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“Wow. Death by books. That would have been some way to go.”
--
I can see now why this is one of the most popular Wattpad books! Also I can't believe a seventeen year old girl wrote this! So very impressive. This reminds me of [a:Sarah Dessen|2987|Sarah Dessen|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1372181953p2/2987.jpg]'s work, as well as most stories in the teen romance genre. Most romances are sappy and unbearable to read, but this one wasn't like that at all. "The Kissing Booth" is a touching and realistic love story. Plus the movie adaptation is similar to the book on almost all accounts, from the perfect casting to the dialogue straight from the original work.
This is the essential summer beach read. It's light-hearted, cute and altogether fun. While the romance seems magical, the rest of the story feels realistic. Besides the Flynn family's crazy wealth, the dialogue was exactly right for teenagers. Since Reekles was a teenager while writing this, it makes sense that she accurately portrays what it feels like to be a kid. The best aspect of this book was the carnival. This scene was super entertaining because it brought back wonderful childhood memories. The concept of a carnival romance is unique for sure and that's what makes this story stand out.
There's two overlapping metaphors that the book focuses on: what it means to be a kid versus being an adult. The carnival represents Elle's childhood innocence and her kiss with Noah begins her journey into adulthood. Whenever Elle is narrating the story, which is most of the time, she reflects back on her childhood and how quickly she grew up. This is especially prevalent in the last couple chapters; when Noah gets on the plane, it's the moment Elle is forced to let go of her childhood.
--
I can see now why this is one of the most popular Wattpad books! Also I can't believe a seventeen year old girl wrote this! So very impressive. This reminds me of [a:Sarah Dessen|2987|Sarah Dessen|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1372181953p2/2987.jpg]'s work, as well as most stories in the teen romance genre. Most romances are sappy and unbearable to read, but this one wasn't like that at all. "The Kissing Booth" is a touching and realistic love story. Plus the movie adaptation is similar to the book on almost all accounts, from the perfect casting to the dialogue straight from the original work.
This is the essential summer beach read. It's light-hearted, cute and altogether fun. While the romance seems magical, the rest of the story feels realistic. Besides the Flynn family's crazy wealth, the dialogue was exactly right for teenagers. Since Reekles was a teenager while writing this, it makes sense that she accurately portrays what it feels like to be a kid. The best aspect of this book was the carnival. This scene was super entertaining because it brought back wonderful childhood memories. The concept of a carnival romance is unique for sure and that's what makes this story stand out.
There's two overlapping metaphors that the book focuses on: what it means to be a kid versus being an adult. The carnival represents Elle's childhood innocence and her kiss with Noah begins her journey into adulthood. Whenever Elle is narrating the story, which is most of the time, she reflects back on her childhood and how quickly she grew up. This is especially prevalent in the last couple chapters; when Noah gets on the plane, it's the moment Elle is forced to let go of her childhood.
"You want to read next?" Eleanor sips hot chocolate from a teacup.
--
Another ARC book courtesy of being a librarian at the Fredricksen. I initially picked up this book because of how December reminded me of myself as a kid. I would also memorize facts about animals. I too was bullied for being a weirdo and a nerd. Like December, I struggled to make friends. This book is perfect for the shy, nervous kids who visit the library. "Extraordinary Birds" gives a voice to the unusual kids, the ones who just want to be themselves.
December was a protagonist I related to easily. We both love birds, which is the reason I chose the book, and we both suffer from anxiety. Although the book mainly focuses on December's PTSD, her anxiety is ever present, especially after she gets lost in the corn maze. It was profoundly moving when [a:Sandy Stark-McGinnis|17675031|Sandy Stark-McGinnis|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1550581334p2/17675031.jpg] spelled out what anxiety feels like, as well as how it affects December personally. This book is a wonderful way to teach kids about mental health.
Cheryllynn is everything that a best friend should be. I love how December and Cheryllynn end up supporting each other. It was a refreshing change to have a trans character in middle grade fiction that wasn't defined by their orientation. There is so much more to Cheryllynn than her gender. As December learns more about Cheryllynn's personality, the reader learns that Cheryllynn doesn't deserve to be judged.
