Change of Plans- Dylan Newton; 3/5
Saturday, September 30, 2023
September Wrap-up
Change of Plans- Dylan Newton; 3/5
Thursday, September 28, 2023
September OwlCrate Review
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Mini Thoughts
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Pub Date: 9-26-23 Adult - Contemporary |
I'm not the biggest fan of holiday romances, so I liked how subtle this was. It still is very much a holiday rom-com, but it wasn't over-the-top. There were a lot of aspects of this I enjoyed. I liked how while it was comedic at times, Schade also dealt with heavy topics, such as grief and family dynamics. I liked how Chelsea and Andrew weren't afraid to challenge one another. I also love a romance that includes adorable pups, and this one felt very Hallmark-y. Unfortunately, I did have some issues with the writing and story itself. There were times it felt like we were missing chunks of backstory. Chelsea and Andrew have known each other for years and have a history, and while we get little bits of that, I never felt like I had the whole picture. That applies to Chelsea and her friends as well. It was a whole lot of telling and not showing. It made it hard for me to connect fully to these characters. I still liked it and thought it was cute, but I wanted more.
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Pub Date: 9-26-23 YA - Mystery |
I love a good heist story, so I was excited to pick this up. I loved the idea of a bunch of master thieves who are all barely out of their teens going up against each other. They all have such different personalities and ways they go about things. Some are more cut-throat, while others have a more nuanced flair. I liked following Ross and thought she was intelligent and cunning. It was fun seeing how her mind worked and how she went about all the heists. I did have a few issues with this, though. One was the romantic aspect between Ross and Devroe. It felt so unnecessary. The other was that the ending went a bit off the rails. It was like a whiplash of betrayal and plot twists. Aside from that, I did find it entertaining, and the ending leaves it open for potentially more books, which I may pick up. If you're looking for a fast-paced story, I recommend checking it out.
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Pub Date: 11-5-13 YA - Mystery |
The Naturals- Jennifer Lynn Barnes: Seventeen-year-old Cassie Hobbes has a knack for reading people. She can tell the tiniest details about a person just by looking at them. Cassie has never put much stock into her ability and never thought it would catch the FBI's notice. Cassie gets recruited into the Naturals program, a classified group of teens with talents like hers. The point of the Naturals program is to help the FBI solve cold cases, but soon, Cassie finds herself the target of a deranged serial killer. Can Cassie and her new friends uncover the killer before it's too late?
If you were to look up the definition of "page-turner," you would see a picture of this book. It's so fast-paced and addictive that I read it in only a few hours. I kept seeing it referred to as a YA version of Criminal Minds, and that hits the nail on the head. I loved how everyone in the Naturals program has a different ability that makes them indispensable, and it was fun seeing them work together (although I wouldn't be able to stand Lia for more than five minutes). Was this a perfect book? No. You have to suspend your disbelief a bit. I also didn't love how this is another series by Barnes that sets up a love triangle between our main character and one guy who is silent and broody and one who is carefree and sarcastic. Other than that, I thought this was so entertaining, and I'll be picking up the next book ASAP.
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Mini Thoughts
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Pub Date: 3-7-23 Adult - Contemporary |
I was looking forward to this one, and it was meh. I love witchy stories, so I thought the premise was fun, but the writing style didn't work for me. There were so many moments (especially in the steamier scenes) that were too cringy for my tastes. I also felt that the characters read way younger than they were supposed to be. I did like watching Mariel stand up to her terrible family and the magical town. Other than that, nothing particularly stood out to me. The romance between her and Oz was okay but didn't wow me. The plot was predictable and felt more insta-lovey than fake dating. I may have enjoyed this more had I read it physically because the narrator's voice was grating, but I found it all underwhelming.
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Pub Date: 2-28-23 Adult - Fantasy |
I was craving a pirate adventure, and this delivered. It had so many tropes I love, like getting the band back together and found family. I also liked the world-building and lore. There was a supernatural aspect that I wasn't expecting but enjoyed, and I'm interested to see how that'll develop more in the coming books. The characters were also well-written, and I loved the tight-knit unit they created. I liked all the banter between them. My issue with this was the pacing. It felt pretty slow, so it never captured my full attention. The action did ramp up towards the end, which I appreciated. I felt the book, as a whole, was average, but I'm still intrigued enough to pick up the next one.
