When Mercy's brother Gary shows up at her house incoherent and affected by magic, Mercy and Adam head to Montana to see if they can break the 4 stars
When Mercy's brother Gary shows up at her house incoherent and affected by magic, Mercy and Adam head to Montana to see if they can break the spell. There they find themselves trapped in a resort in the midst of a snowstorm with other guests of the lodge. But not everything is as it seems and Mercy and Adam must find a magical artifact before even worse things begin to happen.
Let me start this with I am being very kind with my 4 star rating. Any other author or series I probably would have rated much lower, but I absolutely love this series and Mercy. But this book really was not up to the standards of the other books in this series. It was very disjointed with bad pacing and took me a very long time to read. But it's like pizza, even when it's bad, it's good. And I'll always welcome more of these characters and this world into my life. I just hope the next installment in the series is more plot forward than this book. This book felt a lot like a side quest.
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley. This did not affect my opinions, thoughts, rating, review. ...more
I was very excited about this book when I heard about it: marriage of convenience, didn't actually get divorced, have to pretend to really 3.5 stars
I was very excited about this book when I heard about it: marriage of convenience, didn't actually get divorced, have to pretend to really be married, only one bed? It had all the markings of a book I would usually love. And I enjoyed it for the most part, but we ended up with a Succession like family story and that's where this fell a little bit flat for me.
I really loved the parts with Anna and West falling in love. But if you're going to dive in hard with toxic familial relationships I need a bit more closure on that in the end, more than what we got in this book. I liked this book, but felt pacing and story were a bit off. But Christina and Lauren always write a good time so I'm still glad I read this one. More glad I checked it out from my local library....more
Very cute YA romance, my favorite parts were both of the teens and their journey to discovering their self worth. I wasn't as interested i 3.5 stars
Very cute YA romance, my favorite parts were both of the teens and their journey to discovering their self worth. I wasn't as interested in their romance, but I think it's more of me aging out of loving YA books than the fault of the book itself....more
According to Goodreads I've read this book 4 times, but I for sure have read it more than that. Fangirl is a book that hits home for me, reading it isAccording to Goodreads I've read this book 4 times, but I for sure have read it more than that. Fangirl is a book that hits home for me, reading it is like being enveloped in a giant warm hug.
I jumped to get this 10th anniversary edition (even though I have 2 others ones plus the manga already) but why not have different copies of your favorite book?
Every time I read it I find a new little detail, but no matter how many times I read it, I love it every single time....more
I want to give this book a higher rating, I do. But it took me over a month to finish reading, had a massive info dump, and honestly... unp 3.5 stars
I want to give this book a higher rating, I do. But it took me over a month to finish reading, had a massive info dump, and honestly... unpopular opinion but this either could have been condensed or separated into two different books. I felt the first half was soooooo different from the second half, and that's fine. But it was a bit jarring for me to reconcile the two parts of the book in one if that makes any sense.
Iron Flame beings with Violet's second year at the Empyrean. With new challenges such as a new malicious commander, Xaden being gone, and having to lie to her friends, Violet is fighting hard to keep it all together. But Violet knows a big threat is coming and she will do whatever it takes to keep her loved ones safe.
This book was fairly slow the first 100 pages, was amazing from there to about 400 pages in and then kind of slowed down for me again. Not sure if it was me personally, or if the pacing of the book was off, but I found some parts riveting and others to be a bit boring. I do love all the characters, that's the strong point of the series for me. The dragons are the best and I loved a lot of the new characters introduced in this book as well.
While I didn't enjoy this book as much as Fourth Wing, it's still very good and I am hoping I won't forget everything by the time the third book comes out....more
A fast paced thriller about a man serving time in prison for the murder of his son. Except, he didn't in fact murder his son. When his sist 3.5 stars
A fast paced thriller about a man serving time in prison for the murder of his son. Except, he didn't in fact murder his son. When his sister in law shows up with photo evidence his child may be alive, a prison break is orchestrated and a race against time to the truth begins.
This book was so easy to read and the story sucks you in. Pacing was excellent and there was never really a dull moment. I did think a lot of the characters were more caricatures than realistically believable, and the story a bit melodramatic. I think this would play out as a great tv series. Not bad for my first Harlan Coben novel, his books seem like good airport/travel reads....more
After training to be a scribe her entire life, Violet must shift quickly as her commander mother orders her to enter the dragon riders. Viol 4 stars!