Final thoughts:
- Eleanor is so perfect for December! I loved their mother-daughter dynamic.
- I kinda wished December hadn't given up her fantasy of flying.
- I wished we would of seen December's wings...
--
Another ARC book courtesy of being a librarian at the Fredricksen. I initially picked up this book because of how December reminded me of myself as a kid. I would also memorize facts about animals. I too was bullied for being a weirdo and a nerd. Like December, I struggled to make friends. This book is perfect for the shy, nervous kids who visit the library. "Extraordinary Birds" gives a voice to the unusual kids, the ones who just want to be themselves.
December was a protagonist I related to easily. We both love birds, which is the reason I chose the book, and we both suffer from anxiety. Although the book mainly focuses on December's PTSD, her anxiety is ever present, especially after she gets lost in the corn maze. It was profoundly moving when [a:Sandy Stark-McGinnis|17675031|Sandy Stark-McGinnis|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1550581334p2/17675031.jpg] spelled out what anxiety feels like, as well as how it affects December personally. This book is a wonderful way to teach kids about mental health.
Cheryllynn is everything that a best friend should be. I love how December and Cheryllynn end up supporting each other. It was a refreshing change to have a trans character in middle grade fiction that wasn't defined by their orientation. There is so much more to Cheryllynn than her gender. As December learns more about Cheryllynn's personality, the reader learns that Cheryllynn doesn't deserve to be judged.
Final thoughts:
- Eleanor is so perfect for December! I loved their mother-daughter dynamic.
- I kinda wished December hadn't given up her fantasy of flying.
- I wished we would of seen December's wings...
Easily the best audiobook I've listened to this year! It gives me metaphorical heart eyes.
--
"I am a museum full of art." - [a:Rupi Kaur|8075577|Rupi Kaur|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1444103068p2/8075577.jpg]
Having the book read by the author really does make a difference. I could tell by Kaur's voice that she was claiming her own words and acting them out for her audience. It was more of an experience that just a book.
What's lovely about this read is that each poem is short so you can read the book straight through in a day. The audiobook is your best bet. Every twenty minutes or so there's gorgeous Indian music in the background as the narrator transitions to the next poem. The atmosphere is made real.
I didn't expect to relate so much to Kaur's first couple poems. When she speaks on her relationship with her father it hit me hard. She puts into words emotions I have felt but have not known how to express. An excellent example of this are the lines: "Every time you tell your daughter you yell at her out of love you teach her to confuse anger with kindness which seems like a good idea till she grows up to trust men who hurt her cause they look so much like you." What Kaur described is exactly what happened to me. This is the moment I fell in love with the book. Her take on feminist poetry is completely original and her quotes on self-love are meaningful. Kaur so perfectly understands people; her talent is undeniable. Instead of just making you feel some way, Kaur makes you understand "why" you feel that way.
Favorite Quotes:
"you tell me to quiet down cause my opinions make me less beautiful but i was not made with a fire in my belly..."
"The kindest words my father said to me
Women like you drown oceans."
"your art
is about
if your heart likes your work"
"fall
in love
with your solitude"
"apparently it is ungraceful of me
to mention my period in public
cause the actual biology
of my body is too real
it is okay to sell what's
between a woman's legs
more than it is okay to
mention its inner workings..."
--
"I am a museum full of art." - [a:Rupi Kaur|8075577|Rupi Kaur|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1444103068p2/8075577.jpg]
Having the book read by the author really does make a difference. I could tell by Kaur's voice that she was claiming her own words and acting them out for her audience. It was more of an experience that just a book.
What's lovely about this read is that each poem is short so you can read the book straight through in a day. The audiobook is your best bet. Every twenty minutes or so there's gorgeous Indian music in the background as the narrator transitions to the next poem. The atmosphere is made real.
I didn't expect to relate so much to Kaur's first couple poems. When she speaks on her relationship with her father it hit me hard. She puts into words emotions I have felt but have not known how to express. An excellent example of this are the lines: "Every time you tell your daughter you yell at her out of love you teach her to confuse anger with kindness which seems like a good idea till she grows up to trust men who hurt her cause they look so much like you." What Kaur described is exactly what happened to me. This is the moment I fell in love with the book. Her take on feminist poetry is completely original and her quotes on self-love are meaningful. Kaur so perfectly understands people; her talent is undeniable. Instead of just making you feel some way, Kaur makes you understand "why" you feel that way.