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Pub Date: 4-11-23 Adult - Contemporary |
I knew within the first few pages of this book that I would love it. I've enjoyed Jimenez's previous books, but this one felt as if it was on another level. I adored the relationship between Briana and Jacob. Their friendship felt so authentic, and I loved how it developed naturally into something more. I could connect with them in different ways, but especially Jacob. There were so many moments where his experience with anxiety mirrored mine to a T. I also loved how supportive Briana was in those moments and how safe she made him feel. It dealt with some tough topics, but Jimenez handled them with her signature wit, so it never felt too heavy. I didn't love the miscommunication between Briana and Jacob and how Briana handled some bits at the end, but overall, I loved this.
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
A Study in Drowning Review
Hello, all!
Rejoice, all dark academia fans! Your new favorite book, A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid, is finally here. Big thanks to the publisher for the early copy!
Pub Date: 9-19-23 YA - Fantasy |
Effy Sayre has been plagued by visions of the fearsome Fairy King ever since she was young. When Effy tried to confide in those around her about it, instead of believing her, they gave her pills to quiet her mind. Effy's only solace is in her tattered copy of Angharad by Emrys Myrddin. The story is about a brave mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King and destroys him. Angharad has been like a lifeline for Effy, so when the Myrddin estate announces a contest to redesign the family's manor, Effy jumps at the chance.
But when Effy arrives at the remote Hiraeth Manor, it's even more decrepit than expected. Effy's barely passing her architecture courses and knows this project is more than she can handle, but she refuses to give up. To Effy's annoyance, she also has to contend with Preston Héloury, a literature student determined to expose Myrddin as a fraud. The pair decide to work together, but the more they investigate, the more secrets they uncover.I've only read one other book by Reid that I thought was okay, but I couldn't pass this up. I loved how atmospheric this was. I could picture so clearly in my mind this crumbling estate perilously perched on a cliffside. It was eerie and cold and lived up to the Gothic description. I also enjoyed the characters. There are so many things about Effy that felt otherworldly but also relatable. She's one for the anxiety-ridden girlies; for those who overthink and second-guess everything. She and Preston have a little rivalry at the beginning, but it feels one-sided. I liked seeing their relationship blossom. I also thought Reid did a wonderful job tackling tough subjects such as mental health and sexism within academia. If you're looking for a dark, compelling read for the fall, I recommend checking it out.
Saturday, September 16, 2023
Library Haul
Thursday, September 14, 2023
Tress of the Emerald Sea Review
Hello, all!
2023 has been my Brandon Sanderson era, and none of his books have appealed to me more than Tress of the Emerald Sea.
Pub Date: 1-10-23 Adult - Fantasy |
Tress lives a simple life on her tiny island home, the Rock. She spends most of her time staring at the rolling spore seas, collecting cups from the sailors at the port, and sharing stories with her best friend, Charlie. Tress has always enjoyed her life and never longed for more until the day Charlie left. As the duke's son, Charlie is expected to marry to secure an advantageous alliance, but disaster strikes on their voyage, leaving Charlie at the mercy of a dangerous woman named the Sorceress.
Tress is determined to rescue Charlie, so she concocts a daring plan. With some help, Tress stows away on a ship leaving port and sets out on her quest. It doesn't take long before her plan goes belly-up, and Tress finds herself surrounded by pirates. Instead of cowering in fear, she uses this as an opportunity to learn everything she can about the world and the spores that dominate it to help in her rescue mission. Armed with knowledge and a few new friends, Tress is ready to face the Sorceress and take back what's hers.I was hesitant going into this because I've only just started reading the Cosmere, so I was worried things would go over my head. That wasn't the case. I'm sure there were some nods to other books that I may have missed, but the overall story stands on its own, and I adored every minute of it. It had such whimsy. I loved following Tress along on her quest. Her character development is so satisfying. She comes into her own by the end, and I loved watching her learn to stand her ground while not compromising who she is at her core. The secondary characters were fun, and I liked how they turned into a little family. If you're looking for a fanciful pirate adventure with The Princess Bride vibes, I recommend checking it out.
