{Review} Streamline by Jennifer Lane

Streamline by Jennifer Lane
Goodreads - Twitter - Website
Format: Paperback, 460 pages
Published March 27th 2012 by Omnific Publishing

Seems like Leo Scott has it all: looks, brains, and athletic talent. He's captain of his high school swim team with a bright future in college and beyond. But Leo has secrets. His mother's crippling car accident has devastated his family and left Leo to deal with his father's abuse, battered and alone.
Leo's girlfriend Audrey Rose is poised for her own share of success. As one of Florida's top high school swimmers, Audrey dreams of college swimming stardom. But there's an obstacle to her glorious rise to the top. Her number-one supporter -- her father -- is in prison for murder.
Part murder mystery, part tale of young love in a military family, this gripping story takes readers on a journey from Pensacola to Annapolis. Leo and Audrey must band together to rise above the adversity they encounter and find their true selves in the process. When everything's on the line... streamline.

Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Drug abuse, Mental and physical abuse, Teen sex

I'm not even sure where to begin with this one. Streamline is such a heart tugging, sweet story with a bit of mystery.  Leo is a great kid but he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. He's constantly worried about his family and his girlfriend. There's this great need in him to fix things for everyone. It's hard to see him go through some of the stuff he does. Especially with his father.  Audrey is a sweet and supportive girlfriend. She definitely has way more stress in her life than a teenager should. Between worrying about Leo and her own family, plus her swimming career, phew it's a lot. Even though the story is about Leo and Audrey both, I feel like he is really the 'star' and that's ok with me. I don't normally connect with a teenage boy when I'm reading but I did with Leo. Streamline is not an easy read. When I say that the reason is because there is physical, mental, and drug abuse, teen pregnancy, suicide. It's a lot to take in and I had to read it in starts and stops until I made it to the middle of the book. At that point things started moving so fast I didn't want to stop. I had to know what would happen next. If I had to say there was one thing I didn't like about Streamline it would that at the end of the book I'd have liked a look at everyone in the future. But really, that is such a small thing in the grand scheme of things. Streamline hit all of my 'feels' and I loved every word of it. 
Just as a side note, it's on sale for $2.99 for kindle right now. I'm not sure how long it will last!
Purchase: Amazon - B&N

{Book Review} Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Publication Date: April 22nd 2014
Publisher: by Broadway Books
Author Twitter - Author GoodReads

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?

What. In. The. World. This book!!!!! I've read so many comments about how messed up it is and how the ending is ridiculous. I've had a million theories as I've read. I've thought about it constantly. It's shocked me left and right. It's made me never want to get married. Ever.  There were parts where I guessed what was happening, other bits that blew me out of the water. The writing was fantastic. I felt everything these characters felt. Kudos to the author.  The only complaint is the way it ended because now I'm just trying to figure out what happens next.  I'm giving it five stars because I feel like I can't go any lower. When a book messes with your head this much it deserves the top rating. Good gracious.  Yeah, never getting married.
These are my personal observations and thoughts regarding this book. Any and all books blogged about here are paid for with my personal money unless otherwise specified within the review. If you have questions please feel free to contact me.