Favorite Quotes:
"you tell me to quiet down cause my opinions make me less beautiful but i was not made with a fire in my belly..."
"The kindest words my father said to me
Women like you drown oceans."
"your art
is about
if your heart likes your work"
"fall
in love
with your solitude"
"apparently it is ungraceful of me
to mention my period in public
cause the actual biology
of my body is too real
it is okay to sell what's
between a woman's legs
more than it is okay to
mention its inner workings..."
"So, what did you think of the Unseelie Court?"
--
I was more than excited to venture back into [a:Holly Black|25422|Holly Black|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1261867163p2/25422.jpg]'s faerie world! In a lot of ways, I even liked this better than [b:The Cruel Prince|26032825|The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air, #1)|Holly Black|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1493047153l/26032825._SY75_.jpg|45959123]. *All fans of her work will now scream at me!* While I like Jude and Cardan's relationship, sometimes their fighting can get old. In "The Modern Faerie Tales," readers learn more about the worldbuilding and storytelling aspects of the fae courts. I got to know more about how fae and human relationships worked. "The Cruel Prince" is told exclusively through Jude's eyes and it was nice to get more characters' perspectives.
This book is not to be read lightly. It is a whooping 1000 pages. It is a tribute to how much I admire Black's writing that I binged this book in 3 days. Each story is so engrossing that I COULD. NOT. QUIT. THE. BOOK. It was so easy for me to root for Kaye and Roiben to end up together. I usually never root for romance but Black got the better of me. While I loved the independent and strong heroines in these stories, I loved the male characters just as much. Roiben was one of my favorites. He seemed like he'll be a much better ruler than Cardan. While Roiben has some angst and selfishness to him, Roiben goes through major character development. By "Ironside," especially with how he treats Lutie, I could see him becoming a fair and just leader of the fae.
It's easiest for me to break down my review by the stories. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO READ THEM IN ORDER OR ELSE YOU WILL BE veeeeeery CONFUSED. In "Tithe" we get to know Kaye, a pixie girl who was raised in the human realm. Her imaginary friends are fae creatures and she saves the life of an unseelie knight formerly of the Seelie court. What follows is a gorgeous and exciting adventure with unforgettable characters. My favorite things about this story were the epic and unexpected conclusion, Kaye's friendship with Corny, the beautiful imagery and the fae parties.
In "Valiant," it's the story of Val, a human girl. This was my least favorite out of the three stories. It's jarring to move from Kaye's immersive story to Val's story. Also we know far less about Val than we do Kaye so it's difficult to bond with her. By the way, Val reminds me of a less sassy Jude. However, I learned to like Val overtime. This story is slow to develop but the last hundred pages are awesome! Val and Luis's friendship is lovely, as well as their interactions with Ravus. It took me a while to warm up to the idea of a troll and human relationship but Val and Ravus won me over.
In "Ironside," all our favorite characters come together! This was my favorite of the three stories. We saw more of Luis and he was finally able to let go of his brother, Corny found a healthy love, Kaye figured out where she stood with Roiben, there was a final battle and the villains finally got their comeuppance. While everything wasn't wrapped up perfectly, I did love how the story ended. It was wonderful to start up Kaye's story again. The idea of her going on a quest for Roiben was such a fun concept, and I adored the lavish winter solstice ball. That was the best scene! Even though our favorite characters are scattered all over the place, they meet at all the right times. Luis and Corny's talks made them such better people and Kaye got to know Roiben better by fighting for him. I admire the way Black gives her couples a chance to get to know each other before they fall in love.
Final thoughts:
- It's a good idea to read this before you read The Folk and Air series. In "The Cruel Prince" and [b:The Wicked King|26032887|The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air, #2)|Holly Black|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1520620414l/26032887._SY75_.jpg|45959180] there are references to the characters in this book. I read The Folk and Air series first and I completely missed all the important character details! It helps to know who Kaye and Roiben are especially.
