The Second Chance Year by Melissa Wiesner

 

Expected Publication Date: December 5, 2023

Sadie's had a hell of a year. In an instant she lost her job, her boyfriend and her apartment. Her brother's best friend has been kind enough to let her live with him. She's lost and takes a chance on making a wish. A wish that will allow her to repeat her very bad year. Much to Sadie's surprise she wakes up on Jan 1st with an opportunity to repeat the year. 

Things initially seem perfect but as the days and weeks pass on Sadie is able to the major ramifications of wish. Not only has her life changed but so has that of others.  You'll fall in love with some of the characters and this rom-com story.  The Second Change Year has well developed characters and fantastic side characters making this book extra charming. 

*** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Wither (The Chemical Garden, #1) by Lauren DeStefano

 I first read Wither back in 2011.  I thought I'd pay it a revisit. It's just as good as I remember. Wither takes place in the future in which life expectancy has been cut short. The reason for it is unknown. Females do not live past the age of 20 and males do not live past the age of 25. The world is full of older generations, those born before life expectancy was cut short and those under 25 years of age. 

Rhine and her twin brother having been working together to live and survive since the untimely death of her parents who died in an attack. Young women are taken from the streets everyday and despite all their efforts to prevent Rhine from being taken she is kidnapped.

Rhine is taken to live in a mansion. A beautiful mansion full of comforts, food and riches. She is forced to marry Linden and become a sister wife.  From the day she enters into the mansion she plots to escape it. While there she forms close relationships which pull you into the dark world she lives in. 

The characters are well developed. The story grabs you and has you wanting to know everyone's truth. Their story. Their background. 

Romantic Comedy | by Curtis Sittenfeld

 Romantic Comedy follows Sally Milz. She is a comedy writer for a Saturday Night Live, like show called The Night Owls. The first half of the book is quite mundane and could have easily been reduced to 25% of it's size. It's essentially a guide on how work happens at The Night Owls. The 2nd half is when things really pick up and everything gets interesting.  The 3rd and final portion is the best and the portion of the book in which putting the book down becomes impossible. 

Sally Milz is a bit of an introvert and a divorcee. She's worked on the show for many years. She's seen hosts come and go but none catch her attention like Noah Brewster. They have chemistry but Sally is convinced that a man as charming, handsome and popular as Noah would not be interested in a girl like her. Her lack of self confidence results in her blowing her opportunity with Noah. Time passes and she has occasional thoughts of him and is completely surprised when she receives an email from Noah. 

The pandemic has everyone living different lives and Noah and Sally start a pen pal relationship over email. Opening up to one another and discovering each other with words. 

Speak | by Laurie Halse Anderson

I first read Speak when it came out  in 1999. Before I was blogging! I was a different person than and living a completely different life. This book had a much more emotional toll on me this time around. 

Melinda is a freshmen at Merryweather High School. At a summer party after being raped she called  911. She did not report the rape and as a result of calling 911 and busting the party up she was quickly made into an outcast. She was left lonely and with no friends resulting. Melinda stops speaking however an art class she is taking is helping her deal with being rape. 

Speak is an emotional and powerful read. You can feel Melinda's pain radiating through the page. This book should be read with caution in mind . 

Wither: A Beauty and the Beast-inspired | by Ashlyn Drewek

 

Zane Beaumont is a librarian who wants to be a writer. Zane is given the opportunity of a life time. To work for his hero Gerulf Prince, a well known and famous writer. Gerfulf hasn't produced any work in over 2 years and the due date to his newest book is just around the corner. 

Zane's new job requires him to move in with Gerfulf. He has become misanthropic and cantankerous. He doesn't want Zane's help much less to have him around. They slowly find a way to work together and get to know one another. 

I must note that I didn't realize that this was a MM romance book and recommend that this book be read by a mature audience. Zane and Gerulf (I hate that name) are well built characters who have a lot of depth. 

** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Win Lose Kill Die Paperback | by Cynthia Murphy

Morton academy is a school where intelligent students from a variety of background matriculate. This means that in order to be invited to attend the school you MUST be incredibly gifted. One of the largest perks to attending the school is to obtain the position of Head Girl.  The title opens up a world of possibilities for that student including attending any University they with to attend.

Liz and her group of friends seem tight and when one head girl after another starts to die everyone becomes suspect. This book is an easy read a bit predictable but fun nonetheless. 

** I've received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

The Revenge Game | by Jordyn Taylor

Expected Publication Date November 7, 2023

Alyson is a student at an elite prep school. She is a romantic at heart and loves reading romance novels. Her love life is essentially nonexistence until she catches the eye of Brenton Riggs Jr. Riggs as he is known as is the typical rich, popular, good looking jock on campus. Alyson finds herself quickly falling for Riggs. He says and does all the right things. The school merging from a girls only to a coed school might just make this the best year yet of Alyson's life.  

While on a school camping trip the girls discover that the boys are playing Kings Cup. A game that goes back to the 1980s. In an attempt to get back at the boys they devise their own game and call if Queens Cup. 

The story is told via newspaper clippings, interviews, flashbacks and the current time line. The story is seamless however it's quite easy to figure out the players and their games. Then ending seems rather abrupt and not exactly how I would have liked it to end but it's fitting. 

This book could be triggering for some when it come sexual explicit material and rape. 

** I have recieved a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.