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samantha_randolph's Reviews (1.59k)
When seventeen-year-old Karen's parents die, she doesn't know what to do. Life is a confusing mess, especially when her gymnastics coach, Bentley, asks her to move in with him and his son, Jordan. Determined to stay strong in practice so she can compete, Karen agrees, though her grief is often overwhelming. Can see cope with the grief while going after her dream? Can she get close to the guy who knows what she is going through and manage foreign feelings she may have for him?
Letters to Nowhere was an extremely gripping novel. From the first letter, I felt like I was wrapped in this world of Karen's, a world of heartache and grief and a struggle to hope and accept reality. Her emotions are often raw, but she doesn't always let those close to her know. She writes letters that they will never see, but shows the reader how she really feels. They were frequently short and simple, and in that, very powerful. This isn't a story where tragedy happens and the characters are suddenly okay again. This is a very real and clear display of the impact grief has and how it can carry over into the things we used to enjoy most.
I think what I liked most about this is the powerful hope expressed throughout. None of it is a fake or an oversimplified "everything with be ok eventually" kind. It was the kind of hope that starts with something small, like the ability to say a single sentence with the single most real truth out loud, and it continuously builds over time. It isn't an easy road for Karen, but sometimes just the visual of something to hope for, a new goal, can ease the pain.
As far as categorizing into young or new adult, I think it's a crossover. Jordan and Karen are technically in high school (though high school is not a major part of this story), they face mature issues. They deal with death, or try to, Karen learns what it's like to live without parents, and they both learn a lot about love. I won't give any spoilers away, but the relationship between Jordan and Karen is something very unique and something I haven't seen in a lot of books. They both have faced terrible tragedy, and it shows in their relationship. Jordan, who has his share of "just being a guy" moments, knows he can't take try to be only superficial with Karen. And though Karen hasn't had much experience with guys, she knows Jordan already understands a part of her that most people around her can't relate to. They have a serious emotional depth that only comes through experiencing the ups and downs of life. Yet even in their adult situation, they still have moments of just being two young people trying to find their way in life. They worry about grades, they think about college, and they try to figure out what sex means to them or doesn't mean. They are real and heartfelt.
Letters to Nowhere is a beautiful piece of literature. It has tragedy, it has depth, it has love, but I think the best thing it leaves you with is hope, no matter what hope may mean to you. 5/5 stars.
Letters to Nowhere was an extremely gripping novel. From the first letter, I felt like I was wrapped in this world of Karen's, a world of heartache and grief and a struggle to hope and accept reality. Her emotions are often raw, but she doesn't always let those close to her know. She writes letters that they will never see, but shows the reader how she really feels. They were frequently short and simple, and in that, very powerful. This isn't a story where tragedy happens and the characters are suddenly okay again. This is a very real and clear display of the impact grief has and how it can carry over into the things we used to enjoy most.
I think what I liked most about this is the powerful hope expressed throughout. None of it is a fake or an oversimplified "everything with be ok eventually" kind. It was the kind of hope that starts with something small, like the ability to say a single sentence with the single most real truth out loud, and it continuously builds over time. It isn't an easy road for Karen, but sometimes just the visual of something to hope for, a new goal, can ease the pain.
As far as categorizing into young or new adult, I think it's a crossover. Jordan and Karen are technically in high school (though high school is not a major part of this story), they face mature issues. They deal with death, or try to, Karen learns what it's like to live without parents, and they both learn a lot about love. I won't give any spoilers away, but the relationship between Jordan and Karen is something very unique and something I haven't seen in a lot of books. They both have faced terrible tragedy, and it shows in their relationship. Jordan, who has his share of "just being a guy" moments, knows he can't take try to be only superficial with Karen. And though Karen hasn't had much experience with guys, she knows Jordan already understands a part of her that most people around her can't relate to. They have a serious emotional depth that only comes through experiencing the ups and downs of life. Yet even in their adult situation, they still have moments of just being two young people trying to find their way in life. They worry about grades, they think about college, and they try to figure out what sex means to them or doesn't mean. They are real and heartfelt.