- A few things bothered me. I thought it strange that Kaye and Val didn't get more scenes together. Also Corny went down a dark path in "Ironside" that was annoying and boring to read about. It felt unnecessary. I understand that he wanted revenge but he became psychotic!
- I LOVED the Lutie-Loo short story. It was everything that a faerie short story should be! I loved having the Cardan reference for fans to notice. Roiben was my favorite character in the story; he was perfect as the new ruler of the fae. Seeing Kaye's coffee shop dream become a reality was perfect too. The only aspect of this story that annoyed me was Val becoming pregnant and removed from the story. She was barely there!
- I can't wait until [b:The Queen of Nothing|26032912|The Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air, #3)|Holly Black|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1553624975l/26032912._SX50_.jpg|45959205] comes out! I'm going to preorder it Friday.
The reason this didn't get 5 stars is because I wanted even more of the stories!
--
I was more than excited to venture back into [a:Holly Black|25422|Holly Black|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1261867163p2/25422.jpg]'s faerie world! In a lot of ways, I even liked this better than [b:The Cruel Prince|26032825|The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air, #1)|Holly Black|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1493047153l/26032825._SY75_.jpg|45959123]. *All fans of her work will now scream at me!* While I like Jude and Cardan's relationship, sometimes their fighting can get old. In "The Modern Faerie Tales," readers learn more about the worldbuilding and storytelling aspects of the fae courts. I got to know more about how fae and human relationships worked. "The Cruel Prince" is told exclusively through Jude's eyes and it was nice to get more characters' perspectives.
This book is not to be read lightly. It is a whooping 1000 pages. It is a tribute to how much I admire Black's writing that I binged this book in 3 days. Each story is so engrossing that I COULD. NOT. QUIT. THE. BOOK. It was so easy for me to root for Kaye and Roiben to end up together. I usually never root for romance but Black got the better of me. While I loved the independent and strong heroines in these stories, I loved the male characters just as much. Roiben was one of my favorites. He seemed like he'll be a much better ruler than Cardan. While Roiben has some angst and selfishness to him, Roiben goes through major character development. By "Ironside," especially with how he treats Lutie, I could see him becoming a fair and just leader of the fae.
It's easiest for me to break down my review by the stories. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO READ THEM IN ORDER OR ELSE YOU WILL BE veeeeeery CONFUSED. In "Tithe" we get to know Kaye, a pixie girl who was raised in the human realm. Her imaginary friends are fae creatures and she saves the life of an unseelie knight formerly of the Seelie court. What follows is a gorgeous and exciting adventure with unforgettable characters. My favorite things about this story were the epic and unexpected conclusion, Kaye's friendship with Corny, the beautiful imagery and the fae parties.
In "Valiant," it's the story of Val, a human girl. This was my least favorite out of the three stories. It's jarring to move from Kaye's immersive story to Val's story. Also we know far less about Val than we do Kaye so it's difficult to bond with her. By the way, Val reminds me of a less sassy Jude. However, I learned to like Val overtime. This story is slow to develop but the last hundred pages are awesome! Val and Luis's friendship is lovely, as well as their interactions with Ravus. It took me a while to warm up to the idea of a troll and human relationship but Val and Ravus won me over.
In "Ironside," all our favorite characters come together! This was my favorite of the three stories. We saw more of Luis and he was finally able to let go of his brother, Corny found a healthy love, Kaye figured out where she stood with Roiben, there was a final battle and the villains finally got their comeuppance. While everything wasn't wrapped up perfectly, I did love how the story ended. It was wonderful to start up Kaye's story again. The idea of her going on a quest for Roiben was such a fun concept, and I adored the lavish winter solstice ball. That was the best scene! Even though our favorite characters are scattered all over the place, they meet at all the right times. Luis and Corny's talks made them such better people and Kaye got to know Roiben better by fighting for him. I admire the way Black gives her couples a chance to get to know each other before they fall in love.
