So, I know I get a little annoyed with all the "It's the next Gone Girl!" proclamations, but this had VERY similar nuances and pacing. It reminded me of Gillian Flynn in a good way. The story was creepy as hell and I was definitely still guessing how the plot would unfold until the bitter end. My one complaint was that I felt mired down in so many extraneous characters - still a good yarn.

I was reluctant to give this novel a go, since I couldn't even finish the first book in Stiefvater's Wolves of Mercy Falls series. However, so many book buddies just adore the Raven Cycle stories, and my curiosity got the better of me. I'm SO glad I read it! It took me a little bit to warm up to the story, as it's not quite linear; even after finishing it, there are still mysteries to be solved. But once you get to know these FANTASTIC characters, the story just takes off. I adored the friendship dynamic the Raven boys have with each other and with Blue. It's a totally odd, very cool and magical (in every sense of the word) novel and I've already acquired the second book to read this month.

Oh, where do I begin with this book? It's a self-published novel that really seems like one: heavy use of a thesaurus, a lot of indulgent scenes and characters that just disappear. There were a few great moments and descriptions, but not worth the slog and misogynistic tone. Some of this can be blamed on the times in which it was written (in the mid-70s) and the fact that it's directed toward a very narrow audience. Either way, I don't usually read books about running, as I sort of compartmentalize the running as escapism part of my life from my reading books as escapism. But, I did love The Running Dream and HIGHLY RECOMMEND that book for inspiration. As for Once a Runner, if you're a runner (especially a competitive male one) and like to read a story to nod your head along to while proclaiming "TOTALLY!" - then this is the book for you.

Another lovely redemption story about a struggling, and at times frustrating, protagonist. Like The Language of Flowers, Diffenbaugh's novels are like an embodiment of the sentiment that we should all be kind to one another because we really don't know what struggles others are carrying with them. Also a really eye opening commentary on the state of immigration in our country.

I mean, I really can't find fault with anything Jojo Moyes writes. This was not the same level of 'holy crap, this book will leave an indelible mark on your brain' as Me Before You. But, damn, if she doesn't write the most compelling dramas about the human condition, with characters that make me laugh out loud and swoon. I am glad she revisited Louisa's story, even if the finale of the previous book didn't really necessitate a sequel. I'm happy to read Moyes' indulgent whims!

These books are just crazy cool. The ability to take things out of your dreams and make them a reality? This kind of fantasy story could really just go all kinds of wrong. Yet Steifvater is MASTERFUL at telling eerie, dark and wholly believable tales. I enjoyed getting more of Ronan's character arc. The scenes between Blue and Adam (the boy she should love) and Gansey (the boy she shouldn't love but, of course, does) are fraught with such emotion and tension, I felt like I was reading on the edge of my seat. This surpassed The Raven Boys for sure and I'm excited to read the next installment: Blue Lily, Lily Blue - as well as the final book: The Raven King that will come out in the Spring!

The first books were all about a royal version of The Bachelor, and this is The Bachelorette. Still the same fun brain candy fare, and serves it's purpose for a light diversion. I was thinking this was a final installment. Alas, it looks to be another trilogy and I'm not sure if I'll pick up the next one. Cass really ought to come up with some synonyms for the word 'giggle' which was overused more than variations of 'dazzle' in Twilight and five times as cringe worthy.

I'm a sucker for books that weave a story together from narratives taking place in the past and the present. This story connects fictitious characters during the time of the New York Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of 1911, and during September 2001 in New York. It's the first time I've braved any kind of 9/11 lit, and I'm glad I did. It reminded me a great deal of The Girl You Left Behind with lovely (yet flawed) characters who find their way through unimaginably horrifying circumstances. Upon further research, I gather that Meiser writes all of her books with this technique and so I shall probably be reading more!

At first I thought that this was going to be another 'manic pixie dreamgirl' who is devoid of emotion story - see also: Unbecoming, Hausfrau, Paper Towns. But the story of Joan, the corps ballerina who assists the Russian star dancer to defect, becomes way more complex than the aforementioned titles. There is a 'secret reveal' plot point past the halfway mark that isn't at all surprising, yet where the story goes afterwards and with the supporting characters is, well, astonishing.

I've always wanted to pick up a book by Jennifer E. Smith. Her novels always seem to resurface on top YA lists and Bookriot posts. Plus I really dig the whimsical covers. It was a sweet read and I my inner pre-teen LOVED the premise of just a regular girl happening upon a correspondence with a celebrity, unbeknown to her - a fun take on a fairytale romance. I'd also recommend it as a summer read, as the setting of a sleepy little Maine town that bustles during the summer months (and during the filming of a movie) really comes to life and feels like another character.