In Boss Battles, we go a little deeper into the lives of Taneesha, Aditi, and Elli. Every time we pull back a layer on Aditi, I wonder when we will get to the bottom of all she's holding as a person. We also learn that while Elli's methods might be a little untraditional, she gets the job done. Too bad society hasn't figured out a way to hone in on creative people who don't fit the mold.

Lots of emotions. This book is action packed!

This is a review for both Consider (book 1) and Contribute.

I participate in ongoing secret santa exchanges throughout the year, with one being around books. I'm a pretty hard person to shop for because I don't keep every book in my collection on my TBR and my wishlist changes from day to day! You can imagine how thrilled I was when my secret santa not only picked a book I hadn't heard of but also fit within the type of book I LOVE to read.

The past ruined. The present destroyed. The future erased.

YA scifi book? Check
Debut author? Check
Unique story with great characters? Check Check
Local? CHECK - Kristy is local to my secret santa!
So, first off...Thank you again, secret santa. You introduced me to a great series that I fell in love with. Not only did I devour it but I picked up the sequel (out next week) and am here to share both books with you today.

The Holo Series has a little something for everyone.

For those of you who love scifi, Consider was nominated for a Philip K. Dick Award (if you've been under a rock, you might know him from writing Man in the High Castle and many others!). It's futuristic and tackles technology in a way I haven't seen done before. I don't want to give away how the world works but Kristy paints a clear picture as to what is going on. You'll be fascinated and terrified at the same time.

“Okay, you need to feel your own sense of power. True power is standing in your own shoes, in your own truth, and not feeling ashamed but celebrating who you’ve been and who you’re becoming. When you speak from that place, people listen. When you listen from that place, the walls between us fall."

For those of you who love kickass females, Alexa is your girl. She reminded me of Katniss, faced with an impossible decision and looked upon as a leader, even though she didn't ask for that. Add to that Kristy's portrayal of Alexa's anxiety...You can imagine how this could go. Alexa does an amazing job managing everything that happens in both books.

There’s always a catch, always a cost. Keron swoops his robed arms around and holds his hands over his heart. If he has a heart. “We need your contribution in death.”

For those of you who love action, OH MAN, Contribute is the book for you. This book does not skip on the action scenes. Be forewarned: your favorite characters are in dire straights. Yes, you will be on the edge of your seat!

If you like tension, there's a lot of it in Consider and Contribute. The people are faced with a decision that would crush even the strongest. Do they go through an unknown portal to a world sold as better or risk staying on Earth that is supposedly going to end?

This is a review for both Consider and Contribute (book 2).

I participate in ongoing secret santa exchanges throughout the year, with one being around books. I'm a pretty hard person to shop for because I don't keep every book in my collection on my TBR and my wishlist changes from day to day! You can imagine how thrilled I was when my secret santa not only picked a book I hadn't heard of but also fit within the type of book I LOVE to read.

The past ruined. The present destroyed. The future erased.

YA scifi book? Check
Debut author? Check
Unique story with great characters? Check Check
Local? CHECK - Kristy is local to my secret santa!
So, first off...Thank you again, secret santa. You introduced me to a great series that I fell in love with. Not only did I devour it but I picked up the sequel (out next week) and am here to share both books with you today.

The Holo Series has a little something for everyone.

For those of you who love scifi, Consider was nominated for a Philip K. Dick Award (if you've been under a rock, you might know him from writing Man in the High Castle and many others!). It's futuristic and tackles technology in a way I haven't seen done before. I don't want to give away how the world works but Kristy paints a clear picture as to what is going on. You'll be fascinated and terrified at the same time.

“Okay, you need to feel your own sense of power. True power is standing in your own shoes, in your own truth, and not feeling ashamed but celebrating who you’ve been and who you’re becoming. When you speak from that place, people listen. When you listen from that place, the walls between us fall."

For those of you who love kickass females, Alexa is your girl. She reminded me of Katniss, faced with an impossible decision and looked upon as a leader, even though she didn't ask for that. Add to that Kristy's portrayal of Alexa's anxiety...You can imagine how this could go. Alexa does an amazing job managing everything that happens in both books.

