(Please read my WHOLE review! Very important here since the beginning is quite negative!)

The whole idea behind this book seriously rubbed me the wrong way. I don’t know why the book description wasn’t a red flag…I mean, "Aspen Quick can reach inside you with his mind and steal anything he wants- knowledge, memories, sobriety, even love. It’s a powerful skill he’s always taken for granted He doesn’t care how it affects you; you’ll never know what he’s doing, so you’ll never catch him.” Uh, YIKES!

While the main character, Aspen Quick, does use his power for good to help the cliff and save the town, he also uses it like you’d expect a typical hormone crazed teenager- to manipulate people for his own selfish reasons. Like to break up his two best friends so he can date the girl...only to continuously steal her memories and feelings so she stays with him. Not cool.

There’s one scene where Aspen takes something away from his girlfriend…and this happens:
“She sounded like she really meant it- which mean my work was done. I didn't have to take anything else away from her. Not today, at least.” UGH.

And of course we have the horrible situation of the main character “accidentally” cheating, acknowledging the cheating, stopping, then cheating yet again.

I was getting so annoyed with the main character that I debated DNFing...

BUT THEN!

Things finally (and very predictably) blew up in the main characters face. That’s when the book takes a turn and I was totally hooked. So worth pushing through the first half of the book to get to the second half! I really enjoyed the twists and turns that lead up to the ending.

Overall, this book was very easy to read. I liked the writing style a lot because of the simplicity and how real all the dialogue seemed. Even though I didn’t like the main feature of the book, I did like that it makes the reader really think about consent!

Favorite passages:

February always sucks. This is a scientific fact.

To the southwest was the Hill, a weird lump of land that looked like it had once wanted to grow up and be a real mountain, but had forgotten to eat its vegetables along the way.

Death, unfortunately, doesn't make fools any less foolish.

When I first started reading this book, I didn't like it.

Mainly because the book is formatted to bounce back and fourth between the two timelines (before and after) as well as rotating between three POV's (Rico, Asher, and Wendy). Because of this, I had a hard time getting into it and keeping everything straight in my head. More than once I had to flip back a few chapters to see who did what.

I was also very thrown off because this was pitched to me as a straight up zombie novel. But there are a LOT of "before" chapters. So the book was really half college-age romantic drama, a quarter family drama, and a quarter zombie novel. So to be totally honest, if I had known this breakdown, I probably wouldn't have picked it up.

I also didn't really like the story at first because I didn't really care about any of the characters to even begin with. So I didn't care to learn more about their back stories... However, after a short while, I was totally hooked. I found that I was feeling more invested in the characters as we got to know them both before and after, and I look forward to learning how they were all connected and how they ended up where they were. Thinking back now, I appreciated the layout- if we hadn't bounced back and fourth and instead just read all of the before bits first, I definitely would have put the book down.

The only other irks that really stood out to me were the choppy writing style (which I think I actually liked because it kept the pace of the book up, it just took some time to get used to) and the awkwardly formal dialogue that seemed a bit unrealistic.

And the ending...I keep going back and fourth on whether I liked it or not. I really hope that it was an intentional cliffhanger! But my goodness, it was VERY abrupt.

So while I wouldn't call this a typical "zombie novel," I would definitely recommend it! Just keep in mind that it is a bit different and that you are going to shout out loud at the ending and immediately want the second book! I, personally, cannot wait to read the second book.

My favorite passages:
He released everything into the last of hot water. All of his fears circled the drain with the dirt of yesterday. He had never felt so alive, so clean, as he did in that moment. Asher knew that everything wouldn't change with a snap of his fingers, but admitting his secret to himself and to another soul released him, and now he would get a fresh start.

But the more time I spend talking to you, the more I smiled, the more I laughed. I don't know how to thank you enough for that. I don't know how you saw me through the wall I had built around myself to keep everyone out. How you saw the cracks and ignored them. Now all I can think about is how I'm falling in love with you and for the first time I feel completely safe.

Wow! This book was such a fun, but incredibly bizarre, read! I loved the little illustrations below each chapter number!

I went into this book blind (I had no idea what it was about) so didn't know that it was a modern fairytale based on the Russian tale, Vasilisa the Beautiful. Even so, I had no previous knowledge of this tale anyway, so when the story began to develop I kept thinking, "oh that's odd" but I just rolled with it.

And first things first- there is NO world building. So if that is your reading pet peeve, I wouldn't recommend this book. When I started reading, I definitely felt like I was dropped into the middle of a story so I was slightly confused from the start.

I mean, one of the first things you are introduced to is a block of painted wood with arms and legs that is not only alive, but also a snacking kleptomaniac that doesn't listen to Vassa (it's owner). Then you discover that the nights last a very long time. Long enough for teenage Vassa to wish that there weren't weekends. But nobody seems to talk about how long the nights are.

