The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer: Book Review

Novel: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Release Date: September 27th, 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Format: ARC

Source: Borrowed

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong.

Willa's Rambles:

   Somehow I never got around to reviewing this book, even though I read it in... September, maybe? Anyways, here I am, after I realized that I never reviewed one of my favorite books!

   Mara Dyer was a character I immediately fell in love with. I loved her sense of humor and her confidence. The mystery surrounding the night of the accident kept me interested, and definitely explained a lot of questions I had later in the book. Mara was just as confused as the rest of us - she wanted to believe the officials, but as parts of that night start coming back from the depths of her forgotten memories, she can't ignore the fact that something more happened - and she doesn't know if she wants to figure out the truth. It's a feeling a lot of people deal with: knowing they have to learn more, but not knowing if they want to. And for Mara it means the difference between sanity and normalcy, so everything is at stake.
   Noah Shaw was the perfect boy character for Mara! He supported her, matched her sense of humor with an equal one, and kept her searching for the truth, even when she thought nothing was there. He was a bit or a bad boy, which entertained us all, but fought for Mara's reputation and defended her when he done that to no other girl. He made her special.
   I loved the suspense or Mara Dyer, and how I kept on guessing every time I turned the page. Michelle Hodkin has written a fantastic story, and I can't wait for the second one!

2011: Looking Forward and Looking Back

2011 has been a fantastic year for Willa's Ramblings and the year is about to be over. I've learned so much about the book industry, and I've gained skills that will benefit me for the rest of my life. Somehow, the year has flown by and so many things have happened for this blog! I'll give you a timeline, starting in January of 2011, and ending in December of 2011.


January, 2011
My second semester of school starts and I'm reading, like always, constantly. No blog at this time.

February, 2011
Mint Tea and a Good Book starts, and I find out about it later in the month. I begin to think about blogging about writing.

March, 2011
I launch Willa's Ramblings with a dandelion background, and make my first posts. Meredith checks it out and makes me a blog design - the dog signature and girl with curly hair. I think about blogging about books, and decide to wait a little.

April, 2011
All seven of the posts were about writing, and I hit 478 views. I find out about reviewing for BookPeople, and I get accepted to the program, and book blogging is decided to be part of the blog.

May, 2011
I start reviewing, and the blog becomes a book blog! I also do my first contest.

June, 2011
Blogging becomes serious! I drop writing, and go to my first book event. My first giveaway, of The Last Little Blue Envelope.

July, 2011
Hit 50 followers!

August, 2011
I read Anna and the French Kiss! And, at least in my opinion, started to get good at blogging. There is a difference - my style was changing, reviews became better, and I began to fall in love with my blog.

September, 2011
I participated in the Banned Books Week Hop, and gained a lot of readership. Also, I read Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick, now one of my favorite dystopian novels. Also, I updated my blog design.

October, 2011
Austin Teen Book Festival! I had been waiting for this since May, and I was part of the Teen Press Corps, which gave me the inside scoop on everything. Fantastic experience! Check out my wrap-up post here!

November, 2011
Thanksgiving, where I gave thanks for all the amazing people in my life! Love you all! Also, NaNoWriMo, where I created the story I am now writing, and fell in love with it.

December, 2011
The now month. I participated in the Wrapping Up 2011 Readathon, reread tons of my favorite YA books, and realized I had learned so much.

Now, on to the future.
My New Year's Resolutions:

1. Finish my novel. Easier said than done.
2. Go to BEA! I can't wait to meet all of these amazing people I've only tweeted with and exchange emails with.
3. MY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY! This isn't really a resolution, but it's big. 
4. Keep on blogging. It has changed my life and everything I know about the publishing industry.

Have a happy New Year's Eve!

Wrapping Up 2011 Readathon!

Hey Everybody!
Have you been reading up a storm over the past few days? Are you participating in Wrapping Up 2011 Readathon hosted by Jessie from Remarkable Reads? If not, there's still time. Not much, but some. Go do it!

Jess is a friend of mine, and I volunteered to be a stop on the trail and host a giveaway! So here I am!

Today I'm giving away one of my favorite YA sequels of the year, Supernaturally by Kiersten White! I absolutely adored the book, and the series, and you can check out my review of Supernaturally here.

THE GIVEAWAY:

TGIF: First and Last {19}

First & Last: What was the first book you read in 2011 and the last you finished in 2011? How do you feel about these books? Would you recommend them to other readers?


The first book I read in 2011 (according to Goodreads, which may or may not be accurate) was Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick. I loved this book, and I loved the series! I still need to read Silence....


The last - or most recent (I still have ONE more day to read and finish a book!) was Mockingjay. This book is one of my favorites, and I posted a review of sorts on the whole series, which you can view here. The entire series has become a part of who I am, and I highly suggest the entire series to any reader. The live up to everything you have ever heard about the series! I promise!


Happy Friday, and Happy 2012!

What did you think about our TGIF? It's from the amazing G-Reads done by Ginger! Check it out!