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2.51k reviews by:
popthebutterfly
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Bone of Ruin
Author: Sarah Raughley
Book Series: The Bones of Ruin Book 1
Diversity: Black MC, Salvadorian side character, LGBTQIA side characters and villains
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: young adult, fantasy, circus, secret society, all out fight
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: September 7, 2021
Publisher: Mcelderry Books
Pages: 477
Recommended Age: 15+ (Gore, Violence, Racism, Racist language, Human Auction, Human exhibits, PTSD, Death, Police brutality)
Explanation of CWs: Lots of gore and violence. Racism and racist language in a historical context in this book. There is 1 scene with a human auction. There is a lot of backstory involving humans on exhibits in a zoo. Death is frequent. One police brutality incident shown.
Synopsis: As an African tightrope dancer in Victorian London, Iris is used to being strange. She is certainly a strange sight for leering British audiences always eager for the spectacle of colonial curiosity. But Iris also has a secret that even “strange” doesn’t capture…
She cannot die.
Haunted by her unnatural power and with no memories of her past, Iris is obsessed with discovering who she is. But that mission gets more complicated when she meets the dark and alluring Adam Temple, a member of a mysterious order called the Enlightenment Committee. Adam seems to know much more about her than he lets on, and he shares with her a terrifying revelation: the world is ending, and the Committee will decide who lives…and who doesn’t.
To help them choose a leader for the upcoming apocalypse, the Committee is holding the Tournament of Freaks, a macabre competition made up of vicious fighters with fantastical abilities. Adam wants Iris to be his champion, and in return he promises her the one thing she wants most: the truth about who she really is.
If Iris wants to learn about her shadowy past, she has no choice but to fight. But the further she gets in the grisly tournament, the more she begins to remember—and the more she wonders if the truth is something best left forgotten.
Review: For the most part I liked this book. It was a good story and I felt like the core of the story was entertaining. I was hooked in on the first few pages and I felt like the characters were well developed. I really loved how the author interwove the real life horrors I also liked the world building.
However, after the first few chapters, the book started to have a lot of issues for me. The story was good but what I thought was going to happen quickly evolved into something more than what I expected. There was a ton to this story and I feel like maybe it should have been split up between 2 books or maybe even scaled down.
Verdict: It was good, but there's a lot in this book.
Book: The Bone of Ruin
Author: Sarah Raughley
Book Series: The Bones of Ruin Book 1
Diversity: Black MC, Salvadorian side character, LGBTQIA side characters and villains
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: young adult, fantasy, circus, secret society, all out fight
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: September 7, 2021
Publisher: Mcelderry Books
Pages: 477
Recommended Age: 15+ (Gore, Violence, Racism, Racist language, Human Auction, Human exhibits, PTSD, Death, Police brutality)
Explanation of CWs: Lots of gore and violence. Racism and racist language in a historical context in this book. There is 1 scene with a human auction. There is a lot of backstory involving humans on exhibits in a zoo. Death is frequent. One police brutality incident shown.
Synopsis: As an African tightrope dancer in Victorian London, Iris is used to being strange. She is certainly a strange sight for leering British audiences always eager for the spectacle of colonial curiosity. But Iris also has a secret that even “strange” doesn’t capture…
She cannot die.
Haunted by her unnatural power and with no memories of her past, Iris is obsessed with discovering who she is. But that mission gets more complicated when she meets the dark and alluring Adam Temple, a member of a mysterious order called the Enlightenment Committee. Adam seems to know much more about her than he lets on, and he shares with her a terrifying revelation: the world is ending, and the Committee will decide who lives…and who doesn’t.
To help them choose a leader for the upcoming apocalypse, the Committee is holding the Tournament of Freaks, a macabre competition made up of vicious fighters with fantastical abilities. Adam wants Iris to be his champion, and in return he promises her the one thing she wants most: the truth about who she really is.
If Iris wants to learn about her shadowy past, she has no choice but to fight. But the further she gets in the grisly tournament, the more she begins to remember—and the more she wonders if the truth is something best left forgotten.
Review: For the most part I liked this book. It was a good story and I felt like the core of the story was entertaining. I was hooked in on the first few pages and I felt like the characters were well developed. I really loved how the author interwove the real life horrors I also liked the world building.
However, after the first few chapters, the book started to have a lot of issues for me. The story was good but what I thought was going to happen quickly evolved into something more than what I expected. There was a ton to this story and I feel like maybe it should have been split up between 2 books or maybe even scaled down.
Verdict: It was good, but there's a lot in this book.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Magi Managerie
Author: Kale Lawrence
Book Series: The Magi Managerie Book 1
Diversity: Turkish Muslim mc
Mexican bisexual side character
Gay side character
Indian side character
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, magic, secret society
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date:
Publisher: EnchantFire
Pages: 397
Recommended Age: 16+ (Gore, Violence, Racism, Religion, Romance, Sexual content, Language, Homophobia)
Explanation of CWs: There are incidents of gore and violence, including a train explosion. Racism and homophobia are present in the novel. There is some sexual content, it does fade to black. There's also some romance and language.