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Mini Thoughts
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Pub Date: 9-12-23 Adult - Contemporary |
What drew me to this was the cover. I loved the autumnal When Harry Met Sally NYC vibes. Then to find out this has enemies-to-friends-to-lovers? I was sold. Unfortunately, I thought the premise worked better than the execution. There was just something about Ari that irked me. Her personality wasn't my favorite, and I found her annoying. However, I did like the dynamic between her and Josh. I love bickering banter, and I thought Goldbeck did a good job with that. It was a quick read, and had some cute moments, but I don't think it's a new favorite.
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Pub Date: 6-20-23 YA - Horror |
You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight- Kalynn Bayron: Horror movie-obsessed, Charity Curtis has the best summer job: playing the "final girl" at Camp Mirror Lake. It isn't your ordinary summer camp but a fully immersive terror game where people pay to re-enact scenes from a classic slasher film. Charity and her friends are in the business of fear, and the more realistic, the better. But when some of Charity's co-workers start going missing, her role as the final girl starts feeling a bit too real. When they stumble upon the true history of Mirror Lake, Charity, and her girlfriend will have to outwit a killer if they hope to survive the night.
The premise of this book sounded like it was written just for me. A camp that re-enacts scenes from an old slasher movie only to then be tormented by a real slasher? Sign me up! The first half of this book had me in its grip. I was living for the Fear Street 1978 vibes. I liked Charity and her group of friends. The way they all handled what was going on felt authentic to how teens would act, and I liked how there was so much talk about horror movie rules. The moment they decided to split up, I knew stuff was about to go down. But that's where it lost me. The second half of this book was so out there. I could see what Bayron was trying to do, but it didn't work for me. It felt a little out of left field, and I wish this would've stayed as a classic slasher. It was a quick read with some suspenseful bits, but I didn't enjoy the ending.
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Pub Date: 3-14-23 YA - Historical Fiction |
Enter the Body- Joy McCullough: Everyone knows the tragic ends of Shakespeare's most famous females, Juliet, Ophelia, Cordelia, and Lavinia. But what if these girls could rewrite their histories? In a room below the stage where their stories first came to fruition, the four girls meet to form a support group of sorts. Each has been wronged by the ones closest to them, has had their bodies, minds, and souls broken beyond measure, and has decided that enough is enough. They decide to take back their narratives and show the world that a woman's story isn't defined by the words of a man but by her own.
Most of us can remember Shakespeare units in high school English class, and I think many would agree that the females in his plays often got the short end of the stick. I was intrigued to see how McCullough would spin their tales and give them a new voice. The concept was interesting, but the execution was lacking. The meshing of modern speech with verse kept taking me out of the story. There was also a lot of bickering between the characters, and it made them come off as catty instead of trying to empower one another. Also, the whole point was to give these girls a chance to reclaim their narratives, so I was hoping to hear Lavinia's story, but that wasn't the case. I felt like keeping her silent defeated the purpose of the story. That said, if you're a Shakespeare fan or enjoyed the musical Six or the book How to Be Eaten, then it's still worth the read.
Thursday, September 7, 2023
Currently...
Hello, all!
It's been an absolute age since I've done one of these, so this is long overdue. Let me know some of the things you've been loving lately!
Listening to:
Unreal Unearth- Hozier: Do you want to know something funny? In my mind, Hozier is some mythical being that has roamed the earth for centuries, so I was shocked to learn that I'm actually older than him. That has nothing to do with him putting out a great record, but it made me laugh. Some favorites are: "First Time," "Francesca," and "Unknown / Nth."
"bad idea right?"- Olivia Rodrigo: Man, if this isn't an earworm. I haven't stopped listening to it since it came out, and I'm excited for whenever her new album drops.