There’s always a catch, always a cost. Keron swoops his robed arms around and holds his hands over his heart. If he has a heart. “We need your contribution in death.”

For those of you who love action, OH MAN, Contribute is the book for you. This book does not skip on the action scenes. Be forewarned: your favorite characters are in dire straights. Yes, you will be on the edge of your seat!

If you like tension, there's a lot of it in Consider and Contribute. The people are faced with a decision that would crush even the strongest. Do they go through an unknown portal to a world sold as better or risk staying on Earth that is supposedly going to end?

As a person who is not a fan of fantasy and has lightly dipped her toe into fabulism, I went into The Disappearances curious about how I would interact with the story. Friends, I was not disappointed!

I’d rather spend it traveling the world than building a big house or having a lot of things. I’d rather build memories instead. Because those are the things you carry with you always, everywhere, things that can’t be destroyed or taken.

The Disappearances is one of the best paced books I’ve had the pleasure of devouring. One of my biggest issues in reading fantasy is usually the length or the stall of the story in the interest of a journey (not of the metaphorical type). The Disappearances consistently kept me engaged and guessing about the mystery aspects. Emily wove little clues into the story, just enough to keep you coming back. It’s this build up that you don’t even realize is happening until you uncover what’s really happening.

No story is complete without a cast of characters for you to love. Aila is easy to root for, as she discovers her mother’s role in the disappearances of the stars, dreams, scents, and reflections. It’s her cast of supporting characters, the teens and the adults, that build the story. Every character has a place within the story; it wouldn’t be the same without each of them.

The Disappearances is full of mystery, suspense, and a bit of romance, which was a surprising and welcome element. Emily's writing is gorgeous and poetic, without being over the top. This is not a book that feels like everything and the kitchen sink but a book with a voice that will not be ignored.

When my friend Sarah over at The Book Traveler sent me a link to The Idea of You, I wasn't sure what I was getting into. A boy band member and an established woman with a teen - this sounded like heartbreak in a less than the time it takes to sing a chorus. But I can't resist a story about a boy band, and I'm glad I didn't!

At 39, Solene has a career she has worked hard for, a tween daughter, and an ex-husband who's moved on. She's relatively content, something that quickly shifts when she meets Hayes Campbell. Hayes is a 20 year old starter of August Moon, which will remind you of One Direction right down to the obsessive fans and OTP shippers. They're both easily likeable, with Solene being so real that you could see her as your neighbor or in your circle of friends. Hayes, while relatively mature, is a 20 year old guy who has figured out how to use the attention to his advantage and not let it get to him. It's easy for a reader to judge Solene for the age difference, something the book explores. Ageism is alive and real in nearly all of the characters in the book.

While the age difference is hard to ignore, the true meat of the story comes in the exploration of Solene entering Hayes' world of fame and how that impacts a person. In the age of social media, a celebrity never gets a down moment, and neither does anyone they are close to. As you can imagine, this complicates their relationship when the world learns of their relationship. And it is a relationship, as real as one can be with the pair living in completely separate worlds. They get hot and heavy, something Lee doesn't shy away from.

It's hard to imagine the story ending with your typical romance book, since this isn't your typical romance. Readers will leave the story satisfied.

Chitty chuk!

(That's OMFG THIS IS SO CUTE in Squirrel, for those of you who haven't yet read it)

I made a pact last year that I would try to read more Marvel comics. I was heavily reading DC (until Rebirth 😒) and Squirrel Girl was one of the comics that came recommended. I couldn't resist picking up Squirrel Girl, to go along with the Red Widow books.

Still thinking about whether or not to read it? Here's my top 5 reasons why you need a little Squirrel Girl in your life.

Kick Butts and Eat Nuts. This tag line tells you everything. Doreen is a superhero with the strength and unique attributes of a squirrel, which means she's strong and can command an army of the twitchy tailed creatures. As someone who once fought a squirrel and lost, I wouldn't want to face her.

Relatable. Remember high school? Anyone else have to move to a new place and start over? This book captures that perfectly. Plus the Hales do a fantastic job of describing each member of the diverse cast.

