This is such a special book and if you’re doing Middle Grade March, you’re going to want to put this one on your list!
While reading this book, I infoThis is such a special book and if you’re doing Middle Grade March, you’re going to want to put this one on your list!
While reading this book, I informed my husband that I felt I was Stella and he was Cloe, because who doesn’t compare themselves to a dog and their husbands to an eleven year girl? ...more
Some books are just therapy. They’re the books you needed as a kid. They’re the books you need right now.
Giving Starfish five stars feels like a dissSome books are just therapy. They’re the books you needed as a kid. They’re the books you need right now.
Giving Starfish five stars feels like a disservice to the powerful piece of fiction that it is. Since I operate on a one to five star scale, I suppose I’m stuck, but this book deserves more than that. It is officially my favorite book of 2021 and is now standing alongside A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness as my favorite of all time.
In this middle grade novel written in free verse, I had the pleasure of getting to know Ellie, an eleven year old who loves to write and swim and who has been bullied for her weight for years. The fat shaming doesn’t just happen at school. In her own home, her only ally is her dad, and she is constantly made to feel ashamed for her size. She cannot even pick up healthy food without being criticized.
I related hardcore to this book. I won’t go into my personal details, but I will say that so much of what Ellie expressed made sense to me and conjured a lot of emotion.
Lisa Fipps writes with eloquence, while still capturing the voice of a young, insecure girl perfectly. Just about every short chapter made me pause to reflect or catch my breath. Ellie’s story is heartbreaking, but it’s also a story of personal growth and self-acceptance. We, as the readers, learn alongside Ellie about how our own words can hurt, along with how we can defend ourselves in healthy ways. It’s really amazing what Fipps managed to do with this novel and I really hope that she will grace the world with more of her work in the future.
I do believe that many children can find meaning in this story, but there are also adults who have never learned their own value. They can benefit from its beauty as well. While I’d like to believe that some bullies could read this and reconsider the impact of their words, I know that won’t likely be true for most of them. But if the rest of us stand firm in our right to take up space, maybe they won’t have as many words to fling at us.
There is no doubt that Lisa Fipps put her whole heart into this story. If you’ve ever been wounded by the cruelty of others, I know you’ll find pieces of your own heart reflected within these pages.
As a young child, Sean told a lie about his teacher, saying what he believed his mother wanted to hear, and that lie spiraled into something much biggAs a young child, Sean told a lie about his teacher, saying what he believed his mother wanted to hear, and that lie spiraled into something much bigger; something detrimental for the targeted teacher.
Thirty years later, Sean is a boy who no longer exists.
But Richard exists and Richard is a man who doesn’t want to remember his past. He doesn’t want to think about the consequences of his choice. But it doesn’t matter what Richard wants. Somebody else wants to make sure he never forgets.
Let’s talk about cute animals first - get that out of the way - because I don’t want you to hate me if I haven’t sufficiently warned you prior to getting you invested in a book that I thought was spectacular. Horror authors - they definitely know how to probe at their readers’ emotions - and I guess I understand why they do what they do sometimes. But I don’t like it. And I know a lot of you won’t like it. So, fair warning: This is a captivating story, but there are two brutally descriptive animal deaths in the book. It’s upsetting. Very, very upsetting.
Okay, so are you still with me? Are you ready to read about how much I loved this book? Good!
I, as a kid growing up in the eighties, with parents who considered Halloween and Friday the 13th to be excellent family movie options, was wholly unaware of the fact that there were other parents burning Cabbage Patch Kids and viewing marshmallows in kids’ cereals as anything other than sweet deliciousness. In short, I was oblivious to this thing called the Satanic Panic. I’d heard some rumors about The Smurfs, but that wasn’t until adulthood. I just… didn’t know.
Whisper Down the Lane weaves that concept into something more. The author creates a situation that involves both mass hysteria and the far-reaching consequences of a lie. In terms of horror, this is relatively tame, aside from the aforementioned animal deaths, but it does give the reader a lot of unsettling notions to consider.
I found this story to be fast-paced and meaningful, with undying relevance in its message. It’s very sad, too, when the impact of one fib is fully understood. The book ultimately challenges the reader with a question: Who is the actual monster of this story?