Synopsis: Some stars aren't meant to be followed...
For seventeen years, Ezra Newport and his parents were habitual immigrants, traveling from their Ottoman Empire home across 20th century Europe. As the Newports migrate to Belfast, Ireland, Ezra wants nothing more to settle into a consistent life and lay the foundation of his architectural dreams. But after a strange, mechanical bounty hunter murders his mother and prompts the disappearance of his father, Ezra discovers that his parents had actually been on the run. Now, their enemies are targeting him, and they won’t stop until he is dead.
In a moment of desperation, Ezra’s fate collides with the Third Order of the Magi, a secret society dedicated to using their supernatural powers to protect their communities. With increasing violence around the world, the Magi are fairly certain they know who’s behind the attacks on Ezra and his family since the same group could also be threatening their own existence.
Both Ezra and the Magi’s survival hinges on knowledge only Ezra’s father has and the key to saving them could be buried within history itself. In a race across continents and time, both Ezra and the Magi must secure an ancient Babylonian artifact before hell is unleashed on the world. And, against all odds, Ezra must decide where his allegiances truly lie, despite what is written in the stars.
Review: For the most part this was an okay book. I liked the premise of it and I enjoyed the story for the most part. The writing was well done, the characters were well developed, and the world building was good.
However, I got bored with the book early on and it was a struggle to keep reading. I felt like the disconnect happened because of how the story was laid out in the book. The book uses multiple POVs throughout the book and it became very frustrating to be wrapped up in Ezra's story and then to jump to someone else's. I felt like that didn't help me connect with the characters whatsoever and I think if the book focused on one point of view throughout the entire book that it would have been better for me. I also felt some of the diverse characters had some stereotyping.
Verdict: It was ok, just didn't connect with me.
Book: The Magi Managerie
Author: Kale Lawrence
Book Series: The Magi Managerie Book 1
Diversity: Turkish Muslim mc
Mexican bisexual side character
Gay side character
Indian side character
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, magic, secret society
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date:
Publisher: EnchantFire
Pages: 397
Recommended Age: 16+ (Gore, Violence, Racism, Religion, Romance, Sexual content, Language, Homophobia)
Explanation of CWs: There are incidents of gore and violence, including a train explosion. Racism and homophobia are present in the novel. There is some sexual content, it does fade to black. There's also some romance and language.
Synopsis: Some stars aren't meant to be followed...
For seventeen years, Ezra Newport and his parents were habitual immigrants, traveling from their Ottoman Empire home across 20th century Europe. As the Newports migrate to Belfast, Ireland, Ezra wants nothing more to settle into a consistent life and lay the foundation of his architectural dreams. But after a strange, mechanical bounty hunter murders his mother and prompts the disappearance of his father, Ezra discovers that his parents had actually been on the run. Now, their enemies are targeting him, and they won’t stop until he is dead.
In a moment of desperation, Ezra’s fate collides with the Third Order of the Magi, a secret society dedicated to using their supernatural powers to protect their communities. With increasing violence around the world, the Magi are fairly certain they know who’s behind the attacks on Ezra and his family since the same group could also be threatening their own existence.
Both Ezra and the Magi’s survival hinges on knowledge only Ezra’s father has and the key to saving them could be buried within history itself. In a race across continents and time, both Ezra and the Magi must secure an ancient Babylonian artifact before hell is unleashed on the world. And, against all odds, Ezra must decide where his allegiances truly lie, despite what is written in the stars.
Review: For the most part this was an okay book. I liked the premise of it and I enjoyed the story for the most part. The writing was well done, the characters were well developed, and the world building was good.
However, I got bored with the book early on and it was a struggle to keep reading. I felt like the disconnect happened because of how the story was laid out in the book. The book uses multiple POVs throughout the book and it became very frustrating to be wrapped up in Ezra's story and then to jump to someone else's. I felt like that didn't help me connect with the characters whatsoever and I think if the book focused on one point of view throughout the entire book that it would have been better for me. I also felt some of the diverse characters had some stereotyping.
Verdict: It was ok, just didn't connect with me.
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Missing Okalee
Author: Laura Ojeda Melchor
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Cuban MC, Chippewa cree side characters, Lantinx side characters
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, contemporary, drama
Genre: MG Contemporary
Publication Date: September 7, 2021
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Pages: 256
Recommended Age: 12+ (Religion, Drowning, Grief, Bullying, Blackmail, Attempted suicide mentioned, Slight violence)
Explanation of CWs: Drowning is shown and talked about in detail. Bullying is shown throughout the book. Religion is sparsely mentioned. There is an attempted suicide mentioned in passing. There is also one punch thrown and aggressive shaking.
Synopsis: When compared to her nearly perfect little sister, Phoebe Paz Petersen feels she doesn’t measure up in her parents’ eyes. Okalee is smart and beloved for her sunny disposition, but if Phoebe can get picked for the coveted solo in the school choir, she’ll stop being a middle-school nobody and finally get her chance to shine.
