4.5/5 Stars

General Description: May Bird can see ghosts and everyone thinks she's a bit odd. She follows a strange calling to a lake that leads her to the Ever After. Turns out, May doesn't want to stay in the Ever After and wants to get home. With the help of her house ghost Pumpkin, can May Bird get to the capital city of the Ever After and discover a way home?

The good:
- The world is SO clever.
- You can't tell me you didn't instantly love Pumpkin and Somber Kitty. They are some of my favorite side characters of all time.
- The pacing was incredible to me, I couldn't put it down.
- The overall adventure and mystery were enthralling,

The loss of a half star:
- I thought reading a middle-grade book would be straightforward for me but the world-building and explanations of how everything works were a bit confusing at times where I had to go back and re-read for my own comprehension and it still didn't make sense.

Overall: If you're looking for an easier read with a fantastic world, cute characters, and a thrilling fantasy story, you'd enjoy May Bird.

Note: You definitely should not read this novella until you've read the rest of the books. It flashes back to some major spoilers in the series overall and I would just avoid it until you've read all four books.

3.5/5 stars

General Description: A coastal town in Maine is facing a situation where someone the Naturals rescued years ago may hurt themselves. Cassie and Lia head to Maine to speak with this person and discover a deeper mystery they don't have much time to solve. Can the Naturals, even when apart, solve the case?

The good:
- I did find the mystery clever, the call backs to past books were nice.
- The flashbacks were nice to see not just a focus on the mystery but on the lives of the naturals we love so much.
- This plot twist I could actually get behind.

The loss of a star and a half:
- This could have been a full length novel. I felt teased out of two main topics: first, the live of the original naturals and second, what these new naturals could look like. I just felt like this was a taster to see if the audience wanted more and I want more! It just didn't feel like enough, especially after not being fully satisfied with how the big mystery from the main series wrapped up.

Overall: If you've read the other four books and could be happy with that ending, maybe don't pick this up. It just felt like a giant tease I almost wish didn't exist but at the same time I wish was longer.

Note: this is the 4th in a series, I feel like any review you read will have some type of spoiler, even just reading the book description? Just keep that in mind!

General Description: We're finally coming down to solving the overarching mystery from the past 3 books: Cassie's mother's murder. Can Cassie finally gain some clarity on what happened to her mom and find peace, or did she just open a doorway to a situation no one thought she'd ever be in?

The good:
- Jennifer literally seems like a genius the way she planned out the entire mystery to span the 4 books, I was so impressed.
- Going back to the first mystery made the series wrap up nicely
- The side characters still own my entire heart
- this had some of the most heartpounding scenes of the entire series and I ate up every second of it.

The loss of a star:
- Surprisingly a different critique for this fourth book, but there is SO MUCH build-up to the final scenes in this series after 3 books, and to me it lasts like 3 pages. I felt that went too fast, I had too many questions and definitely wanted a longer monologue-type explanation putting all the pieces today. It just ended way too fast in my opinion.

Overall: if you're looking for criminal minds in book form, this is it. And if you've read books #1, #2, and #3, I don't see how you could stop now.

Note: this is the 3rd in a series, I feel like any review you read will have some type of spoiler, even just reading the book description? Just keep that in mind!

4.5/5 stars

General Description: Well, after two books, the adults at the FBI have given in to allowing the Naturals to work on active cases, and the first active case they are on takes place in Las Vegas, Sloane's hometown. Sloane feels like this case is for her to solve. The Naturals of course help her as it seems like a killer is escalating quickly, but will they all be able to catch this killer or will they slip through the Natural's fingers?

The good:
- The set up to book 4 in this book was fantastic.
- I LOVE SLOANE. She and Lia are my favorites and I was so happy to see her backstory in this book.
- The masterful numbers based mystery honestly blew my mind.
- The pacing, as always, was fast, dialogue snappy, and engaging the entire time.

The loss of a half star:
- There were less out there plot twists, but still that same kind of plot twist

Overall: if you're looking for criminal minds in book form, this is it. And if you've read books #1 and #2, definitely keep going.

Note: this is the 2nd in a series, I feel like any review you read will have some type of spoiler, even just reading the book description? Just keep that in mind!

General Description: There's a copycat on the loose. While the Naturals are not allowed on active cases, a copycat for Dean's father seems to be plaguing a nearby town. There's no choice but to get the Naturals back on an active case to try and stop more murders from occurring. The best way to do that? Putting Dean back in the lion's den with his father. Can Dean crack the case with the help of Cassie?

The good:
- I loved more of a focus on Dean's backstory. This is exactly what I wanted in the series to focus more on each Natural's background.
- Seeing the relationship between the longer term naturals and Cassie when it comes to Dean was a nice subplot.
- The adults in here just crack me up thinking they can control these above-average teens.
- The relationship explored between Dean and his dad was intense in the best way.

