Cute friends turned lovers story complete with a search for a Loch Ness monster type creature. The 'rent a gent' business idea wasn't really inspired or interesting but the scenes with both Micah and Toni sparkled.
Sweet, fizzy, and quick fare.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

A sweeping, twisty, and mind bending experience. I tried (and failed) to read Cloud Atlas some years ago, but the plucky Holly Sykes pulled me through this amazing adventure. I often found myself wondering "Where the f*** is this going!?" and then being amazed a few sentences, then chapters, later. Mitchell does rotating points of view so well here, but I did have my favorites (Holly, Hugo, and Eddie's). I did not really enjoy Crispin's, and the denouement with the "bad guys" wasn't as satisfying as I hoped. This book took on a ton, and I wished the more sci-fi/mystical elements had more time, but I'm super happy I read this.

Damnit book...I am up at 12:52am because of you. WORTH IT.
Full review to come.

This review is posted on my work blog - Read @ Milwakee Public Library:

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In the post-Gone Girl world you can trust no one. The various narrators in Paula Hawkins' The Girl on the Train are no exception.

Rachel, a thirty-something recently divorced alcoholic, is an exceptionally unreliable narrator. Rachel rides the train to and from London every day, pretending to go to the job she lost. During the ride she drinks herself into a stupor and watches the lives of those around her.

In the vein of Hitchcock's Rear Window, Rachel becomes obsessed with a couple who's home she can see from out of the train's window. She thinks of them as "Jess" and "Jason," fantasizing about their perfect life, until one day she witnesses a shocking act.

Through a series of twists and turns, the reader finds out "Jess" is actually Megan, and Megan has gone missing. Believing what she witnessed that fateful day of Megan's disappearance is an important clue, Rachel forces herself into the investigation. The trouble is, she is unreliable, a drunk. Did Rachel actually see something? Did Rachel do something in one of her black out states? You'll have to read to find out.

Put your copy on hold today, this will be one of the "Must Reads" of 2015.

A super adorable collection of comics revolving around 9 year old Phoebe and her new best friend, Marigold Heavenly Nostrils, a snotty, conceited, and amazing unicorn. Funny and poignant, a really great treat. I only wish this was more sequential, but I think it is perfect for the younger set. The Peter S Beagle introduction was very sweet as well, but the constant comparisons to Calvin and Hobbes (and that Phoebe might be BETTER) may be a little over wrought, especially since this is very, very new.

So, while I'm scared as hell that The Bone Season series is slated for SEVEN BOOKS, I'm loving this series and I'm happy to be an early champion. Can't binge read everything people, and this series will be worth the ride. No spoilers in this review, but if you haven't read Book 1, The Bone Season, you may want to stop here.

Paige Mahoney, aided by Warden and a rag tag assortment of "Harlies," has escaped from the voyant penal colony Sheol I and the clutches of Nashira. Hoping to spread the word about the Emim and the Rephaim, Paige is foiled by her Mime Lord Jaxon Hall and forced to reenter the underground crime syndicate she was a part of prior to her imprisonment. The story flows for Paige's desire to warn the syndicate about the connection between SCION and the Rephaim and her need to stay protected from her own people, which means continuing to be Jaxon's mollisher and doing his bidding. Some gruesome murders, lots of training, and lots of beating up of poor Paige keep the story moving and super thrilling.

Focused more on the awesome Victorian-esque society of the syndicate and less on the ethereal world of the Rephaim, this is an exciting, bloody, and mystical installment. Warden does make appearances (never enough for me) but the scenes that include him sparkle. The climax is like whoa, and I can't wait (although I'll have to) to read more.

Thankfully, Mime Order includes beautiful maps of SCION London and a handy glossary of terms that help you sink right back into Shannon's world without too much problem. I did re-read Book 1 prior to starting this, and it definitely helped.

I don't even know how to review this book. It is a unique sparky, poignant tale about Etta and Otto and Russell and James (oh James), both in their youth and their sunset years. Etta is my hero. The narrative structure is unique, bouncing between the POVs of the characters and in time. Lyrical writing just sinks you in and I unfortunately finished this way to fast. It will be worth a re-read. Highly recommend.

I'm confused about how I actually feel about All the Bright Places. I often found Violet and Finch to be pretentious a la Dawson's Creek or John Green characters, but I felt like their story was an important one. Seriously, do not read or listen to this unless you are looking for a punch in the heart.

I'm sad to see that so many YA novels of 2015 are focusing on suicide, not because they are bad or a "trend" but because suicide is still a horrible reality for far too many. Niven dealt with the topic sensitively and with insight, as she herself is a "survivor of suicide," or someone who has lived through the suicide of a loved one.

Unfortunately, I felt the story was uneven. A horrible student newspaper article announcing a student was stopped from jumping to his death is basically ignored by any adults in the story (really?!) and the characters mostly felt they couldn't talk to or get assistance from the adults in the story. This was redeemed at the end for one character, I won't get into spoilers, but phew. Also after the big SHOCK, I felt the ending meandered on in an unrealistic way.

However, still a worthwhile read, and will definitely be popular with fans of hard issue contemporary fiction.

Wein expands her expository YA novels into 1930s Ethiopia with this tale of siblings, race, aviation, and war. A wonderfully rambling adventure, with dark glimpses into human nature and hard choices, I would recommend this to any high school Advanced Placement History course as a supplementary reading.

This was terrific! A Darker Shade of Magic slightly reminded me of The Night Circus in its lovely, elegant world building as well as the delicately explained magic that infused each page. I loved the concept of four London's stacked on top of each other like pages in a book, and the magician Kell who can walk between them (but not without a price). The deliciously evil twin rulers of White London made my skin crawl (with sick delight) and don't even get me started on how awesome Lila Bard is. What an ending!

My only, slight, quibble was this wasn't long enough for me. I wanted MORE. I think Schwab kept it tight as this is apparently being marketing as a YA novel according to the back flap, but I know we are keeping this in the Adult SciFi/Fantasy section at my library. Anyway, At just under 400 pages and with a completed story arc, I was quite sad when it was over. I'm hoping Schwab will re-visit this world again.

Well, yet another time I wasn't aware of an amazing internet phenomenon. Consider me an XKCD convert after this! I'm terrible at math, and while I adore science I often feel like a lame observer. Munroe made me feel right at home with his well researched and excellently explained answers. I laughed out loud so many times I can't even count them. I also dug all of Munroe's geeky references (hello Kip Durran and the Star Crusher) which made me feel like an insider.

Also, Wil Wheaton should narrate ALL THE THINGS like this. A perfect voice talent who brought alive concepts that are difficult to fathom, with a irreverent hilarity I just am obsessed with. Bravo!

I will never ever be able to look at a mole the same ever again, or a speed bump. At least I know I'd live going over one faster than I'd think.