Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is hiding a secret, she absolutely loves Christmas. She’s hidden it from her Jewish community and has even built a career as a Christmas romance novelist. However despite the love she writes about her chronic illness has kept her from trying to get it. But when her publisher insists she write a Hanukkah romance Rachel decides the best way to find her muse is to go to the Matzah Ball, a Jewish music celebration on the last night of Hanukkah. Too bad for her its being run buy her childhood first love and summer camp archenemy- Jacob Greenburg, the boy who tormented her and broke her heart. Jacob is a famous party planner, he’s rich, handsome, and has a lot of abandonment issues. On one hand he’s excited to see the girl who broke his heart again on the other he’s afraid to find out why she stood him up at the summer camp dance and ghosted him. Rachel needs a ticket to the ball and Jacob will only give her one if she does volunteer work for it, which means they’re going to be spending a lot of time together. While Jacob tries to win back the girl he’s in love with, Rachel can’t wait to get away from the boy who’s tormented her. Two people, one big misunderstanding, and secrets that could threaten to break up this new relationship. There were some major issues with the book.. such as comparing coming out to your family being as serious as admitting you like Christmas... seriously?? and then there was the joking about being an assassin for the IOF/Mossad is not funny, when the people she "killed" were most likely Palestinians... and then if we are talking about the romance in general, I just didn’t feel it working between these two people, and seriously Jacob??? You’re going to get mad at her over her book, after essentially hounding her, humiliating her, and then not even giving her time to explain? Overall, this one didn’t work for me.

Magic, space, and mayhem come together in this story about the bastard daughter of a queen who is falsely accused of killing her brother when he was actually abducted by a spaceship and is left to die... only she has come back alive and is now gifted with magic powers that let her taste and feel other people’s emotions. Sonara was left for dead 10 years ago but now she has become the Devil of the Deadlands, a thief with demon-like powers. She continues to search for her brother, doing whatever it takes to get her one step closer to bringing him home. When a job goes terribly wrong Sonara is forced to work with an ex lover, a princess, and a cleric in order to pay her debts but along the way she runs into another spaceship... exactly like the one that stole her brother and now she will kill and kidnap whoever is part of that crew in order to get him back. Things get out of hand when her own best friend is stolen and the member she kidnapped has a similar aura to her brother... he knows something but he won’t tell her. Then she finds herself in the middle of a much larger plot involving the doom of her planet. Sonara will have to uncover dark secrets, stop evil plots, and find a way to save the planet. definitely liked Sonara the best out of all the characters, she just felt so much better fleshed out compared to everyone else. Karr was the second POV we get to read from and okays the Wanderer with with Sonara’s brother’s aura on him. This was a surprising read for me, I definitely was not expecting the whole sci-fi space ship and alien travelers plots to play into this story about a bastard daughter turned thief on the hunt for her brother. Overall an okay read and definitely worth checking out for anyone who is a fan of sci-fi and fantasy stories since this is pretty interesting blend of both.

*Thanks Netgalley and Harper 360, HQ Young Adult for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Strangers on a Train meets Cruel Intentions in this story about two girls and the plan to commit murder for each other. Neve Lanier has always loved vintage film noir movies, she’s only ever had one friend and when that friend betrays her and makes her a social outcast Neve is left on unsteady ground. Her parents send her off to a girl’s empowerment camp to help her after the entire ordeal... but thats where trouble begins. There she meets Diane, a charismatic and beautiful girl who captures Neve’s attention... but is disliked by Neve’s roommate. Diane tells Neve about how she has a predatory step brother who harasses her and Neve tells Diane about her best friend Yasmin who betrayed her, they both joke about murdering each other’s bullies... except when Neve comes home from camp Yasmin has actually been murdered and now Diane wants Neve to fulfill her part of the bargain. Diane blackmails Neve into trying to murder her stepbrother or else Neve’s father will be framed for the murder of Yasmin. Neve will now have to try and find a way to get out of this and to see who she can trust. With Diane constantly watching her and more bodies dropping, Neve will have to see if she can figure out a way to prove Diane was behind everything before its too late... but did Diane commit this alone or is there someone else even more sinister behind this? This was a pretty interesting story and though the mystery was easy to solve I think people who like mysteries would enjoy this. I adore film noir and it was a fun element in the story!

*Thanks Netgalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide, Hyperion for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Ruin and renewal, two gods, a bargain, a family at stake, and possible romance all come together in this beautiful story. The story follows Merida of DunBroch, princess and protagonist of the movie Brave, except now she’s older and this all happens a few years after the movie. Merida finds herself between two gods, Feradach, a god of ruin and Cailleach, a god of creation. Merida must prove to the gods that she can change her family in a year or they will all be ruined. Now we will follow Merida through the four seasons as she travels to three different kingdoms to witness the good and bad and help her family change while also uncovering change within herself. We are given more insight into her family, especially her mother and father’s past as well as more characterization of her triplet brothers. I loved the whole “ruin and renewal” lesson of the book, how we sometimes need to destroy something to pave way for something new. Also the very soft romance that just leaves off on an unresolved note?? Please I need a second book or a bonus epilogue or something, you’ve completely shattered me with that unresolved ending Maggie Stiefvater. HONESTLY WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO DO NOW? I NEED ANSWERS SO BADLY. I did enjoy reading this book but that ending just kind of broke my heart. I want more, I would honestly love a sequel to go on with this story and get some resolution cuz oh god do I need it.

