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popthebutterfly
Disclaimer: I received an e-arc of this book. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Au Pair
Author: Emma Rous
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 1/5
Publication Date: January 8, 2019
Genre: Mystery
Recommended Age: can’t recommend as DNF
Publisher: Berkley Books
Pages: 360
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Seraphine Mayes and her twin brother Danny were born in the middle of summer at their family’s estate on the Norfolk coast. Within hours of their birth, their mother threw herself from the cliffs, the au pair fled, and the village thrilled with whispers of dark cloaks, changelings, and the aloof couple who drew a young nanny into their inner circle.
Now an adult, Seraphine mourns the recent death of her father. While going through his belongings, she uncovers a family photograph that raises dangerous questions. It was taken on the day the twins were born, and in the photo, their mother, surrounded by her husband and her young son, is beautifully dressed, smiling serenely, and holding just one baby.
Who is the child and what really happened that day?
One person knows the truth, if only Seraphine can find her.
Review: I had to dnf this book at about halfway through. I just felt like the story was really uninteresting and the writing really lazy when memories and such just spring to mind at the perfect time. The book also jumps back and forth between several timelines and it can be hard to keep track of it. It just didn’t captivate me.
Verdict: It wasn’t for me but it sounds good?
Book: The Au Pair
Author: Emma Rous
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 1/5
Publication Date: January 8, 2019
Genre: Mystery
Recommended Age: can’t recommend as DNF
Publisher: Berkley Books
Pages: 360
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Seraphine Mayes and her twin brother Danny were born in the middle of summer at their family’s estate on the Norfolk coast. Within hours of their birth, their mother threw herself from the cliffs, the au pair fled, and the village thrilled with whispers of dark cloaks, changelings, and the aloof couple who drew a young nanny into their inner circle.
Now an adult, Seraphine mourns the recent death of her father. While going through his belongings, she uncovers a family photograph that raises dangerous questions. It was taken on the day the twins were born, and in the photo, their mother, surrounded by her husband and her young son, is beautifully dressed, smiling serenely, and holding just one baby.
Who is the child and what really happened that day?
One person knows the truth, if only Seraphine can find her.
Review: I had to dnf this book at about halfway through. I just felt like the story was really uninteresting and the writing really lazy when memories and such just spring to mind at the perfect time. The book also jumps back and forth between several timelines and it can be hard to keep track of it. It just didn’t captivate me.
Verdict: It wasn’t for me but it sounds good?
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: A Forgotten Murder
Author: Jude Deveraux
Book Series: Medlar Mystery Book 3
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: March 10, 2020
Genre: Mystery
Recommended Age: 16+ (TW rape mention , alcohol, drugs mention, violence, gore, language)
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 400
Amazon Link
Synopsis: An English manor home, an unsolved mystery, too many suspects to count… It’s the perfect holiday for romance novelist Sara Medlar.
After solving two murder cases in their hometown of Lachlan, Florida, Sara Medlar, her niece Kate and their friend Jack need a change of scenery. Sara arranges for them to visit an old friend of hers in England. Upon arrival at Oxley Manor, a centuries-old estate that has been converted to a luxury hotel, Kate and Jack quickly realize that Sara is up to something. They learn that Sara has also invited a number of others to join them at Oxley.
When everyone assembles, Sara lets them know why they are there. Decades earlier, two people ran off together from Oxley and haven’t been heard from since—and Sara wants to solve the case. As the people who were there the night the two went missing, the guests find themselves cast in a live mystery-theater event.
In reenacting the events of that night, it becomes clear that everyone has something to hide and no one is safe, especially when the discovery of a body makes it clear that at least one of the people who disappeared was murdered.
Sara, Jack and Kate are once again at the heart of a mysterious case that only they are able to solve. But someone is willing to continue to kill to keep the truth about Oxley Manor buried, and none of the guests are safe.
New York Times bestselling author Jude Deveraux has crafted another irresistible case in her bestselling Medlar Mystery series.
