3.5 stars.

Another cute installment in the series. This reads very fast and keeps the whimsy of the previous stories. The ending was solid, but seemed a little overly rushed and could have had more development. All the same, I will be continuing with the series as it is a charming collection.

This isn't my usual reading fare, but it was a fun little detour. The story is completely over-the-top ridiculous, but it had me laughing out loud at a few spots all the same. I read this using the audiobook, which I think added to the fun...the narrator was great at creating the characters with individual voices, enhancing the character descriptions given by the author. This is a good cozy read or a good book to grab when you are looking for something for a bit of a pick-me-up. Entertaining, colorful, imaginative, and quirky in all the right places. This one was well worth the read.

4.5 stars. This is TOTALLY not my usual type of read. I don't really get into space reads and the whole alien thing. But this...I loved it! The story is great, the characters are fun and well-constructed. The layers of complexity created by both the different species and the plot are impressive. I would never have expected to like this in the way I did. And now I'll be anxiously awaiting the sequel!

Taylor Jenkins Reid is an amazing author. This is a fantastic book with a great premise and a very unusual and imaginative format. Daisy Jones and the Six is a fascinating story told with amazing intricacy that delves into the minds of very complex and dynamic characters. The format is original and magnificent. The story feels incredibly real. If you’re wanting to read this book, I highly recommend the audio. The full cast narration is nothing short of magic. I need this book on my personal shelves, but even more...this may be the first audiobook I need to own.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

I initially really liked the style of writing, but was mildly turned off during an early chapter when it started to feel as if the author was really quite pretentious. I nearly DNF'd as a result. But...I pushed through. What followed was a good story, albeit occasionally a little choppy. The primary characters, especially Lincoln, felt fairly well fleshed out, but some of the secondary characters were a bit over-caricatured. I didn't expect where the narrative eventually went, and was admittedly pleasantly surprised that it was a little less than predictable. I did wish for a bit more in the ending though. I could have used a bit of extension into the time beyond where the narrative ends. Overall, a fine read.

If you're looking for a book filled with ten-dollar words, this is it. The writing in this book is thick and very descriptive, but you may need a dictionary nearby.

This family drama story is a complex one, weaving several separate narratives together. The pace of the book is slower, which does help to make things easier to follow. The characters develop independently and become easy to identify. Character confusion was not a problem though the point of view switched frequently.

The plot is well constructed and does follow a forward timeline. There is some moving around in memories, but it primarily stays focused on movement within the story. However, if you're looking for likable characters, you won't find many here. Everyone is terribly flawed and I found them either petulant, annoying, entitled, or just plain awful. Very few had redeeming characteristics.

Overall, it was an okay read. I didn't particularly enjoy the ending, but I respect it as a good style choice by the author.

This was not my typical reading fare, but I very much enjoyed it. It is fantastical and entertaining, with bits of fable, myth, fairy tale, and nursery rhyme. Gaiman's writing is lighthearted and easy to follow. This feels a bit like YA fiction, but has a couple of elements within it that make it lean more toward being adult. The ending wasn't as hard hitting as I would have liked, but seems befitting of its retelling style.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

4.5 stars. Whimsical, fantastical, and true to the original while still being incredibly imaginative on its own. Not a true retelling, but a continuation of the stories from where Lewis Carroll left off. A bit darker and more grown up than the originals, good for Alice loving YA readers or adults.

See the full review at EPJ

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

I really wanted to like this one. I tried to give it a pretty fair shake. Ultimately though, it felt like too much being crammed into too short of a story, there were too many things that were just left at a drop off and not explored fully. While I enjoyed bits and pieces, as a whole I didn't feel very moved.

There were quite a few characters, all of whom were interlaced in ways that got a little muddy due to the fast push of the plot. Had things been slowed down and really dug into, I think they would have felt more dynamic and less confusing. As it was, I had a hard time really liking any of the characters, which made things a bit worse for me. They all seemed horribly self-centered, childish, and disastrous. There wasn't anyone for me to root for.

The narrative itself got hung up for me far too often in the interjections of German words I don't understand. This was just the addition of a bit of extra frustration and something that stalled an already challenged plot. Just as I was starting to become interested in things that were going on and feeling that I could overlook those foreign language moments, the book took a turn and abruptly ended. That ending took a wide arc to the side and nearly started a new story while leaving so much unraveled behind it. I didn't like how disjointed things ultimately felt.

While there were some good things in the bones of this story and the writing was decent, I just couldn't get behind the characters or the plot. I was just left feeling terribly underwhelmed.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

3 1/2 stars.

This entire story is written in a prose style via a series of poems. All of the poems are written in first person from the point of view of Charlotte (Lottie), the preteen narrator. It's a rather imaginative way to write a book and I have to say that it actually works pretty well. I enjoyed the style and the writing. It felt comfortable and appropriate for the character.

There was a keen sense of mystery surrounding some of the bits and pieces of the story, which came to light through the pages a little bit at a time. It is rather cleverly done and I enjoyed the movement of the story.

My only issue with this one (as tends to be my downfall on many an occasion) was the ending. I left the story feeling unfulfilled. This isn't to say that the ending is a bad one. It wraps up in a way that makes sense given the previous pieces of narrative. I just couldn't get myself settled with it. Perhaps that is some of the intention, but I didn't like the uncomfortable way leaving it made me feel.