Thursday, May 30, 2024

Paper Princess (The Royals, #1) | by Erin Watt

 


Ella Harper is only sixteen years old and trying to survive on her own. Her beloved mom has died from cancer and Ella is struggling to survive. On the night she is set to do is first nude dancing job a man named Callum Royal shows up and claims to be her guardian. Ella has no choice but to leave with him.

Callum's mansion and life of luxury is a life that Ella know needs to grow accustomed but winning the trust and friendship of Callum's son is going to prove to be more difficult. 

Callum's son's don't want Ella around and they make it clear. They do everything they can to push her away and make sure she doesn't feel a part of the family but somewhere along the way the boys warm up to Ella and Ella finds herself falling for one of Callum's sons. 

This book is full of drama and super easy to read. The characters drive the story and leaving you wanting more. This has become my guilty pleasure and it might become yours too! 

Wednesday, May 29, 2024

Home Is Where the Bodies Are | By Jeneva Rose


Three siblings reunite after the passing of their mother. Beth is the oldest and cared fo
r her mother until the end. Nicole's drug addiction has caused issues resulting in distance between herself and her family and Michael fled their small town to live in California. 

When Beth, Nicole and Michael are reunited things start off tense and odd but when they come across an old VHS tape and watch it an unexpected clip forces them to confront their past. The clip shows their fathered cover in blood and a dead body. They recognize the dead body as a girl who went missing during their childhood. They need to decide what they are going to do with this information. Take it to the authorities or hide it.

The story is told in multiple point of views which creates tension and keeps you guessing. There is a level of predictability and while I figured it out it didn't take away from the story and the clever writing of the author. 

Monday, May 27, 2024

The Last Murder at the End of the World | by Stuart Turton

 


They world was destroyed by a fog the spread across the earth killing everyone except for the inhabitants of a tiny island. The island has 122 villagers and three scientist living on it. It's essentially a Utopia until a scientist is murdered. 

The murder has resulted in a trigger being released and if the murder is not solved within 107 hours everyone on the island will perish. 

You would think solving a murder on a small island that is tightly controlled would be easy but it isn't due to everyone's memory of the night in question has been wiped clean! 

As they villagers and scientist attempted to solve the murder and hence their own lives suspicions run high and dark secrets that people hold tight might result in their demise. 

The characters are intriguing and while it took a bit to get into the book the story crafted by Turton will keep you turning the pages and trying to solve the murder myself. 

Sunday, May 26, 2024

The Midnight Club by Christopher Pike

A group of teens who are afflicted with various terminal illnesses live at Rotterdam Home. They go to Rotterdam to live out the rest of their lives. 

The group gets together at midnight to tell stories and boy do they tell some good stories! The stories are a mix of love. horror and  heartbreak. 

Some are more profound then others and hit you emotionally. My favorite stories are the one told by Ilonka - it's about past lives and they are impactful. 

Pike has a knack for writing stories within stories. This isn't something that many authors can pull off and he does it without taking the reader out of his story.  The Midnight Club is about life, death and living in the moment. Be prepared to think about your own mortality and anticipate feeling sadness for characters that life has treated unfairly. 


Saturday, May 25, 2024

Everything We Never Said | by Sloan Harlow

 


Expected Publication Date May 28, 2024


The summer before Ella is to start her senior year in high school tragic strikes. Her best friend, Hayley died in a car accident and Ella was the driver. Ella has no memories of that night which makes things all that more difficult. 

It's been 4 months and everything reminds Ella of Hayley. Returning to school makes things all that more difficult but the hardest part of it all is that Ella finds herself having feelings for Sawyer. Sawyer is/was Hayley's boyfriend. 

Ella's life is thrown thru a loop when Hayley's mom ask's Ella to pack up Hayley's room. While packing up the room, Ella comes across Hayley's journal. Ella takes the journal with her and eventually reads it and Ella discovers that Hayley had a huge secret and the secret explains why Hayley had been acting to strange leading up to her death. 

Everything We Never Said is a page turner. The characters are well written. The dual point of view keeps you in the know and the grief is raw. The lies are twisted and will hook you in. 


