Review: Burning by Elana K. Arnold and Giveaway [US ONLY]

Title: Burning
Author: Elana K. Arnold
Published: 06/11//2013
Pages: 320
Acquired: Netgalley for Review: Thank you to Random House and Elana K. Arnold
Goodreads Rating: 3.65
My Rating: 4.5


Goodreads Synopsis: 
Ben: Having just graduated from high school, Ben is set to leave Gypsum, Nevada. It's good timing since the gypsum mine that is the lifeblood of the area is closing, shutting the whole town down with it. Ben is lucky: he's headed to San Diego, where he's got a track scholarship at the University of California. But his best friends, Pete and Hog Boy, don't have college to look forward to, so to make them happy, Ben goes with them to check out the hot chick parked on the side of Highway 447.  

Lala: She and her Gypsy family earn money by telling fortunes. Some customers choose Tarot cards; others have their palms read. The thousands of people attending the nearby Burning Man festival spend lots of cash--especially as Lala gives uncanny readings. But lately Lala's been questioning whether there might be more to life than her upcoming arranged marriage. And the day she reads Ben's cards is the day that everything changes for her. . . and for him.


My Review:
As the synopsis above shows, this story is told by the two protagonists. One is a recent high school graduate named Ben and the other is a Gypsy girl named Lala. Even though their worlds and views are as different than night and day, they are about at similar cross roads in life.

Ben has been given a a scholarship to attend UCSD. Even though this is dream come true instead of being excited for the new adventure that he will soon be facing, he is torn in two. Yes he will be attending a great university, but everyone around him who he loves. is facing different circumstances. They live in a city with a population of less than 500. The sole occupation for many of these families was a Mine that recently closed and layed off all of there employees. With the town now bankrupt everyone must move, including this family and his best friends. 

Lala on the other hand, is the perfect Gypsy daughter. She lives and breathes by her cultures traditions and values. She is a good daughter, a good sister, and will soon be a good wife to a boy her father picked for her in an arranged marriage to her sister's husband's brother. Things however as not as they seem internally for Lala. She struggles with some of the her family's customs and with her 18th birthday around the corner and her wedding to Romeo she finds herself questioning some of her family's customs. 

Both of their worlds will collide when Ben's friends take him to get his fortune told at Lala's families camp. The second they both lock eyes on eachother there are sparks. Will Ben give up his scholarship to be with  Lala? Will Lala risk being disowned from her family for a chance to be with Ben? You have to read the book to find out!

Guys! I adored this book! The characters were so fresh and vivid and just flew from the page. This story was so refreshing and I really enjoyed learning more about the Gypsy world! I loved Lala's struggle between what she wanted and what her family wanted for her. Their individual stories and their story together was just amazing! 

And that ending!!!! 

So many emotions rolled up into one! I am not sure if there will be a follow up but I sure DO hope so! This is definitely another great summer read!

Shortly after being approved for the book on Netgally I was contacted by the publicist who offered an ARC for me to give out to one of you! As this is coming from publisher and not me this giveaway will be US only! So go ahead and enter guys! Giveaway ends on the release date.

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