As long as you can stomach the animal scenes, you may find yourself enjoying this as much as I did. It embraced some of the psychological themes I love exploring and I fully believe that the positives outweigh everything else. This was a clever way to communicate a vital message about human vulnerability. We are often inclined to believe that we are not easily influenced and that may be one of the most dangerous beliefs that we possess.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my digital review copy. I also was fortunate to receive a physical ARC from a friend. All opinions are my own.
Whisper Down the Lane is available for preorder now and will be published on April 6, 2021....more
This will be the memoir that everyone is talking about in 2021.
Loss and grief are multifaceted things and, in this case, even more so. Vince Granata This will be the memoir that everyone is talking about in 2021.
Loss and grief are multifaceted things and, in this case, even more so. Vince Granata lost his mother in 2014. She was not the victim of her own disease, but the disease ravishing the mind of one of her children. Vince’s younger brother, suffering from unchecked schizophrenia, murdered their mother in their home one hot July day. In Everything is Fine, Vince shares the shock of this news, his memories of his brother and mother before the murder, and his convoluted path of grief and acceptance.
The details of the Granata family’s pain are difficult to read, but Vince conveys it all poetically. He is transparent in the thoughts he wrestled with throughout and shares a number of pertinent facts about the mental health system, with all of its shortcomings, and the disease that claimed his brother’s mind. It’s worth noting that he makes it clear that schizophrenia and violent crime are not quick to go hand in hand and he advocates for a better understanding of the illness, as a whole.
Knowing that a parent can fight so hard for her child’s mental health only to have it result in her murder is heartbreaking and terrifying. I don’t think there is an easy solution to such things or that anyone necessarily failed anyone else here. It seems everyone did the best they could with the tools at their disposal. That’s what makes it all the more tragic. We are all so limited in what we can give and push for, although the guilt of hindsight often cruelly suggests we could have done more.
Vince Granata’s writing flows beautifully. While tragedy guided him into this cathartic endeavor, it is clear he was born to be a writer. His ability to express himself this way shines through. He broke me several times as he aptly pulled me into the storm of his emotions. He broke me one final time as I read the last few lines of his acknowledgments. His love for his entire family was apparent, but his admiration of his mother and grace toward his struggling brother were, more than anything, the pulse of the narrative.
Although this was one of the most difficult books I’ve ever read, I could close it and walk away when it was over. It isn’t my devastating story; the thing I’m forced to breathe in and live with every day. The Granata family will never be able to choose the same. To read a book like this runs the risk of discomfort, but it also promises to nourish compassion and growth.
If my prediction in the beginning of this review is wrong - if this isn’t the memoir of the year - the reading community will be making a terrible mistake. You need to get to know Vince and his family. This is a story of anguish that needed to be told; a story we all need to better comprehend. ...more
Just when I thought I had my top five reads of 2020 well-established, A Crooked Tree came along and foiled all of my plans.
One evening, while drivingJust when I thought I had my top five reads of 2020 well-established, A Crooked Tree came along and foiled all of my plans.
One evening, while driving home, a tired single mother of five makes a rash decision that will have profound consequences: She forces her twelve year old daughter, Ellen, out of the car and tells her to walk home the rest of the way.
I adored this book. The emotions it conjured were powerful and the story had me fully intrigued from start to finish. Libby, who was fifteen when the incident occurred, narrates. Her voice, with all its worry, guilt, and sadness, felt overwhelmingly real. The observations she described grasped my heart and made it ache in raw, familiar ways. This is a deeply reflective novel. It’s haunting honesty examines the mess even the most pristine in appearance can be.
This book’s tone reminded me of Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger, another book I loved and struggled to put down. One defining difference between the two for me was that the ending in this didn’t feel rushed or overly explained. That had been my only disappointment with Krueger’s book (though still a favorite) and I was grateful to find A Crooked Tree satisfied all the way through.
Having seen a few misconceptions about this novel noted by other readers, I will warn that this is not a thriller. It is literary fiction with a hint of suspense. Some have also stated that it is a coming-of-age novel. It isn’t that either. We look only at the one summer of Libby’s life. I know how expectations can ruin one’s experience while reading and I want everyone to go in with the right ones. This book deserves no less.
