YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

Ambrose Young was beautiful. He was tall and muscular, with hair that touched his shoulders and eyes that burned right through you. The kind of beautiful that graced the covers of romance novels, and Fern Taylor would know. She'd been reading them since she was thirteen. But maybe because he was so beautiful he was never someone Fern thought she could have...until he wasn't beautiful anymore.
Making Faces is the story of a small town where five young men go off to war, and only one comes back. It is the story of loss. Collective loss, individual loss, loss of beauty, loss of life, loss of identity. It is the tale of one girl's love for a broken boy, and a wounded warrior's love for an unremarkable girl. This is a story of friendship that overcomes heartache, heroism that defies the common definitions, and a modern tale of Beauty and the Beast, where we discover that there is a little beauty and a little beast in all of us.


Everybody keeps posting raving reviews about this one. Can't wait to check it out myself.

*waves* Hey Rachmi!

*waves* Hi, Jenna :D Thank you for making the thread. I can't wait to read it!

No problem. Have you read any other books by Amy Harmon? Somebody lent me A Different Blue and I'm gonna hopefully pick it up soon.

This will be my first Amy Harmon book, but I have A Different Blue. If Making Faces is good, I think I'm going to read it too and maybe we can buddy read it :)

Agreed, That will work, if we enjoy this one -- we'll pick up the other book too.

It's already afternoon November 1st here but I haven't started it yet. Going to read it tonight. How about you?

It's only been November 1st for a few hours here. I probably won't get to pick it up till later tonight either though. So I'll be a bit behind you.

That's okay. I think I'm going to slow down my reading this month :) Just take my time and enjoy it. I'm kind of nervous, though. This book have a very high rating!

Wish I had joined this Goodreads group earlier and found this buddy read...I finished this book last week and it probably is one of the best of the year! Enjoy!

@Rachmi -- sounds like a plan. And I'm nervous too! But so interested to see/meet these characters.

@Carolien--- I keep hearing that it's one of the best of the year. Makes me nervous, but excited. Have you read ? Same author. And we might buddy read that one not long after we finish this one. You should join! I hear it is really good too. And welcome to the group :)

No, I haven't read that one! Loved the writing style, so I keep that in mind!

By the way, I understand being nervous to dig into a book with raving comments, a book is usually different for everyone. But I think this one is really a gem so enjoy!

You can still join our discussion, Carolien, though you have read it. And yes, books with high rating make me nervous because sometimes I don't feel like moat readers feel :)


@ Jenna: It's 10:45 pm here and am so tired, looks like I won't read it tonight.

Rachmi --- that works out good though, cause I wanted to finish Sempre first anyway.

Yay, we can start it at the same time, then. How many % of Sempre are you now?

Close to 40%, I believe.

We can probably start tomorrow. I think you're about 12 or 13 hours ahead of me. :) kinda cool how books/goodreads brought us together.

Remember how I was in a slump? Lately all the books I am pick up/currently reading has been amazing. HP book, Vain, Outlander, now Sempre, & now this one is suppose to be good.

Also, maybe in a week or so we can buddy read Fangirl (if you have it). I just bought a copy the other day.

Oh, I was in slump too 3 weeks ago for about two weeks. I had ups and downs reading mood. I read a good book then then not so good book, and after that a so so book. It was kind of frustrated me.

I've read Vain, would you buddy read its sequel, Greed, with me? Yes, I have Fangirl and want to buddy read with you. Have you read Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R Ward? I want to read more series this month. I have a lot of series that needed to be finished :) And since Black Dagger Brotherhood has a lot of books, I'm going to read one book each month, at least.

I would absolutely love to buddy read Greed. I'll have to purchase it first. I don't know much about the Black Dagger Brotherhood. But it looks really interesting.So I could be up for that. I also need to read the Bloodlines series cause I loved VA

Great, just tell me when you ready to read it. I liked VA but haven't finished it yet. I need to read VA 5 & 6 before I read Bloodlines series.

Okay, I'm going to read a couple of chapters in Making Faces tonight. I wont get to far, but I do want to get started.

And the last books in VA are amazing. Or at least in my opinion. Really enjoyed that series.

I'm sorry haven't started it yet. There is family issue that I need to handle :( I don't have time and cannnot concentrate to read it. I will catch you up as soon as I can.

That's fine. I'll continue you on with Sempre. And we can start Making Faces later on. Hope all is well with and gets better with your family.

I'm starting it now, Jenna but will take it slow :)

20% I love the poem Fern wrote. It's beautiful, sad, and thoughtful.

40% There are more description from third person perspective than dialogue in this book but I like it so far.

55% I love Fern for always being honest and never pretend, Bailey for his awesomeness and especially his speech to Ambrose, and Ambrose for his vulnerability and willing to try again.

Just now getting up and fixing to go to class. I'll pick this book up tonight.,,unless I have an exam tomorrow. Which I don't think I do....

I'm liking it so far, Jenna. Can't wait to discuss it with you :)

Have a wonderful day! Isn't it amazing while you fixing yourself to go to school, I'm preparing myself to go to sleep :) because it's 01:39 am here!

Okay, I'm 6% in and can already tell this one is going to jerk my heartstrings. Glad that you are enjoying it so much! Have you finished it yet?

