A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

     About the book: Every April, when the wind blows from the sea and mingles with the scent of lilacs, Landon Carter remembers his last year at Beaufort High. It was 1958, and Landon had already dated a girl or two. He even swore that he had once been in love. Certainly the last person in town he thought he'd fall for was Jamie Sullivan, the daughter of the town's Baptist minister. 
     A quiet girl who always carried a Bible with her schoolbooks, Jamie seemed content living in a world apart from the other teens. She took care of her widowed father, rescued hurt animals, and helped out at the local orphanage. No boy had ever asked her out. Landon would never have dreamed of it. 
     Then a twist of fate made Jamie his partner for the homecoming dance, and Landon Carter's life would never be the same. Being with Jamie would show him the depths of the human heart and lead him to a decision so stunning it would send him irrevocably on the road to manhood...

     Quote of the Book: "You have to promise that you won't fall in love with me." -Jamie Sullivan.

     My thoughts and opinion: I made a mistake. I read this book without having a box of tissues by my side. As always, Nicholas Sparks amazes me with another tearjerker. I had to admit that the beginning was a slow one, but I kept on reading and boy, am I glad I did. The whole story was very touching and the unique characters were wonderful in their own way. 
     Landon Carter didn't impress me at first because of his dislike toward theatre. (I love drama and acting and plays.) Also his attitude toward Jamie was, to be honest, rude and a sweet, kind girl like Jamie didn't deserve such treatment. However, because of the Christmas play (which I loved!) I started to like Landon much more. There are things I admire about him like how hard he tried to be a gentleman and what he did for the orphanage. So then, Landon became one of my favorite characters especially in the middle and towards the end.
     Jamie was instantly my favorite because she's truly a good person and she really taught Landon (and me) how to live life, and forgive and forget. I thought Jamie was a really inspirational character and one that I'll never forget. I really loved her and Landon together and I loved how much they've been through together. Their love is so powerful that it doesn't die. 
     I'm pretty sure that I did not dislike any characters. I mean maybe there were some negative emotions toward one or two characters, but I thought the characters were too minor to even remember. I even grew fond of Mr. Hegbert, Jamie's dad because although he may seem like a grumpy, old man, he's really just a very caring father who loves his only daughter. 
     Overall, I loved this book and its characters. The world could really use a Jamie Sullivan or two. I cried, I laughed, and I smiled. There is no doubt that this book is definitely one to remember.

Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

     About the book: There are two sides to every breakup.
     This is Jordan and Courtney, totally in love. Sure, they were an unlikely high school couple. But they clicked; it worked. They're even going to the same college, and driving cross-country together for orientation. 
     Then Jordan dumps Courtney--for a girl he met on the Internet.
     It's too late to change plans, so the road trip is on. Courtney's heartbroken, but figures she can tough it out for a few days. La la la--this is Courtney pretending not to care.
     But in a strange twist, Jordan cares. A lot.
     Turns out, he's got a secret or two that he's not telling Courtney. And it has everything to do with why they broke up, why they can't get back together, and how, in spite of it all, this couple is destined for each other.

     Quote of the Book: "Jordy, I had no idea you felt that way about me. I have to warn you, though. I happen to be in a very committed relationship." -Brain Joseph "B.J." Cartwright 

     My thoughts and opinion: Nothing like starting off a new month with a book review, right? Lauren Barnholdt amazes me again with this book so she is on my Favorite Authors list now. It's jealousy, love, hatred, and wit bound in a cool-looking book that has half of a car on the front and the other half on the back! 
     I enjoyed reading Courtney's point of view and then Jordan's point of view and vise versa. I'm actually glad the book is written that way or else I think I would have ended hating one of them and that would not be good. However, going back to how their relationship started and then returning to the present confused me a bit. It was a little tricky making the switch and there were a few times when I had to stop and think whether what I just read was the past or present. But readers (and I) would not get to see how Courtney and Jordan's relationship develop if it was just the present. 
     Okay, so now the lovely characters. Jordan surprised me because I thought he would be a total jerk, but he's a real gentleman and he's the only one for Courtney! Lloyd is a great friend, and it should stay that way. I love the way he cares for Courtney and worries about her like a true boyfriend should. It just shows that Court is Jordan's whole world. Yeah, cheesy, but I felt like that was the case.
     Courtney is... Well, she's a lot because she is stubborn and she runs away from anything she doesn't like. I can't blame her though, from her point of view, she didn't know anything; she didn't know the whole truth. Her anger and pain and heartbreak was right for her to feel, but I thought she should have listened and see things from Jordan's perspective. However, Courtney was really funny and I enjoyed reading her jealous moments and her made-up scenarios. 
     B.J. and Jocelyn are hilarious together; seriously, their bickering had me laughing for a long time. I thought they were great friends to Jordan and Courtney and a great couple. I liked how Jocelyn was such a good friend to Courtney and B.J. had Jordan's back. I sort of hoped for a double date somewhere in the book. 
     Overall, the book was a light and fun read and eat. It didn't disappoint and it was different from what I'm used to reading. In a good way. :-)