I wanted to love this one, but I just couldn’t. Dark Matter (another one of Crouch’s novels) was a five star read for me so I have really high expectations for this one. However, Recursion was much harder to keep up with in comparison. I found myself having to reread chapters to try to understand what was going on. It could be that this topic (cyclical time) is just harder to understand than the topic of Dark Matter (multiple universes/realities) for me. The writing was fantastic, as I expected, but I found myself very confused for the majority of the novel.

To preface this review, I want to say this book is important for many reasons. First, the main character, Ben (they/them), identifies as non-binary. This representation is lacking in literature and I really enjoyed reading about their journey of coming to terms with that identity. Second, the novel addresses turbulent and abusive behavior from parents towards children. Just because you are someone’s parent does not mean you are always in the right with your actions towards them. There is still respect that must be earned and maintained between parents and their children. Ben’s mother and father in this book are ignorant to that fact and it honestly was disturbing to read about. While I enjoyed this book, I did decide to only give it three stars. YA fiction is not my favorite genre and I found some of the scenes in this book to be childish (rightly so, as the characters are in high school). I believe I would have enjoyed this novel much more three or four years ago when I was closer to Ben and their friends ages.

The One is a science fiction novel set in the near future. The premise of the novel is that there is a dating app that matches its users through DNA samples. The reader is then introduced to multiple storylines of those who have been matched through the service. I enjoyed some of the perspectives more than others, but am once again wowed with Marrs' writing ability. Since discovering his work earlier this year, this is my second title of his that I have read. I will definitely be reading more of his writing in the future!

I really enjoyed this legal thriller and would be open to reading more of Burke’s work in the future. I thought the main characters Nicky, Chloe, and Ethan were well developed and there were many plot twists that I did not see coming! Overall, this is a solid mystery novel and those who usually enjoy that genre will probably really like this one!

This book had so much potential, but I had some major moral issues with the story. As a result, I can only give it three stars. My major problem with this book is that the author downplays the trauma that comes from an abusive relationship. Without spoiling any of the plot, I felt that Fisher blames the protagonist, Thursday, for a lot of the issues present in her relationship. Whereas, at the very least, her partner, Seth, should also be held accountable for the downward spiral of this story.

This book was not what I was expecting. The authors try to tie in many serious themes relating to abortion (lack of access to health centers, religious views, teen pregnancy etc.) with a humorous YA plot. It was a quick and easy read, but I felt like there was a big opportunity missed in regards to educating readers about reproductive rights.

The character development present in this story, especially of Jude and Noah, was beautiful. I felt myself becoming very attached to both of them and didn't want this story to end. If you are looking for an emotional read that touches on inner-family tragedy and redemption, this is the book for you.

This book was addicting! I found myself flying through this read because I was desperate to know who was behind The Kill Club. TKC is a web of survivors of abuse given the opportunity to get rid of their abusers once and for all. The catch? They have to murder someone else’s abuser. But what if they fail their mission and break the web? Pick up this book to see how one mishap can destroy the meticulously planned murder spree known as The Kill Club. I highly recommend this read to thriller and suspense lovers!

This book was so good! I was surprised I liked it so much because it is a YA Fantasy title and I usually don’t enjoy either of those genres. I need the library to open back up so I can get my hands on the other two books! I will definitely be finishing this trilogy. I can’t wait to read more about Dinah and her life prior to becoming the Queen of Hearts — the character we all know from the classic Alice In Wonderland story.

This is a really difficult book to get through. The author, Chanel Miller, shares her experiences as a sexual assault survivor and offers insight on infamous cases like hers. It is an important read and is very honest about the process sexual assault victims go through after the incident occurs. I feel like I now have a better understanding of this issue and encourage others to read this memoir. My only complaint about this story was that I felt like it could’ve been edited. I found myself skimming through certain chapters as they didn’t really appeal to me or “fit” with the subject matter.