Letters to Nowhere is a beautiful piece of literature. It has tragedy, it has depth, it has love, but I think the best thing it leaves you with is hope, no matter what hope may mean to you. 5/5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads.
When men go to war and leave their wives, mothers, and daughters behind, what do the women do? How do they make it day to day while worrying about their loved ones? For Rita and Glory, they write letters to each other, though they have never met in person. Rita is a middle-aged woman with a husband, Sal, and a son, Toby, both fighting in World War II. She misses them desperately and is curious when a young woman starts coming around who knows Toby. Glory is a young wife in her twenties who has a son and a daughter to raise while her husband, Robert, is off at war. Her and Robert's best friend from childhood, Levi, is still around due to a heart problem. Levi helps Glory as much as possible, maybe for more than the sake of Robert. Told in the letters between the two women, this novel shows the strength of women and the friendships that they form.
This book was really moving. While it was a great piece of historical fiction, its primary focus was on the depth of the friendship these two women forged and how it helped them constantly. In each other, they found a listening ear (or paper) and someone who understood what the other was going through. Rita didn't have a daughter and Glory's mom had died, leaving them both with a role to fill. The plot is very smooth, though I did gasp out loud at one twist that broke my heart. The letters give such an interesting lens to see these characters, especially the secondary ones. Rita and Glory would often say they felt they knew the people in the other's life so well because they had already heard so much about them. When reading the letters, I felt that way too. It gave a wonderful life to the characters, all of whom could easily have existed during the time period.
Overall, this was an engaging and heartwarming tale. 4/5 stars.
When men go to war and leave their wives, mothers, and daughters behind, what do the women do? How do they make it day to day while worrying about their loved ones? For Rita and Glory, they write letters to each other, though they have never met in person. Rita is a middle-aged woman with a husband, Sal, and a son, Toby, both fighting in World War II. She misses them desperately and is curious when a young woman starts coming around who knows Toby. Glory is a young wife in her twenties who has a son and a daughter to raise while her husband, Robert, is off at war. Her and Robert's best friend from childhood, Levi, is still around due to a heart problem. Levi helps Glory as much as possible, maybe for more than the sake of Robert. Told in the letters between the two women, this novel shows the strength of women and the friendships that they form.
This book was really moving. While it was a great piece of historical fiction, its primary focus was on the depth of the friendship these two women forged and how it helped them constantly. In each other, they found a listening ear (or paper) and someone who understood what the other was going through. Rita didn't have a daughter and Glory's mom had died, leaving them both with a role to fill. The plot is very smooth, though I did gasp out loud at one twist that broke my heart. The letters give such an interesting lens to see these characters, especially the secondary ones. Rita and Glory would often say they felt they knew the people in the other's life so well because they had already heard so much about them. When reading the letters, I felt that way too. It gave a wonderful life to the characters, all of whom could easily have existed during the time period.
Overall, this was an engaging and heartwarming tale. 4/5 stars.
I received a free ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This historical novel follows the lives of a not-so-gentleman Emile Dubois and a woman named Sophie, whose rank isn't high on the societal totem pole. When suspicions of vampires start to arise, who will turn out to be a creature of the night?
With history, vampires, and time-travel, I wasn't sure how this book was going to go, but it was definitely intriguing. I think the author managed all of these well. What I really liked about this was the strong romance in it. It isn't overly cheesy, but it felt very real and unique. The romance may not be a conventional one, but it is a very beautiful one.
The plot wasn't my favorite. It felt like parts of it were thrown together at times. The pacing would be very fast, then it would be very slow, without any consistent pacing to balance them. While I eventually grew to be fond of Sophie, she took a while to grow on me. Every guy seems to be after her, though she doesn't come across as a great beauty. I understand the historical element that Sophie wouldn't be very outspoken. However, the moments she is outspoken seem to be at the wrong time. If she had just said how she felt earlier in the story, instead of only speaking out about something else when she got angry, it would have been less frustrating and more easy to like her. It didn't seem like she had a backbone until the end of the book.
This book has a Dracula like tone to it. If you are a fan of that, then I would highly recommend this book to you. I like it alright, but not a lot, so I think people who like it more would enjoy this story more. 2.5/5 stars.