Final thoughts:
- It's a good idea to read this before you read The Folk and Air series. In "The Cruel Prince" and [b:The Wicked King|26032887|The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air, #2)|Holly Black|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1520620414l/26032887._SY75_.jpg|45959180] there are references to the characters in this book. I read The Folk and Air series first and I completely missed all the important character details! It helps to know who Kaye and Roiben are especially.
- A few things bothered me. I thought it strange that Kaye and Val didn't get more scenes together. Also Corny went down a dark path in "Ironside" that was annoying and boring to read about. It felt unnecessary. I understand that he wanted revenge but he became psychotic!
- I LOVED the Lutie-Loo short story. It was everything that a faerie short story should be! I loved having the Cardan reference for fans to notice. Roiben was my favorite character in the story; he was perfect as the new ruler of the fae. Seeing Kaye's coffee shop dream become a reality was perfect too. The only aspect of this story that annoyed me was Val becoming pregnant and removed from the story. She was barely there!
- I can't wait until [b:The Queen of Nothing|26032912|The Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air, #3)|Holly Black|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1553624975l/26032912._SX50_.jpg|45959205] comes out! I'm going to preorder it Friday.
The reason this didn't get 5 stars is because I wanted even more of the stories!
3.5 stars
I was excited to receive this ARC of one of the hottest anticipated historical fiction books of 2019. It seemed too good to be true. The cover is gorgeous, the characters sound intriguing and Sepetys is well known in the world of historical writers. Plus the large print was SO HELPFUL for me.
Warning: the beginning is slow. I'm talking 150 pages of build up. Ana guards her secrets so well that even the reader can't know them. The first section of the book consists of Daniel and Ana arguing about secrets, but also getting to know each other. At times I felt the setting was more interesting than the characters. While we learn very little about the main characters due to their secret-keeping, the hotel is described in gorgeous detail. I could imagine myself there!
The middle of the book, however, is wonderfully exciting. There's so much panic as Daniel is attempting to understand all of Spain's secrets. So many secrets are given away at once that it was overwhelming to read. Nothing happened the way I thought it would! While I wish the plot had moved faster, the quick reveals were really fun. And as a character, Daniel was so entertaining. He's thoughtful, humble and creative like me. I loved learning about photojournalism in the 1950s, which I didn't even know began that early. I was so glad to read that his career ended up flourishing at National Geographic.
Overall I did enjoy the historical aspects of this novel. Sepetys did a phenomenal job intermixing fact and fiction so each character felt alive. Specifically, the scandal involving adopted babies in Spain was something I didn't know previously. I hope the scandal continues to be investigated and it should definitely be taught in schools. I can't believe how little Americans know about Spanish history.
I was excited to receive this ARC of one of the hottest anticipated historical fiction books of 2019. It seemed too good to be true. The cover is gorgeous, the characters sound intriguing and Sepetys is well known in the world of historical writers. Plus the large print was SO HELPFUL for me.
Warning: the beginning is slow. I'm talking 150 pages of build up. Ana guards her secrets so well that even the reader can't know them. The first section of the book consists of Daniel and Ana arguing about secrets, but also getting to know each other. At times I felt the setting was more interesting than the characters. While we learn very little about the main characters due to their secret-keeping, the hotel is described in gorgeous detail. I could imagine myself there!
The middle of the book, however, is wonderfully exciting. There's so much panic as Daniel is attempting to understand all of Spain's secrets. So many secrets are given away at once that it was overwhelming to read. Nothing happened the way I thought it would! While I wish the plot had moved faster, the quick reveals were really fun. And as a character, Daniel was so entertaining. He's thoughtful, humble and creative like me. I loved learning about photojournalism in the 1950s, which I didn't even know began that early. I was so glad to read that his career ended up flourishing at National Geographic.
Overall I did enjoy the historical aspects of this novel. Sepetys did a phenomenal job intermixing fact and fiction so each character felt alive. Specifically, the scandal involving adopted babies in Spain was something I didn't know previously. I hope the scandal continues to be investigated and it should definitely be taught in schools. I can't believe how little Americans know about Spanish history.