The sisters have one very special, secret tradition: River Day—when they hold hands and make their way across the cold, rushing Grayling River to celebrate the first hint of spring. This year’s River Day crossing, however, goes horribly wrong, and Phoebe’s world is suddenly turned upside down.
Heartbroken and facing life without Okalee, Phoebe is more determined than ever to sing the solo in the school concert as a way of speaking to her sister one last time. But Phoebe’s so traumatized by what happened, she’s lost her beautiful singing voice.
Kat Waters wants the solo for herself and is spreading a terrible rumor about what really happened to Okalee on River Day. If Phoebe tells the truth, she fears her family will never forgive her and she may never get to sing her goodbye to Okalee
Review: For the most part I really liked this book. I thought that the book was beautifully well written with well developed characters and incredible World building. I feel like if you have a child that is looking for a contemporary book or one that's filled with a slight bit of drama in it, then this is the best book that they can start off with.
However, I did get mad throughout the book with the main character's mother and with the bullying situation. I feel like she was emotionally abusive and I did not like how it made it so her behavior was acceptable given that she was going through grief. I know that in times of grief people act way differently than what they would normally, but when you're a parent that is no excuse to say the things that this character said to her daughter. I also didn't like how the bullying situation was centered on it being the main characters problems to resolve. There are two big instances where the bullying pushed the main character over the cliff so to speak and she retaliated in an aggressive manner. Well acting out violently is not something that kids should be doing on a regular basis, I feel like the whole of the circumstance wasn't considered and I did not feel like the other students were given punishments for their part in the action.
Verdict: It's good!
Book: Missing Okalee
Author: Laura Ojeda Melchor
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Cuban MC, Chippewa cree side characters, Lantinx side characters
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, contemporary, drama
Genre: MG Contemporary
Publication Date: September 7, 2021
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Pages: 256
Recommended Age: 12+ (Religion, Drowning, Grief, Bullying, Blackmail, Attempted suicide mentioned, Slight violence)
Explanation of CWs: Drowning is shown and talked about in detail. Bullying is shown throughout the book. Religion is sparsely mentioned. There is an attempted suicide mentioned in passing. There is also one punch thrown and aggressive shaking.
Synopsis: When compared to her nearly perfect little sister, Phoebe Paz Petersen feels she doesn’t measure up in her parents’ eyes. Okalee is smart and beloved for her sunny disposition, but if Phoebe can get picked for the coveted solo in the school choir, she’ll stop being a middle-school nobody and finally get her chance to shine.
The sisters have one very special, secret tradition: River Day—when they hold hands and make their way across the cold, rushing Grayling River to celebrate the first hint of spring. This year’s River Day crossing, however, goes horribly wrong, and Phoebe’s world is suddenly turned upside down.
Heartbroken and facing life without Okalee, Phoebe is more determined than ever to sing the solo in the school concert as a way of speaking to her sister one last time. But Phoebe’s so traumatized by what happened, she’s lost her beautiful singing voice.
Kat Waters wants the solo for herself and is spreading a terrible rumor about what really happened to Okalee on River Day. If Phoebe tells the truth, she fears her family will never forgive her and she may never get to sing her goodbye to Okalee
Review: For the most part I really liked this book. I thought that the book was beautifully well written with well developed characters and incredible World building. I feel like if you have a child that is looking for a contemporary book or one that's filled with a slight bit of drama in it, then this is the best book that they can start off with.
However, I did get mad throughout the book with the main character's mother and with the bullying situation. I feel like she was emotionally abusive and I did not like how it made it so her behavior was acceptable given that she was going through grief. I know that in times of grief people act way differently than what they would normally, but when you're a parent that is no excuse to say the things that this character said to her daughter. I also didn't like how the bullying situation was centered on it being the main characters problems to resolve. There are two big instances where the bullying pushed the main character over the cliff so to speak and she retaliated in an aggressive manner. Well acting out violently is not something that kids should be doing on a regular basis, I feel like the whole of the circumstance wasn't considered and I did not feel like the other students were given punishments for their part in the action.
Verdict: It's good!
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Small Town Monsters
Author: Diana Rodriguez Wallach
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Latinx Ownvoice and some Latinx folklore
Recommended For...: young adult readers, cults, paranormal, demons, horror, mystery
Publication Date: September 7, 2021
Genre: YA Horror
Recommended Age: 15+ (romance, slight gore, grief, death, slight language, cults, slight religion)
Explanation of CWs: Grief and death play a role in this book. There is a little gore and language. Cults are also heavily involved with this read.
Publisher: Underlined
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Vera Martinez wants nothing more than to escape Roaring Creek and her parents' reputation as demonologists. Not to mention she's the family outcast, lacking her parents' innate abilities, and is terrified of the occult things lurking in their basement.
Maxwell Oliver is supposed to be enjoying the summer before his senior year, spending his days thinking about parties and friends. Instead he's taking care of his little sister while his mom slowly becomes someone he doesn't recognize. Soon he suspects that what he thought was grief over his father's death might be something more...sinister.
When Maxwell and Vera join forces, they come face to face with deeply disturbing true stories of cults, death worship, and the very nature that drives people to evil.