The loss of a star:
- Along the vein of my review of book #1, there are just plot twists where you don't see them coming in a bad way and that trend continued (and got worse) in this book.

Overall: if you're looking for criminal minds in book form, this is it. And if you're read book #1, definitely keep going.

4.5/5 stars

General Description: Cassie has a natural talent for reading people. However, some folks have taken notice of this skill. Cassie is recruited for what is supposed to be a group of teens who helps solve cold cases for the FBI. Cassie has a personal interest in the FBI because of her mother's unsolved murder, so she joins the trope and meets 4 other Naturals: Dean, Michael, Sloane, and Lia. When an active killer starts to send messages to Cassie, will she be able to help catch the killer or not make it out alive?

The good:
- The concept of teenage criminal minds was executed so well.
- The cast of characters in the Naturals are some of my favorites and I'm glad it's a series so we can hopefully delve into all of their lives
- The pacing is quick, dialogue snappy, and kept me engaged the entire time.
- I loved the suspense of the mystery.

The loss of a half star: This happened for The Inheritance Games too, but some plot twists in this book just kind of come out of no where or from one line? They just aren't my favorite twists.

Overall: If you like criminals minds, this should definitely be your next YA book series to pick up.

General Description: If you ended up being shipped by the entire internet, would you try to keep the internet hype going to benefit yourself? Zafri, a security guard at the college where Dani Brown works at and Zafir rescues Dani from a fire drill where she was trapped in an elevator. After a photo gets posted of the rescue, well, #DrRugBae starts to trend and Zafir's non-profit Tackle It is gaining attention and he begs Dani to follow along. Dani agrees and comes up with a plan to sleep with Zafir since she does not want a relationship. Will Dani and Zafir be able to keep real feelings out of their fake relationship?

ALL the goodies:
- This was my 3rd Talia Hibbert book and something in this book made it immaculate. Let's start the the premise. Both parties were clear getting into the fake dating situationship.
- While this was a book about social media, it was done in a way where the author assumed we'd understand social media, which made it easier to read.
- Dani's progression was beautiful.
- Looking into Zafir's anxiety, from a male perspective, was handled so well and I think made the book extremely refreshing.
- The side characters are excellent. I would take another book specifically with side characters in this universe.

Overall: You can read this book first and I truly believe if you like fake dating, this will be your book of the year.

General Description: Anatasia and Nathan both play on the ice at the same college. Anatasia is a figure skater and Nate is a hockey player. After a rink is destroyed, Anatasia and Nate have to share the rink, but do either really want to? Not really. However, will they end up sharing more than just a rink as they start to know each other?

The enjoyable parts:
- The second half of the book got a lot more serious which I actually liked seeing them tackle real issues.
- The pack of hockey guys are fantastic and I'm so glad we're staying in their world in the series.
- The ending was wrapped up very nicely for me.

The loss of 2 stars:
- I need a bit more of an emotional connection before going into spicy scene after spicy scene in a contemporary romance.
- I am not an enemy to lover girlie and I think it's weird trying to force that in a contemporary type of book? I feel like I'm more forgiving in a fantasy world setup or a dark romance setup than a contemporary one.

Overall: If you're looking to up the spicy in your reading, this isn't a terrible stepping stone.

3.5/5 Stars

General Description: Alexis is stuck in a ditch in the middle of nowhere, good thing Daniel is around to pull her out. After recently getting out of an emotionally abuse relationship, Alexis is grateful for the reprieve, but can't see it going anywhere serious. On the other hand, Daniel will do anything for Alexis. Will Alexis give in?

The good:
- The discussion around emotional abuse in this book were enlightening and I felt they were handled with grace.
- I really loved the town this was set it. I would want to visit there! The ending was wrapped up nicely as well.
- It was not as spicy of a read as I was expecting and I think that went well with the heavier conversations in this book.

The loss of a star and a half:
- I had issues with Alexis in the latter half of the book. Her decision-making becomes inconsistent to me and it was a bit concerning.
- The tropes (focusing on an age gap for example) were not for me.

Overall: If you're looking for a heavier topic-focused romance book, this could be your next read if you're into some tropes such as an age gap and rich vs poor.

General Description: Amber Patterson wants to be a somebody, so she decides she will be the next Mrs. Parrish. She befriends Daphne Parrish, but can she fully infiltrate the seemingly perfect family?

The redeeming stars:
- Tbh the ending was wrapped up nicely, which I do love in a standalone.
- The side characters (kids and adults) gave this book a little flare.

Why it lost 3 stars:
- The pacing was EXTREMELY slow.
- The twists did not land for me.
- Tropes in this book also did not land for me
- I felt like the book thought I would be stupid, the hints were a bit too obvious for me.

Overall: I think this isn't a terrible 1st thriller book, but if you've read more than 3 thrillers, I wouldn't recommend it.