This historical novel follows the lives of a not-so-gentleman Emile Dubois and a woman named Sophie, whose rank isn't high on the societal totem pole. When suspicions of vampires start to arise, who will turn out to be a creature of the night?
With history, vampires, and time-travel, I wasn't sure how this book was going to go, but it was definitely intriguing. I think the author managed all of these well. What I really liked about this was the strong romance in it. It isn't overly cheesy, but it felt very real and unique. The romance may not be a conventional one, but it is a very beautiful one.
The plot wasn't my favorite. It felt like parts of it were thrown together at times. The pacing would be very fast, then it would be very slow, without any consistent pacing to balance them. While I eventually grew to be fond of Sophie, she took a while to grow on me. Every guy seems to be after her, though she doesn't come across as a great beauty. I understand the historical element that Sophie wouldn't be very outspoken. However, the moments she is outspoken seem to be at the wrong time. If she had just said how she felt earlier in the story, instead of only speaking out about something else when she got angry, it would have been less frustrating and more easy to like her. It didn't seem like she had a backbone until the end of the book.
This book has a Dracula like tone to it. If you are a fan of that, then I would highly recommend this book to you. I like it alright, but not a lot, so I think people who like it more would enjoy this story more. 2.5/5 stars.
Land of the Unaltered in set in a world where beauty is everything...artificial beauty that is. A world where hair and eye color are frequently changed to match outfits and plastic surgery is as common as going to the dentist. The country is called Civitas and a teen named Rose happens to be part of the ruling family. Rose's mother is the icon of being Altered, though Rose refuses to have any work done on herself. Hating Civitas and what it stands for, Rose leaves the city and joins her aunt Ivy for the summer. There, she gets a summer job at a lumber mill working with the quiet and elusive Flynn, who thinks she is just another capital brat. In the midst of struggling to figure each other out, they find themselves in a plot bigger than they ever imagined...
I got the opportunity to beta read this book before it came out, and I'm so glad I did. The world in this book is so unique, and I loved how it consistently builds in depth throughout the book. It makes you question what it means to be beautiful and what true beauty really is.
Rose and Flynn are solid main characters. The story goes back and forth between both perspectives, so you get a good feel for both their personalities. Rose is strong and intellectual. Her love of learning was my favorite part about her character, though I think she intimidated Flynn with it (unintentionally, and only in the best way, the kind of intimidation that comes from admiration). I think Flynn is absolutely charming. He doesn't have a way with words, he is socially awkward at times, but he has a heart of gold. I don't think either of them know their full potential yet, but I strongly suspect they will help each other find it in later books.
If you like anything dystopian with a sweet romance and an intriguing plot, give this a try! 4/5 stars and eager to read the sequel.
I got the opportunity to beta read this book before it came out, and I'm so glad I did. The world in this book is so unique, and I loved how it consistently builds in depth throughout the book. It makes you question what it means to be beautiful and what true beauty really is.
Rose and Flynn are solid main characters. The story goes back and forth between both perspectives, so you get a good feel for both their personalities. Rose is strong and intellectual. Her love of learning was my favorite part about her character, though I think she intimidated Flynn with it (unintentionally, and only in the best way, the kind of intimidation that comes from admiration). I think Flynn is absolutely charming. He doesn't have a way with words, he is socially awkward at times, but he has a heart of gold. I don't think either of them know their full potential yet, but I strongly suspect they will help each other find it in later books.
If you like anything dystopian with a sweet romance and an intriguing plot, give this a try! 4/5 stars and eager to read the sequel.
Enigma Black is the tale of a woman named Celaine who lost her parents when she was a teenage do to the villainous "Man in Black". Since then, she has moved on with her life, but never forgotten the vow she made to avenge her family. When a strange man gives her an offer to do just that, what will happen?