Review: Oh my goodness! I absolutely loved this book! It was so well written and well plotted. The spoops are spoopy and I won’t be able to sleep good tonight. And I thought that the character development and the world building were magnificent. I also liked some of the call backs to other horror films and history, especially since this is an homage to Ed and Lorraine Warren.
The only issue I really had with the book is that it takes a bit to get into and the beginning is a bit too slow in my opinion. But it quickly gains speed and becomes amazing. I also felt that the romance was unnecessary.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Book: Small Town Monsters
Author: Diana Rodriguez Wallach
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Latinx Ownvoice and some Latinx folklore
Recommended For...: young adult readers, cults, paranormal, demons, horror, mystery
Publication Date: September 7, 2021
Genre: YA Horror
Recommended Age: 15+ (romance, slight gore, grief, death, slight language, cults, slight religion)
Explanation of CWs: Grief and death play a role in this book. There is a little gore and language. Cults are also heavily involved with this read.
Publisher: Underlined
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Vera Martinez wants nothing more than to escape Roaring Creek and her parents' reputation as demonologists. Not to mention she's the family outcast, lacking her parents' innate abilities, and is terrified of the occult things lurking in their basement.
Maxwell Oliver is supposed to be enjoying the summer before his senior year, spending his days thinking about parties and friends. Instead he's taking care of his little sister while his mom slowly becomes someone he doesn't recognize. Soon he suspects that what he thought was grief over his father's death might be something more...sinister.
When Maxwell and Vera join forces, they come face to face with deeply disturbing true stories of cults, death worship, and the very nature that drives people to evil.
Review: Oh my goodness! I absolutely loved this book! It was so well written and well plotted. The spoops are spoopy and I won’t be able to sleep good tonight. And I thought that the character development and the world building were magnificent. I also liked some of the call backs to other horror films and history, especially since this is an homage to Ed and Lorraine Warren.
The only issue I really had with the book is that it takes a bit to get into and the beginning is a bit too slow in my opinion. But it quickly gains speed and becomes amazing. I also felt that the romance was unnecessary.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this arc from a local bookstore. Thanks @littleshopofstories! All opinions are my own.
Book: Your Life Has Been Delayed
Author: Michelle I. Mason
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: 1 Black side character
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: Young adult readers, contemporary, romance, sci-fi, time travel
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: September 7, 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 367
Recommended Age: 14+ (Religion mentioned, 9/11 mention, Underage alcohol consumption, Talks of airplane harm)
Explanation of CWs: there is a lot of religion talk this book in the main character and her family are fairly devout Christians. There is one slight mention of 9/11 and there is other site mentions of harm done with airplanes or on airplanes such as bombs or using an airplane to hurt another building.
Synopsis: Jenny Waters boards her flight in 1995, but when she lands, she and the other passengers are told they disappeared . . . 25 years ago. Everyone thought they were dead.
Now contending with her family and friends fast-forwarding decades, Jenny must quickly adjust to smartphones and social media while being the biggest story to hit the internet. She feels betrayed by her once-best friend and fights her attraction to a cute boy with an uncomfortable connection to her past. Meanwhile, there’s a growing group of conspiracy theorists determined to prove the whole situation is a hoax. Will Jenny figure out how to move forward, or will she always be stuck in the past?
Review: For the most part I really enjoyed this book. I felt like the book did really good to have that mystery of the time travel but didn't have to go that much into time travel. I also found the book very intriguing because I'm kind of a sucker for the "weird sci-fi random stuff happens" trope in contemporary novels. I also thought that the characters were all very well developed for the most part and that the world building was fairly well done.
There were only a couple things that I really didn't like about the book. The first of them being that the book was kind of medium pace but also kind of fast-paced? It felt like there was a lot of stuff going on that was going by really fast but the pacing wasn't fast, you know? It's hard to explain. I also thought that the author could have done more to give a conclusive end to the book and that some of the other minor characters in the book got more "screen-time".
Verdict: It was good!
Book: Your Life Has Been Delayed
Author: Michelle I. Mason
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: 1 Black side character
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: Young adult readers, contemporary, romance, sci-fi, time travel
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: September 7, 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 367
Recommended Age: 14+ (Religion mentioned, 9/11 mention, Underage alcohol consumption, Talks of airplane harm)
Explanation of CWs: there is a lot of religion talk this book in the main character and her family are fairly devout Christians. There is one slight mention of 9/11 and there is other site mentions of harm done with airplanes or on airplanes such as bombs or using an airplane to hurt another building.
Synopsis: Jenny Waters boards her flight in 1995, but when she lands, she and the other passengers are told they disappeared . . . 25 years ago. Everyone thought they were dead.
Now contending with her family and friends fast-forwarding decades, Jenny must quickly adjust to smartphones and social media while being the biggest story to hit the internet. She feels betrayed by her once-best friend and fights her attraction to a cute boy with an uncomfortable connection to her past. Meanwhile, there’s a growing group of conspiracy theorists determined to prove the whole situation is a hoax. Will Jenny figure out how to move forward, or will she always be stuck in the past?
