How would you feel being put into an insane asylum when there was nothing actually wrong with you? Would you start to lose your mind while trying to convince doctors, that think you're crazy, that you don't actually belong there?
So goes the story with Clara. I felt so bad for her throughout this book!
Izzy is a foster kid, almost to the age of aging out of the system, has some problems from her past and current ones at school. She was such a strong character to me. I felt bad for her also throughout the book. She goes on a journey to find out what happened to Clara after reading her journal.
Great ending that wrapped up nicely in my opinion.

A beautiful story set in South Africa follows the lives of 3 women, 2 sisters Ruth and Delilah and Zodwa. Each have tough lives in different ways. Two of them share a secret that others have shamed them and blamed them for, though what happens is not the fault of the women.
Brought together through a young baby with HIV.
They all become persecuted in different ways just according to the color of their skin and by caring for young Mandla.
This book will make your cry and become enraged at the injustices that go on throughout the book.

Thanks to Atria books for sending this my way.
This is my first novel by Jess Kidd and it was a good one.
On Victorian London, we meet lady detective Bridie. Bridie is...... Very unconventional! She carries around a gun and smokes a pipe! She is consulted upon to find a missing child. A child who is said to have supernatural powers and looks very odd.
Throw in a ghost, Ruby, who joins Bridie in this and her servant, 7 foot tall Cora, who both provide a little comic relief.
I really enjoyed being thrust into this world. I enjoyed the many stories woven throughout. I liked getting to go back in years and getting to know Bridie and where she came from.

This was my first book by Christina Lauren. Tate is on a European 18th birthday trip with her Grandma. They meet Sam and his grandfather in the trip. Tate and Sam fall hard and fast for real other but get torn apart when the big secret-that Tate is the daughter of megastar, Ian Butler-is revealed and they don't see each other for 14 years. Fate throws them back together on a film set- she the star and he the screenwriter. Can they forgive each other the past and rekindle their love? I liked Tate. She had it tough, keeping that big secret for 18 years She does everyone with professionalism especially after finding Sam on the set. I get why Sam did what he did... He loved his grandfather so much! Now Tate's father, I couldn't stand. Such a jerk at the end. I liked this second chance romance and am more excited for backlisted storys by these authors!

This story is haunting and hard to stomach sometimes. It starts off with a bang that immediately seems your heart racing! Through this story, we see Lydia and her son Luca who live through the slaughter of 16 of their family members at the hands of a cartel. She decides she has to escape to the United States or risk being killed by her once friend, Javier- leader of the cartel.
I had to set down this book several times to get my heartbeat back to normal and read something light hearted in between.
I think this book helps to show what refugees (from anywhere... Not necessarily just Mexico to the US) have to risk and go through to get a better life for themselves. It shows how hard they have to work to stay alive. It shows the determination and love a mother has to save all she has left. It shows that you sometimes never know who to trust and those that you can trust in the instant you meet.
Make sure to read the author's note at the end!

Things are getting crazy! I'm still loving Meena's story and adoring her friend Leia. I'm loving that she is staying to get glimpses through the power of magic into her past and her own witchy abilities!

This is only my second novel by them but it's my favorite!
When Ami wins every contest imaginable to totally fund her wedding/honeymoon and then bride and every other person of the wedding party (except twin sister Olive and new brother in law Ethan) gets violently sick from bad shellfish...... What can you do?
Olive and Ethan are sent in the bride and groom's places.... But can two people who seemingly can't stand each other make the most of it?
I loved Olive and Ethan- the banter they had and the loathing they have had for each other years made for such a fun, laugh out, loud book. I could see from a mile away that what Ethan really felt from the beginning was anything but hate. His brother, Dane, on the other hand was a total pig and I'm glad he had his comeuppance. I got a kick out of what Ami did when she discovered his deception (though all the while feeling so bad for her marrying that jerk!).

What happened the night Edie died? Lindsay is not quite sure as are none of her friends. Sarah believes it was murder and gets brushed off. Everyone knows it was suicide, right?
A chance meeting with Sarah 10 years later has Lindsay discovering a video of that night. It makes Lindsay start to wonder..... Was Sarah right? Was Edie murdered..... Was it Lindsay herself that did it?
I admired Lindsay for the change in her over the 10 years. No longer getting blacked out drunk and with a thriving career. Her friend Tessa has been by her side for 6 years too and tries to help Lindsay..... But is Tessa really who she seems?
The ending has a twist that I didn't see any good outcome coming of it, but then it twists back and it was really satisfying.

Colleen does it again! She writes the most engaging, sad but also sweet books.
Morgan had her daughter Clara way too young and married the father, Chris, at 3 the same age. Clara adores her father and he's perfect in her eyes. Morgan is very protective of her daughter and it gets worse as they both go through an unforgivable tragedy.
I can't believe the betrayal that happens in this book. It's so heartbreaking that one can do something like that to the person they claim to love!
I loved Clara and her relationship with Miller. I'm so glad Miller was different than the bad image Clara's father had of him without even knowing him. Even though they made a few mistakes together but they are young. I like how Clara mom states that "most adults don't even know how to navigate life more than teenagers do"
The book ends in such a great way and I adored the film scenes.