Review: For the most part I enjoyed this mystery book. It was a fun read and it was very fast paced for me. The characters were well developed and the story really kept me intrigued.
However, this book was kind of hard to get into. The book just starts in the middle of the action and while some readers really enjoy that and I do on occasion, it didn’t help me here. The book was kind of chaotic as well and sometimes really hard to follow along with. It also took some time for me to get into the book.
Verdict: A good mystery, but pay attention to it.
Book: A Forgotten Murder
Author: Jude Deveraux
Book Series: Medlar Mystery Book 3
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: March 10, 2020
Genre: Mystery
Recommended Age: 16+ (TW rape mention , alcohol, drugs mention, violence, gore, language)
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 400
Amazon Link
Synopsis: An English manor home, an unsolved mystery, too many suspects to count… It’s the perfect holiday for romance novelist Sara Medlar.
After solving two murder cases in their hometown of Lachlan, Florida, Sara Medlar, her niece Kate and their friend Jack need a change of scenery. Sara arranges for them to visit an old friend of hers in England. Upon arrival at Oxley Manor, a centuries-old estate that has been converted to a luxury hotel, Kate and Jack quickly realize that Sara is up to something. They learn that Sara has also invited a number of others to join them at Oxley.
When everyone assembles, Sara lets them know why they are there. Decades earlier, two people ran off together from Oxley and haven’t been heard from since—and Sara wants to solve the case. As the people who were there the night the two went missing, the guests find themselves cast in a live mystery-theater event.
In reenacting the events of that night, it becomes clear that everyone has something to hide and no one is safe, especially when the discovery of a body makes it clear that at least one of the people who disappeared was murdered.
Sara, Jack and Kate are once again at the heart of a mysterious case that only they are able to solve. But someone is willing to continue to kill to keep the truth about Oxley Manor buried, and none of the guests are safe.
New York Times bestselling author Jude Deveraux has crafted another irresistible case in her bestselling Medlar Mystery series.
Review: For the most part I enjoyed this mystery book. It was a fun read and it was very fast paced for me. The characters were well developed and the story really kept me intrigued.
However, this book was kind of hard to get into. The book just starts in the middle of the action and while some readers really enjoy that and I do on occasion, it didn’t help me here. The book was kind of chaotic as well and sometimes really hard to follow along with. It also took some time for me to get into the book.
Verdict: A good mystery, but pay attention to it.
Disclaimer: I received this book from Rockstar Book Tours. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Hannah Goodheart and the Guardian of Time
Author: C. Michael Morrison
Book Series: Hannah Goodheart Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: October 1, 2019
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 12+ (slight violence, time travel, save the universe!)
Publisher: Fawkes Press
Pages: 318
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Turning thirteen can be difficult - especially when a time-traveling thief steals your necklace, and a brewing temporal conflict turns your birthday party into a mission to save the universe. As Hannah and her friends chase the thief across time and space, they learn her necklace is more than a pretty piece of jewelry. Only one person can control the powerful pendant, and they must find them before the entire universe is wiped from history.
Myth and magic collide as they race to find The Guardian of Time.
Review: For the most part I thought this was an enjoyable fantasy book and I loved the time travel aspect of it! The characters are well developed and detailed and the book is also very well written.
However, I felt sometimes the book was a bit chaotic during the action scenes. They were a little hard to follow. The book is also slow and there is a lot of detail with the characters and story that you have to refer back to in the book to remember.
Verdict: A great fantasy for a younger audience!
Book: Hannah Goodheart and the Guardian of Time
Author: C. Michael Morrison
Book Series: Hannah Goodheart Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: October 1, 2019
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 12+ (slight violence, time travel, save the universe!)
Publisher: Fawkes Press
Pages: 318
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Turning thirteen can be difficult - especially when a time-traveling thief steals your necklace, and a brewing temporal conflict turns your birthday party into a mission to save the universe. As Hannah and her friends chase the thief across time and space, they learn her necklace is more than a pretty piece of jewelry. Only one person can control the powerful pendant, and they must find them before the entire universe is wiped from history.