Marvel Cameos. No, not Stan Lee but Iron Man, Black Widow, and more. I love how Doreen inserted herself into the squad (where she belongs!).

Written for All Ages. Here's a book you can read with your family. Or listen to it, because it has an amazing audiobook. Maybe the kids aren't ready for the violence in the Marvel movies but this is totally up their alley.

But Wait, There's More! This book is a prequel to the current run of Squirrel Girl comics, which are just fantastic. It's clear they partnered with Ryan North to capture the essence of Squirrel Girl. So you can get your fill and then some with the all ages comic.

Such a fun little satire. Can't take it too seriously. Loved how Margie set up the mechanics of the reality tv world.

For those of us that love reality TV and richy, richy characters that live the life of the rich and famous....well ROYCE ROLLS seemed like the sure fire read to fun and so much more.

These are tears of happiness, I swear. Loved this!

I've always been fascinated by the concept of winning the lottery. I've read about the differences in picking the big payout versus the payout over time (if I won a big jackpot, I'd totally pick over time because HELLO I'd be tempted to buy a library if I got the big payout). I've read about how people come out from the woodwork when you win and how people feel a sense of entitlement to your fortune. Windfall explores several of these concepts, especially as two of the main characters play a role in winning.

Alice, Leo, and Teddy are bffs trying to navigate the end of adolescence. I love stories set as teens are transitioning into adulthood. It's a tough time to work through and these characters are no exception. Alice has lost her family and is living with Leo (her cousin) and his family. Teddy and his mom are barely surviving after his father exited the family due to a gambling addiction. Leo is the friend with the amazing parents and amazing life - yet he is not sure how he fits with his besties who haven't had it easy. I loved Leo. He really gets it and he's just a sweetheart.

Oh, did I mention that Alice is pining for Teddy? We know money complicates even the best of relationships at times.

Jennifer Smith has created a complex cast of characters and dropped them into a once in a lifetime (or once in a few lifetimes!) world that none of them are prepared for. They’re teenagers! Watching them stumble through will have you yelling at your book. You want to protect them and you know this journey is their’s to walk through. Windfall reminds us that being 18 doesn’t mean you’re ready to grow up!

I stayed up past 1am to finish this because it's so dang cute!

Hey everyone! Raise your hand if you've been in a slump recently? Yeah, us too. It's weird, right? Well, to combat the slump, Kelly over at BookCrushin and I decided to read Geekerella by Ashley Poston, a book that tickles our geek hearts and was sure to cure us.

And cure us, it did. At least temporarily. Since we loved it so much, we decided to talk about it together. Come fangirl with us!

Two Fangirls Review Geekerella

Geekerella is a geeky reimagining of Cinderella. How well does it hit it off for the geek and Cinderella elements?

K: I think this may be the geekiest book I have ever read & LOVED that aspect! But mixing that sci-fi nerdiness into the Cinderella universe was just adorable...glass slipper and all!

CJ: This book is getting sooo much geeky hype so I was totally skeptical about it. Plus, aren't we all burnt out of retellings? Let me tell you: The hype is real AND it's such a perfect contemporary geeky retelling. I loved Stranger Than Fanfiction and The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love...This is totally in the same vein.

In Cinderella, there’s a “normal” girl who becomes a princess and her swoonworthy prince charming. What are Elle and Darian like compared to their fairytale counterparts?

K: I would say that Dorian isn't really like the prince charming in Cinderella, but more of a persona that he has to be to be famous when underneath he is just a giant geek and wants to be a normal teenager, and not stalked by the paparazzi. Where as Elle is being trampled upon her mean stepsisters and whacky stepmonster and felt much more like her fairytale counterpart but way funnier!

CJ: Inspired by and so much better! Darien gets depth and a backstory that makes him even more swoonworthy (fanboy!) and Elle is so much more than the abused girl in Cinderella. Plus their friends and the characters around them are fun, too.

So we’ve established that these two met via the internet. Talk about your experiences meeting people on the internet.

