November 9

 

November 9'th is a date that Falon wishes she could forget. November 9'th is the date when her life changed forever. Badly scarred from a house fire, Falon could no longer work as an actress. Her dreams were literally ripped from her grasp overnight. On the day before she moves to New York City to try and create a new life for herself, she meets Ben, an aspiring writer who doesn't look away from her deformed face. They spend the entire day together, and for the first time, November 9'th isn't so horrible. Together they come up with a plan. They are going to meet on the same day, every year, and Ben is going to write their story, a love story. However, can it truly be a love story if Ben has been lying to Falon all along for the sake of his book? Only time will tell.

November 9, by Colleen Hoover, is told from Falon and Ben's perspectives on alternating chapters. It's a story of a girl who learned not only how to survive, but to thrive. It's a story about a boy who feels lost and haunted, who meets a girl he never expected to love. The plot line was intriguing to me, but I wasn't immediately hooked. I had to find out how it ended though, and I am glad that I didn't give up on it, because it had one of the greatest plot twists! It was seriously so unexpected my mouth literally hung open. I would recommend this book just for that reason alone. If you like adult romance novels, then you'll like this book. Steamy romances have never really been my thing, but this one wasn't terrible, it was actually pretty good. 

The Circus Train

 Theo Papadopoulos is one of the greatest illusionists in the world, and the biggest act in the World of Wonder's circus. His daughter however, has never quite found her place on the circus train as they travel through Europe. Lena had polio when she was a child, and because of it, she has lost all movement from the waist down. In a world full of theatrical artists, Lena feels like an inconvenience. When Lena finds a thief in the kitchens, she not only discovers a new friend, but a strength within herself that she never knew she had. However, the new boy is Jewish, and if the Nazi's discover that fact, all of their lives could be in danger. 

    'The Circus Train', by Amita Parikh, is the story of war, hope, family, friendship, and the survival instinct that every human being carries within themselves. Set during WWII, it shows a different perspective of the war that you may have never seen before. The character development is fantastic. The writing is eloquent. The plot is addictive.