Myth and magic collide as they race to find The Guardian of Time.
Review: For the most part I thought this was an enjoyable fantasy book and I loved the time travel aspect of it! The characters are well developed and detailed and the book is also very well written.
However, I felt sometimes the book was a bit chaotic during the action scenes. They were a little hard to follow. The book is also slow and there is a lot of detail with the characters and story that you have to refer back to in the book to remember.
Verdict: A great fantasy for a younger audience!
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the publisher and then I bought my own copy for the pre-order swag and to support the author! Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Good Luck Girls
Author: Charlotte Nicole Davis
Book Series: The Good Luck Girls Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: A diverse cast of black girls and there is a bit of LGBTQA+, but not a lot.
Publication Date: October 1, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (TW rape mention, TW attempted rape, TW drug use and withdrawal, some small language, gore, and violence)
Publisher: TorTeen
Pages: 352
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Aster, the protector
Violet, the favorite
Tansy, the medic
Mallow, the fighter
Clementine, the catalyst
THE GOOD LUCK GIRLS
The country of Arketta calls them Good Luck Girls--they know their luck is anything but. Sold to a "welcome house" as children and branded with cursed markings. Trapped in a life they would never have chosen.
When Clementine accidentally murders a man, the girls risk a dangerous escape and harrowing journey to find freedom, justice, and revenge in a country that wants them to have none of those things. Pursued by Arketta's most vicious and powerful forces, both human and inhuman, their only hope lies in a bedtime story passed from one Good Luck Girl to another, a story that only the youngest or most desperate would ever believe.
It's going to take more than luck for them all to survive.
Review: For the most part I really liked this book. I felt that the book was unique and I loved the west-world feel of it. The world building was very interesting and the writing was well done. The book was also very fast paced.
However, I did feel like the book had some faults. The book starts in Clementine’s POV and that lasts for one chapter. After that it’s strictly in Aster’s POV. I think the book could have benefitted from a POV switch between Aster and Clementine or between some of the other girls, as I also felt that the characters weren’t very well developed. They went from these victims to these badasses who knew how to knock people out, shoot people, tie them up, ride horses, etc. It felt weird and I didn’t feel connected with any of them. There was also the problem with the love interest. The synopsis is very pro-female power but in the book the girls heavily rely on the love interest of the book. That didn’t sit well with me, because it felt like the pro-female book I wanted to read was not all that it seemed. I wanted to see the girls make it on their own without the help of others. Lastly, the synopsis is almost written to imply that there is some magic to this book, which there is, but not about the girls themselves which is disappointing.
Verdict: It’s a great book but I had different expectations which ruined it for me.
Book: The Good Luck Girls
Author: Charlotte Nicole Davis
Book Series: The Good Luck Girls Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: A diverse cast of black girls and there is a bit of LGBTQA+, but not a lot.
Publication Date: October 1, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (TW rape mention, TW attempted rape, TW drug use and withdrawal, some small language, gore, and violence)
Publisher: TorTeen
Pages: 352
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Aster, the protector
Violet, the favorite
Tansy, the medic
Mallow, the fighter
Clementine, the catalyst
THE GOOD LUCK GIRLS
The country of Arketta calls them Good Luck Girls--they know their luck is anything but. Sold to a "welcome house" as children and branded with cursed markings. Trapped in a life they would never have chosen.
When Clementine accidentally murders a man, the girls risk a dangerous escape and harrowing journey to find freedom, justice, and revenge in a country that wants them to have none of those things. Pursued by Arketta's most vicious and powerful forces, both human and inhuman, their only hope lies in a bedtime story passed from one Good Luck Girl to another, a story that only the youngest or most desperate would ever believe.
It's going to take more than luck for them all to survive.
Review: For the most part I really liked this book. I felt that the book was unique and I loved the west-world feel of it. The world building was very interesting and the writing was well done. The book was also very fast paced.