K: Almost all of the people I am close with these days, I have met online, mostly in my own geeky community full of book nerds. I also started my relationship with my partner online, and was totally scared to met her in person, because in my day meeting people from the internet was scary, so I dragged my bestie along with me to a very populated bar. I can't imagine my life without the relationships I have solidified online, because sometimes we need to find our squad, and they just might not be close by!

CJ: Well, I mean, I met Kelly on bookternet so it must not be working out too badly. ;) Actually, I've met some of my best friends on the internet. My husband and I connected over the internet and met at a concert. So meeting people on the internet has been a super positive experience. Highly recommend.

But is the stepmother really evil? What about the stepsisters?

K: I wanted to throat punch the stepmom, but not eeevil. More like idiotic and cruel. She's trying to live above her means, while appearances and class are all that matters to her, and those are the things I eschew in my life. The stepsisters are a product of their mother, but I think you will like where the story takes them both.

CJ: She's really awful. Evil is a stretch but she's a selfish, grieving widow that is taking her feelings out on her stepdaughter. The twins are similar but get a different story in this book. I won't say more than that!

What are some of your favorite quotes? What unique aspects of the story did you love?

K: I love how the book shows how much of a community one can find online with others whom love what you do. You are not alone, if you ship something, so do a thousand others, and you can either be a positive part of that or not. I also love that Ashley created an entirely new fandom & universe, meanwhile, she uses tons of other well known fandoms and incorporates those aspects into the story too, because we geeks don't just love one fandom...we love many. I also really have to hand it to the romance...it was adorable.


It isn't the kind of kiss to end a universe of possibilities. It's the exact opposite. It's the kind of kiss that creates them.

CJ: I love the bright spotlight on fandoms and cons and bringing people together. And food trucks! Who doesn't love food trucks (which moonlight as the pumpkin in this story ;)). The quote below summarizes what I love about the story.

We might all be different—we may ship different things or be in different fandoms—but if I learned anything from twenty-three days in a too blue uniform playing a character I thought I could never be, it’s that when we become those characters, pieces of ourselves light up like glow sticks in the night. They shine. We shine. Together.

Ok, we can’t escape this convo without talking about fandoms. If Geekerella was set in your favorite fandom, what would that look like?

K: Well I am a big big big nerd. I am really into Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, and Game of Thrones to name a few. Since most of those are very similar to the universe Ashley created in Geekerella, especially the rebooting of Star Wars for a new generation, I am going to go with my newest obsession, and that is a book universe of A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. The cosplay is easy...masquerade balls and Calanmai & Starfall are perfect settings to recreate at a con or ball. The prince is the High Lord of the Night Court, Feyre is clearly Cinderella and even has some cruel sisters to boot. The evil stepmother is probably, Ianthe, and the fairy godmother is the maybe the Suriel!

CJ: Everyone knows I'm an avid member of the SPNFamily. We already have our own cons and cosplay contests so it would definitely include that. Our resident prince charming is actually Prince Eric (Gil McKinney also plays Prince Eric on OUAT) and he and another character graced a con I was at in cosplay. Our pumpkin is an Impala named Baby. The Evil Stepmother is actually Lucifer. There was once a fairy tale episode of Supernatural <3.

This was cute and so much more than I expected.

My favorite moment of YallFest was the moment David Levithan handed me Just Another Girl and told me I needed to read it. Like, any book David hands me I would probably read - for real. Plus just look at that cover! And Elizabeth is so dang lovely. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read Just Another Girl.

Alright, how many of you are tired of the same ol’ love triangle story? You know, girl is in love with her boy BFF but he has this super hot but totally undeserving girlfriend? It’s set up so nicely - girl BFF totally deserves him! Look how she’s always there for him! They’d be so cute together!

You truly don’t know somebody until you’ve spent a day in his or her shoes.

That’s what we are taught, right? Trope Trope Trope. And I LOVE how Elizabeth turns this trope upside down and explores both sides of the agenda in this dual POV. Bonus that the boyfriend isn’t part of the problem but factors into the larger picture and there are supportive adults to balance out the less than fabulous ones.

This is overall a cute story with some depth to it. It’s short because it doesn’t waste any time getting through the arc. Readers will be left satisfied with a full heart!