Later, you learn about a store that dances around on two legs and has a shop owner that beheads shoplifters, which the public thinks is okay. Oh and the employees of the shop? Two severed hands... so obviously I couldn't help but imagine Thing from The Addams Family, only with nail polish.

Even though I enjoyed reading this book, I also had a few issues with it.

The first was obviously the lack of world building and the confusion that it caused. I wish we had just a bit of an intro that really dove in and explained things to set us up properly.

The second was simply the characters motivation. I just didn't understand why they made a number of decisions. Specifically, going into the shop. Like, hello, if I saw a shop that had severed heads on spikes outside of it, you bet I would steer clear. But no, characters in this book actually go into the store. Some over and over again just for the thrill of it.

The third issue I had was with the very awkward romance bits that really didn't add to the story or even make much sense. I feel like they could have been completely left out. It seemed to me like the author was just trying to check all the "typical YA" boxes with Vassa crushing on a human boy one night, but then wanting to tell him she was crushing on someone else the next. But the third night she's suddenly back to having feeling for the human? Bleh. When these parts came about I found my interest in the story taking a serious nose dive.

Overall, definitely worth a read if you're looking for something a bit strange!

Favorite passage:
Not that there isn't any magic around here. If you're dumb enough to look in the wrong places, you'll stumble right into it. It's the stumbling out again that might become an issue.

I enjoyed this book. It is the perfect read for the holiday season if you're looking for typical YA romance.

Of course, I had to keep in mind that it was indeed YA... So many of the main characters were very incredibly naive and there was some insta-love going on.

I really liked the way that each of the three stories overlapped- which I didn't know was going to happen when I started reading. I enjoyed each storyline of the three stories as well as the overarching storyline that linked them all together. I also really liked most of the characters, even though many of them made some very sketchy choices and were far too trusting...

The first story by Maureen Johnson was my absolute favorite of the three. This story did a wonderful job of creating the setting for the next two. I LOVED the characters in this story so much, I would have happily read a full book to get to know all of these characters more!

My second favorite was the second story by John Green. This story was fun, but I didn't care for the characters as much as the first.

The third story was a bit rough for me because I really disliked the main characters personality. This character was the stereotypical self-centered girl that we all knew in high school.... The story was still enjoyable, even though it was quite repetitive. The ending, where everything comes together was really great.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this to someone looking for a quick holiday YA romance read.

Favorite passages:

From Book 1-

Debbie had to get up and slice me a thick piece of cake before she could answer. And I do mean thick. Harry Potter volume seven thick. I could have knocked out a burglar with this piece of cake. Once I tasted it, though, it seemed just the right size. Debbie didn't fool around when it came to the butter and sugar.


From Book 2-
Once you think a thought, it is extremely difficult to unthink it. And I had thought the thought.

I could have kept going forever, but finally, through the kiss, she said, "I actually really do want my hash browns," and so I opened the door and she ducked beneath my arm and we ate dinner at three a.m.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I absolutely loved being back in the world of Dash and Lily! The characters are all so lovely (even the rough ones). The storyline was sweet. And the relationships all seemed so real.

However, I felt that this was a slight let down from Dash & Lily's Book Of Dares, but only because the way Lily was acting seemed very childish to me. I totally understand how rough her year was, but the way she was acting, you would have thought that she was 10 rather than 17.

**POTENTIAL SPOILERS BELOW**

This passage from the book that sums up my feelings about the first half of the book:
Lily: "I can't talk to him about it!"
Lily's Mom: "But why not? He's your boyfriend. I don't understand."

But once her Mom offers her some advice, things start to pick up!

My favorite passages:

It was such a relief to just say it out loud. Already I felt better, despite how bruised my heart was.

"...You can go anywhere in a book. Books are adventure. Knowledge. Possibility. Magic."

I was a little cold, admittedly, but my heart was so very warm. Would I ever get over this flush of happiness at the sight of him? Probably never.

Sometimes you make plans. Sometimes plans make themselves.

The characters were lovely and I really enjoyed that the story was told by different characters that were inside of an inn, sitting around drinking ale. I also really enjoyed the lovely illustrations!

This book started out strong but then I just lost interest... I would say that this book is definitely worth reading. I hear that the audio book is awesome, so maybe I will try that if I ever feel the need to reread.

Favorite passages:
They called her Gwenforte- which is a ridiculous name for a dog, if you ask me. But they never did ask me, so that’s what they called her.

William, Jacob, and Jeanne, despite their differences, found it remarkably easy to talk to one another. As if, despite their different accents, they had finally met someone who spoke their native tongue.

There are some people in this world who have magic in them. Whose very presence makes you happier. Some of those people, it turns out, are children.

I only wish this book was longer! :) Wonderful artwork! I'm so thankful that I saw the Tim Burton exhibit while I was in NYC. Because of that exhibit I recognized many pieces included here. Definitely check it out if you are a Tim Burton fan!