4.5 stars
This ARC book is one of my favorite reads of 2019. [a:Robin Sloan|2960227|Robin Sloan|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1524283679p2/2960227.jpg]'s writing has improved so much since [b:Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore|43422608|Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore (Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, #1)|Robin Sloan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546275180l/43422608._SY75_.jpg|6736543]. I was impressed by the depth and stylistic choices he made in this novel. For example, there's the lovely emails sent back and forth between Lois and Beo. Instead of interrupting the flow of the story, these emails add a fun parallel to the characters' individual experiences. More than anything, I couldn't believe how much I loved Lois! This wholesome and lovable heroine is smart, down to earth, fearless and thoughtful. I related to her on every level. We're both vegetarians, dedicated bakers of bread, Hogwarts alumni and classical music lovers.
PREPARE TO GET HUNGRY. This book is the perfect company for those who bake and read. Baking bread is my favorite activity and I often do so with a podcast going. I want to search for an audiobook version of this to listen to while I knead dough!
The first chapter had me hooked. The quote: "Here’s a thing I believe about people my age: we are the children of Hogwarts, and more than anything, we just want to be sorted," let me know immediately what kind of book I was reading. I was more than happy to dig in! I was consumed by the beautiful story of self-discovery. Everything felt new to me, from Lois's name club to her job at a tech company. It's a wonderful feeling to discover a character's story that is so like your own but yet so different.
This story is unique in the genre of magical realism. It's inspirational and it's a standalone. While Lois's story inspires readers to try something new in their lives, it also makes it clear that no journey will ever be like hers. Even after Jaina steals the starter (I'm still mad at her for that!) her journey will never be like Lois's. Lois alone knows about the musical secret of her sourdough starter. It's fitting justice that Jaina will never appreciate the starter's true beauty.
The only reason this book isn't rated 5 stars is because I wanted it to go on forever! I already miss the characters at the Marrow market. Also, did anyone else get the feeling that Horace was from the book [b:Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore|13538873|Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore (Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, #1)|Robin Sloan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1345089845l/13538873._SY75_.jpg|6736543]??? He felt familiar to me. It is too much of a coincidence that Horace has his own bookstore hoard and is an archivist. I can't remember if there was a character named Horace in [b:Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore|13538873|Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore (Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, #1)|Robin Sloan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1345089845l/13538873._SY75_.jpg|6736543], but if there wasn't, this feels like a missed opportunity! I love the idea of Sloan's books being linked to each other.
This ARC book is one of my favorite reads of 2019. [a:Robin Sloan|2960227|Robin Sloan|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1524283679p2/2960227.jpg]'s writing has improved so much since [b:Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore|43422608|Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore (Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, #1)|Robin Sloan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546275180l/43422608._SY75_.jpg|6736543]. I was impressed by the depth and stylistic choices he made in this novel. For example, there's the lovely emails sent back and forth between Lois and Beo. Instead of interrupting the flow of the story, these emails add a fun parallel to the characters' individual experiences. More than anything, I couldn't believe how much I loved Lois! This wholesome and lovable heroine is smart, down to earth, fearless and thoughtful. I related to her on every level. We're both vegetarians, dedicated bakers of bread, Hogwarts alumni and classical music lovers.
PREPARE TO GET HUNGRY. This book is the perfect company for those who bake and read. Baking bread is my favorite activity and I often do so with a podcast going. I want to search for an audiobook version of this to listen to while I knead dough!
The first chapter had me hooked. The quote: "Here’s a thing I believe about people my age: we are the children of Hogwarts, and more than anything, we just want to be sorted," let me know immediately what kind of book I was reading. I was more than happy to dig in! I was consumed by the beautiful story of self-discovery. Everything felt new to me, from Lois's name club to her job at a tech company. It's a wonderful feeling to discover a character's story that is so like your own but yet so different.
This story is unique in the genre of magical realism. It's inspirational and it's a standalone. While Lois's story inspires readers to try something new in their lives, it also makes it clear that no journey will ever be like hers. Even after Jaina steals the starter (I'm still mad at her for that!) her journey will never be like Lois's. Lois alone knows about the musical secret of her sourdough starter. It's fitting justice that Jaina will never appreciate the starter's true beauty.
