Review: I really wanted “Shatter Me” to live up to the hype for me, but it just didn’t. I think that this is in part due to the fact that “Shatter Me” is a middle grade book and had I read it in middle school, my thoughts would definitely be different. 

 

One issue I came across while reading this novel as an adult was the surface level depth of the storyline. I think that this issue stemmed from the novel’s pacing. Certain sections felt rushed, especially the period in which Adam and Juliette fell in love, which happened instantly. 

 

Aside from the pacing, I felt as though there wasn’t really anything to distinguish “Shatter Me” from its dystopian competitors. The plot of “Shatter Me” follows the same formula of other novels in its genre and contains the following clichés: an oppressive government under the guise of a utopian society, a persecuted protagonist with a powerful genetic makeup, and the manipulation of the world’s historical records. 

 

Though it falls prey to clichés, Mafi does do a great job constructing the world in “Shatter Me.” Mafi creates a government known to the reader as “The Reestablishment.” The government divides each continent into sectors that are then placed under the control of sector commanders. Opposite the government is Omega Point, a rebel party. The main sources of conflict as the series progresses are The Reestablishment and Omega Point as they fight for control over the Earth’s population. The planet itself is dying—there is no food, no animals, and air pollution. All in all, Mafi does a fantastic job outlining the world’s backstory, political structure, social classes, and environment. 

 

I also found Mafi’s use of strikethroughs, repetition, hyperbolic language, and counting to be unique in depicting Juliette’s erraticism. 

 

As I continue along in the series, I look forward to following Warner’s character arc. I find him to be an intriguing antagonist and his interactions with Juliette are entertaining. I have a feeling that he will be my favorite character. I love a good villain!

Review: Tessa Bailey does it again!! “Hook, Line, and Sinker” is the perfect end to the Bellinger Sisters duology. 

 

I really enjoyed getting to know the main characters after being introduced to them in “It Happened One Summer” and catching up with Brendan and Piper! 

 

I don’t normally enjoy the friends-to-lovers trope, but Fox and Hannah’s relationship development is so well written! Hannah falls in love with Fox’s true self the closer they become as friends. She sees through his self-destructive nature and wants to help shoulder the burden of his past. Fox wants nothing more than to help Hannah realize that she is a “leading lady” after she confides in him about her insecurities. 

 

Both characters are extremely complex. I appreciate how Bailey created Hannah and Fox to shed light on real issues. Fox suffers from a lot of childhood trauma surrounding his image. Growing up, his father was not really present in his life and he was a bit of a player. Many people developed “like father like son” assumptions, because Fox shared his father’s physical attributes. He eventually “follows in his father’s footsteps” after experiencing his first heartbreak. He becomes the player, the heartbreaker, and the noncommittal man everyone expects him to be, which creates a lot of internal conflict. It is not until Fox meets Hannah that he is able to build up enough courage to escape the pressures imposed on him by society, the real issue at hand. 

 

Hannah grapples with the fear of being a “side character.” She feels almost overshadowed by her sister Piper, who is a successful woman carving out her own life in Westport. She is prevented from pursuing her own dream because her current position is a comfortable one. But with the help of Fox, she takes the leap and steps into her own spotlight. 

 

I absolutely love how both characters lift each other up throughout the novel. They offer one another so much love and support. It brings tears to my eyes. 

 

I hope Bailey finds a way to write more about Westport in the future! I cannot get enough of the Bellingers!

Review: I really wanted “From Lukov with Love” to be my favorite Mariana Zapata book, but the novel ended up being a bit of a let down for me. There were two aspects in particular that I found a bit off-putting: the body shaming that was present and the slow relationship development. 

 

I get that figure skating is very competitive, but I felt as though a lot of the comments made and certain scenes were extreme and unnecessary. For instance, Ivan calls Jasmine “meatball.” It is clear that the nickname bothers her because she lashes out every time she hears it. To make matters worse, he often jokes about her losing weight, which results in her not wanting to participate in a nude photoshoot with him in fear of him to make fun of her body. Her family even makes fun of her not losing weight until she was 16 in front of Ivan, which I found upsetting. 

 

With regards to the romance, it did not spark until the very end. Ivan does not confess his love for Jasmine until page 495 (there are 540 pages in total). Things happened way too slowly. I felt as though the novel was more about friendship, which I didn’t mind, because Ivan’s development from bully to friend was lovely. Once the two began to tolerate each other, I fell in love with their dynamic. Ivan’s personality meshes well with Jasmine’s tougher exterior. 

 

Ivan himself is just so sweet and protective. I love the little things he does to spend more time with Jasmine, like sitting in on family dinners and babysitting with her. When Jasmine fell ill, he made her soup. When Jasmine’s father expressed his disappointment with her lack of retirement plan, he came to her defense. When Jasmine injures herself, he drove her to physical therapy. My only wish is that more of these moments were included after the two officially declared their love for each other. 

 

I appreciated the representation in this novel. Jasmine identifies as half filipino and has a learning dis/ability. Though Jasmine struggles to read, she does not let that her get in the way of what she wants in life, which I think is such an important message for readers. 

 

While “From Lukov with Love” isn’t my favorite romance novel by Mariana Zapata, I am so glad that I finally had the chance to give it a read. 

