Small Game: A Novel Book by Blair Braverman

 

Five strangers have agreed to partake in a wilderness reality TV show called, Civilization. It will be a six week long adventure in a remote location. The conditions are tough, they will have to fully fend for themselves, forget for good and build shelter. 

One contestant leaves early and 4 are left to compete for the $100,000 prize. Days pass, the contestants  struggle and everyone is hungry, so so hungry. Then one morning the awaken and there is no production crew. They think it's a fluke or a day off but after a few days pass they come to the realization that they are 100% alone and on their own. 

They are truly utterly on their own and survival is no longer game but a reality. This is a fast paced and decent read. 

Forever Hold Your Peace by Liz Fenton, Lisa Steinke

Expected publication July 11, 2023

                    Love. Drama. Marriage. Divorce. Drama. Lies. Secrets. The Past. Drama.

Imagine for one moment your daughter has met a man. A stranger while on vacation. They are heads over heels in love and six weeks after meeting get engaged. Now, imagine the same situation but this time it's your son. The families come together to plan a wedding but chaos, drama and the past rears its ugly head.

Oliva and Zack are desperately in love and that want nothing more than to have the support of their family. Some support it. Some don't. When the parents met they discover they were once a part of each other's past. Will this past break or make the wedding day?

Fenton & Steinken's characters are well developed, fun and quirky. They are people you can imagine or even people you know. The story is written in different points of views giving you a lot of insight and understanding to each character. Making you see both points of views and rooting for everyone. 

Sit back, relax and enjoy this fun, charming read. Be prepared to be entertained and maybe reivist parts of your past. 

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

Thunderhead (Arc of a Scythe Series #2) by Neal Shusterman

Thunderhead picks up right where The Scythe left off. Citra is a scythe and Rowan is taking out "bad" scythes.  Citra has a unique method for gleaning and it might cause trouble for her. Rowan and Citra have separate yet equally important storylines. 

Politics within the scythedom is getting complicated and ugly.  The Thunderhead plays a larger, important and rather intriguing role.  He might just be my favorite character. 

This book is filled with vigilance, politics. action and character development. This is a long read. There are some slower moments put when you push past them and get into the grit of the book you find it worth your time.

Cliffhanger ending but I will put off reading the next book so I can have some breathing room! 

Scythe (Arc of a Scythe, #1) by Neal Shusterman

Technology is beyond advanced. Natural death is no more. Hunger, disease and war no longer exist.  The only people who can take life are Scythe's. 

Citra. and Rowan have been selected as apprentices.  Neither want to be a Scythe but they have to partake in the apprenticeship. They have to learn how to glean (take lives) and learn what it takes to be a Scythe. 

The Scythedom has corruption within it and it could cost Citra and/or Rowen their life. 

This is a dark, unique story. Well developed characters and a great storyline making this a fast read. 

Big Bad by Lily Anderson

Love this book. Perfect for fans of BTVS. Lots and lots of easter eggs. Anderson is obviously a fan and has seen the series more than once. A lot of characters make an appearance. I wasn't initially sure if I would like this book. Truth be told, I was hesitant to read it but I ended up enjoying it! 

This is a whole different take on the Buffyverse. Minor characters become major ones and major ones become minors. This world is full of chaos. It takes place when Buffy is a teen.  The mayor has put up a sunshade. It's dark in Demondale previously known as Sunnydale all the time. Vampires rule. Beloved characters and demons are different yet similar in ways we know them.  

Buffy is still trying to win the fight against evil. This book revisited many things from the Buffy series. You'll feel as though you watching a new yet skewed episode of Buffy. I hope Anderson writes more about the Buffyverse. 

The Daughter of Auschwitz: Friedman, Tova

 Tova Friedman and her parents lived in a Jewish ghetto. When she was four year old they were sent to a camp. At age 6 she was separated from her parents. Her father was sent to Dachau and her mother and her were in Birkenau. 

Tova's mom taught her how to keep herself safe. Those lessons helped her survive Birkenau - making her one of the youngest survivors. Tova eventually migrated to the US got married and had grandchildren. She continues to share her short so that we can never forget what happened. 

Tovas writes an account of her life and experience from age 4. It's harrowing and emotional read.  Tova's voice and emotions come off the pages and she pulls you into here life. This read will stay with you. This is a book you should read and share with others.

Everything Is Perfect by Kate Nason

 

A part of the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal I didn't know about and you probably didn't either. Kate Nason memoir is raw and well written. Her words flow off the page in such a way that you understand how she feel for her (ex)husband's charms. He is a master manipulator. 