Review: For the most part I really enjoyed this book. I felt like the book did really good to have that mystery of the time travel but didn't have to go that much into time travel. I also found the book very intriguing because I'm kind of a sucker for the "weird sci-fi random stuff happens" trope in contemporary novels. I also thought that the characters were all very well developed for the most part and that the world building was fairly well done.
There were only a couple things that I really didn't like about the book. The first of them being that the book was kind of medium pace but also kind of fast-paced? It felt like there was a lot of stuff going on that was going by really fast but the pacing wasn't fast, you know? It's hard to explain. I also thought that the author could have done more to give a conclusive end to the book and that some of the other minor characters in the book got more "screen-time".
Verdict: It was good!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher and then bought my own ebook copy. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Girls Are Never Gone
Author: Sarah Glenn Marsh
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: T1 Diabetes bisexual MC, Service dog, Puerto Rican lesbian side character, F/f romance
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, paranormal, mystery, thriller
Genre: YA Paranormal Mystery
Publication Date: September 7, 2021
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 336
Recommended Age: 14+ (romance, slight animal gore, death, Underage alcohol consumption, Slight religion talk)
Explanation of CWs: Just an FYI, the animal gore seen in this book is just from the skeletal remains of other, long-dead animals. The religion talk is also very slight and in passing.
Synopsis: Dare Chase doesn’t believe in ghosts.
Privately, she’s a supernatural skeptic. But publicly, she’s keeping her doubts to herself—because she’s the voice of Attachments, her brand-new paranormal investigation podcast, and she needs her ghost-loving listeners to tune in.
That’s what brings her to Arrington Estate. Thirty years ago, teenager Atheleen Bell drowned in Arrington’s lake, and legend says her spirit haunts the estate. Dare’s more interested in the suspicious circumstances surrounding her death—circumstances that she believes point to a living culprit, not the supernatural. Still, she’s vowed to keep an open mind as she investigates, even if she’s pretty sure what she’ll find.
But Arrington is full of surprises. Good ones like Quinn, the cute daughter of the house’s new owner. And baffling ones like the threatening messages left scrawled in paint on Quinn’s walls, the ghastly face that appears behind Dare’s own in the mirror, and the unnatural current that nearly drowns their friend Holly in the lake. As Dare is drawn deeper into the mysteries of Arrington, she’ll have to rethink the boundaries of what is possible. Because if something is lurking in the lake…it might not be willing to let her go.
Review: I really liked this book. I thought that the story of all was very entertaining and it definitely provided the Spooks I needed to get into the Halloween spirit. I also liked the bond between all of the girls and I really liked the sapphic romance. I thought that the World building and character development were really well done and the writing was marvelous, although I might be a bit biased because this is one of my favorite authors.
The only real issues I had with the book is that there or two distinct monsters that I felt needed a little bit more development on the page but also the ending was a little abstract in what happened. We don't have the real motives behind the monsters, which you can argue makes for a really good monster, but we also don't have a clear cut ending to the story which is kind of giving me hope that maybe in the future there will be a sequel because I need to know. And if you have read this book then you know what I need to know.
Verdict: It was so good.
Book: The Girls Are Never Gone
Author: Sarah Glenn Marsh
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: T1 Diabetes bisexual MC, Service dog, Puerto Rican lesbian side character, F/f romance
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, paranormal, mystery, thriller
Genre: YA Paranormal Mystery
Publication Date: September 7, 2021
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 336
Recommended Age: 14+ (romance, slight animal gore, death, Underage alcohol consumption, Slight religion talk)
Explanation of CWs: Just an FYI, the animal gore seen in this book is just from the skeletal remains of other, long-dead animals. The religion talk is also very slight and in passing.
Synopsis: Dare Chase doesn’t believe in ghosts.
Privately, she’s a supernatural skeptic. But publicly, she’s keeping her doubts to herself—because she’s the voice of Attachments, her brand-new paranormal investigation podcast, and she needs her ghost-loving listeners to tune in.
That’s what brings her to Arrington Estate. Thirty years ago, teenager Atheleen Bell drowned in Arrington’s lake, and legend says her spirit haunts the estate. Dare’s more interested in the suspicious circumstances surrounding her death—circumstances that she believes point to a living culprit, not the supernatural. Still, she’s vowed to keep an open mind as she investigates, even if she’s pretty sure what she’ll find.
But Arrington is full of surprises. Good ones like Quinn, the cute daughter of the house’s new owner. And baffling ones like the threatening messages left scrawled in paint on Quinn’s walls, the ghastly face that appears behind Dare’s own in the mirror, and the unnatural current that nearly drowns their friend Holly in the lake. As Dare is drawn deeper into the mysteries of Arrington, she’ll have to rethink the boundaries of what is possible. Because if something is lurking in the lake…it might not be willing to let her go.
Review: I really liked this book. I thought that the story of all was very entertaining and it definitely provided the Spooks I needed to get into the Halloween spirit. I also liked the bond between all of the girls and I really liked the sapphic romance. I thought that the World building and character development were really well done and the writing was marvelous, although I might be a bit biased because this is one of my favorite authors.