However, I did feel like the book had some faults. The book starts in Clementine’s POV and that lasts for one chapter. After that it’s strictly in Aster’s POV. I think the book could have benefitted from a POV switch between Aster and Clementine or between some of the other girls, as I also felt that the characters weren’t very well developed. They went from these victims to these badasses who knew how to knock people out, shoot people, tie them up, ride horses, etc. It felt weird and I didn’t feel connected with any of them. There was also the problem with the love interest. The synopsis is very pro-female power but in the book the girls heavily rely on the love interest of the book. That didn’t sit well with me, because it felt like the pro-female book I wanted to read was not all that it seemed. I wanted to see the girls make it on their own without the help of others. Lastly, the synopsis is almost written to imply that there is some magic to this book, which there is, but not about the girls themselves which is disappointing.
Verdict: It’s a great book but I had different expectations which ruined it for me.
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Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Book of Secrets
Author: M.L. Little
Book Series: Seventh Realm Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: August 15, 2019
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (death, slight gore, some trauma, and war mentioned)
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Pages: 232
Amazon Link
Synopsis: After Gabriel Draven smuggles home the Stone of the Seven Realms, his fear of facing consequences launches him and his oddball family on a rollicking run for their lives across the world they only thought they knew. As his journey takes him out of his realm and into another, Gabriel discovers that the deepest mystery lies at the heart of his own family, and he must do whatever it takes to find his way back home.
Strong and unapologetic, full of vivid, well-timed simile and lilting rhythm, bright with humor, at times bursting into a depth of pure simplistic beauty, The Book of Secrets looks far beyond the typical medieval swords-and-sorcery and, instead, introduces mystical creatures, absurd new worlds, and, at its heart, a hymn of praise to the complicated bond of siblinghood.
Review: I thought this was a well done read! The book did well with the world building and the character development. The book is well suited for younger readers and the writing is very engaging and simplistic, but all-consuming.
The only issues I had with the book is that sometimes the world building became too much, like there was too much detail in some areas. The pacing was also fairly slow in my opinion. The book also alludes to Christianity teachings and while I didn’t really care I did want to point it out for readers who don’t want their kids or themselves to read that.
Verdict: A very well done read!
Book: The Book of Secrets
Author: M.L. Little
Book Series: Seventh Realm Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: August 15, 2019
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (death, slight gore, some trauma, and war mentioned)
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Pages: 232
Amazon Link
Synopsis: After Gabriel Draven smuggles home the Stone of the Seven Realms, his fear of facing consequences launches him and his oddball family on a rollicking run for their lives across the world they only thought they knew. As his journey takes him out of his realm and into another, Gabriel discovers that the deepest mystery lies at the heart of his own family, and he must do whatever it takes to find his way back home.
Strong and unapologetic, full of vivid, well-timed simile and lilting rhythm, bright with humor, at times bursting into a depth of pure simplistic beauty, The Book of Secrets looks far beyond the typical medieval swords-and-sorcery and, instead, introduces mystical creatures, absurd new worlds, and, at its heart, a hymn of praise to the complicated bond of siblinghood.
Review: I thought this was a well done read! The book did well with the world building and the character development. The book is well suited for younger readers and the writing is very engaging and simplistic, but all-consuming.
The only issues I had with the book is that sometimes the world building became too much, like there was too much detail in some areas. The pacing was also fairly slow in my opinion. The book also alludes to Christianity teachings and while I didn’t really care I did want to point it out for readers who don’t want their kids or themselves to read that.
Verdict: A very well done read!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher on netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Raven and the Dove
Author: Kaitlyn Davis
Book Series: The Raven and the Dove Book 1
Rating: 1/5
Publication Date: March 9, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: Amazon Services
Pages: 506
Amazon Link
Synopsis: A princess longing to be free...
On the dawn of her courtship trials, Princess Lyana Aethionus knows she should be focused on winning her perfect mate, yet her thoughts wander to the open sky waiting at the edge of her floating kingdom. One final adventure calls. Upon fleeing the palace, the last thing she expects to find is a raven prince locked in a death match with a dragon.