Before, Charlie, Kate  and her young daughter were living in Los Angeles. Charlie entered the picture. He was younger than her, handsome and charming. Kate was crazy about Charlie but her instincts kept her saying no each time he proposed. The 10th time she accepted his proposal. Over the course of the marriage, they moved, got new jobs and he cheated over and over again. Kate sticks by his side until she discovered that her husband's mistress was also the mistress of the President of the United States. 

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

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

 Midnight Library is absolutely better than I thought it was going to be. It put me through an emotional whirlwind. It is a unique take on what happens when we are hanging between the veils of life and death.

 It's about having the opportunity to take the path you didn't and experience the outcome of it. It's a chance to see what your life would have been like if you had done x rather than y. To see how it not only affects your life but also the lives of those around you. 

Midnight Library had me thinking about the different choices I've made in my life and wondering how I would be different as a person had I made other choices. Choices I am thankful I did not make but perhaps that is ignorance is bliss on my part because in general I am happy with my life. 

Nora Seed is tired of living and decides to end her life. She ends up in a library full of never ending books. Each book is her life and it shows the outcome of the choice she made. She gets to play out these different lives in an effort to figure out what life makes her the happiest and the most fulfilled. 

Haig has developed a magical world, a world that I hope exists. Nora is a well developed character and each of her story lines are well written and portray the choices she made beautifully. The writing is phenomenal and left me feeling like I lost an old friend when I closed the book.  This book made me a fan of Matt Haig. This is a book you do not want to miss out on! 

Five Total Strangers Book by Natalie D. Richards

 Mira is flying home for Christmas but the weather has other plans. A major snow storm has lead to a complete cancellation of flights stranding Mira at the airport.  Mira is desperate to get home and as a result gets a ride with 4 strangers, the driver being a girl she sat by on the plane. 

The ride isn't smooth sailing and items go missing. The snow storm increases with intensity. Snow, ice, and car pileups lead the 5 strangers to take an alternative route. This proves to be the wrong choice. This book is full of suspense and told from the point of view of Mira. This fast read will keep you captivated. 

Sign Here Book by Claudia Lux

 

Claudia Lux's version of Hell is original, interesting and creates a world one can imagine and relate to (to a degree). Lux's hell is never getting the first pen to write or even the third. It's everything going wrong all the time.  It's stepping in a puddle to find out it's a lot deeper than you thought and getting water up to your knees. 

Peytoe Trip works on the 5th floor of hell and it's a pretty good gig.  He collects (makes deals) to get souls for hell. Peyote is working on collecting a complete set of souls from the Harrison family.  The Harrison family story line is by far the most interesting and best part of the book. In fact it should have been the larger story line and the story line with Peyote, Cal & should have been cut in half and been the  supporting storyline. 

Sign Here, has dueling plots and twists and turns. It's a good novel for a debut. Despite the mixed feelings I had and there being parts I liked and didn't like, I look forward to reading more books from Claudia Lux. 

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

Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering

Like many others I found myself binging the series, Tell Me Lies on Hulu. Imagine my surprise and happiness when I found out it was based on a novel.  I picked up a copy and devoured it.  The books is quite different from the series. No surprises there but both are fantastic on their own. The story is told in alternating point of views from Lucy and Stephen's point of view. Being, "inside" their heads created a deeper connection to the characters and made them more real. 

Lucy Albright moved from her beloved New York to a small town in California for college. Away from her mother and the betrayal she won't forget and can't forgive. College live is fun, she's making friends, going to parties and then she meets Stephen. Stephen fucking DeMarco. He isn't exactly attractive or fit but he is charming and ambitious. He is also a ladies man. 

Lucy and Stephen get into a relationship. It's toxic, full of lies and secrets. Stephen is a weasel and Lucy is naive and full of self doubt and insecurities, something Stephen uses to his advantage. Lucy and Stephen break up, make up and break up. Lucy takes him back time and time again. She just can't quit him.  This book explores their relationship with one another and others. 

This book is entertaining and so much fun to read. It's addicting and toxic similar to the relationship between Lucy and Stephen. Most of us have a Stephen DeMarco and thus we can relate or we've had relationships with men to have DeMarco's traits.  This isn't a love story. Your heart will break for Lucy, and you'll yell at Lucy and get frustrated with her. Stephen, is unlikable and will make your skin crawl. 

You will be left wanting more. I want a sequel or two!