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






Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist By Eli Saslow

 Rising Out of Hatred is a must read. It's thought provoking and well written. 

Derek Black is the son of Don Black and the godson of David Duke. Don Black lead the Alabama KKK and Duke was a KKK Grand Wizard. Together they groomed Derek Black to become the next leader of what they now call white nationalism.

Derek was deeply immersed in the beliefs they held. He shared them on websites and radio shows aimed at white supremacy. Derek believed what he had been taught was how life should be but things were about to change for him.

Derek went to College. He hid his background and vile views. He made friends and then he was outed as a a white nationalist but by this time Derek was recognizing that what he had been taught had many faults.

 Being outed cost Derek some relationships but others held on to their relationship with him.  Derek had many  conversations with friends and as his views changed he distanced himself further from his father's beliefs. Derek renounced white nationalism and reading about his journey about rising out of hate is an emotional journey. Be prepared to be angry and discover more about white nationalism then you ever thought possible. 

Saturday, May 18, 2024

The Husbands | By Holly Gramazio


After a night out in London, Lauren returns home. She is greeted by her husband but Laura isn't married! She has no idea who her "husband", Michael is but she finds photos of them on her phone and her friends say they have been together for years. Before Laura can figured out what is going on Michael goes up to the attic to change a light bulb and a different husband comes back down. 

Each time a husband goes up to the attic a new one comes down. Each husband creates a different set of circumstances. Different decor, different jobs, different looks and personalities. Laura sends husband up to the attic for a variety for reasons hoping to find the perfect one. 

The Husbands is fun and entertaining. A super fast read that will have you laughing and wondering what Laura is going to do next. 



Friday, May 17, 2024

Barbie: Her Inspiration, History, and Legacy by Robin Gerber

 



Published April 16, 2024

Barbie played a major role in my childhood. I have incredibly fond memories of her. My grandmother would make my Barbies and I matching outfits. Every month when my dad paid child support my Grandma would take me to K-mart and let me pick out a Barbie. She would also randomly purchase Barbies and Barbie accessories for me. I played with Barbie for countless hours. When I went to visit my dad I would take two suitcases. One for me and one for  Barbie. The Barbie suitcase was  filled to the brim with Barbies and her accessories. Barbie was my friend and my confident.  

I had a smallish window in my bedroom that was similar to department store windows that displayed mannequins. Every month I created a display for my Barbies. Each month had a different theme and filled me with joy. This book, Barbie pulled me back into my childhood and made many happy memories resurface. 




The book is full of illustrations and background information on Barbie. How she came to be and how she changed over time. This is a perfect gift for any Barbie enthusiasts. It's compelling and full of information.  Barbie is more than just a toy. She's a icon and while some people poo poo Barbies many of us love her. 

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




Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

I read Small Great Things back in November of 2016.  Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse. She loves her job of twenty years and she's good at it. It was just a typical day for Ruth at work until it wasn't. Ruth Jefferson's newest patient is little baby boy but she is quickly pulled off taking care of him.

His parents are white nationalist and don't want Ruth a black woman touching their baby. Ruth is understandably upset that the hospital is complying with their wishes but she abides by them however she is put into a sticky situation when chaos erupts at the hospital. All other nurses or with other patients when Turk Bauer son's stop breathing. Ruth and others attempt to save his life but is is futile. 

Turk and his wife witnessed the scent in which their son died. They felt that Ruth purposefully killed their child because he was white and they were white nationalists. Ruth is fired from her job and her nursing license is suspended. 

In typical Picoult fashion a intense and emotional court battle takes place. The story being told in multiple point of views from Ruth's to Turks to Ruth's lawyer. This is an emotional read and with it being my second read  I discovered new things and information hit harder. This is a Jodi Picoult book you don't want to miss. 

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Past Present Future (Rowan & Neil #2) By Rachel Lynn Solomon



Publication Date: June 4, 2024


Past Present Future follows Rowan and Neil. They are now attending colleges in different states and maintaining a long distance relationship. Rowan is in Boston while Neil is in New York.  They are working on navigation lives as college students, building new friendship and getting to know one another in a deeper level. 