I have mixed feelings about this book. Some of the things I liked about it where also some of the things I didn't like about it. For example, if you read a lot of superhero comics/graphic novels/etc, they all have some things in common, including that a lot of tragedy and dying happens with a side of it-can't-work-out-because-I'm-a-superhero romance. It just fits in that genre with superheroes. I like it because it fits so well within it, and it gives you that same feeling you get from superhero comics. However, I also don't like it because it can make the story a tad predictable. I loved Celaine as a heroine. I thought she was fabulous and kick-butt. But she did have some typical female superhero moments. I just wish there had been more variety in it. I feel it lacked the spark that would really set it apart. It's so close, but I just didn't see it quite yet. But there is potential, because the characters are solid, and I found myself rooting for some of them that I didn't expect to.
That being said, it was an enjoyable read. Any superhero fans would love this I think. 3.5/5 stars
I have mixed feelings about this book. Some of the things I liked about it where also some of the things I didn't like about it. For example, if you read a lot of superhero comics/graphic novels/etc, they all have some things in common, including that a lot of tragedy and dying happens with a side of it-can't-work-out-because-I'm-a-superhero romance. It just fits in that genre with superheroes. I like it because it fits so well within it, and it gives you that same feeling you get from superhero comics. However, I also don't like it because it can make the story a tad predictable. I loved Celaine as a heroine. I thought she was fabulous and kick-butt. But she did have some typical female superhero moments. I just wish there had been more variety in it. I feel it lacked the spark that would really set it apart. It's so close, but I just didn't see it quite yet. But there is potential, because the characters are solid, and I found myself rooting for some of them that I didn't expect to.
That being said, it was an enjoyable read. Any superhero fans would love this I think. 3.5/5 stars
I received a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Dragon Empire is about a young male dragon, Grendar. He is bullied by higher-class dragons, and he is struggling to became a full grown dragon ready to take on the world. When he sees his bullies doing something forbidden, what will happen? And how will it affect his friend Ashanti, whom he desperately wants to be with?
What I liked about this book: The plot. I really, really enjoyed how this plot kept getting deeper as the story progressed. There were a few twists that I didn't see coming, and I liked how it ended and things came to a close. I also enjoyed the descriptions. I think for the most part they were very well done, and I had a nice visual of what was happening in the story throughout. Grendar is a nice main character. I liked seeing him grow throughout the story. The cover is also very pretty.
What I didn't like so much: I've read stories with dragons in them. What I love about mythological characters is that authors can do whatever they want with them. While I liked the overall dragon class system in this book, I really wish the actual dragons had been less human. Maybe if there weren't humans already in the story, it wouldn't have been such an issue, but I just felt the dragons needed to be more like their own species, something with their own non-human mind. I understand wanting to make the dragons easier to relate to, but I feel it could have been done while also making them more dragon-like than just physical appearance. With their being so human-like, I feel this story could have worked with the main characters being human and the humans being dragons.
I think in the end, it wasn't a bad read. I think there is a lot of potential with this author, and I wouldn't mind reading something else of hers, but this one wasn't for me. 3/5 stars.
The Dragon Empire is about a young male dragon, Grendar. He is bullied by higher-class dragons, and he is struggling to became a full grown dragon ready to take on the world. When he sees his bullies doing something forbidden, what will happen? And how will it affect his friend Ashanti, whom he desperately wants to be with?
What I liked about this book: The plot. I really, really enjoyed how this plot kept getting deeper as the story progressed. There were a few twists that I didn't see coming, and I liked how it ended and things came to a close. I also enjoyed the descriptions. I think for the most part they were very well done, and I had a nice visual of what was happening in the story throughout. Grendar is a nice main character. I liked seeing him grow throughout the story. The cover is also very pretty.
What I didn't like so much: I've read stories with dragons in them. What I love about mythological characters is that authors can do whatever they want with them. While I liked the overall dragon class system in this book, I really wish the actual dragons had been less human. Maybe if there weren't humans already in the story, it wouldn't have been such an issue, but I just felt the dragons needed to be more like their own species, something with their own non-human mind. I understand wanting to make the dragons easier to relate to, but I feel it could have been done while also making them more dragon-like than just physical appearance. With their being so human-like, I feel this story could have worked with the main characters being human and the humans being dragons.
I think in the end, it wasn't a bad read. I think there is a lot of potential with this author, and I wouldn't mind reading something else of hers, but this one wasn't for me. 3/5 stars.