I don't often read crime novels, but this one was really cool with an air of mystery and true to life/complex characters. There were some interesting parallels to Gone Girl; so if the characters in that book frustrated you (if you wanted to reach through the book and slap both of them) this book was like an antedote featuring main characters I empathized with and wanted to reach through the book and hug. So, from what I gather, I now need to read The Likeness because it's even better...

This was such an enjoyable read. I love books with a fantastical nature; this fairy tale of a novel was suspenseful and full of beautiful prose. I only wish that it stuck with the magic of a girl conceived of snow and none of the supposed realities of her life. There were a lot of unanswered questions by the end of the book and I think they could have been forgiven if Faina's character was kept shrouded in magic and secrecy throughout the entire book.

Of all the dystopian YA I've read, the first book in this trilogy (Matched) stood out for me and was one of my favorites. I was really looking forward to seeing this through and unraveling the secrets of the Society and Cassia's family - specifically her grandfather. Alas, all the talk of Society vs the Rising vs the Enemy got convoluded and nothing is revealed that I didn't already assume. And yet, many things are left ambiguous and I felt a bit beaten over the head with the theme of threes.

This book had an awesome premise and started off tense and thrilling. I was glad to follow more of Cassie Maddox and her story after tearing through 'In The Woods.' But, somewhere along the way, it lost steam for me. I guess I didn't care enough about the victim to really want to know who killed her, and I didn't much care for any of the suspects, so I didn't want to know much more about them. Meh.

Ah, this was one of those heartbreaking, yet hilarious novels. It was like the movie Home for the Holidays - but, in this case the characters were home to sit Shiva after the passing of their father; which was a really interesting premise. There seemed to be a little 'Running With Scissors' vibe thrown in with the shock value and the insanity of Judd's family/friends. His crazy, funny, morose, heartbreaking journey of self-realization is compulsively readable.

Not quite as fun as the first one (The Luxe), but still good soap opera brain candy - a great blend of Sense and Sensibility/Downton/Titanic. Be prepared for another cliffhanger ending; at least the whole series is published and I don't have to wait to pick up the next book...

Oh I just love, love, love her. I listened to the audiobook, which I highly recommend so that you can hear her pitch-perfect delivery. There were a few parts that got a little long, with stories I wasn't as interested in as I would have been to hear more about her time directing Mean Girls, doing SNL or 30 Rock. But, on the whole this is a gut busting read.

I think I'm not alone when I say that it took me until 3/4 of the way through this book for it to pick up steam. I listened to the first half on audiobook and was glad to switch to the hardcover, as there were a few things essential to the plot that could not be conveyed in the audio version. It's the story of two women, one a pilot and one a spy, and their unlikely friendship during WWII. I'm glad I finished it, because the ending was masterful - intense, stunning, and ultimately heartbreaking.