The only real issues I had with the book is that there or two distinct monsters that I felt needed a little bit more development on the page but also the ending was a little abstract in what happened. We don't have the real motives behind the monsters, which you can argue makes for a really good monster, but we also don't have a clear cut ending to the story which is kind of giving me hope that maybe in the future there will be a sequel because I need to know. And if you have read this book then you know what I need to know.
Verdict: It was so good.
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Jasmine Project
Author: Meredith Ireland
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Korean adopted Mc, Filipino side characters and family, Dominican Republic side character brother, Adopted family dynamics, South Asian love interest
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, romance, family setting up blind dates trope, cooking romance, adopted family
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: September 7, 2021
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Pages: 400
Recommended Age: 14+ (Romance, Slight Language, Fat shaming, Slight emotional abuse, Slight microaggressions, Slight HP reference, Alcohol consumption by minors)
Explanation of CWs: There is a couple of instances of swearing. The fat shaming and emotional abuse are brief, but get brought up throughout the novel. There is also one very minute Harry Potter reference and only one scene of alcohol consumption by minors.
Synopsis: Jasmine Yap’s life is great. Well, it’s okay. She’s about to move in with her long-time boyfriend, Paul, before starting a nursing program at community college—all of which she mostly wants. But her stable world is turned upside down when she catches Paul cheating. To her giant, overprotective family, Paul’s loss is their golden ticket to showing Jasmine that she deserves much more. The only problem is, Jasmine refuses to meet anyone new.
But…what if the family set up a situation where she wouldn’t have to know? A secret Jasmine Project.
The plan is simple: use Jasmine’s graduation party as an opportunity for her to meet the most eligible teen bachelors in Orlando. There’s no pressure for Jasmine to choose anyone, of course, but the family hopes their meticulously curated choices will show Jasmine how she should be treated. And maybe one will win her heart.
But with the family fighting for their favorites, bachelors going rogue, and Paul wanting her back, the Jasmine Project may not end in love but total, heartbreaking disaster.
Review: I really enjoyed this book and it reminded me a lot of 10 Blind Dates. The character development was great and the world building was amazing. I felt like this was a really cute read and that it set the "family blind date" trope really well. I also think that the main character was very endearing. I feel like her plight was very relatable to a lot of people, especially me. A lot of people seek that sense of safety and the sense of never changing tides, and they have to learn how to branch out in a scary world.
The only really issue I had with this book is that sometimes the change between the story to the text message conversation and then to the podcast reading was a bit jarring at first, but otherwise I had absolutely no problem with this book.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Book: The Jasmine Project
Author: Meredith Ireland
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Korean adopted Mc, Filipino side characters and family, Dominican Republic side character brother, Adopted family dynamics, South Asian love interest
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, romance, family setting up blind dates trope, cooking romance, adopted family
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: September 7, 2021
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Pages: 400
Recommended Age: 14+ (Romance, Slight Language, Fat shaming, Slight emotional abuse, Slight microaggressions, Slight HP reference, Alcohol consumption by minors)
Explanation of CWs: There is a couple of instances of swearing. The fat shaming and emotional abuse are brief, but get brought up throughout the novel. There is also one very minute Harry Potter reference and only one scene of alcohol consumption by minors.
Synopsis: Jasmine Yap’s life is great. Well, it’s okay. She’s about to move in with her long-time boyfriend, Paul, before starting a nursing program at community college—all of which she mostly wants. But her stable world is turned upside down when she catches Paul cheating. To her giant, overprotective family, Paul’s loss is their golden ticket to showing Jasmine that she deserves much more. The only problem is, Jasmine refuses to meet anyone new.
But…what if the family set up a situation where she wouldn’t have to know? A secret Jasmine Project.
The plan is simple: use Jasmine’s graduation party as an opportunity for her to meet the most eligible teen bachelors in Orlando. There’s no pressure for Jasmine to choose anyone, of course, but the family hopes their meticulously curated choices will show Jasmine how she should be treated. And maybe one will win her heart.
But with the family fighting for their favorites, bachelors going rogue, and Paul wanting her back, the Jasmine Project may not end in love but total, heartbreaking disaster.
Review: I really enjoyed this book and it reminded me a lot of 10 Blind Dates. The character development was great and the world building was amazing. I felt like this was a really cute read and that it set the "family blind date" trope really well. I also think that the main character was very endearing. I feel like her plight was very relatable to a lot of people, especially me. A lot of people seek that sense of safety and the sense of never changing tides, and they have to learn how to branch out in a scary world.
The only really issue I had with this book is that sometimes the change between the story to the text message conversation and then to the podcast reading was a bit jarring at first, but otherwise I had absolutely no problem with this book.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher and then bought a finished copy. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Small Favors
Author: Erin A. Craig
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: Young adult readers, fantasy, thriller, mystery
Genre: YA Fantasy Thriller
Publication Date: July 27, 2021
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 464
Recommended Age: 16+ (Animal death, Animal Gore, Religion, Gore, PTSD, Romance, and Language)
Explanation of CWs: There is SO MUCH animal death in this book from bees to horses and chickens and more. Also lots of detailed gore. There is a couple of small PTSD moments as well as small amounts of language.