After training to be a scribe her entire life, Violet must shift quickly as her commander mother orders her to enter the dragon riders. Violet is physically weaker than all of her competition, but is incredibly smart and uses that to her advantage while training. But obstacles along the way are people who want to kill her based on her mother, and wingleader Xaden Riorson is among them.
I thought this was a really great fantasy romance novel. I think the reason it's a 4 star read for me and not a 5 is it's *whispers* a little bit overhyped, but still incredibly enjoyable. I didn't super love Violet's quirk when she's nervous to blurt out historical facts, it felt like lazy worldbuilding to me. But aside from that this was a great adult version of The Hunger Games/Ender's Game with dragons.
I liked how the author worked in her disability into the main character, it was explained so well and I felt like I got a good grasp of how it affected Violet without knowing much about it going into this book. The best part of this book for me was the relationships Violet established along her journey, not just the romance with Xaden but her friendships as well. Some of my most favorite things are spoilery, so I'll save them, but I will say I loved the dragons a lot too.
I say this without any shade, I feel like if fantasy is not your usual genre, you will enjoy this book a lot. So don't let the genre deter you. Lifelong high fantasy readers will also enjoy this change of pace to their beloved genre....more
Becky Albertalli is an auto-buy author for me, I absolutely adore her books.
Imogen, Obviously is about a high school senior who goes to vi 3.5 stars
Becky Albertalli is an auto-buy author for me, I absolutely adore her books.
Imogen, Obviously is about a high school senior who goes to visit her friend Lili at the college she will attend next year. There, she finds out Lili lied to her friend group and said she and Imogen used to date. Except Imogen is straight, but is she? After meeting Lili's friend Tessa, Imogen begins to question everything.
This rating was hard for me, because I understood how deeply personal this story was for the author. It rang true in every aspect of this group. For those who don't know (and this is very much an abbreviation) the author was criticized and bullied for being a straight woman writing queer books, until the author came out publicly as queer. And a lot of this shows in Imogen's story, with her constant questioning, being sure of her straight identity. Her friend Gretchen in the book seems to be the masses who criticize other queer experiences.
I think I didn't love this because I am a millennial grown woman and not a teenager, and this was a book meant for teens. I'm not the target demographic, and that's okay! I think also knowing the authors personal story behind this book took away from it a little bit because while reading, it wasn't about Imogen but about Becky. That's not at all the fault of the author or the story, but I mostly felt really sad and stressed reading what was happening to Imogen, knowing that many queer people experience this all the time. I'm very glad that Imogen got her HFN by the end (even if she needs to drop that troll Gretchen as a friend still).
I'm very happy this book exists and I think it will help so so many people. It just wasn't for me....more
Harriet and Wyn have been the perfect couple since college, engaged and on their way to happily ever after. At Emily Henry books are like a warm hug
Harriet and Wyn have been the perfect couple since college, engaged and on their way to happily ever after. At least, that’s what their friends think. In reality, they’ve been broken up for six months and haven’t told any of their friends or family yet. When the two of them are reunited on their annual trip with their friends, they must fake still being together again until they can figure out how to break the news to their friends.
I think Emily Henry has really grown as an author: I wasn’t the biggest fan of her book Beach Read, but I’ve loved all her books since. My favorite thing about her books is the attention she pays to her characters and their personal growth. In Happy Place especially, it was two people who loved each other, dearly, but who needed to overcome their personal issues first (even issues they didn’t already realize they had).
There is definitely less of a focus on romance in this book, but that really didn’t bother me. I loved seeing the pieces of the relationship, how it all fell apart and then Harriet and Wyn do their best to see how they fit together again. I felt the friends were a wee bit of an afterthought, at times their interactions felt too far spaced and at times random. But overall I loved it, devoured it. I had thought I could no longer read in print form (I usually only listen to audiobooks now) but this book proved that my brain could still devour a book and it made me really happy.
ebook ARC and finished hardcover provided by the publisher ...more
Piecing Me Together is the story of Jade, a black teenager who commutes every day to private school where she attends on scholarship. Feeling out of pPiecing Me Together is the story of Jade, a black teenager who commutes every day to private school where she attends on scholarship. Feeling out of place at school and sometimes at home, Jade feels conflicted a lot of the time and like she doesn't fit in. When Jade is nominated to be in the mentorship program Woman to Woman, she begins to learn about herself and those around her.