A bastard aching to belong...
Reviled son of a dead king, Rafe would do anything for his beloved half-brother, Prince Lysander Taetanus, including posing as him in the upcoming courtship trials. When a dragon interrupts their secret exchange, he orders his studious sibling to run. After suffering a fatal blow, Rafe is saved by a beautiful dove who possesses forbidden magic, just like him.
Fate brought them together, now destiny will tear them apart...
Unknown to the world above, on the foggy sea ten thousand feet below, a young king fights a forgotten war. He believes Lyana is the queen prophesied to save the world, and with the help of his favored spy, hidden deep in the highest ranks of the dove royal house, he will stop at nothing to have her.
Three shocking betrayals. Two star-crossed lovers. One unforgettable journey. If you like fierce heroines, brooding heroes, forbidden romance, and action-packed magical adventures with twists you'll never see coming, don't miss The Raven and the Dove!
Review: I had to DNF this book. I felt like I had read this same story before. I am NOT saying that this book is plagiarizing another work but I feel like this book is just a rehashing of the same plot points in a different manner. I’m aware it’s a Tristian and Isolde retelling, but for some reason this book just feels so old to me. The characters aren’t appealing to me and the world building is everywhere. Stuff just feels like it’s thrown into your face without warning. It’s a bit of a chaotic read and it was really slow. I made it about 38% through before I had to quit reading.
Verdict: Not for me, but might be for you!
Book: The Raven and the Dove
Author: Kaitlyn Davis
Book Series: The Raven and the Dove Book 1
Rating: 1/5
Publication Date: March 9, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: Amazon Services
Pages: 506
Amazon Link
Synopsis: A princess longing to be free...
On the dawn of her courtship trials, Princess Lyana Aethionus knows she should be focused on winning her perfect mate, yet her thoughts wander to the open sky waiting at the edge of her floating kingdom. One final adventure calls. Upon fleeing the palace, the last thing she expects to find is a raven prince locked in a death match with a dragon.
A bastard aching to belong...
Reviled son of a dead king, Rafe would do anything for his beloved half-brother, Prince Lysander Taetanus, including posing as him in the upcoming courtship trials. When a dragon interrupts their secret exchange, he orders his studious sibling to run. After suffering a fatal blow, Rafe is saved by a beautiful dove who possesses forbidden magic, just like him.
Fate brought them together, now destiny will tear them apart...
Unknown to the world above, on the foggy sea ten thousand feet below, a young king fights a forgotten war. He believes Lyana is the queen prophesied to save the world, and with the help of his favored spy, hidden deep in the highest ranks of the dove royal house, he will stop at nothing to have her.
Three shocking betrayals. Two star-crossed lovers. One unforgettable journey. If you like fierce heroines, brooding heroes, forbidden romance, and action-packed magical adventures with twists you'll never see coming, don't miss The Raven and the Dove!
Review: I had to DNF this book. I felt like I had read this same story before. I am NOT saying that this book is plagiarizing another work but I feel like this book is just a rehashing of the same plot points in a different manner. I’m aware it’s a Tristian and Isolde retelling, but for some reason this book just feels so old to me. The characters aren’t appealing to me and the world building is everywhere. Stuff just feels like it’s thrown into your face without warning. It’s a bit of a chaotic read and it was really slow. I made it about 38% through before I had to quit reading.
Verdict: Not for me, but might be for you!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher! Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Degenerates
Author: J. Albert Mann
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Slight LGBTQA+ relationship (makeout scene) and based on the covers one of the girls is black and the other might be Asian, but it wasn’t well described in the book.
Publication Date: March 17, 2020
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 16+ (TW torture, violence, gore, some language, and
Pages: March 17, 2020
Amazon Link
Synopsis: In the tradition of Girl, Interrupted, this fiery historical novel follows four young women in the early 20th century whose lives intersect when they are locked up by a world that took the poor, the disabled, the marginalized—and institutionalized them for life.
The Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded is not a happy place. The young women who are already there certainly don’t think so. Not Maxine, who is doing everything she can to protect her younger sister Rose in an institution where vicious attendants and bullying older girls treat them as the morons, imbeciles, and idiots the doctors have deemed them to be. Not Alice, either, who was left there when her brother couldn’t bring himself to support a sister with a club foot. And not London, who has just been dragged there from the best foster situation she’s ever had, thanks to one unexpected, life altering moment. Each girl is determined to change her fate, no matter what it takes.
Review: I thought this book was well done. The world building was amazing and I like that the author kept to the historical points in the book. I felt the author did well to subtly describe the horror that people faced in the early 20th century. The book didn’t shy away from showing a light on some of the darkest moments of our history in America. The book was also very well even paced.
However, I didn’t like how the book was told. The book kinda bounced between events and timelines a bit recklessly and that made it hard to follow. The book also didn’t develop these characters very well and I had a hard time caring for them as a reader. I feel like the book could have been told from one POV and worked much better than with three. I also didn’t like that the girls just accepted their given labels. It fits with the time, but I think it would have been more impactful if they outright rejected it in them.
Verdict: A great read, especially for those who like history!
Book: The Degenerates
Author: J. Albert Mann
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Slight LGBTQA+ relationship (makeout scene) and based on the covers one of the girls is black and the other might be Asian, but it wasn’t well described in the book.
Publication Date: March 17, 2020
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 16+ (TW torture, violence, gore, some language, and
Pages: March 17, 2020
Amazon Link
Synopsis: In the tradition of Girl, Interrupted, this fiery historical novel follows four young women in the early 20th century whose lives intersect when they are locked up by a world that took the poor, the disabled, the marginalized—and institutionalized them for life.
The Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded is not a happy place. The young women who are already there certainly don’t think so. Not Maxine, who is doing everything she can to protect her younger sister Rose in an institution where vicious attendants and bullying older girls treat them as the morons, imbeciles, and idiots the doctors have deemed them to be. Not Alice, either, who was left there when her brother couldn’t bring himself to support a sister with a club foot. And not London, who has just been dragged there from the best foster situation she’s ever had, thanks to one unexpected, life altering moment. Each girl is determined to change her fate, no matter what it takes.
Review: I thought this book was well done. The world building was amazing and I like that the author kept to the historical points in the book. I felt the author did well to subtly describe the horror that people faced in the early 20th century. The book didn’t shy away from showing a light on some of the darkest moments of our history in America. The book was also very well even paced.
However, I didn’t like how the book was told. The book kinda bounced between events and timelines a bit recklessly and that made it hard to follow. The book also didn’t develop these characters very well and I had a hard time caring for them as a reader. I feel like the book could have been told from one POV and worked much better than with three. I also didn’t like that the girls just accepted their given labels. It fits with the time, but I think it would have been more impactful if they outright rejected it in them.
Verdict: A great read, especially for those who like history!
Disclaimer: I received an e-arc of this book from the publishing company as well as a physical copy. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Most Likely
Author: Sarah Watson
Book Series: Most Likely Book 1
Rating: 4.5/5
Diversity: LGBTQA+ themes/discovery, depression/mental health rep and discussion of it, disability themes
Publisher: Poppy
Publication Date: March 10, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (depression, discovering yourself, friendship)
Pages: 384
Amazon Link
Synopsis: From the creator of the hit TV series The Bold Type comes an empowering and heartfelt novel about a future female president's senior year of high school.
Ava, CJ, Jordan, and Martha (listed in alphabetical order out of fairness) have been friends since kindergarten. Now they're in their senior year, facing their biggest fears about growing up and growing apart. But there's more than just college on the horizon. One of these girls is destined to become the president of the United States. The mystery, of course, is which girl gets the gig.
