Connor Franta writes a note to his younger self as well as added photos and poems that correlate with the chapters. This book impacted me so much and hit home for me in so many ways. I was crying by page 5 and sobbing at 160. I'm not one to ever cry at books but this was the first one to make me ugly cry. This was a book I really needed to read and i'm so glad I did. So, thank you Connor THANK YOU for writing this.

I devoured this book I was reading from 4pm to 4am. I couldn't stop, most times I had to put it down but I was determined to finish it.

Funny and great illustrations! But, where is the plot?

{4.5 stars} WOAH WOAH WOAH WHAT ARE WORDS

This is a Sherlock Holmes & John Watson retelling following their great-great-great grandchildren; Charlotte Holmes and Jamie Watson. They are being framed for a murder that happens on their boarding school campus in Connecticut. The murders and incidents that occur are being done based on the stories of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Someone is after Jamie and Charlotte but…who?

Fast paced and very mysterious!! The suspense is real. It’s very easy to get into because the first chapter throws you into the story. I really enjoyed that because it didn’t take me a long time to figure out where the story was headed. Mystery is one of my favorite genre’s that I don’t get to read a lot. The last mystery I read was We Were Liars by E.Lockhart – which I loved.

This is Brittany Cavallaro‘s debut novel and while reading I kept that in my mind. As a debut novel, this was outstanding! The transitions from chapter to chapter really stood out to me. They were very nice and enthralling, you definitely wanted to keep going on to the next chapter.

Imagery is another thing that I always look for when reading. Imagery was done very, very well in this book! I felt like I was following Jamie and Charlotte everywhere they went. Just the little details of where they were and what was around them really helped me to feel like I was there. I just had the feeling *throughout the whole book* that I was right next to them or in the room with them/on the scene.

Twists and turns are MAJOR in this story!! Everything that happened, I was not expecting! I always had a feeling when introduced to a new character of them being a suspect. I was definitely questioning a lot of the time trying to figure out “who done it?”. But, I was in shock when it was revealed.

Drug use is one focus in this story beside the mystery and murders. Charlotte has been doing various drugs (oxy, coke, etc.) since she was very young and we do see some of her outbreaks and mood changes. Charlotte is an interesting and complex character. I felt a love-hate-relationship with her. She’s a badass in a good and bad way.

Jamie also deals with some bitterness and anger toward his father who lives in Connecticut and lives somewhat of a different life now. We get to see him build his relationship with his father back and it’s very nice!

Holmes & Watson were a great team and I loved them! Romance isn’t too much of a focus in this book which was nice but some flirting and “aww” moments occur! Also, they are hilarious and witty with their banter!

I’m not used to reading series/trilogies so reading this it felt more of a standalone than a first book in a series. There was an epilogue at the end and so now I’m curious to see what the next two books are like.

Beware of all the feels that this book will give you along with a possible book hangover! Definitely need some time to breathe and compile your thoughts! Just WOAH!

If you’re a fan of the BBC show, Sherlock you’ll be a fan of this! Most of my friends who I have read this along with are fans of that show and they loved it as well! To sum it up: this was a modernized Sherlock & Watson retelling! Everyone needs to go grab this, it was awesome and a read you need in your life!

Another Kasie West book, another round of feels. I really liked how this book was a roller coaster, it didn't stay in one direction it had its twists and turns to the story. I really thought this was just going to be a story about a girl and boy who get stuck in a library for the whole story. But, nope! I really love the direction the story went and I was on the edge of my seat & as torn between Jeff and Dax as Autumn was. Ahh so good, probably my second favorite West book.