A Crooked Tree is a mesmerizing and heart wrenching look at a broken family. I will be very disappointed if it doesn’t win or, at the very least, get nominated for an award in 2021. I’m sad that it’s a debut, as I’m craving more from Una Mannion and there’s no backlist for me to dive into. At the same time, I know I have so much to look forward to, for if a debut is this exceptional, whatever she brings us in the future will surely be magnificent.
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy. All opinions are my own....more
Happy Pub Day! Please read this amazing Phantom of the Opera inspired story! I need people to talk about it with!
“I am the Channe Opera House Ghost. Happy Pub Day! Please read this amazing Phantom of the Opera inspired story! I need people to talk about it with!
“I am the Channe Opera House Ghost. Bearer of nightmares. And just as worthy to walk under an open sky as anyone else.”
At birth, Isda was considered a monster. She was ruled unworthy of life because of her deformed face, an indicator that she was a gravoir, someone capable of manipulating people’s memories as they sang. But she was rescued from death, hidden away, and raised by Cyril, the owner of an opera house. While she must remain hidden in the shadows, she is well cared for and, in return, she uses her ability to keep Cyril in business. When a young man with an enchanting voice is hired on as the opera house’s janitor, Isda’s safe, secluded world welcomes a risky change and, with that, threats she’d never imagined.
I adored this book. It was imaginative, meaningful, and beautifully written, packed with drama, romance, horror and action. I was mesmerized by the story, so pulled in that I found myself audibly urging distressing scenes not to happen. (They didn’t listen!). There were moments that made my heart flutter with happiness mingled with moments that tore it apart.
One of my favorite explorations in books is the notion that the monster isn’t always as obvious as we think. Olson did a wonderful job embracing and illustrating that theme throughout the story. While this was rooted in fantasy, it says something honest and challenging about humanity and it does so in a heartbreaking way.
The chemistry between Emeric and Isda was magical. I truly appreciated the slow relationship building, which led to an authentic connection. I was completely in love with these characters, both separately and together.
I had not expected to feel this way about Sing Me Forgotten. I went in hoping for a fun read that might warrant four stars in the end. Instead, this will haunt my memory for a very long time and is, undoubtedly, at the peak of my mountain of favorites.
While the Phantom of the Opera influence exists, Sing Me Forgotten is seductively unique and compelling. It brings fragments of the original’s inspiration into the tale, but proves alluring in its own special way. If any aspect of this book appeals to you, I urge you to get your hands on a copy as soon as you are able!
I am immensely grateful to Inkyard Press and NetGalley for my digital review copy. All opinions are my own.
Sing Me Forgotten is available for preorder and will be published on March 9, 2021....more
For many, that belief of personal power to resist powerful situational and systemic forces is little more than a reassuring illusion of invulnerabilitFor many, that belief of personal power to resist powerful situational and systemic forces is little more than a reassuring illusion of invulnerability. Paradoxically, maintaining that illusion only serves to make one more vulnerable to manipulation by failing to be sufficiently vigilant against attempts of undesired influence subtly practiced on them.” -From The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil by Philip Zimbardo
If you’ve ever been the subject of a rumor, you know how hurtful that can be. You know that what is spread is often not true at all or it’s a manipulative contortion of the truth. You know that the pliable language is shaped into something uglier and uglier as it’s passed along. You know it changes how people view you and how they treat you. You know the irreversible damage that it does.
If you haven’t been there, Good Neighbors might seem like an incredible tale of gossip gone wrong, but not something that could really happen. Oh, but it could! I didn’t think these were despicable characters whom we rarely encounter. I have seen various shades of this behavior countless times. This is what I find so mesmerizing and terrifying in psychological horror: Fragments of reality prove that there can be horrific consequences for both the most innocuous and the most wicked decisions.
There is a thick line between speaking truth about a known villain and taking pleasure in smearing a reputation based on contorted hearsay. Sometimes the villains get away while the focus is put on an innocent. Sarah Langan gets that. She takes the frightening possibilities that bullies and gossips create and turns it into the ultimate nightmare for one family. The Goodreads synopsis compares this book to Shirley Jackson and I totally get that. Good Neighbors amplifies the unsettling effect of The Lottery. While Langan certainly presents the reader with an extreme outcome, it felt eerily plausible. We see too often how mob mentality can lead to sinister behavior and traumatic outcomes.
