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bookish_selkie
When You Get the Chance is one of the most utterly joyful and charming contemporary books I’ve read. It is filled with Mamma Mia! parallels, musical theater references, and a delightful slow-burn romance. When Millie receives acceptance to a pre-college program for performers, she is devastated when her dad says no. This sets Millie off on a quest to find her birth mom, who might be able to help. Luckily she has Theo, her geo-caching expert best friend! They read her dad’s LiveJournal and the quest is on to find Millie’s birth mother.
When You Get the Chance is the perfect book to read when you want a musical theatre adventure, with rom-com moments that will give you all the feels. This is the first book that I've read from Emma Lord and it absolutely won’t be my last! I love the snappy character dialogue and relatable nature to her writing style. The romance is slow-burn, rivals-to-lovers (the YA version), and was so heartwarming to read about!! Lord makes every point of contact between Millie and Oliver meaningful and intense.
When You Get the Chance has so many satisfying moments from what it means to be a performer, found/non traditional family, and vivid description. I would highly recommend this to anyone, especially any current or past theatre kid! I can’t wait to see what’s next from Emma Lord! Thank you so much to Emma Lord, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When You Get the Chance is the perfect book to read when you want a musical theatre adventure, with rom-com moments that will give you all the feels. This is the first book that I've read from Emma Lord and it absolutely won’t be my last! I love the snappy character dialogue and relatable nature to her writing style. The romance is slow-burn, rivals-to-lovers (the YA version), and was so heartwarming to read about!! Lord makes every point of contact between Millie and Oliver meaningful and intense.
When You Get the Chance has so many satisfying moments from what it means to be a performer, found/non traditional family, and vivid description. I would highly recommend this to anyone, especially any current or past theatre kid! I can’t wait to see what’s next from Emma Lord! Thank you so much to Emma Lord, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Where the Drowned Girls Go is a powerful and dark look at what it means to come back from a place that still has hooks embedded deep within the skin. Cora is tired. Tired of never getting a good night’s sleep, tired of being the odd one out, and tired of hearing the Drowned Gods whisper to her maliciously from every shadow. As long as they try to claim her, she can never return to her watery door, The Trenches. Cora knows there is a school that might be able to help her forget the world of doors and her adventures as a mermaid- Whitethorn Institute. Of course, not all is as it seems at this regimented and strange school.
I loved this installment into the Wayward Children series from the title alone! I was hoping we would see more from Cora! This was an interesting look into the menacing Whitethorn Institute and what happens to the children who return from worlds that are dangerous or they may be unable to return. I loved watching Cora journey through the stages of learning her own power and deciding what it means to be a hero (with help from Sumi!). Seanan McGuire has a haunting way with description, chilling and precise. I appreciate the thoughtful focus on mental health and caution readers to check the TWs relating to fatphobia, bullying, eating disorders, and mention of suicide attempt.
Having read Across the Green Grass Fields, I absolutely loved the cameo from Regan! Regan is one of my favorite characters in the series and it was great to see her again (while not in the best circumstances!). Where The Drowned Girls Go can be read as a standalone, I think readers will get the most out of this having read at least one other book in the series. I already can’t wait to continue the adventure with the next book in the series! Thank you so much to Seanan McGuire, Macmillan-Tor/Forge, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this installment into the Wayward Children series from the title alone! I was hoping we would see more from Cora! This was an interesting look into the menacing Whitethorn Institute and what happens to the children who return from worlds that are dangerous or they may be unable to return. I loved watching Cora journey through the stages of learning her own power and deciding what it means to be a hero (with help from Sumi!). Seanan McGuire has a haunting way with description, chilling and precise. I appreciate the thoughtful focus on mental health and caution readers to check the TWs relating to fatphobia, bullying, eating disorders, and mention of suicide attempt.
Having read Across the Green Grass Fields, I absolutely loved the cameo from Regan! Regan is one of my favorite characters in the series and it was great to see her again (while not in the best circumstances!). Where The Drowned Girls Go can be read as a standalone, I think readers will get the most out of this having read at least one other book in the series. I already can’t wait to continue the adventure with the next book in the series! Thank you so much to Seanan McGuire, Macmillan-Tor/Forge, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Never Tell is a cinematic romantic suspense novel written by Stacey Abrams (as Selena Montgomery). It follows Erin, an elegant college professor, who receives a disturbing letter in the mail from a serial killer. Someone knows about her shadowy past and seems determined to get revenge on her. Enter Gabriel, a nosy and charming journalist, who is determined to save his fledgling newspaper. When the two collide, they begrudgingly end up working together to try and track down the killer. As the clues begin to come together, Erin and Gabriel must fully trust each other or the killer may be victorious.
This was a very solid romantic suspense read! It is clear that it was initially published in 2004, reminiscent of other romance novels at the time. While several moments throughout are well-known tropes, Abrams executes them with an effortless style. I found myself swept up in the witty banter and excellent dialogue between Gabriel and Erin! Sure, it has cheesy moments- but they were overall fun! I felt along for the ride, utterly hooked until the conclusion. The one thing I would have liked to see less of is the graphic violence that is mainly shown through flashbacks that Erin has. I was more than willing to take Erin’s word about her tortured past and didn’t need to see the brutal memories to believe her.
Gabriel and Erin form an attachment quickly, forced together by their goals. Their scenes together worked well, but were definitely fast-paced. My favorite sub-plot was the newspaper business! Gabriel was incredibly charming as he worked to keep his paper afloat while going toe-to-toe with rival papers and unsympathetic police. The staff at the newspaper were hilarious. I am curious to read Sebastian’s story, Erin’s childhood friend. Stacey Abrams is definitely a new favorite author; I can’t wait to read more of her work! Thank you so much to Stacey Abrams (as Selena Montgomery), St. Martin’s Griffin, and Netgalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very solid romantic suspense read! It is clear that it was initially published in 2004, reminiscent of other romance novels at the time. While several moments throughout are well-known tropes, Abrams executes them with an effortless style. I found myself swept up in the witty banter and excellent dialogue between Gabriel and Erin! Sure, it has cheesy moments- but they were overall fun! I felt along for the ride, utterly hooked until the conclusion. The one thing I would have liked to see less of is the graphic violence that is mainly shown through flashbacks that Erin has. I was more than willing to take Erin’s word about her tortured past and didn’t need to see the brutal memories to believe her.
Gabriel and Erin form an attachment quickly, forced together by their goals. Their scenes together worked well, but were definitely fast-paced. My favorite sub-plot was the newspaper business! Gabriel was incredibly charming as he worked to keep his paper afloat while going toe-to-toe with rival papers and unsympathetic police. The staff at the newspaper were hilarious. I am curious to read Sebastian’s story, Erin’s childhood friend. Stacey Abrams is definitely a new favorite author; I can’t wait to read more of her work! Thank you so much to Stacey Abrams (as Selena Montgomery), St. Martin’s Griffin, and Netgalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