Is it Ava, the picture-perfect artist who's secretly struggling to figure out where she belongs? Or could it be CJ, the one who's got everything figured out...except how to fix her terrible SAT scores? Maybe it's Jordan, the group's resident journalist, who knows she's ready for more than their small Ohio suburb can offer. And don't overlook Martha, who will have to overcome all the obstacles that stand in the way of her dreams.
This is the story of four best friends who have one another's backs through every new love, breakup, stumble, and success--proving that great friendships can help young women achieve anything...even a seat in the Oval Office.
Review: I thought this book did super well with character development! They were so well detailed without bogging down the story! The plot of the story was intriguing and kept me hooked throughout the book and the world building was well done as well. The book was a great example of modern-day issues being well handled in books.
I did feel like the beginning was super slow compared to the rest of the book. The writing style was also nothing remarkable. I also thought it was weird that the presidency was the forefront of this novel, but there was no real build-up to it. The book began with a prologue from the president and the epilogue was from them too, but nothing in-between about it.
Verdict: A well done contemporary!
Book: Most Likely
Author: Sarah Watson
Book Series: Most Likely Book 1
Rating: 4.5/5
Diversity: LGBTQA+ themes/discovery, depression/mental health rep and discussion of it, disability themes
Publisher: Poppy
Publication Date: March 10, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (depression, discovering yourself, friendship)
Pages: 384
Amazon Link
Synopsis: From the creator of the hit TV series The Bold Type comes an empowering and heartfelt novel about a future female president's senior year of high school.
Ava, CJ, Jordan, and Martha (listed in alphabetical order out of fairness) have been friends since kindergarten. Now they're in their senior year, facing their biggest fears about growing up and growing apart. But there's more than just college on the horizon. One of these girls is destined to become the president of the United States. The mystery, of course, is which girl gets the gig.
Is it Ava, the picture-perfect artist who's secretly struggling to figure out where she belongs? Or could it be CJ, the one who's got everything figured out...except how to fix her terrible SAT scores? Maybe it's Jordan, the group's resident journalist, who knows she's ready for more than their small Ohio suburb can offer. And don't overlook Martha, who will have to overcome all the obstacles that stand in the way of her dreams.
This is the story of four best friends who have one another's backs through every new love, breakup, stumble, and success--proving that great friendships can help young women achieve anything...even a seat in the Oval Office.
Review: I thought this book did super well with character development! They were so well detailed without bogging down the story! The plot of the story was intriguing and kept me hooked throughout the book and the world building was well done as well. The book was a great example of modern-day issues being well handled in books.
I did feel like the beginning was super slow compared to the rest of the book. The writing style was also nothing remarkable. I also thought it was weird that the presidency was the forefront of this novel, but there was no real build-up to it. The book began with a prologue from the president and the epilogue was from them too, but nothing in-between about it.
Verdict: A well done contemporary!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Super Life of Ben Braver
Author: Marcus Emerson
Book Series: Ben Braver Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Publisher: Roaring Book Press
Publication Date: March 6, 2018
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (some dog abuse, bullying, vomit, illnesses, superhero powers, end of the world)
Pages: 320
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Ben Braver is an ordinary kid. All he wants to do is finish his summer watching awesome TV shows and eating his favorite candy. But when some kid screams for help, Ben, like his favorite comic book heroes, tries to save the day. Let's just say it ends badly. But it does lead him to a secret school where kids with super abilities learn to control their powers. Ben's never had any powers—and never thought he could be special. So when he's offered a spot at the school, Ben realizes this is his chance to become the superhero he's always dreamed of. Packed with black-and-white art and comic strips throughout.
Review: I thought this was a well-done book! It’s perfect for kids who are into graphic novels and want to branch out slowly. The illustrations are well done, the characters were compelling, and the plot is intriguing.
However, I did find the pacing slow and some of the references were a bit dated for this generation for kids unless they’re well versed in 80s/90s classics. The book had a few dark and gross themes as well and the plot took a bit to develop.
Verdict: Overall, I think this book is great for kids who are mature enough for some of the darker themes and it’s great as a middle ground between comics and novels.
