review of the book to share with you - and don't forget to enter the giveaway! To follow the rest of the tour, click on the banner above.

Love & Other Theories

Author: Alexis Bass

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Release Date: December 31, 2014

Publisher: HarperTeen

Description:

If you want more, you have to give less.

That’s the secret to dating in high school. By giving as little as they expect to get in return, seventeen-year-old Aubrey Housing and her three best friends have made it to the second semester of their senior year heartbreak-free. And it’s all thanks to a few simple rules: don’t commit, don’t be needy, and don’t give away your heart.

So when smoking-hot Nathan Diggs transfers to Lincoln High, it shouldn’t be a big deal. At least that’s what Aubrey tells herself. But Nathan’s new-boy charm, his kindness, and his disarming honesty throw Aubrey off her game and put her in danger of breaking the most important rule of all: Don’t fall in love.

Love & Other Theories is a light and fun read that fans of young adult contemporary fiction and romance will enjoy. The story follows our main character - Aubrey - as she and her 3 closest friends make the most of the remaining semester of their senior year of high school. The four girls have come up with a list of theories about high school guys, and by following these rules, they'll have a senior year of fun without the fear of heartbreak. Everything seems to be working in their favor until the second semester of school begins and the gorgeous Nathan Diggs transfers to Lincoln High School. Aubrey is immediately attracted to him and begins to put their rules into action - in order to snag Nathan and have some fun without getting attached or getting her heart broken. The more Aubrey hangs out with Nathan and gets to know him, the harder it is for her to keep to the rules - and soon she finds herself in danger of breaking the number one rule of all: No falling in love.

I'm personally not a big fan of YA contemporary fiction, but I found this book to be cute and a fast read. It seems to me that there are only so many scenarios that can happen in this genre, and then they start to repeat one another until they're all the same. The plot was strong with well-rounded characters and a definite romantic tone, but how many YA contemporaries are there about senior girls (or guys) not wanting to get involved with anyone - only to have a new guy (or girl) transfer to school, and then ending up with them falling for each other. I have to admit that this is part of the reason that I don't really read much YA contemporary fiction. It all blurs together for me and none of the books stand out as original anymore. There's nothing wrong with this book at all - the writing was done in a first person point of view - that of Aubrey - so the story had a natural flow and a conversational tone that helped to slip the reader into the story. It also gives the reader and inside look at what Aubrey's thinking, as well as her dreams, fears, emotions, and inner dialogue. The rest of the story line is pretty standard - again, I found nothing that stood out to me as unique - but it's an overall cute love story that fans of the genre will certainly enjoy. I do have to say that the book was very well written for being the author's debut. The characters were well done with natural dialogue and an easy flow to the narrative. The reader is pulled into the story from the beginning due to the author's use of vivid imagery and detailed descriptions - which makes it easy for any reader to close their eyes and see themselves inside Aubrey's world along with her and her friends. This is definitely a wonderful debut novel and I'll be watching the author for what she comes out with next. Hopefully it will be a bit more original and will showcase her writing ability in a better way.

Alexis Bass grew up in Washington, went to college in Arizona, and spent her early twenties in Seattle. She currently lives in Northern California with Dylan McKay, her gorgeous and rambunctious golden retriever. She loves good fashion and good TV as much as a good book, and is a huge advocate of the three C’s: coffee, chocolate, and cheese. LOVE AND OTHER THEORIES is her first novel.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website: http://alexisbassbooks.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7264073.Alexis_Bass

Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexisbasswrite

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/alexisbasswrites

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/alexisbass/

Tumblr: http://alexisbasswrites.tumblr.com

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