The only reason this book isn't rated 5 stars is because I wanted it to go on forever! I already miss the characters at the Marrow market. Also, did anyone else get the feeling that Horace was from the book [b:Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore|13538873|Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore (Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, #1)|Robin Sloan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1345089845l/13538873._SY75_.jpg|6736543]??? He felt familiar to me. It is too much of a coincidence that Horace has his own bookstore hoard and is an archivist. I can't remember if there was a character named Horace in [b:Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore|13538873|Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore (Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, #1)|Robin Sloan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1345089845l/13538873._SY75_.jpg|6736543], but if there wasn't, this feels like a missed opportunity! I love the idea of Sloan's books being linked to each other.
3.5 stars
WARNING: The first 100 pages are painstakingly slow. It seems like this book is going nowhere, but trust me, the rest is fantastic.
This book originally appealed to me due to its publicity; it's based in the 1920s, there's magic, mystery and drama. The scenes take place in old fashioned coffee houses, manor homes and the autumn streets of London. Sign me up!
What really kicks off the story is the séance scene in Ramona's home. It's dramatic in the best way! It's reminiscent of [a:Agatha Christie|123715|Agatha Christie|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1321738793p2/123715.jpg] and [a:GK Chesterton|19325791|GK Chesterton|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s amazing scene work with intrigue and plot suspense. I was pacing myself through the book until this scene hit me. I felt as if I was in the room with Ellie when the ghost was there!
Ellie is such a phenomenal main character to read about. She's mysterious, but not too mysterious, and she's just smart enough to lead the story but still needs help from her friends. I loved how [a:Simone St. James|4981568|Simone St. James|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1541540226p2/4981568.jpg] gave the reader a clear picture of Ellie as a person: a flapper with street smarts and psychic powers. I loved how the end of the story gave us a clear idea of the depth of Ellie's powers and psychic abilities!
My main thoughts:
- My favorite scene was the flashback when readers saw Ellie and Gloria together. When Gloria talks about how amazing it is that women like her have incredible powers when sexiest men don't, it was an empowering moment and I looooooved it.
- The descriptions were luscious and radiant. Reminded me of [b:The Great Gatsby|4671|The Great Gatsby|F. Scott Fitzgerald|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1490528560l/4671._SY75_.jpg|245494].
- I only partly guessed the identity of the murderer. Props to the author for making me think!
- Seeing Ellie come into her own and making her own choices as a woman was such a relief.
- The only reason this couldn't be 4 stars was the pacing. In the beginning, the book barely caught my interest. The buildup is too slow, especially since the story is barely 300 pages.
WARNING: The first 100 pages are painstakingly slow. It seems like this book is going nowhere, but trust me, the rest is fantastic.
This book originally appealed to me due to its publicity; it's based in the 1920s, there's magic, mystery and drama. The scenes take place in old fashioned coffee houses, manor homes and the autumn streets of London. Sign me up!
What really kicks off the story is the séance scene in Ramona's home. It's dramatic in the best way! It's reminiscent of [a:Agatha Christie|123715|Agatha Christie|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1321738793p2/123715.jpg] and [a:GK Chesterton|19325791|GK Chesterton|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s amazing scene work with intrigue and plot suspense. I was pacing myself through the book until this scene hit me. I felt as if I was in the room with Ellie when the ghost was there!
Ellie is such a phenomenal main character to read about. She's mysterious, but not too mysterious, and she's just smart enough to lead the story but still needs help from her friends. I loved how [a:Simone St. James|4981568|Simone St. James|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1541540226p2/4981568.jpg] gave the reader a clear picture of Ellie as a person: a flapper with street smarts and psychic powers. I loved how the end of the story gave us a clear idea of the depth of Ellie's powers and psychic abilities!
My main thoughts:
- My favorite scene was the flashback when readers saw Ellie and Gloria together. When Gloria talks about how amazing it is that women like her have incredible powers when sexiest men don't, it was an empowering moment and I looooooved it.
- The descriptions were luscious and radiant. Reminded me of [b:The Great Gatsby|4671|The Great Gatsby|F. Scott Fitzgerald|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1490528560l/4671._SY75_.jpg|245494].
- I only partly guessed the identity of the murderer. Props to the author for making me think!
