anabel_unker's Reviews (1.16k)

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

Libby Weeks is losing her mind. Along with her house keys, the password to her computer and email, and, during one particularly bad episode, her beloved dog. Recently diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's, she's consumed by two things: finishing the book series and then killing herself... if only she could remember to do either of those things consistently. 

Also known as F. T. Goldhero, the secret writer to the infamous "The Falling Children" book series, beloved by children for the story and by adults for the mystery behind the authorship; Libby still has to deliver on the last book but she can't seem to figure out how to get the children out of the forest. So, in a desperate bid to try to save her life-long companions, Libby reaches out to avid fan Peanut Bixton for help. 

In Blue Sky, CO, Peanut is an eleven-year old super-fan of "The Falling Children" and is willing to whatever it takes to help finish the series. If that means lying to her older sister? No problem. Breaking into the creepy house down the road? Sure thing. Bribing her older brother into taking care of Libby while she tried to figure out how to end the story? Done. However, as Peanut gets more and more caught up in the secret of F. T. Goldhero her own life starts to fall apart.

.

This book has so much potential. In an unusual move, I loved Libby as an unreliable narrator-- there was so much care and thought put into the depiction of a degrading mind, and Libby's narration was an example of fantastic, and thoughtful, writing. And while Peanut wasn't my favorite voice, she was a faithful recreation of how we all think and feel at eleven years old: everything feels too big, too raw, and too important for anyone else to understand what's going on.

My biggest issue was the ending; Booth has done a brilliant job of weaving Libby, Peanut, and the story of the Falling Children into a confusing tapestry-- the edges of reality and pretend blurred and bled into one another, and I was never 100% certain what was real or what Libby's mind had created (but in an interesting way).

I was desperate, especially after the conversation between Libby and Peanut in the hospital, for Peanut to be Libby. For Libby's mind to have created this beautiful story of a blended and complex family, a new love, and a place she belongs, to help her create and cope with the end of her book series and, indeed, her life. But, no. Alas. Peanut is given credit for Libby's writing, which is convenient since Peanut's own life so closely mirrors the Falling Children's (which is just such a big coincidence I can't help but retroactively roll my eyes). Booth had an opportunity to do something mind-melding, but instead took the easy ending out.

I wanted to love this book, while I read it I enjoyed this book, and by the end I was just disappointed.

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

When Laurel Everett finds an engagement ring hidden in the back of her long-term boyfriend's underwear drawer she feels... panicked. Which is, decidedly, not how you're supposed to feel when getting ready to start the next chapter with a person you want to spend the rest of your life with.

Right?

So what if they're wrong for each other?

Unexpectedly, Laurel is given the chance to explore that particular what if; specifically the moment she chose Ollie over her coworker, Drew. As part of her tech company's latest development into quantum physics, a quantum computer can run a specific 'this or that' scenario-- tapping into another timeline to see how life would have played out. However, what Laurel doesn't expect is to be stuck between two realities: the world where she loves Ollie, and the one where she loves Drew. Randomly switching between the two worlds, Laurel gets increasingly desperate to just stay put; but the question is, which timeline does she choose?

This book earned a whole star just for creativity. The question 'what if' has haunted many of us, and a story based on the chance to see the alternative scenario played out was intriguing. However, as many people have already mentioned, the book gets bogged down with the technical physics and theoretical spiels-- especially since I didn't pick this book up to read sci-fi, I picked it up as a romance.

The main character, Laurel, was also a whole other issue. I just didn't like her. She was whiny, obtuse, and selfish; and in both timelines she managed to bog down her partner's life without ever reflecting on her own actions. And even at the end, when she had her realization that maybe< she was the problem, there wasn't a deep enough character shift-- she literally threw scraps of affection to her chosen partner who lapped it up and claimed everything was back on track. Laurel needed to end up alone, she needed to choose herself. 

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

Helen Davenport has been given a rare opportunity-- she has the chance to help design and create a brand new automobile with her older brother, John. However, the pair will only have one shot to win over their father's more conservative business-mind and Helen has just the idea to make their dreams a reality. While risky on numerous fronts, the chance to work with an up-and-coming racing star has her heart beating faster in more than one way...

Determined to not let her disappointment at the seeming cooling-off of her recent relationship, Olivia Davenport transforms herself into not only the perfect society lady, but suffragette who volunteers regularly at various community centers. Determined to fuel her passion for civil rights by her own merit, she may just find someone who supports <I>all</I> her dreams, old and new.

Amy-Rose Shepherd, under the wing of an influential member of upper society, has made a splash in New York with the launching of her hair-care line. Determined to return home and see her dream of a salon dedicated to serving textured hair become a reality, her quick rise to success may have some unsavory sorts sniffing around for any weakness she may have. However, the only soft spot she has is for her former employer's son-- a relationship doomed before it could even begin by the Davenport patriarch. Or was it?

Blissfully engaged and ready to start this next chapter of her life, Ruby Tremaine will no longer be fighting against the current as she waits to be swept off her feet by her loving and devoted fiancee. However, after the devastating loss of her father's mayoral campaign, cruel rumors begin to circulate about Ruby's propriety; causing Harrison's family to cool towards the happy couple.

Picking up right where the first book left off, MORE THAN THIS is a direct continuation of the drama, angst, and entanglements from the first book of this series (i.e. it's best to read this right after the first, because there's a lot of different characters to keep track of!). While this wasn't my favorite YA book of the year, I enjoyed the unique setting of turn-of-the-century Chicago and the starkly different main characters. 

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

Alright, time to be honest, I totally read this book for the cover. I mean, come on, it's gorgeous right? And any book set in Maine will always hit my soft spot just right, especially since it's set so close to Portland (and a few of my favorite spots were actually mentioned in the book, which was an unexpected and sweet surprise!). 

I think I would describe this book as an adult parent trap where the twins didn't meet each other until the death of one of the parents; there was a lot of sisterly tension, a lot of petty fights and hurt feelings, and, at the end of the day, a kind of familial love that can't easily be captured. I wasn't in love with either of the female protagonists (Lucy overplayed her "poor me" hand a little too often for my liking, and Vivian was a rude cheater), but I can also appreciate how flawed and well-developed they were as characters. Orenstein did a commendable job of crafting two women who felt very real, and whose stories felt genuine.