Ann Aguirre

"Sage has learned to substitute causes for relationships, and it's working just fine. . . until Shane Cavendish strolls into her math class. He's a little antisocial, a lot beautiful, and everything she never knew she always wanted"--

The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things

Megan Williams

The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things. So many things that made this book great and just a tad bit awkward. One of the things I loved was the idea that someone could trick everyone around them. Now this sounds bad, but when put to use in this book its pretty amazing. Now by trick, I don't mean they hid a dark side of themselves, I just mean that everyone thought they knew exactly who Sage was, only to find out she isn't the perfect princess she portrays. The awkward part of the book was more in the telling of the book or the way the perspective is. I don't know, it was almost stilted but still worked with the characters - or I might be imagining things ;). The characters got cheesy at times as did the plot but I think this read was pretty okay over all. 

Sage was a really strong female character that people perceived as weak. I have to say that I really admire who she was created to be. She was the posted princess that everyone misinterpreted and kind of made fun of. It was almost comical to see how she only saw the smallest impact she had on her classmates only to find out later just how important she has become to those at her school. Sage was so determined to pull of this front without showing weakness. She was determined to fit into this "perfect" identity that was constantly challenged by herself and Shane.There's not many characters in today's literature that are so giving. It was easy to fall into these characters and get caught up in their world. 

Shane was a character to fall in love with. He was so above all the other kids at the high school that he really didn't seem to belong. He almost came off as older than he was supposed to be, and this got kind of confusing every once in a while. Yet he was still admirable and I thought his relationship with Sage was adorable. This book really focused on how these two teens were given the worst and were trying to make the best of the situation. I enjoyed their romance as it fluctuated between light and airy and then more serious. 

Overall I have to say this book is worth the read. The characters are awkwardly cute and really compliment the overall theme of the book. While cheesy parts are assured it doesn't overtake the readability of the book.

ashley hopkins

Can I just say how much I absolutely adored this book. 

I continue to be amazed by Ann Aguirre's writing. I've enjoyed her Dystopian books, NA books, and now her contemporary book. ( I still have to read Mortal Danger, but I have faith.) I think in my heart of hearts I knew I would love The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things because it has the feels that her NA books have, but with a younger protag. :)

Sage definitely had a hard life growing up, but she tries her best 
to be positive and do everything she thinks is right so as not to upset her life now. We all know that sometimes life doesn't allow us to do that though, and we will eventually slip. When we do slip it is up to us to stay in control, and I think for the most part Sage did just that. At times Sage referred to Shadow Sage (which at times was annoying, but we later learn what she was meaning to tell us with that.) I love that even through the hardest of times she marched through it like a solider, and to me that's what makes a character memorable and real. I know had I been her I probably would have been broken and possibly not even fixed. (Yeah it's alright I'm a baby I admit it.) She looked beyond the exterior of people, and found good in them. I love that she didn't give up on Shane, or her best friends.

Speaking of Shane.....Can I just swoon for a moment...
........
......sighs......
........
Ok! I loved Shane from the get go, and to watch Sage and Shane come together and compliment each other like they did was great. Even when Shane didn't want "help" Sage was there.

I'll admit I became a bit of a nervous wreck at the end when stuff happened, but sometimes things have to happen. life's not all fairytales and rainbows.

Averi Hobbs

Okay so while I did enjoy this book quite a bit, it was really cheesy. But it was still really enjoyable, especially if you like the whole cheesy love story thing.

Cortnie

Lisa ✩ @lifeinlit

4.5 stars!

Sage is on a mission to make the world a better place. From volunteering to clean up the earth, to leaving encouraging post-it notes on others’ lockers simply to make them smile, Sage’s glass is always half full. Though her life is less than perfect, she uses all of her energy trying to see the world in better eyes, and make others enjoy life as well.

In walks Shane. Shane is new to the school, and would much rather walk the halls with his head held low, under the radar. Sage isn’t having it though. From his guitar talent to his humor, Sage wants Shane to know how important he is. This blossoms into a wonderful relationship, one that will have you swooning galore!

These characters! This story! Everything about it was love at first sight. I loved everything about this book. There was one scene in particular that had me wiping tears from my cheeks, but otherwise I was grinning with a heart full of happy.

“I don’t know how to be a boyfriend,” he warns me.
I cock a brow at him, smiling. “That’s too bad…since I have a PhD in girlfriendology from the University of So Many Feelings.”

After finishing I was left with such a content, wonderfully optimistic feeling. I’m actually a bit surprised at how much I enjoyed this story. I was expecting a cute contemporary… but I didn’t expect to be so impacted. I didn’t expect to fall for these characters like I did, and I didn’t realize this story would have me feeling so many emotions. I’ve been recommending this book like crazy, and I have zero plans to let up with that mission. READ THIS BOOK! :)

(Thanks to Feiwel & Friends for the review copy!)

Find this review and others like it at Lost in Literature!

Pamela Alvarado

I loved Sage's positivity and outlook on life. She has healthy beliefs and even though her past is scary and scarring as hell, I think it's amazing how she can find it in her to cheer up people who need it every day.

So we start off wonderfully, because the Post-It Princess is an intriguing concept and we're hooked right off the bat, waiting to know what's behind the happy exterior.

Shane and Sage were very sweet together, and the dynamics between their group of friends was awesome. It entailed a whole new level of relating to high-school life.

Ryan and Sage have been friends for a long time, and when for the first time, they fight, and Sage is quite hurt (with good reason), she goes through a stage where she feels lost, and... uncentered.

It's what happens when you go depending on someone so much, for so long. When that someone's gone; in this case Ryan, for Sage, she has to learn to do all these things on her own, and creating a new routine and way of living, that just doesn't include him anymore.

I like how even though the romance started a bit too fast, it slowed down enough to allow me to enjoy several things I could relate to, like feeling like a creeper when you've got a crush, and then wondering all the time what the hell is going through his head.

Also, non romance-related stuff, like how it's okay to be angry, and that sometimes you can't just bottle it up. And that doesn't make you a bad person.

It also doesn't make you a bad person to do bad things to people because of 'justified' reasons. It makes you a very, very misguided one.

A really great read that I enjoyed a lot! :3

Lauren Williams

Sofie

Sage Czinski is trying really hard to be perfect. If she manages it, people won't peer beyond the surface, or ask hard questions about her past. She's learned to substitute causes for relationships, and it's working just fine . . . until Shane Cavendish strolls into her math class. He's a little antisocial, a lot beautiful, and everything she never knew she always wanted. Shane Cavendish just wants to be left alone to play guitar and work on his music. He's got heartbreak and loneliness in his rearview mirror, and this new school represents his last chance. He doesn't expect to be happy; he only wants to graduate and move on. He never counted on a girl like Sage. But love doesn't mend all broken things, and sometimes life has to fall apart before it can be put back together again. . . .

The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things

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