Also, this story deals with the MC and her struggle with anxiety. As well as a character who is in the foster system. Kasie West is adding more diverse elements to her stories and I love it.

rep: asexual mc, m/m romance, vegetarian mc
tw: cancer, homophobia, cyberbullying

Tash Hearts Tolstoy follows our main character, Tash who comes from Russian, Czech & Buddist parents. Tash is also a vegetarian with her mother. Throughout the course of the summer, Tash and her best friend Jack spend their time filming and directing their web series, Unhappy Families a recreation of Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. Suddenly, when a popular channel gives their web series a shout out, their channel starts going viral and subscribers are rolling in like madness.

I really loved seeing how Tash was personally affected by her web series getting recognition and growing as quick as it did. As someone who makes YouTube videos, I could definitely relate to Tash's feelings toward hate comments and the constant worry that a video won't receive the response you wanted. Although, I really disliked how her editor and producer, Jack would react to Tash's reactions and belittle her for being excited and full of mixed emotions.

Over 100 pages into the book, Tash explains being asexual. I really enjoyed this representation because it's a sexuality that I'm not educated on. The author did a great job of incorporating the reactions from non-ace people by telling Tash it's not real, or they just don't understand it. Tash is not given a lot of validation in real life, but online - by researching and talking to people in forums. I could relate to this a lot because when I was coming to terms with being trans, these were some of the resources I used heavily and had helped me immensely. Overall, after reading this book I feel like I know more about how ace people feel since I only had small details.

Highly recommend this, it was a fun read & I loved how it didn't just focus on Tash but the side characters were given their own stories, too.

Great coming of age novel about religion, puberty, loving yourself, finding love & strict parental rules. This was very diverse and I loved it. The slam poetry was a fun addition. I listened to this on audio and I loved the narrator! Highly recommend.

I really liked this. I felt connected to the characters. I promised to read it before watching the movie and I lived up to that promise. Unlike others, I actually didn't get upset over the book. It wasn't too emotional for me. I did feel happy and sad for Charlie at the parts that were supposed to make me feel that way. Patrick was probably my favorite character.

Trigger warnings for abortion and slut shaming.

I devoured this book in the span of two days and I am so glad I got a the chance to read a novel that tackles the important topic of abortion specifically for women in Texas.

Set in 2014, we follow Camille, a teen girl and aspiring actress over her summer break as she discovers that she is pregnant after showing signs and symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. Girls on the Verge follows Camille and her friends, Annabelle and Bea over the span of a week road-tripping to the outskirts of Texas, Mexico and to New Mexico for Camille to take pills to have an abortion.

This Young Adult book talks openly about sex in so many ways and I absolutely loved that. YA often strays away from having an open and honest conversation about sex and Girls on the Verge shed light on teenagers having sex and started a conversation by sharing educational information about contraceptives, talking about purity, and the desire to lose your virginity as a teen because you just want it over with and it covers the consequences. But, I felt this was a very sex-positive read.

Yes, this book is purely fiction but it also has so many educational moments and it is filled with information for women who need help and are seeking to get an abortion. I love how this book shared many perspectives of abortion through the characters. Especially with Camille's best friend, Bea who is a devote Christian, raised by a family of Christians who never talk about sex. Bea is keen on the idea that Camille is making the wrong choice. Bea infuriated me because she couldn't put her opinions behind her and have an open mind to what her best friend was truly going through.

My only issues were that since this book is only 200+ pages, the characters weren't as fleshed out therefore the character development was slim to none. However, I did enjoy seeing the character development Camille went through. She is such a fierce and empowering female character.

Overall, this book was so empowering and really opened me up to knowing more about the hardships women go through in Texas specifically to get an abortion. This also applies to any woman (or person with female organs) who is trying to get an abortion. The protesters, the fake clinics, the travel expenses and the cost alone. As well as the guilt they receive from others.

If you're looking for a new feminist novel to read, I highly suggest this one.

I really enjoyed this! Having read Never Have I Ever, I was curious to see the sequel to Katie's single-life and love-life. I especially enjoyed this because she talks about being boy crazy and then realizing later in life that she's actually queer. This is a topic that is rarely ever discussed and I LOVED IT.