Synopsis: Ellerie Downing lives in the quiet town of Amity Falls in the Blackspire Mountain range--five narrow peaks stretching into the sky like a grasping hand, bordered by a nearly impenetrable forest from which the early townsfolk fought off the devils in the woods. To this day, visitors are few and rare. But when a supply party goes missing, some worry that the monsters that once stalked the region have returned.
As fall turns to winter, more strange activities plague the town. They point to a tribe of devilish and mystical creatures who promise to fulfill the residents' deepest desires, however grand and impossible, for just a small favor. But their true intentions are much more sinister, and Ellerie finds herself in a race against time before all of Amity Falls, her family, and the boy she loves go up in flames.
Review: For the most part I thought this book was pretty good. I thought the World building was very well done and the characters were also very well developed. I liked the dynamic between the main character and her twin especially. I also loved The Village/The Witch vibes I got from the story and I liked how ultimately the undoing was simple.
However, things went fairly downhill within the last 150-ish pages. I really did not like the explanation for the big bad of the book. That explanation just came out of complete nowhere and there wasn't any build up to it whatsoever. I also thought that the ending was very rushed and you turn around between a certain character hating our main character and then back to being best friends with them was completely out of left field. I think the book would have been way better if it had kept to a very simple explanation of the events and not have invented a whole new monster.
Verdict: It was good but the best monsters are those that are the simplest.
Book: Small Favors
Author: Erin A. Craig
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: Young adult readers, fantasy, thriller, mystery
Genre: YA Fantasy Thriller
Publication Date: July 27, 2021
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 464
Recommended Age: 16+ (Animal death, Animal Gore, Religion, Gore, PTSD, Romance, and Language)
Explanation of CWs: There is SO MUCH animal death in this book from bees to horses and chickens and more. Also lots of detailed gore. There is a couple of small PTSD moments as well as small amounts of language.
Synopsis: Ellerie Downing lives in the quiet town of Amity Falls in the Blackspire Mountain range--five narrow peaks stretching into the sky like a grasping hand, bordered by a nearly impenetrable forest from which the early townsfolk fought off the devils in the woods. To this day, visitors are few and rare. But when a supply party goes missing, some worry that the monsters that once stalked the region have returned.
As fall turns to winter, more strange activities plague the town. They point to a tribe of devilish and mystical creatures who promise to fulfill the residents' deepest desires, however grand and impossible, for just a small favor. But their true intentions are much more sinister, and Ellerie finds herself in a race against time before all of Amity Falls, her family, and the boy she loves go up in flames.
Review: For the most part I thought this book was pretty good. I thought the World building was very well done and the characters were also very well developed. I liked the dynamic between the main character and her twin especially. I also loved The Village/The Witch vibes I got from the story and I liked how ultimately the undoing was simple.
However, things went fairly downhill within the last 150-ish pages. I really did not like the explanation for the big bad of the book. That explanation just came out of complete nowhere and there wasn't any build up to it whatsoever. I also thought that the ending was very rushed and you turn around between a certain character hating our main character and then back to being best friends with them was completely out of left field. I think the book would have been way better if it had kept to a very simple explanation of the events and not have invented a whole new monster.
Verdict: It was good but the best monsters are those that are the simplest.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this arc and e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Mary, Will I Die?
Author: Shawn Sarles
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Lesbian MC, sapphic romance
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, paranormal, horror, Mystery
Genre: YA Paranormal Horror
Publication Date: September 7, 2021
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 296
Recommended Age: 14+ (Death, Gore, Bullying, Catfishing)
Explanation of CWs: There's a fair amount of blood and a good bit of death in this book. Bullying is a central arc to this story.
Synopsis: It starts innocently enough. Four kids - three girls, one boy - are at one of their houses, playing games. One of them has read about "Bloody Mary" and the idea that if you look into a mirror and say her name thirteen times, she will show you the future. Some legends say she'll show you your one true love or a skull to mark your death within five years. Others say that conjuring Bloody Mary will bring her into your world.
Both sets of legends are true. The kids go through with the act, saying her name thirteen times. One girl looks in the mirror and sees her longtime crush. One girl looks in the mirror and sees the boy in the group. But she pretends to see something else. One girl looks in the mirror and sees a girl she's never seen before but can't get out of her mind. And the boy . . . he sees a skull. But he pretends to see something else. They try to laugh it off. And mostly they forget about it. Or at least they don't talk about it. Yes, over the next few years, whenever they look into a mirror, it's like there's always another figure standing in the background, getting closer.
Just short of five years later, the four of them are no longer friends, having gone on separate paths. The girl whose house it was has always tried to avoid the mirror they used - because she always sensed someone in the background. One morning as she's passing by, she sees much more than her own reflection - it's a scary figure taunting her. She startles and breaks the mirror. When the pieces are put back together (barely), the figure is gone.
That day in school, a new girl arrives. Her name is Mary...
Review: For the most part I really like this book. I thought that it was a really good introductory read into the spooky season and I really liked how the author broke up the book into multiple points of view. I thought that the character development was pretty good and the plot was really well done.