There are so many concepts going on in this story, not just the prominent ones of bullying, gossip, and mob mentality. Each theme leads to an action that ripples into the next action until it comes to a horrific climax. It’s brilliantly executed, with startling complexity, although it’s told in a digestible way. The sense of doom was palpable from start to finish and while most of the characters were unlikeable, I found a sense of comfort in seeing their maliciousness, as I’ve been the bully’s target more than once and there’s something validating in this psychological exploration of it all.
This book had me raging against adult responsibility and arguing with my need for sleep. I did not want to put it down. The propulsive narrative was terrifying and thought-provoking. I will not be surprised if Good Neighbors ends up on my top five favorites list for the year when 2021 comes to a close!
I received an ARC of this book free with my purchase at The Dog Eared Book. All opinions are my own. ...more
“What do I do when my very identity is being mocked by people who refuse to admit there’s a problem?”
Utterly compelling from start to finish, Dear Mar“What do I do when my very identity is being mocked by people who refuse to admit there’s a problem?”
Utterly compelling from start to finish, Dear Martin is the story of Justyce McAllister, a seventeen year old who, as a way to cope with a traumatic event and figure out how to handle racism effectively, begins writing journal type letters to Martin Luther King, Jr.
I could have easily devoured this book in one sitting, if my schedule allowed for that. As it is, I finished it in two days. It’s just so good.
As crucial discussions take place in the book, valid issues are effectively illustrated. And as events play out that mirror much of what we’ve seen again and again in our modern society, Dear Martin becomes a critical read for anyone who cares about social justice, can relate to the issues at hand, or simply wants a clearer understanding of what black people face in America.
I felt the tone of this book was completely on point. The teens sounded similar to my own young adult children and the issues they faced felt quite authentic.
The way the author laced the events together was brilliant and I really felt for Justyce and his best friend, Manny. It’s amazing how a story can tackle so many issues, all of which boil down to the same thing, and do it in a way that flows naturally. This book, both in its heartbreak and hope, felt very much like real life.
If I can get my non-reader son to read the other book I recommended to him, I might press my luck and recommend this one as well. I won’t get my hopes up but Nic Stone captured the voice of a teenage male so well and I really think this is something he could get into.
Truth be told, I’d buy a copy of this book for everyone I know, if my bank account could support that. I think it’s a must read but since I cried quite a bit while reading it, I recommend having tissues handy before you dive in.
I am really looking forward to the sequel, Dear Justyce, which comes out at the end of September!...more
Inspired by the true story of Ruben Van Assouw, a nine year old boy who, in 2010, was the sole survivor of a plane crash that killed 103 other people,Inspired by the true story of Ruben Van Assouw, a nine year old boy who, in 2010, was the sole survivor of a plane crash that killed 103 other people, Dear Edward is the coming-of-age tale of Edward Adler, whose fictional fate at age twelve matched that of young Ruben’s. Through this story, we see the impact of survivor’s guilt and the grip of trauma. But it’s not solely a tale of darkness and despair. There is no changing the tremendous loss but Edward is fortunate to have some good supports in his life and, slowly but surely, this book becomes a thing of beauty within the pain.
To say that I adored Dear Edward would be an understatement. Although I rarely reread books, this is something I would gladly digest a second time around.
I loved the fact that the author introduced us to some of the passengers and alternated between scenes on the plane prior the crash and Edward’s life in the aftermath. This was effective in building a level of suspense and in probing at the emotions. The passengers aren’t a bunch of nameless casualties in a story about the sole survivor. We know why they were on that plane. We know some of their thoughts, some of their hopes, and some of their regrets. It was a really powerful form of communication that made the fate of the flight even more heartbreaking.
Dear Edward gives you a lot to think about, in terms of human reasoning and post traumatic stress. Admittedly, these are topics I hungrily consume, which I’m sure made the book work especially well for me. It felt like the author truly understood her subject matter. These nuanced characters all felt wholly human to me.
Another thing that added weight to the impact for me was the author’s writing style. Generally, I am all for flowery language and creative metaphors. This book does not rely heavily on either of those things. It’s very straightforward storytelling, which made the emotion attached to it incredibly raw and real. I could really feel the depth of what was being conveyed and while my heart often cracked, I relished every second of it. This is what I want in a dramatic narrative and I was very satisfied by the reading experience.