Book: The Super Life of Ben Braver
Author: Marcus Emerson
Book Series: Ben Braver Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Publisher: Roaring Book Press
Publication Date: March 6, 2018
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (some dog abuse, bullying, vomit, illnesses, superhero powers, end of the world)
Pages: 320
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Ben Braver is an ordinary kid. All he wants to do is finish his summer watching awesome TV shows and eating his favorite candy. But when some kid screams for help, Ben, like his favorite comic book heroes, tries to save the day. Let's just say it ends badly. But it does lead him to a secret school where kids with super abilities learn to control their powers. Ben's never had any powers—and never thought he could be special. So when he's offered a spot at the school, Ben realizes this is his chance to become the superhero he's always dreamed of. Packed with black-and-white art and comic strips throughout.
Review: I thought this was a well-done book! It’s perfect for kids who are into graphic novels and want to branch out slowly. The illustrations are well done, the characters were compelling, and the plot is intriguing.
However, I did find the pacing slow and some of the references were a bit dated for this generation for kids unless they’re well versed in 80s/90s classics. The book had a few dark and gross themes as well and the plot took a bit to develop.
Verdict: Overall, I think this book is great for kids who are mature enough for some of the darker themes and it’s great as a middle ground between comics and novels.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Ben Braver and thee Incredible Exploding Kid
Author: Marcus Emerson
Book Series: Ben Braver Book 2
Rating: 4.5/5
Publisher: Roaring Book Press
Publication Date: March 5, 2019
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 8+ (some dark stuff, like an alternate reality goat that’s ripped, slight gore, and some violence)
Pages: 336
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The Super Life of Ben Braver: The Incredible Exploding Kid is jam-packed with art and comic strips. It's another wacky adventure from Marcus Emerson, the author behind the hit Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja series!
“A crazy fun ride—action packed and loaded with laughs!” —Max Brallier, The Last Kids on Earth
Even though Ben Braver saved Kepler Academy from total destruction last year, he knows he still doesn't fit in at his secret middle school for kids with special abilities. Ben's been hiding his lack of super skills, but it's getting harder as his classmates' powers are getting stronger.
Will Ben be able to power up before his enemies at school take him down? And will he risk everything to become the ultimate superhero?
Review: Again, I still love all of the illustrations and the characters! The POV really works for this book and I love how the main character talks to the reader. It’s very inclusive and draws in the reader. I think this book definitely improved from the first one.
However, I did feel like some of the pacing was a bit slow still and that there are still very dark themes acorss this book as were with the first one.
Verdict: A great read for graphic novel lovers looking to go into novels!
Book: Ben Braver and thee Incredible Exploding Kid
Author: Marcus Emerson
Book Series: Ben Braver Book 2
Rating: 4.5/5
Publisher: Roaring Book Press
Publication Date: March 5, 2019
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 8+ (some dark stuff, like an alternate reality goat that’s ripped, slight gore, and some violence)
Pages: 336
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The Super Life of Ben Braver: The Incredible Exploding Kid is jam-packed with art and comic strips. It's another wacky adventure from Marcus Emerson, the author behind the hit Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja series!
“A crazy fun ride—action packed and loaded with laughs!” —Max Brallier, The Last Kids on Earth
Even though Ben Braver saved Kepler Academy from total destruction last year, he knows he still doesn't fit in at his secret middle school for kids with special abilities. Ben's been hiding his lack of super skills, but it's getting harder as his classmates' powers are getting stronger.
Will Ben be able to power up before his enemies at school take him down? And will he risk everything to become the ultimate superhero?
Review: Again, I still love all of the illustrations and the characters! The POV really works for this book and I love how the main character talks to the reader. It’s very inclusive and draws in the reader. I think this book definitely improved from the first one.
However, I did feel like some of the pacing was a bit slow still and that there are still very dark themes acorss this book as were with the first one.
Verdict: A great read for graphic novel lovers looking to go into novels!