Favorite lines:
In the end, creativity is the saving grace of Tim Burtons heroes, whether they appear on paper as many-limbed, multitasking monsters, or on screen as woebegone humans sculpting shrubs and ice, inventing tall tales, directing exploitation in films, slitting throats, or surviving Wonderland. Their example of imaginative activity, as a response to conditions of disconnection and isolation, is the overarching message of Burton's work.

Burton is the conductor at the center of this collective creativity, and his films thus far are evidence of his distinctive individual stamp.

This book was incredible! A great mix of ghost story/urban legend, history, and scientific reasoning/debunking. It is clear that Colin really did his research with this book. I absolutely loved the way that it was organized. And Colin's transitions? Perfect.

While I wouldn't necessarily say this book is "spooky"...thinking about the stories Colin covers can certainly creep you out after you've shut the book for the night. Though if you're looking for just a book of ghost stories, this isn't the right book. Colin debunks most of the stories or gives suggestive reasoning as to why science could explain the situation.

Further, I found it really interesting to read and think about why people believe in ghost stories.

I knocked off one star because of the condescending tone that I picked up on, specifically in the chapter about ghost hunters. While I totally understand the authors viewpoint there, the way that many bits were worded just didn't sit well with me. After that bit, I picked up on it a handful of times throughout the rest of the book.

In the end, I would highly recommend giving it a read.

Favorite passages:
Ghosts bridge the past to the present; they speak across the seemingly insurmountable barriers of death and time, connecting us to what we thought was lost. They give us hope for a life beyond death and because of this help us to cope with loss and grief. Their presence is the promise that we don’t have to say goodbye to our loved ones right away and that - as with Athendorus’s haunting- what was left undone in one’s life might yet be finished by one’s ghost.

Just as an oyster turns a speck of dirt into a pearl, the ghost story doesn’t make the feeling disappear, but can transform it into something more stable, less unsettling.

Many times a ghost story is simply an attempt to account for some scattered tidbits, some disconnected facts, that don’t add up. We tell spooky tales and scary stories because the alternative - the open-ended chaos of the unknown- is even more terrifying.

Ghost stories like this are a way for us to revel in the open wounds of the past while the question of responsibility for that past blurs, then fades away.

Such a fun and quick read. I read it in two short sittings. I absolutely love this story!

The edition I read had black paper with white text, which was really interesting! Though it was slightly hard to read in dim rooms. So just make sure you had adequate lighting when you pick this one up.

Favorite passages:
The terrier was thirty pounds of wiggly body and wagging tail.

When you lose someone you love, they never really leave you. They just move into a special place in your heart.

His tail wiped back and fourth as Sparky gave his boy wet, sloppy kisses. In fact, it was wagging so furiously that it came off and flew across the room. It landed with a little thud in the corner. Looking up, Victor saw the tail and then Sparky’s bare backside. “I can fix that,” Victor said. Then he went back to hugging his dog.

I really enjoyed this book! When I started reading, I discovered that I was hearing the story in my head as narrated by Stephen Fry (the narrator in The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy), though I'm not sure why...

This book definitely gave me a Coraline/Lemony Snicker vibe, so of course I loved that! However, once I finished the story, I realized just how similar it is to Coraline...and I'm not sure exactly how to feel about that.

The storyline itself was decent (though again, very similar to Coraline). I truly thought this story was creepy though! And I LOVED the creep factor. Especially for a children's book! I mean, some bits would have absolutely terrified me if I had read it when I was younger. At age 26, I was so creeped out thinking about the story after I finished it at 11pm that I used the light on my phone to get into bed after turning off the lamp that was across the room... This doesn't happen very often, so I was impressed.

The characters were a bit meh for me, but I enjoyed them. Even though the main character, Victoria, really drove me nuts with her uptight and perfectionist personality. Though it was so extreme that I found it a bit funny. Especially the, "I swear on my academic report" bit. I do wish we had gotten to know Lawrence just a bit more.

My biggest irks included:
1) The repetition (my usual irk). There were just numerous times where I read a sentence and thought "didn't I just read this?" This happened mostly when Victoria was trying to pump herself up so she wouldn't be scared. But more than a couple of times I read something repetitive and was just like, "okay...she's scared...she doesn't understand...etc. We got it the first two or three times she said/thought it."

2) That the illustrations didn't always match up to the story. Don't get me wrong, I thought the illustrations were lovely! Just in one we see Victoria in her normal clothes when she was supposed to be in PJ's... And in another she was supposed to be carrying the dog, but she wasn't... When I look at illustrations I want them to actually fit the story perfectly. Maybe that's unreasonable. But when I saw these two illustrations, I wondered if the artist had even really read the story, or if the author changed things up after the artist had done the illustration.

Overall a very good read. I would definitely recommend this book!

Favorite lines/passages:
She wore fancy aprons in the kitchen even though she didn’t cook, because she looked lovely in aprons, and that’s what one is supposed to wear in a kitchen, after all.

Victoria hated that feeling, and any between feelings, for that matter. Things should be one or the other, not somewhere in the middle, and lately, everything was in the middle.