"You're Gonna Go Far"- Noah Kahan: I'll forever be amazed at Noah Kahan's ability to write lyrics that are so relatable while also having the ability to punch you right in the gut.
Watching:
*I'm not going to talk too much about these due to the writer's strike.
Ahsoka: I binged all of The Clone Wars and Rebels to prepare for this show, and I'm digging it so far.
Only Murders in the Building: I watched the first two seasons of this in one weekend. Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez are the trio I didn't know I needed.
Murder, She Wrote: Let's be honest, it was only a matter of time before I started watching this show and trying to live out my cozy mystery fantasies through Jessica Fletcher.
Misc.:
Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Polish in Metro Midnight: At first glance, the color reminded me of "Lavender Haze" by Taylor Swift, and then I saw the name and I had to buy it.
Black Pearl Bubble Tea: I've never really had boba or bubble tea before, but then I walked past this place in the mall and randomly decided to try it, and I'm obsessed. They have an Oreo boba with brown sugar pearls which tastes just like a cookies and cream milkshake that I think about at least once a week.
Good & Gather Dill pickle cashews: One thing about me is that I'm the pickle person of my friend group. Everyone knows to give me their pickles when we're out to eat because I love them so much. Another thing is that cashews are one of my favorite nuts. So I was pumped to find these babies at Target recently. They're so good and I have to stop myself from eating an entire bag in one sitting. If you're a pickle person, I definitely recommend it!
Tuesday, September 5, 2023
Mini Thoughts
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Pub Date: 9-5-23 YA - Mystery |
I love a murder mystery, so I was excited to check this one out. I loved the 1920s vibe; it felt so fun. I also thought the setting of the island worked nicely and added a level of tension and a feeling of isolation. I liked our main character Izzy and her friendship with Kassidy. They come from different worlds, but their friendship felt so genuine. One of my issues was that the extreme lavishness of these kids felt so absurd. I get that they're all stupid rich, except for Izzy, but even so, it felt like too much. Another thing was that I predicted a few of the reveals, but one caught me off guard. Other than that, I found this pretty entertaining.
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Pub Date: 9-5-23 YA - Fantasy |
I saw this compared to The Starless Sea and Caraval and was like, "Sign me up." I love a story that takes place in a magical environment, and an enchanted hotel seemed so fun. Unfortunately, it missed the mark for me. The writing felt more middle-grade than YA, which is fine, but Anna was supposed to be sixteen years old but read like she was twenty-six. It felt like the writing didn't match the characters, and the whole thing feel disjointed. I also saw some reviews mention that this is a reimagining of The Tempest, which I didn't know before going into it, but it makes sense with how the story played out. I thought the premise was enjoyable but was lacking in the execution.
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Pub Date: 8-22-23 YA - Fantasy |
Foxglove- Adalyn Grace: Everywhere Signa Farrow goes, Death follows. Since she was young, Signa has had the power to call upon Death, and as a reaper, one touch of her hands can take a person's life. When Signa's uncle is framed for the murder of a duke, Signa, once again, takes it upon herself to uncover the true culprit. But Fate has other plans. Death's brother is convinced that Signa is the reincarnation of past love and will do whatever it takes to make her his. Signa and her cousin Blythe believe they can get to the bottom of everything without Fate's meddling, and the more time they spend around him, the more they realize how dangerous he is. But when Signa starts experiencing new powers tied to Fate's past, she can't help but play right into his game.
Much like the first book, I found this to be just okay. The atmosphere and ambiance are unmatched, and I enjoy the characters, but the plot is too slow. I get that's par for the course with more Gothic-leaning stories, but I get so bored. It could've been a hundred pages shorter and still told the same thing. I did like the addition of Blythe's POV. She was always underestimated, or written off by other characters as weak, but she's pretty cunning, and I'm excited to see more of her story. My favorite part of this series is the relationship between Signa and Death. It's just *chefs kiss*. While this didn't blow my mind, it's a fun series, and I'm interested to see how the next book will play out.