thelovelylibrarylady's Reviews (1.1k)

Honestly, this novel was pretty average. I was in the mood for a psychological thriller, which this is marketed as, but I didn't really feel like that was an accurate description of the book. Unfollow Me is told through multiple narrations which I found to be a little confusing and I never felt fully invested in any of the storylines being told. The ending does have a small twist that I did not see coming, but I would not recommend this title to other thriller readers. 

Ophelia After All was an okay read. I liked the titular character a lot and wanted her to be happy. However, the story was a little messy and hard to enjoy. With some minor plot editing, I think this novel would have been much better. I can see this book being a good resource for readers questioning their identity, whether that be sexual orientation or gender expression. For that reason, I think this book would be a great addition to any YA collection. 
(PUB DATE: AVAILABLE NOW)
(I received an audio recording of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

Fresh Brewed Murder is a cozy mystery that takes place around a coffee cart in Portland, Oregon. Fans of this genre will recognize that this title is a little hipper than the standard cozy mystery. While I strongly believe that there are no age limits on books, I do think that Duncan was gearing this story towards the Millenial/Gen Z audience. Overall, I enjoyed reading this one and look forward to the sequel which comes out this spring!

I have no idea why I waited so long to read this novel. I was approved to read it last year before it was published and I wish that I had read it in time to promote this important story back in March 2021. That being said, if you are like me and have been putting off reading Firekeeper's Daughter, this is your sign to pick it up. This YA novel is full of twists and turns and will keep you in suspense up until the very last chapter. It also has great indigenous representation within its setting and characters. I am excited to watch the Netflix series that is coming based on this novel and will read whatever Boulley writes next! 
(PUB DATE: AVAILABLE NOW)
(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

I almost didn't pick up The Myth Of Surrender because it was out of my comfort zone genre-wise. However, I am so glad that I decided to read this title because it was absolutely fantastic. The author's writing was beautiful and the story itself was both thought-provoking and heartwrenching. The story follows two young women who become close friends after meeting at a religious maternity home. There was a strong theme of body autonomy versus religious values, which is just as relevant in today's world as it was when this book was set.  Once I started the story, I could not put it down. This will be a title that I recommend to everyone, regardless of whether they usually read historical fiction or not. 
(PUB DATE: AVAILABLE NOW)
(I received an audio recording of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

Through The Woods was a fast-paced graphic novel that features five horror stories. I would describe the tales more as unsettling than scary, but the illustrations were beautiful. This is a perfect book to add to your list if you are trying to reach a "books read" goal as it can be read in just one sitting.

If you were ever a "band kid" you need to read this book. Anna and Weston, the two love interests in this story, meet when they are assigned a duet for their marching band performance. Working on this duet is what brings them together and well... their relationship takes off from there. Full Flight is an exceptional YA novel that will pull at your heartstrings and make you reflect on young love.
(PUB DATE: 02/22/2022)
(I received an audio recording of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

This collection of essays was really funny, but I had a hard time relating to the author and her experiences. Older readers may enjoy this title more, as they will be more familiar with the topics Ellis writes about. I did give Bring Your Baggage and Don't Pack Light three stars because I could appreciate the author's sense of humor and read it all in one sitting. Obviously, the book was a good read because if it wasn't I would not have read it all at once. 

Compared to her other novels, Wilde Lake was just okay. Lippman took inspiration from the modern classic To Kill A Mockingbird for her characters in this book which I thought was interesting. But that was the only aspect I found to be unique or entertaining. Unless you are a die-hard fan of Lippman's work and want to read every title written by her, I would skip this one. There are better thriller novels with messy family dynamics out there!