Friday 27 April 2012

Review + Giveaway: The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen

Genre: Contemporary YA
Publication Date: February 16, 2012
Format: Paperback
Source: Bought
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Buy: Amazon, Book Depository

Goodreads Summary:
Pretty in Pink meets Anna and the French Kiss in this charming romantic comedy

Ella is nearly invisible at the Willing School, and that's just fine by her. She's got her friends - the fabulous Frankie and their sweet cohort Sadie. She's got her art - and her idol, the unappreciated 19th-century painter Edward Willing. Still, it's hard being a nobody and having a crush on the biggest somebody in the school: Alex Bainbridge. Especially when he is your French tutor, and lessons have started becoming, well, certainly more interesting than French ever has been before. But can the invisible girl actually end up with a happily ever after with the golden boy, when no one even knows they're dating? And is Ella going to dare to be that girl?


My Opinion
Why I bought the book: The "Anna and the French Kiss" in the summary shown on Goodreads + the cute cover. I've totally enjoyed reading Anna and the French Kiss and that line in the summary caught my attention. Totally.

This book is about Fiorella Marino (Ella) is a girl who's obsessed with Edward Willing, a 19th century artist, and enjoys her solidarity talk with him alone. (Talk about weird) She's also writing on him for her thesis. In addition, she's at the bottom of the social heap in school and nobody pay much attention to her. Not until she picked up Alex Bainbridge's textbook and tried to return to him and incidentally received a whack by the back of the chair he was sitting on. (Ouch) Ella has a group of 2 very close friends Sadie and Frankie and they always play a game of truth or dare. (Ella always choose truth by the way). She said that it was the way of asking about one another and show concern. (It's fun to read some of the truths and dares they did). Ella's French tutor assigned a French "tutor" for her since her grades are dropping. Guess who it is? ;) Oh! And Ella has a scar that she is really self-conscious of and she was kinda given a nickname for it... (talk about bad nicknames...) So, how will thinks work out between all of them in school?

Perhaps it was just cause it was said that there's an element of Anna and the French Kiss in it, that I have some sort of expectation for this book. It wasn't as good as I thought it would be. However, The Fine Art of Truth or Dare is an enjoyable comedy read. I've enjoyed reading Ella's French coaching session and the interaction between Ella and you-guess-who. I also love reading the close friendship bond between Ella, Sadie and Frankie. Friends stick together through thick and thin and forgive each other. That's true friendship. What got me a raised brow was Ella's chit-chat session with Edward. Well, imagine talking to a dead person... Overall, I've enjoyed reading Ella's thoughts and emotions and she struggled through her thesis and her crushes (note the plural).

This book is for those who enjoy a contemporary read with an artsy feel to it. :)

Quotes
- Truth (according to Edward Willing): People who rely on first sight are either lazy or deluded.

- I wondered what adjectives were sliding through his mind while his parents looked at him expectantly. This is Ella. She's, um...well, weird, a social misfit, intrusive at best, and potentially stalker-psychotic.

- “sometimes no matter how many eyelashes or dandelion seeds you blow, no matter how much of your heart you tear out and slap on your sleeve, it just ain't gonna happen.”

More about the author:
- http://www.melissajensen.com/
http://www.twitter.com/meljens
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Melissa-Jensen/213465748691349

A chance to win a copy:
- Giveaway is international.
- GFC Follow not required but much appreciated. ;)
- Winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond with mailing address before the winning draw is forfeited and a new winner will be chosen.
- Winner will receive my read copy of the book.
- Please do not leave your email or personal details in the comments section. Please use the rafflecopter form to enter the draw.
- Giveaway will end on 5/12. (See the countdown on the form)
- Kindly note that the book will take 6-10 weeks to arrive (I'm using the much cheaper shipping option) but I'll add a tracking option so the package can be tracked.
- Good luck!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

36 comments:

  1. Thanks for the giveaway! Really want to read this! :D

    ReplyDelete
  2. This book looks adorable! Can't wait to read it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you for the giveaway! :)
    I've been lookin for this book for a while :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity! New Follower!

    I entered as Lucy D. :)

    moonlightgleam(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you for this great giveaway:)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you for the amazing giveaway!:D

    ReplyDelete
  7. This looks like such an adorable book.

    :).

    ReplyDelete
  8. This book sounds fun and charm, I will love to win this. Thanks for giveaway and making international:)

    ReplyDelete
  9. thank's for great giveaway :D

    ReplyDelete
  10. This book looks adorable. I've been wanting to read some more non-paranormal books so this one shall have to go on the to-read list :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank you SO MUCH for this giveaway. <3 I desperately want to read this one! EEEK. <3

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Michelle!!!

    I can't believe that Im finally following your blog! lol im sorry it took so long!!

    Thank you so much for the fantastic giveaway!

    Brianne

    ReplyDelete
  14. I so wanna read this book....
    I hope I could win...
    Thanks for the giveaway

    ReplyDelete
  15. Enjoyed your review! This one has been catching my eye lately! Thanks for the chance to win it!

    ReplyDelete
  16. If it's anything like Anna and the French Kiss I will love it. :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. These quotes are amazing. It's my type for sure! :D Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Just want to let all of you dear blog followers know that I'm reading all your comments. Thanks for participating. Good luck! <3

    ReplyDelete
  19. That review got my attention..
    Can't wait to read such an adorable book!
    Thanks for the giveaway! :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. I've read great comments on this book, I'd love to read it!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thanks for the giveaway! Sorry to hear that your expectations of the book weren't completely met. I think a lot of people felt that way, since it was compared to Anna. Well, at least it was still an enjoyable one!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Would love to win this book!!

    Thanks for the international giveaway!!

    Rafflecopter name - Rosemarie D

    ReplyDelete
  23. I am an art major (so I am hoping the book will put all that stuff I memorized from art history textbooks to good use)..and anything that is compared to Anna and the French Kiss, I want to check out~
    Thanks for the giveaway!

    Lilian @ A Novel Toybox

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I need to read this book soon! Anyway..awesome review Michelle! <3 Thank you so much for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Wonderful giveaway! Thanks!

    Malvina Beatrice

    ReplyDelete
  27. I loved Anna and the French Kiss too :D So the reference to it caught my eye as well :)
    Great review :) I am following you now :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thanks for the giveaway, this book looks really fun and cute!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Great review, Michelle! So much thanks for the chance to win. :D

    ReplyDelete
  30. Thanx forthe fab giveaway! Great home down here in Aus for the book. Great review!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I also think that the cover looks cute. :D
    I want to try reading this book. Great review! :)

    Thanks for the giveaway! :)

    - Noely Jeleen

    ReplyDelete
  32. Awesome review, Michelle! :) It was definitely the ANNA comparison that jumped out at me too and it's still a big reason I'm interested in the book. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Sonia

    ReplyDelete
  33. Thanks for doing the giveaway!

    <3

    ReplyDelete