Also, it's super late here, so I'm guessing that you are already starting your day. Hope it is a good Tuesday!

It's a heartfelt book, Jenna. A bittersweet for me. But I finished it and loved it. Now I want to read Amy Harmon other books :)

I'm planning to pick this one up again later tonight. Had a big exam earlier today on the heart and circulatory system. Feel real good about it, but spent most of the last few days studying. Now...too have some relaxation and reading time.

Sounds like it was super moving. Glad you enjoyed it so much. Did you cry?

It sounds one hard exam, what do you learn, by the way? I mean it seems you want to become a doctor or any thing related to medical :)

I didn't cry but maybe it's because I'm not an easy crier. There aren't many books that can make me cry. But it has sad moments which really touching me and made me sad for the characters.

Yeah, something medical. Most likely nursing. Love learning about medicine.

I'm about 20% and I'm really enjoying the flow of the book so far. Though when I picked it up, I didn't realize how much the author was going to focus on the high school years. I guess i/ setting the stage.

Love Fern so far! She seems like a brilliant character, but with flaws.

And I can tell this is going to jerk my heart out. (view spoiler)[ he talked his friends into signing up? So much guilt is going to be present when they die. A lot of emotions are going to be present when I get to that point. (hide spoiler)]

I thought that too, I mean I thought the author will spend more time in characters adult life than their high school years. I'm not complaining, though, since I enjoyed what she wrote :D

Fern is awesome and Bailey is adorable. I think in most of the scene I enjoyed reading about Bailey than Ambrose :) It was quite hard for me like Ambrose in high school but I liked him more in his adult life. What do you think of Fern & Ambrose love letter? Isn't it sweet? I loved it. And yes, there will be so much guilt feeling from Ambrose. Kind of break my heart too :)

Guess what...I aced the exam! Yay *does dance*! I not wild about high school Ambrose, but interested in what the adult version. Love Bailey too! (view spoiler)[ Just read the dance scene where Rita sat in his lap, and they slow danced. Thought it was sweet, glad she wasn't mean to him. (hide spoiler)]

I did like their love letters. I like how it started... Like alone or lost? Amd then they would discuss it.

And this between Bailey and Fern = perfect

“Do you think there's any way someone like Ambrose could fall in love with someone like me?” Fern caught Bailey's gaze in the mirror again, knowing he would understand. “Only if he's lucky.”

That's why in some cases I love Bailey more than Ambrose, he's perfect. And yes, Bailey and Fern relationship is perfect. They are like belong to each other, right? I wish I have a cousin with a heart like Bailey :)

Have you read Fern's poem? the one with "If God makes all our faces..." Gosh, how I love it.

And congrats for your exam, you deserve to do a happy dance :D

I just read it not long ago. And highlighted it in my kindle. Interesting poem for sure!

I'm really enjoying this book, and the writing and the flow is perfect for my own preferences. It also helps that I love Fern and Bailey.

We surely need to highlighted it because I did it too in my eReader :D

This book "deeper" and meaningful more than I thought before. There are so much I can think about after I read it.

I'm a bad excuses for a reading buddy. Sorry that I'm so far behind. I'll catch up soon. How are you doing? What are you currently reading?

No worries, Jenna. We can still discuss and talk about it even long after I read it. I think it's one of the meaning of buddy read :)

I just finished , haven't decided what book I want to read next but maybe another series. I want to read as much series as I can since I've started a lot of series but haven't finished it yet :D

Okay good. I really need to work on finishing series too. That's why I'm going to read Ceaseless and Sometimes It Lasts. And hopefully also Onyx.

There is so many books that I hope to read before the end of the year.
How's the black dagger brotherhood books? Are you enjoying them? Should I pick them up eventually?

I've read all of 5 books of the Lux series (including its novella) but never read Existence trilogy. I guess I won't start new series soon :D I forgot about Sometimes It Lasts! It's good you mentioned it :) Would you buddy read it with me maybe before the end of the year?

I loved and enjoyed Black Dagger Brotherhood so far, though they are quite different from traditional vampire. I think you should give it a try with book 1, Dark Lover and see it from there :)

I have only read the first in the Lux series. And yeah, try the first one in the Existence trilogy and see if you enjoy it. If you like other Glines books -- then it's along the same lines of those.

I'd love to buddy read Sometimes It Last with you. Maybe around the 18th or 19th? Maybe. See how things go.

I would love to buddy read Sometimes It Last on November 18th. Should I make the thread?

I think Existence trilogy is more paranormal than contemporary, right? I only read See Breeze series and it's kinda repetitive in each sequels for me. I don't think I want to read her other series soon :)

Sure! Make us a thread :)

Yeah, it is very paranormal. But she does have a very familiar writing style.
I love Sea Breeze, but didn't care for the Fallen Too Far series. But some people love Fallen Too Far. Also, the Vincent Boys series is pretty good.

Also, I'm about 42% into Making Faces now.

(view spoiler)[Love Fern's persistence with writing on the white board. It takes a lot of guts. And Ambrose's answers so far are pretty sad. (hide spoiler)]

Agree, it's one of reasons I love Fern. She's so persistence and knows what she wants.

Most of my friends love Fallen Too Far series more than Sea Breeze but I'm just like you, I didn't care for it. That's why I haven't read it yet, though I have it :D