Read my (spoiler-free) review on Heir of Glitter!

Read my (spoiler-free) review on Heir of Glitter!

Raw, riveting, and really important. I can't praise or recommend it enough. New favorite! *heart eyes* x 1,000,000

Love isn’t a choice. You fall for the person, not their chromosomes.

Read my (spoiler-free) review on Heir of Glitter!

A darker version of Aladdin that I loved just as much as the Disney movie. It was a crazy ride, with the same amusing, wonderful characters (except Jafar, he's evil) characters. Quite possibly one of my new favorite retellings of all time. (Other than ACOTAR.) I'll definitely continue this trilogy!

You can find my (spoiler-free) review and more on Heir of Glitter!

Full (spoiler-free) review on Heir of Glitter.

A gorgeous, whimsical whirlwind of a book. I can't wait for the companion/sequel! Also, Kamala is wonderful and hilarious, even if I didn't trust her at first. :)

Review also on Heir of Glitter.
My 5 favorite parts video.

This was my second Dessen book. I went into it with fairly average expectations, having read only one of her other books and liking but not loving it. Not to mention, I didn't really know what the story was. I wasn't blown away, but it was a touching contemporary read.

The plot was half original and half not-so-much. It follows Sydney as she and her family try to cope with the arrest of her older brother Peyton. I'm not sure if that storyline is common or not, but I personally haven't read anything like it. However, it's also about Sydney meeting a family that really gets who she is and makes her not want to be invisible anymore, particularly as she falls in love with the boy - her best friend's brother. That I have seen before, and I can't say that this was anything special. I will say, though, that if I looked past that trope, the story was very realistic and enjoyable.

I liked Sydney as a character, but I have to admit that I didn't see anything truly special or defining about her. She was an average, "invisible" girl, but changed when she met bold Layla and her quiet brother Mac. Before hanging out with them, her hobbies included watching reality shows after school while alone at home. There's nothing wrong with that, but I would've liked if she had a hobby. Granted, there were definitely obstacles in her path, but I don't think it would've hurt to try. ;)

I think Layla was my favorite. She was a romance novel, instruction manual, and French fry connoisseur. In general, she was just a very quirky person and I loved it. She had nerve to do and say things Sydney didn't, and was a wonderful friend too. I felt bad for her when Ames revealed Sydney's secret (I can't stand him!!) and was worried she wouldn't recover. Needless to say, I was thankful that she did. I would love to have a Layla in my life. :)

I liked Mac, too, but not quite as much - at least not right away. At first he was a mix of the quiet older brother and reluctant heir to the family business, but then more was revealed about him and I grew to like him. He had a fairly difficult past and I pitied him as my likeness for him grew, if that makes sense. One of my favorite things about him was that he loved to tinker with objects, and thought that anything broken could be fixed. It seemed like a refreshing mentality for a character to have. :)

The story took place in Lakeview, North Carolina, and I remember it being mentioned a handful of times in the story but actually had to look it up. However, it doesn't bother me too much, because description isn't quite as important in a contemporary. It is, but not as much so as a fantasy, sci-fi, or other genre, if that makes sense. I could imagine the characters and the town, and in a book like this, that's good enough for me.

It took basically the entire book for me to genuinely like Sydney's family. I thought her mom was too overbearing and her dad was too submissive, and both irritated me. I wanted her mom to calm down and her dad to speak up, and for both of them to stop and listen to Sydney. However, I did steadily grow to like them in the last couple of chapters, and in the very end I was happy.

I really liked Sydney's relationships with both Layla and Mac, respectively. Both were very helpful for her when she was in a rough spot. I loved the open, lighthearted friendship she had with Layla, and the casual, teasing romance she gradually formed with Mac. <3

One downside to this story, though, is that there were no real twists. I assumed most of the things that would happen and I was right. It was a very simple story. I didn't mind too much, but I wouldn't have minded a surprise or two. ;)

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It wasn't perfect or overly complex, but it offered moving topics not often discussed, at least to my knowledge, and showed the value of friends in tough times. While not a favorite, I know that I can trust Dessen if I want any simple contemporaries in the future.

Find my (spoiler-free) review and more on Heir of Glitter.

what I liked:
- Kestrel, especially her character development
- Kestrel's friendship with Sarsine
- the world of Valoria, in its brutal, twisted beauty
- getting to know more about Herran and its people's customs
- the thrill of the first 150 pages and last 100 pages

what I disliked:
- Roshar
- Arin's character development
- Kestrel and Arin's romance (because Arin was overly worried and kind of controlling)
- the middle 230 or so pages, because the story became kind of boring and repetitive

2nd favorite in the trilogy :)

If you haven't read these books, I'd recommend them if you enjoyed The Malediction Trilogy and/or the Fire and Thorns trilogy.

4.5 stars

Thanks Penguin Teen for the early copy of the US edition! This doesn't affect my review or opinions.

This is out 1/17 in the US and already is out internationally!