Dear Edward is a sobering reminder that the tomorrow we hope for isn’t promised to us. It doesn’t tell us to wallow in hopelessness, though. It reminds us to live and love enough for today....more
*I just updated my rating on this book. I initially had it at 4.5 stars due to one minor criticism but, really, I still think of the unputdownable bea*I just updated my rating on this book. I initially had it at 4.5 stars due to one minor criticism but, really, I still think of the unputdownable beauty of this book since reading it in May and I think it really was a 5 star read for me.*
“Moonshine earned its name from spending its life concealed in the dark, and no one understands that fate more than I do.”
Shiner is the story of three women: Ruby, her best friend Ivy, and her daughter Wren. It is also the story of isolation, secrets, toxic beliefs, and, at its core, a miracle that crumbles into tragedy.
If ever a novel felt like poetry, it’s this one. I felt its power clench in the pit of my stomach, stealing my breath away. The words flowed beautifully and made me hungry for more.
The author laced the threads of this story together gracefully and tragically. This was one of the least predictable books I’ve ever read, with countless surprising developments along its winding path. I rarely find authentic page-turners outside of the world of thrillers but this was one of the exceptions.
I do wish that the relationship between Flynn and Ruby had been better developed. It was difficult to comprehend his devotion to her, other than an infatuated phase. There wasn’t enough depth for me to believe in his love and this is the one component that left me unsatisfied.
I think this book will be especially meaningful to those who’ve lived under the watchful eye of toxic religious beliefs or the oppressive views of dominant men. That’s not to say that others won’t enjoy it, as well, but it captures a sad acceptance and hopeless desire to escape that I believe will resonate with those who’ve experienced it firsthand. It’s a special story that will sit with me for a long time. I hope you’ll choose to experience it, too....more
“She looked back at the store. From a distance it didn’t seem menacing at all. It was just a big beige box made out of cheap materials plunked in a se“She looked back at the store. From a distance it didn’t seem menacing at all. It was just a big beige box made out of cheap materials plunked in a sea of asphalt. Everything else was smoke and mirrors, a programmed experience. It was easier to see this reality from the outside. It was easy to forget on the inside.”
I entered this read as objectively as possible. I was still riding on the high of my last Grady Hendrix book but I told myself to look at this realistically and to remember that not everything he writes will be absolutely amazing.
But maybe everything he writes is absolutely amazing. ...more
If I had a time machine, I’d go back and hand this book to 11 year old me. I’d promise her that she’d find comfort in it; That it would be the friend If I had a time machine, I’d go back and hand this book to 11 year old me. I’d promise her that she’d find comfort in it; That it would be the friend she was struggling to find.
This book offered enormous solace to me, though, even as an adult, both within the pain conveyed and the lessons learned. It’s such an honest story, taking you straight into the narrator’s aching heart as she confesses all of the pain she is grappling with after losing her grandmother and being bullied and ostracized at school when she develops a non-contagious but appearance changing skin condition called vitiligo. The story does not dilute the potency of these difficult emotions and I really appreciated that. It’s expressed simply and appropriately, since this is a children’s book, but it speaks well to the grownups who have endured similar things. And even though the focus is Emma’s experience, the author also creates a sense of empathy for the reader toward those around us, even when it seems like they don’t deserve it. I thought this narrative was powerful and emotionally provocative in so many ways.
I am undeniably grateful that the owner of The Dog Eared Book sang this book’s praises, as it hadn’t been on my radar and since it’s middle grade, I may have foolishly never given it a second glance. Now I want to give a copy to every person I love so they can feel it wrap its loving arms around them, just as it did for me. Don’t pass this one by. It’s a beautiful story. ...more
This story examines two timelines: Paul’s memories as a teen when a classmate, Charlie Crabtree, committed a brutal murder that claimed the life of onThis story examines two timelines: Paul’s memories as a teen when a classmate, Charlie Crabtree, committed a brutal murder that claimed the life of one of his friends and Paul in present day, returning to the cursed town to see his dying mother while discovering that the noteriety of Charlie’s actions has influenced horrific copycat crimes. It’s because Charlie had never been found and because of the groundwork he’d set that this eerie obsession has formed: Some people believed that Charlie had disappeared into a dream.