I really enjoy Renee Watson's books, she is one of my favorite writers in youth fiction. Her writing flows across the page and I feel the reader falls in love with her characters right away. I loved Jade as a heroine and seeing the world through her eyes. She's at a tough point in her life I feel many teens can relate to, and I love how in this book there were many people along the way that helped Jade (even though sometimes she had to set them straight first). Finding your voice was a big theme in this book and Watson delivered a powerful story. Absolutely fantastic....more
After a chemical spill that ruined a town, Addison sneaks back in to the quarantine zone to take pictures to support herself and her sister. But when After a chemical spill that ruined a town, Addison sneaks back in to the quarantine zone to take pictures to support herself and her sister. But when she gets a big offer to do more than that, things begin to get dangerous. I really enjoyed this graphic novel, I thought it was fast paced and unique. Loved all the mystery of the zone and what was happening with Addison's sister. I could see this being a really great television series....more
I am in a really bad slump so maybe this book was just a victim of that? But this lacked the magic of The Cruel Prince books. I found myself mostly coI am in a really bad slump so maybe this book was just a victim of that? But this lacked the magic of The Cruel Prince books. I found myself mostly confused by what was happening and feeling scattered. It lacked that compulsiveness I came to love from Black's other books....more
A great adaptation of a wonderful book, it was great to see this one brought to life in beautiful illustrations. I don't think it had as big of an impA great adaptation of a wonderful book, it was great to see this one brought to life in beautiful illustrations. I don't think it had as big of an impact on me as the original novel, hence 4 stars and not 5....more
A fast paced, sapphic, graphic novel about the new girl in town who is accepted by the popular girls. Only it doesn't take long until they reveal themA fast paced, sapphic, graphic novel about the new girl in town who is accepted by the popular girls. Only it doesn't take long until they reveal themselves to be werewolves and invite Becca to be part of their pack.
I thought this was a fun, quick read. A bit more violent than I usually enjoy, but the artwork was great and the story easy to follow along....more
A cute and quick read, it's the romance between a teen girl and a selkie living in the ocean by her town. The illustrations were really pretty and it A cute and quick read, it's the romance between a teen girl and a selkie living in the ocean by her town. The illustrations were really pretty and it was a fun story....more
“I wonder what it’s like to be with someone who can love you through your rage.”
Salahudin and Noor have been best friends since they are 5 stars
“I wonder what it’s like to be with someone who can love you through your rage.”
Salahudin and Noor have been best friends since they are little, though recently going through a rough patch in their friendship. But when Salahudin has a family tragedy, Noor is there for him as much as she can be. Sal is faced with running the family business while still in high school with an alcoholic father. Noor desperately wants to go to college and to escape her small town and the uncle she is indebted to.
“Rage can fuel you. But grief gnaws at you slow, a termite nibbling at your soul until you're a whisper of what you used to be.”
What a lovely, powerful book. I wasn’t a fan of this author’s fantasy series, but kept hearing great things about this book. On a whim I bought it from a local indie bookstore and absolutely loved it. It covers a lot of tough subjects and casts empathy on characters who are normally judged harshly. This book was so profound, so moving. While many things were hard to read, I found I couldn’t put the book down. You can tell this story was deeply personal to the author and you could feel she put her whole heart put into this book.
“I’ll survive this. I’ll live. But there’s a hole in me, never to be filled. Maybe that’s why people die of old age. Maybe we could live forever if we didn’t love so completely. But we do. And by the time old age comes, we’re filled with holes, so many that it’s too hard to breathe. So many that our insides aren’t even ours anymore. We’re just one big empty space, waiting to be filled by the darkness. Waiting to be free.” ...more
I didn't like the writing style and didn't care about any of the characters. I'm kind of shocked because so many people recommeDNF about 100 pages in.
I didn't like the writing style and didn't care about any of the characters. I'm kind of shocked because so many people recommended this book to me, but I simply didn't mesh with it. ...more
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