*Thank you Netgalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide, Disney Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

A deadly assassin finally meets her match in the one person she’s suppose to kill. Medusa was saved by Athena and has been working as her own personal assassin ever since. When Athena assigns her a new job: get rid of Odysseus’s mistress Calypso, Medusa already feels like it is wrong. Odysseus is married, he is the one who asked for the job, why should some poor woman who has done nothing be punished for this man’s scandal? With no choice but to do the job Medusa meets Calypso and finds that she just doesn’t have it in her to hurt her. What starts off as a ploy to escape from Medusa soon turns into something more as both Calypso and Medusa get to know each other. Will they be able to make it out unscathed? Who can they turn to? Or will they be resigned under the pressures of the gods? This was a cute and fast read. I loved this take on Medusa x Calypso, it was a unique pairing and honestly, I would love more of their relationship!!

Falling in love with the most unexpected person. Koda Rose is the daughtr of a rock star and shes in love with her best friend. While searching for answers about her dad and dealing with her complicated emotions for her best friend she meets her dad’s ex-girlfriend, Sadie Pasquale.. and so begins a romantic relationship. You heard me, this is a story about a teenage girl falling in love with her dad’s adult ex-girlfriend. Color me baffled. I did not even see it coming, I went into this book pretty blind and now I am just speechless. All I can think about is the scene from the office with Ryan and Stanley

Keep in mind Koda is 17 and Sadie is 38....I get that they both miss her dad but then they kiss? Mam have you lost your mind? THIS IS A CHILD. Suffice to say I would not recommend this book haha.

Adventure, mapmaking, and secrets all come together in this fantastic story about one girl who dreams about more. In a town that resides in the Valley, Mapmakers have vanished and so have their magic, now the town is ruled by the Night Coats who heavily enforce rules and do not want the old magic to come back or for the people to leave. Alidade dreams about leaving her town and seeing the world, but unfortunately for her she keeps getting in trouble with the Night Coats, and on one particularly occasion while running away she finds a magical door in the woods that leads her to the hideaway that belongs to the Mapmakers. She accidentally brings to life Blue, a magical creature that was meant to protect the Valley but has been forgotten. Now Alidade must decide if she wants to remain low or finally seize the magic that is in front of her and change her town. This was a fun read and the artwork was nice. I look forward to where the story continues!

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Children's, Random House Graphic for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Magic, family secrets, and forbidden love. Zatanna is the daughter of magicians, she lives on Coney Island in a beautiful Golden Elephant, has an adorable pet rabbit, and a boyfriend from a family her parents dislike. Zatanna has been raised by the stage, by magic tricks, and magic shows, but has never really found herself leaning towards it. When family secrets start coming to light and magic shows become real magic, Zatanna finds herself on a path to discovering her powers as well as her family past. This was such a fun read and take on one of DC’s favorite magical ladies. I loved this take on her origin story and the artwork was just STUNNING, I can’t wait to see where the next book goes and would definitely recommend this for fans of Zatanna or stories about magical girls!!

*Thanks Netgalley and DC Entertainment, DC Comics for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Two families, mortal enemies, polar opposites, she’s wild, scandalous, and free, he’s cold, rigid, and straight laced, they both love to egg each other on for years... but maybe this time it’ll be different. Carys Davies doesn’t want to get married, she’s done everything she can to turn away suitors, she loves her freedom, her ability to be her own person. She is known for her outrageous outfits and brazen ways, a carefully crafted illusion she has made to deter suitors except one person has never bought her act, the only person she finds herself wishing would look at her, Tristan Montgomery, one of her family’s greatest rivals. Tristan is looking to marry for duty, to find a nice quiet wife to live a quiet life, he’s returned home from war and is just looking for some stability... except he can’t take his eyes off the fiery red head who he just can’t help but tease. Carys is everything Tristan isn’t looking for in a wife, but everything she does draws him in. Carys is being blackmailed by a former lover and when Tristan discovers that Carys is disillusioned about love, they get into an argument and when Carys challenges him to show her what pleasures love has in a week... he agrees (to both of their surprise). Now they have a week filled with clandestine meetings, touches, kisses, and the slow caving into the passion that has always been there but now they must ask themselves if after a week this is something real, something more, and if they are what the other has always wanted. Will they give into the passion that was always there or will their week of romance end in heartbreak? This is the second book in the series but can be read as a standalone ( though characters from the previous book do make appearances in this one). This was a super sweet and romantic read about two enemies to lovers, with lots of snark and romance. I’ve loved the first book and I was so excited to see this couple in this book, they did not disappoint!

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Paperbacks for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*