I remember the last time something in a story made my jaw actually drop and I have to tell you, it’s been a while. When, less than 40 pages into this one, I had that wonderful experience again, I felt confident that The Shadows was not going to disappoint me.
This jaw drop was not the only reaction this book provoked. Although I’ve encountered other stories that did something similar with one of the twists that North crafted in this book and although I’d even considered the possibility with this one, I was still surprised when I encountered it. The execution was so startlingly flawless that on page 250, when my suspicion was confirmed, I audibly gasped.
Initially the first person narrative felt rather emotionally distant. I did worry that this would not have the same sentimental depth that The Whisper Man possessed, which was one of the factors that made North’s debut stand out so much for me. By the end of The Shadows, I was crying. What I didn’t realize in the beginning was that the MC’s distance was quite intentional on the author’s part and as I got to know Paul better, I understood why. North is especially skilled at making the hurting hearts of his main characters feel achingly real.
The Shadows proved to be everything I had hoped it would be and more. It was suspenseful, creepy, brimming with surprises, and incredibly touching. I think it’s fair to say Alex North is a favorite author now and that I will auto-buy anything he writes in the future.
Please write more, Alex North. I need more books like The Shadows in my life....more
Five bright, shiny stars for this gloriously amusing piece of fiction!
Looking back at the books I’ve given 5 stars to so far this year, I see emotionFive bright, shiny stars for this gloriously amusing piece of fiction!
Looking back at the books I’ve given 5 stars to so far this year, I see emotionally provocative narratives, works that make you think, and poignant glimpses into people’s hearts. They’ve had value but they didn’t necessarily entertain. I really needed something that would help me escape while offering an engrossing story. This book, which has officially creeped onto my favorites of all time list, was the perfect read for me in every way.
That’s not suggest that it is all fluff with no depth. The author captures the beliefs of the setting and time period in a way that is distressing but, inevitably, empowering. The views of women and race are very clear. You won’t see overt feminist declarations but I think, as you approach the conclusion, you’ll be pleased with the result. Through humor and horror, Hendrix makes his point. He gives a weapon to an underestimated bunch.
The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires is a funny, imaginative, and gruesome story about housewives in the early nineties in southern suburbia who belong to a book club that fancies morbid true crime tales. When a handsome single man inserts himself into their lives (and their neighborhood), their husbands are quick to believe their imaginations are just running wild after one book club member convinces the others that the charming James Harris is not who he seems to be.
I found the book to be incredibly difficult to put down. Hendrix’s story reminded me of why I love to read. It brought me back to my younger years, when doing what I should do was set on the backburner for the sake of a good story. While I can’t afford to bump into book after book like this, it felt really good to be so affected by this one.
This is a smart and satisfying read that blends vampire lore into everyday life. I don’t think you need to be a part of Dracula’s fan club to sink your teeth into this one. I don’t regularly seek out vampire stories but this sounded so intriguing. I’m glad I gave it a chance! It certainly met and exceeded every expectation I had!
It looks like it’s time to add every book Grady Hendrix has written to my overflowing TBR pile! ...more
The Doll Factory is the story of Iris, a young artist whose dreams are stifled by the expectations of her gender and the social views of the historicaThe Doll Factory is the story of Iris, a young artist whose dreams are stifled by the expectations of her gender and the social views of the historical setting. She rebels against this throughout the story. Unfortunately, she also captures the eye of Silas, a taxidermist who sees his collection of stuffed creatures as his own form of beautiful art. He is drawn toward Iris and begins a frightening infatuation with her.
The story is built quite slowly although there is always a disturbing sense of doom. Although I wouldn’t say it completely took off after the first 100 pages, I began to better appreciate what the methodical storytelling offered to the atmosphere as I passed this point. Sometimes the scenic route is the only one worth taking.
It was interesting to see the presentation of three very different types of attraction in this book. MacNeal gives us a glimpse of lust, fully misunderstood in its longing, as well as a different, natural attraction based on relationship building. Lastly, she offers a profound look at obsession, an attraction that believes itself to be reciprocated and spews poison when it realizes it isn’t.
I thought the characterization of Silas was incredibly well done. His toxic infatuation, which began with seemingly benign fantasies and a deluded sense of connection, felt frighteningly authentic.