I didn't think I would like this book. At best I thought it would be a quick, average read. While it isn't a favorite, I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It's my first mystery in some time and after this I'll have to look for more. I can't think of any books to compare it to, but it was a fun, intense, and mysterious story.

what I liked:
- The writing was wonderful. I could imagine the different settings of Finland easily and there was a kind of slight wittiness to it.
- The way the mystery was done. The POV changes were really cleverly placed. It didn't switch at a cliffhanger, but each chapter would tempt you with information so you could guess, and then have more questions.
- Elisa's character development. In the beginning she's a spoiled party girl that seems scared of her own shadow. I won't specify, but as the story went on she grew and I liked the new version of her much more. I liked that even when she was afraid, she knew what had to be done.
- Kasper reminded me slightly of a modern, Finnish Kaz. I didn't like him too much, but the similarity was there and that made my inner Six of Crows fangirl VERY HAPPY.
- No romance. One of my goals for the year is to find books with no romance or a protagonist that stays single (inspired by this post on my blog) and I found that in this book. I really liked Lumikki's "I could care less" attitude toward boys, even if it's not the most original character trait.
- The fairy-tale elements. I can't really explain, but it was a really cool, interesting addition to the story.

what I disliked:
- Lumikki was kind of a plain lead. She had a minimalist attitude and didn't fit in or stand out at her school. I liked her toughness and mindset, but I think she could've used a little bit more personality and a quirk or two.
- The ending. The last 75 pages or so were intense and I loved them, but the ending felt loose in a way. I know this is the first in a trilogy and it should be set up for later books, but I just wasn't satisfied. It was kind of abrupt, too. One minute Lumikki is catching criminals and then it's the epilogue.

I wouldn't say I'm dying to read the sequel, but I definitely want to continue this trilogy!

I was so shocked and nervous when Lumikki got trapped in the freezer! I assumed she'd get out but had no idea how, and I think the way she got out was just epic.
Also, can we talk about how she handled that creep at Polar Bear's party? She handcuffed him to the bed, locked the door, and threw the keys in the snow! I like the way she thinks. (I don't know what that says about me as a person, but don't judge, hahah.)

Thanks Penguin Teen for the early copy! This comes out May 2.

In late 2016 I read [b:This Is What Happy Looks Like|15790873|This Is What Happy Looks Like (This is What Happy Looks Like, #1)|Jennifer E. Smith|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1344444283s/15790873.jpg|18529702] and enjoyed it, but didn't think it was anything extraordinary. My thoughts on this book were very much the same, though the stories were very different.

what I liked:
- The trio. Alice, Leo, and Teddy are great friends. I loved their banter, their understanding of one another, and just everything. And I liked that they had realistic negative points in their friendship, things that took a bit of time to recover from.
- Alice and Leo. They're great characters. Alice is humble and thoughtful even after losing so much so early in her life, and torn between what her family would want and what she wants. Leo is amusing and has simple tastes but is surprisingly deep.
- Leo and Max. Leo is gay (not a spoiler, it's mentioned in the first 35 pages or so) and his relationship with his boyfriend is cute but also flawed. It wasn't a huge deal, and is mentioned so casually when this part of Leo is first introduced. I really, really like that.
- The family dynamic. Sofia, Jake, Leo, and Alice are a wonderful, close-knit, easygoing family and they cared for each other. They all had experienced difficulties, and instead of this making them closed off it helped open them up.
- The pacing. Normally this isn't something I'd worry too much about in a contemporary, but I liked it in this story. It was told over the course of six months, and I think that was appropriate for the events of the story. It never felt rushed, and the story and the characters had time to grow and change.
- The main topics. I haven't read any other books about a character winning the lottery, and although I have no experience with it, it felt realistic. There was a brief legal aspect, and there was an issue of how the money should be spent. I feel like that's common -- being torn between using it personally and for charity, and finding that balance. Like I said, I don't have experience, but if I had that sort of money I would feel similarly.
- It took place in Chicago. I don't really know why this makes me happy, maybe because I went there in May and fell in love with the city. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
- The ending. The romance frustrated me for most of the story, but in the end everything paid off and it just felt happy and resolved.
- Sawyer. While I was happy with how things worked out, I liked him more. Just saying.
- It's a quick read. Maybe it's just me having a free day and being a quick reader, but I read the 250 or so pages I had left in a few hours.
- THERE'S AN ADORABLE CLUMSY BOXER PUPPY AND HE WAS A SURPRISE PRESENT. #PUPPYBOMB *heart eyes* No, I'm not obsessed with puppies. What gave you that idea?

what I disliked:
- Teddy. He did redeem himself in the last 10-12 chapters, but prior to that he irritated me so much. He had good intentions, but he did everything in the wrong ways. I don't mean to sound harsh, but I think he should've thought things through more. There were times when it felt like he had little to no regard for other people's feelings, Alice's in particular. And I get that he had rough times in his life, I totally do. But how do you not realize your best friend is in love with you, after you say something and she's completely crushed?
- It was interesting, but there were no twists. I was curious to know what happened next for Alice and Leo, and hopeful Teddy would improve, but that's about it. There was nothing that made me want to know more, or give me a reason to become invested. I don't expect as much craziness from contemporaries, but a few events to keep me on my toes or at least interested would be nice. There was one thing that mildly surprised me in the final few pages, and that wasn't enough for me, unfortunately.

I had some issues with it, but I did think that, for the most part, this was a fun read! :)

This isn't much of a spoiler, but it's in tags because it happens fairly late in the story. I was a bit surprised and very disappointed when Charlie admitted he lied to Teddy.