However, I did think that the World building was lacking in this book and that the book was a bit too fast-paced for a horror book. The book isn't really that long either so it's a very quick read if you're looking for that, but I kind of like my horror books to be a little prolonged and antagonizing.
Verdict: it was good! I'm ready for spooks.
Book: Mary, Will I Die?
Author: Shawn Sarles
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Lesbian MC, sapphic romance
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, paranormal, horror, Mystery
Genre: YA Paranormal Horror
Publication Date: September 7, 2021
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 296
Recommended Age: 14+ (Death, Gore, Bullying, Catfishing)
Explanation of CWs: There's a fair amount of blood and a good bit of death in this book. Bullying is a central arc to this story.
Synopsis: It starts innocently enough. Four kids - three girls, one boy - are at one of their houses, playing games. One of them has read about "Bloody Mary" and the idea that if you look into a mirror and say her name thirteen times, she will show you the future. Some legends say she'll show you your one true love or a skull to mark your death within five years. Others say that conjuring Bloody Mary will bring her into your world.
Both sets of legends are true. The kids go through with the act, saying her name thirteen times. One girl looks in the mirror and sees her longtime crush. One girl looks in the mirror and sees the boy in the group. But she pretends to see something else. One girl looks in the mirror and sees a girl she's never seen before but can't get out of her mind. And the boy . . . he sees a skull. But he pretends to see something else. They try to laugh it off. And mostly they forget about it. Or at least they don't talk about it. Yes, over the next few years, whenever they look into a mirror, it's like there's always another figure standing in the background, getting closer.
Just short of five years later, the four of them are no longer friends, having gone on separate paths. The girl whose house it was has always tried to avoid the mirror they used - because she always sensed someone in the background. One morning as she's passing by, she sees much more than her own reflection - it's a scary figure taunting her. She startles and breaks the mirror. When the pieces are put back together (barely), the figure is gone.
That day in school, a new girl arrives. Her name is Mary...
Review: For the most part I really like this book. I thought that it was a really good introductory read into the spooky season and I really liked how the author broke up the book into multiple points of view. I thought that the character development was pretty good and the plot was really well done.
However, I did think that the World building was lacking in this book and that the book was a bit too fast-paced for a horror book. The book isn't really that long either so it's a very quick read if you're looking for that, but I kind of like my horror books to be a little prolonged and antagonizing.
Verdict: it was good! I'm ready for spooks.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Dead and the Dark
Author: Courtney Gould
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: mystery, thriller, LGBTQIA+
Publication Date: August 3, 2021
Genre: YA Mystery
Recommended Age: Can’t recommend, DNFed
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 352
Synopsis: Something is wrong in Snakebite, Oregon. Teenagers are disappearing, some turning up dead, the weather isn’t normal, and all fingers seem to point to TV’s most popular ghost hunters who have just returned to town. Logan Ortiz-Woodley, daughter of TV's ParaSpectors, has never been to Snakebite before, but the moment she and her dads arrive, she starts to get the feeling that there's more secrets buried here than they originally let on.
Ashley Barton’s boyfriend was the first teen to go missing, and she’s felt his presence ever since. But now that the Ortiz-Woodleys are in town, his ghost is following her and the only person Ashley can trust is the mysterious Logan. When Ashley and Logan team up to figure out who—or what—is haunting Snakebite, their investigation reveals truths about the town, their families, and themselves that neither of them are ready for. As the danger intensifies, they realize that their growing feelings for each other could be a light in the darkness.
Review: I had to DNF this read at about 34% in. The book just wasn’t keeping my interest, it seemed too predictable, and while I’d like to try it again, it will probably be awhile before I do.
Verdict: It’s good, just wasn’t keeping me interested.
Book: The Dead and the Dark
Author: Courtney Gould
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: mystery, thriller, LGBTQIA+
Publication Date: August 3, 2021
Genre: YA Mystery
Recommended Age: Can’t recommend, DNFed
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 352
Synopsis: Something is wrong in Snakebite, Oregon. Teenagers are disappearing, some turning up dead, the weather isn’t normal, and all fingers seem to point to TV’s most popular ghost hunters who have just returned to town. Logan Ortiz-Woodley, daughter of TV's ParaSpectors, has never been to Snakebite before, but the moment she and her dads arrive, she starts to get the feeling that there's more secrets buried here than they originally let on.
Ashley Barton’s boyfriend was the first teen to go missing, and she’s felt his presence ever since. But now that the Ortiz-Woodleys are in town, his ghost is following her and the only person Ashley can trust is the mysterious Logan. When Ashley and Logan team up to figure out who—or what—is haunting Snakebite, their investigation reveals truths about the town, their families, and themselves that neither of them are ready for. As the danger intensifies, they realize that their growing feelings for each other could be a light in the darkness.
Review: I had to DNF this read at about 34% in. The book just wasn’t keeping my interest, it seemed too predictable, and while I’d like to try it again, it will probably be awhile before I do.
Verdict: It’s good, just wasn’t keeping me interested.