Character building was exceptional for Iris as well. I came to care about her. I wanted to keep her safe from Silas’s obsession. I worried about how this would all turn out for her.
This, for me, was an experience with good horror, one that doesn’t exist solely for jump scares or gruesome details. A story is built. There are characters to care about. These aren’t random people or the “jerks” of the story getting bumped off one by one. They were people I fell in love with who were just living their lives, oblivious to the fact that something dark and destructive was lurking in the shadows.
I can easily say that this is one of my top favorite reads of 2019. I was wholly immersed, emotionally invested and, as the novel came to a close, on the edge of my seat.
I think that The Doll Factory will appeal more to those who like slow gothic horrors with strong development and depth. But this is more than just a horror. It’s beautifully crafted love story, a poignant look at what the artist sees, and an exploration of human emotion and strength. I feel that it’s an exceptional piece of literature that deserves a place in the spotlight....more
Vanessa Wye - 15, away at boarding school, without friends, longing to be seen, completely vulnerable. Jacob Strane - 42, English teacher, child predaVanessa Wye - 15, away at boarding school, without friends, longing to be seen, completely vulnerable. Jacob Strane - 42, English teacher, child predator - he sees Vanessa. My Dark Vanessa goes back and forth between young Vanessa’s experiences with her English teacher and adult Vanessa coming to terms with the abuse after another student publicly shares her story about Jacob Strane.
I do not typically include trigger warnings in my reviews and while I definitely don’t want to deter people from reading this book, I think it’s important to have some awareness of the content before going in. As you might expect, the book details grooming, sexual manipulation, gaslighting, rape, and a number of heartbreaking trauma responses on Vanessa’s part, such as trauma bonding, denial of abuse, and dissociation.
I do not think that a single fiction book has felt realer to me than this one. Strane’s methodical manipulation is incredibly well-conveyed and deeply unsettling. He is a familiar monster, one who infiltrates society with ease and has tainted more lives than any of us will ever fully be able to grasp. Vanessa’s character brought me to tears again and again. The portrayal of this young victim and the hold that the abuse takes upon her entire life is a powerful depiction of a topic too infrequently explored.
While this may not perfectly reflect the author’s personal history, her experience and writing ability are immense gifts that allowed her to create a profoundly effective story. She has brought a critical perspective into the conversation and I cannot imagine this being an easy task to deliver on. Though the story is painful to digest, it is incredibly important.
I feel that My Dark Vanessa was one of the most remarkable, emotionally distressing, thought-provoking, and realistic pieces of fiction I’ve ever read. I will gladly welcome anything else Kate Elizabeth Russell pens into my life. ...more
“Choices are never easy. There are good and bad options, but the most dangerous is to not make any choice at all.”
A Heart So Fierce and Broken is the “Choices are never easy. There are good and bad options, but the most dangerous is to not make any choice at all.”
A Heart So Fierce and Broken is the next installment in the Cursebreakers series, which began with A Curse So Dark and Lonely. I won’t summarize the plot of this story. I have quickly learned that doing so constitutes as a spoiler for the first book. If you haven’t read ACSDAL yet, I definitely don’t want to ruin anything! I will just say that this is the continuation of a fantastic, imaginative Beauty and the Beast retelling and I’ve been incredibly excited about its release.
I want to note that I am not particularly into most fantasy plots. I don’t usually seek out anything with heavy romantic tones, although Beauty and the Beast retellings tend to be an exception. I shy away from series reads because I apparently have book commitment issues. And developing book crushes isn’t something I’ve been known to do. This series makes me question who I am as a person. On a more serious note, the fact that I find these books to be so compelling speaks volumes about how well done they are.
Although I loved ACSDAL, there was no guarantee that I’d feel similarly about this one. I am happy to say that it did not disappoint. It’s a page turning, heart tugging, exciting adventure. And it ended with a cliffhanger that has me eager to speed ahead to 2021 for the next book’s release.
Since I am sort of in love with Grey, I was elated that A Heart So Fierce and Broken centered around his perspective, along with another character we didn’t meet in the first book. If you are hardcore Rhen and Harper fans, this may serve as a disappointment. Their presence is minimal throughout the story. I do feel everything else the narrative offers makes it easy to accept that. I also suspect we’ll see a lot more of them in the next book. I cannot wait to see how Kemmerer brings all of this together!