- Seeing Ellie come into her own and making her own choices as a woman was such a relief.
- The only reason this couldn't be 4 stars was the pacing. In the beginning, the book barely caught my interest. The buildup is too slow, especially since the story is barely 300 pages.
3.5 stars
The 2004 adaptation by the BBC gave such wonderful life to this story. I would recommend that adaptation to anyone who feels intimidated by this 900ish page book. It is a challenging read, as a lot of the dialogue is repetitive and the pacing is slow.
WARNING: The pacing is veeeeery slow. Louis repeats his jealously to the point of lunacy. It's easy to hate his character but I can't help but feel for him. Colonel Osborne was in way over his head and I believe he was flirtatious with all women. I wish Louis would've aimed his anger towards Osborne, not his innocent wife.
Overall I enjoyed this psychological story but I was disappointed by the meandering plot. Louis and Emily could've cleared up their fight over a simple conversation. It's another case of fictional characters not acting like real people. This makes it to difficult to relate to the main characters.
The 2004 adaptation by the BBC gave such wonderful life to this story. I would recommend that adaptation to anyone who feels intimidated by this 900ish page book. It is a challenging read, as a lot of the dialogue is repetitive and the pacing is slow.
WARNING: The pacing is veeeeery slow. Louis repeats his jealously to the point of lunacy. It's easy to hate his character but I can't help but feel for him. Colonel Osborne was in way over his head and I believe he was flirtatious with all women. I wish Louis would've aimed his anger towards Osborne, not his innocent wife.
Overall I enjoyed this psychological story but I was disappointed by the meandering plot. Louis and Emily could've cleared up their fight over a simple conversation. It's another case of fictional characters not acting like real people. This makes it to difficult to relate to the main characters.
So far so good! I'm loving the immersive, escapist atmosphere of this book. The worldbuilding consumes the reader and makes me, at least, feel like a character in the story.

There's a hint of mystery to this fantasy novel. The combination of unanswered questions with impressive worldbuilding makes the plot come alive. I couldn't predict the ending right away and that's the mark of a well-written YA novel. I had so many theories going through my head: Who was Jules related to? Was the Queen her mother? Was Jules somehow the Sorceress? I knew that last one to be unlikely but what an excellent plot twist that would've been!

Although other reviewers have complained about how "Everless" is a copy of every other YA book, I disagree. There are some similarities to The Hunger Games, The Selection, Poison Study and A Court of Thorns and Roses. Jules is doing all she can to survive, like Katniss. Jules is staying at the palace and can't decide if she wants to win the prince's heart or not, like America Singer. Also there's all this palace intrigue and political undertones just like in Yelena's story. The first page of "Everless" has an eerily familiar hunting scene in the freezing weather. Jules, like Feyre, is struggling to hunt in the cold weather to feed her sick father. However, these strong similarities don't take anything away from the story. If anything, I was delighted by all the similarities because "Everless" reminded me of all my favorite books! "Everless" has enough differences with characters, worldbuilding and plot twists that it holds its own.





There's a hint of mystery to this fantasy novel. The combination of unanswered questions with impressive worldbuilding makes the plot come alive. I couldn't predict the ending right away and that's the mark of a well-written YA novel. I had so many theories going through my head: Who was Jules related to? Was the Queen her mother? Was Jules somehow the Sorceress? I knew that last one to be unlikely but what an excellent plot twist that would've been!

Although other reviewers have complained about how "Everless" is a copy of every other YA book, I disagree. There are some similarities to The Hunger Games, The Selection, Poison Study and A Court of Thorns and Roses. Jules is doing all she can to survive, like Katniss. Jules is staying at the palace and can't decide if she wants to win the prince's heart or not, like America Singer. Also there's all this palace intrigue and political undertones just like in Yelena's story. The first page of "Everless" has an eerily familiar hunting scene in the freezing weather. Jules, like Feyre, is struggling to hunt in the cold weather to feed her sick father. However, these strong similarities don't take anything away from the story. If anything, I was delighted by all the similarities because "Everless" reminded me of all my favorite books! "Everless" has enough differences with characters, worldbuilding and plot twists that it holds its own.