Their stories are told in dual point of views. Readers are able to experience the lows and highs that come with young adulthood and discovering oneself. Neil deals with his past while Rowan finds her voice. Solomon navigates long distance relationships in a realistic  manner reminding me of the year and a half my husband did long distance. 

This is one sequel you will want to read! 


** I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exhange for an honest review. 

 

Friday, May 10, 2024

Today Tonight Tomorrow (Rowan & Neil #1 by |Rachel Lynn Solomon

 

Rowan and Neil have been each others competitors all though high school. They have always tried to up one another and be the winner of any competition they have against one another. They compete for grades and when Neil is named the valedictorian Rowan is determined to win the final farewell senior game. Much to Rowan and Neils surprise they team up. While running around their beloved Seattle and chasing clues they discover things about one another and figure out they have more in common then their desire to beat one another. 

Their friendship builds slowly and sweetly over a twenty four hour period. The characters are well developed which leads to a fun and fast read. 




Monday, May 6, 2024

The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore

 




Published April 30, 2024

Chloe Sampson's is raising her three younger siblings and struggling to make ends meet. Her mother walk away from them and left Chloe with no choice but to move back home and care for them. She is working as a librarian and struggling to make ends met. While working she comes across a rare edition of a book - the book is filled with writing. The writing leads her on a scavenger sort of hunt as she wishes to discover the life story of the individuals corresponding in the margins of a book that wasn't just rare but also banned.  

Imagine her surprise when she discovers one set of the handwriting belongs to her cantankerous neighbor, Jasper who has offered to purchase the book from her. Chloe ends up searching for additional books that tell the story of two lovers in order to find out what happened to them. 

The Library of Borrowed Hearts is a story told in different narratives and time periods. The points of views are distinct. The story within the story appealed to me the most as I found those characters more interesting. The build is slow but if you push through it you'll find the read worth it. 

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

Sunday, May 5, 2024

Funny Story by Emily Henry


Daphne and Peter were in love or where they? Daphne was ready to have her happily ever after but then Peter dropped a bomb. He was in love with his bestfriend Petra. Daphne need to move out so that Petra could move in.

Daphne had moved to Waning Bay, Michigan to be with Peter. She didn't have family or really any friends that she could move in with. Petra had left behind a broken hearted fiancĂ©, named Miles. Daphne and Miles become roommates. They live together but avoid one another until one day when they devise a plan to make it look as though they are together and not drowning in their sorrows. The put on quite the show and soon discover that they bring out the best in one another and that life can go on without Peter and Petra. 

Funny Story is a sweet romcom and Henry knows how to pull at your emotions and experience betrayal, heartache and other moments in life that make your heart swell. 


 

Thursday, May 2, 2024

We Are Still Tornadoes by Michael Kun

 The year is 1982. Cath and Scott have been bestfriends and neighbors their entire life. Cath has gone of to college and Scott has chosen to remain in their hometown. In an effort to keep in contact they exchange letters. The letters detail their lives, their hope and fears. Their friendship unfolds beautifully and shows the reader how the bonds of friendship can help one overcome rough patches in life and celebrate the good ones. 

We Are Still Tornadoes brought back memories of letters my cousin and I sent each other through the mail back in the 1990s. What a fun time. Made me nostalgic for letter writing and a time without the technological advances we have today (I am looking at you, my addictive smart phone as I type this). 

The characters are well developed in this captivating read that will take you through an emotional
journey. 




Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Sociopath: A Memoir: Gagne, Ph.D. Patric

Patric Gage is a Sociopath. This is her story and how she came to terms with being a sociopath. Patric knew from an early age that something about her was off. That she made people uncomfortable. She was able to do a variety of things and feel nothing. Patric didn't feel guilt, fear or many other "normal" emotions. She was aware that things she did were wrong but continued to do them. She suspected she was a sociopath and getting confirmation that she was helped her to navigate it. 

Sociopath is well written and Gagne helps you to understand sociopathy in a different way. This is an easy and eyeopening read.  

The Secret Lives of Candy Hearts by Tommy Siegel

  Expected Publication Date January 7,  2025 The Secret Lives of Candy Hearts is a short and entertaining graphic novel. It's about the ...