I highly recommend this series, even if you, like me, aren’t generally drawn toward fantasy worlds. With a number of overlapping genres within the text, I do think these books offer something for everyone....more
First off, thank you Celadon Books for this advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
When this book arrived, I felt more excited than I’dFirst off, thank you Celadon Books for this advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
When this book arrived, I felt more excited than I’d felt about reading something in a long time. That excitement seemed equivalent to the nervousness I felt now that it was in my hands. What if it didn’t meet my expectations? What would I do then?
Oh, but it exceeded them.
I loved every single thing about this book. It had some creepy elements and they were so well-written that they actually served their intended purpose. I got chills. It included a complex mystery and a few twists that weren’t easy to figure out. There were family dynamics and drama that added powerful depth to the story. The writing flowed eloquently, the chapters were short, and the story was multi-faceted. In the end, I felt this was the perfect book to suit my tastes. I haven’t felt so completely hooked from start to finish in a long time.
The Whisper Man will be available on August 20, 2019 and I highly recommend checking it out sooner than later! I’m incredibly impressed with Alex North’s writing ability and creativity. I look forward to consuming everything he produces in the future. ...more
There are certain things that usually don’t appeal to me in books. This book contained all of those things.
But I loved this book.
As it turns out, whenThere are certain things that usually don’t appeal to me in books. This book contained all of those things.
But I loved this book.
As it turns out, when it’s done a certain way , I don’t mind romance, war, multiple first person narratives, love triangles and cliffhanger endings. I’ve also discovered that I don’t dislike fantasy as much as I once believed.
A Curse So Dark and Lonely is so well-written and I felt wholly immersed in the story’s magic. The romantic aspect wasn’t cheesy, rushed or overly sexual. The war components were interesting and had me on the edge of my seat. The first person perspectives were done with distinct voices. The love triangle was subtle and although I knew who I was supposed to be rooting for, I wasn’t completely enamored by him. If it were up to me to break the curse, I would have failed! And that cliffhanger… well, I will just say that I am very eager for the next book!
I love that the author used a young woman with cerebral palsy as the main character and made her so strong-willed and confident. I love that she wasn’t always sure of her decisions while out of her element and was humble enough to recognize that. I love the role she played in this beautiful story.
I also loved the two main male characters but I suppose saying much more than that will reveal a personal bias. I’ll just say that they were both admirable men.
I expected to enjoy this Beauty and the Beast retelling but I am still surprised by how much I adored it. Although it was close to 500 pages, the story moved quickly and was packed with so much depth and beauty. It is definitely another favorite for me in 2019. ...more
I have read a lot of books this year. Some have been five star reads for me. I’d say I have roughly ten top favorites for the year.
This one blew them I have read a lot of books this year. Some have been five star reads for me. I’d say I have roughly ten top favorites for the year.
This one blew them all out of the water.
Oh, this book. It is truly an amazing, poignantly crafted story.
Have I gushed too much?
Letters to the Lost is the story of Juliet, a teenage girl who leaves letters at her mother's grave, carrying on their tradition of writing each other while her mother was alive and traveling as a photojournalist. One day a teenage boy named Declan, while doing lawn work in the cemetery as part of his community service sentence, stumbles upon one of Juliet’s letters. He writes back. While this initially upsets her, they eventually begin writing each other regularly, both working through their own separate pain and loss.
This story was packed with so much depth and thought-provoking material. It reminds the reader that what we see on the surface or what we hear through the grapevine is not the final say as to who a person is. Kemmerer explores topics like abuse, attempted suicide, grief, and prejudice in sensitive, eye-opening ways.
And speaking of surfaces, this book appears to simply be a teen love story. It’s not. It’s a story of two hurting individuals learning more about themselves and the world around them while showing support to each other.
It was the story I really needed right now.
While this side note has nothing to do with the book’s quality, I was emotionally affected from the very beginning when it was revealed that Juliet’s mother died on May 25. It’s an odd coincidence, having that date selected for the story. I, too, as a teenager, lost my mother on May 25.
Letters to the Lost was a beautiful story that required time to pause, reflect, and wipe my leaking eyes. I am looking forward to continuing with Rev’s story, a side character in this book who gets his own tale told in More Than We Can Tell.
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