Review: I think it is safe to say that I am addicted to Zapata slow burns. “All Rhodes Lead Here” is the third book that I have read by Mariana Zapata and I LOVED it so much!! 

I really enjoyed exploring the wilderness through Aurora’s perspective. The hikes that she took through Pagosa Springs were so descriptive and the beautiful imagery made me feel as though I was venturing through the forest with her. I totally understand why Rhodes chose to be a fish and game warden in that area, which is a pretty cool job occupation if I might add.

Another aspect I loved about the book was the relationship development between Aurora and Rhodes. The two start out as strangers, Aurora being Rhodes’ tenant, and become friends over time. When the pair begin to feel attraction for one another near the end of the novel, Rhodes does not rush anything. I think that this is so important considering Aurora experiences a lot of trauma stemming from her previous relationship. Rhodes gave Aurora the space she needed to figure out what she wanted. At the same time, he was only a call away she ever needed a bear hug, emphasizing the importance of strong support systems. 

Rhodes, as a character, is just a big sweetheart. I love how protective he is of Aurora. When Aurora got lost on one of the trails, he abandoned his post to search for her, later taking care of her injuries when they returned home. 

Rhodes’ love for his son is unmatched. He did not have to be present in Amos’ life (Rhodes served as a sperm donor for his best friend and his wife) but CHOSE to be involved anyway. He CHOSE not to re-enlist, even though he found joy in serving his country, so that he did not have to miss out on any of his son’s “first times.” Amos’ family may be unconventional (with three parents and all), but he is loved nonetheless. The representation of nontraditional families in literature is so important and I appreciate Zapata making that a highlight of this book.

Review: “The Unhoneymooners” is my first Christina Lauren novel and boy did I have a great time reading it! 

Ethan and Olive’s banter was absolutely hilarious! I really felt like I could connect well with the characters because of their humor and there were certain paragraphs I could not read without laughing, which made it an engaging read.

Christina Lauren also incorporate a lot of my favorite tropes in “The Unhoneymooners!” I loved watching Ethan and Olive’s hatred for each other at the beginning of the book slowly melt away as they pretended to be a couple “honeymooning” in Hawaii! 

Speaking of Hawaii, the lush descriptions of the couple’s surroundings in Maui, such as the sunsets, made me feel as though I was vacationing with them. The imagery was spectacular and I hated parting with it when Ethan and Olive returned to Minnesota. 

A massive shift does take place when the couple returns home. A separate storyline emerges and the couple’s two week relationship is immediately put into jeopardy. I must admit that I did not particularly like the huge misunderstanding that threatened to ruin everything. I did not find it believable. Dane, Olive’s brother-in-law, hit on Olive. She tried to tell both Ami, her sister, and Ethan this, but they instead took Dane’s word over hers. There was no reason really for them to think that she was lying, at least to my understanding. This was the second conflict in the book that I found bizarre, the first being the explanation for the rift between Olive and Ethan at the beginning of the book.

The emphasis on family in “The Unhoneymooners” was one of my favorite aspects of the novel. I loved how Olive’s family took care of her when she lost her job. They kept her fed and used their connections to help find her a temporary position at a restaurant. I also loved how they supported Ami through her heartbreak. Reading Olive’s text messages to her family throughout the novel was both incredibly entertaining and super sweet.

Review: OH. MY. GOD. “House of Earth and Blood” is definitely Maas’ best work yet! I seriously could not put this book down. 

Reading urban fantasy was such a change of pace for me and I love how Maas incorporated a murder mystery into the storyline. The subtle clues sprinkled throughout paired with the novel’s fantastical elements kept fully engaged and on my toes. 

Though I was a bit overwhelmed by the world building in the first 100 pages, I was absolutely blown away by its complexities. Many species of beings were introduced that differed from those that existed in Maas’ other series which was exciting. I appreciated the guide at the novel’s start, as it helped me to further distinguish between the different types of species and the houses they belong to. I also thought that the magic involved in “House of Earth and Blood” was well thought out and contributed to my understanding of the world’s government/ruling system.  The more magic one possesses, the more power they have, as evidenced by the Asteri, the houses of Midgard, and who is qualified to hold the governor position. 

Like Maas’ other novels, “House of Earth and Blood” has a strong female lead. However, what makes Bryce Quinlan stand out is that she is actually part fae, part human. Throughout the story, Bryce struggles with not being able to fully identify with one species or the other and she often faces discrimination. What makes Bryce’s character so powerful is the way she shows strength in the face of adversity. 

I really enjoyed watching Hunt and Bryce’s relationship blossom. It was the perfect enemies-to-lovers, slow burn romance! Though it took a while for sparks to fly, everything about the development of their relationship felt so natural. Maas took her time revealing the full extent of their losses and capturing how Hunt and Bryce were able to heal each other’s wounds over time. 

Another aspect of the novel I appreciated was the presence of diverse characters. It was great see characters identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community live openly (like Isaiah), characters of color share their point-of-view (like Hunt), and characters of color hold powerful positions (like Hypaxia). “House of Earth and Blood” also comments on slavery and oppression which is important to note.

“House of Earth and Blood” is definitely one of my favorite reads of 2022! I cannot wait to see what “House of Sky and Breath” has in store!