Turning Twelve (Growing Pangs #2) | By Kathryn Ormsbee

Turning Twelve is book two of Growing Pangs. I had no idea it was part of a series which means this book does will on its own. This is an excellent graphic novel for young girls. It deals with issues such as getting a first bra, first period and even dealing with issues regarding ones sexual orientation. 

Our main character Katie is experiencing all sorts of new things in her life. Growing up is hard, fun and exciting. I think this book will resonate well with young girls who are experience their firsts in life. It does deal with one's sexuality which will help those who are going thru something similar and help others understand what they are going thru.

Claudia and the Bad Joke: A Graphic Novel (The Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels #15) | By Arley Nopra (Illustrator) , Ann M. Martin

Another well done graphic novel. Most Baby-Sitters books teach a lesson of sorts and this one is no different. The focus on this one has to do with jokes and how some jokes can go to far. Claudia breaks her leg as a result of a joke making her question if she wants to continue babysitting. 

You (Book 1) | by Caroline Kepnes

Kepnes keeps you on the edge of your seat. Our main character Joe Goldberg works in a bookstore. He appears to be normal but he is far from it. Joe is a stalker and molds his personality to fit that of a woman he becomes obsessed with. Joe will do anything and I do mean anything to make Beck his. 

Beck falls for Joe but she isn't exactly a likable character and together they are a hot mess. None of the characters in this book are anyone I would want to be friends with.  Everyone is pretty horrible but that's part of what make this book so good. 

The book is fast paced, entertaining and will leave you with many WTF moments. The story is told in second person and present tense which makes it a bit more chilling. Social media plays a major roll in this story and makes you rethink what information you put out there. 

Life After Death | By Damien Echols

 

First Published September 17, 2012

I first heard about the West Memphis Three (WM3) when I took an class in college on documentary's. It soon became a case that I was not only intrigued by but followed. It never sat right with me and felt as though it was a miscarriage of justice.  If you aren't familiar with it google it. There is a lot of information for and against their innocence and several documentaries. 

Life After Death has sat in my TBR pile since 2012.  I am not exactly sure why I kept putting it off other than I have never been a huge fan of Damien Echols (Yes, you can be indifferent about someone and think they are innocent). I always found him a bit cocky but I always took that as who he was in his youth. I always found him to be intelligent and having the ability to use words to express himself beautifully.

Life After Death is a raw account on Echols life behind bars (more than half his life at the point of his release) and the cycle of poverty, prejudice and incidents that resulted in a guilty verdict. Damien's experienced a level of poverty that no one should undergo. Is a victim of a failed justice system. This is sadly a common occurrence in out society and makes this an important read. 

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

Slayers, Every One of Us: How One Girl in All the World Showed Us How to Hold On | By Kristin Russo , Jenny Owen Youngs

 

First Published April 8, 2025

If you are fans of the podcast Buffering the Vampire Slayer you'll love this book. If you're just discovering them this book is for you. It gives a lot of background information on the podcasters ( Kristin and Jenny), their podcast and the love they have for Buffy!

Buffering the Vampire Slayer started off with Kristen watching Jenny's favorite show Buffy The Vampire Slayer and analyzing it. It was meant to enhance their relationship and while the podcast becomes a success their personal life becomes complicated. Their romantic relationship and marriage falls apart but they manage to remain committed to their audience, fans and show by producing episodes and Buffy events. 

This book will spoil episodes so don't read it if you haven't seen Buffy! One of the most interesting things about the book is how it's disclosed that their relationship was mirroring Buffy episodes they were watching/discussing. 

This is an interesting read. If you want to listen  or revisit the podcast now is a good time to start because they Kristen and Jenny are going thru all the episodes again this time with spoilers! 

I am not sure what I was expecting when I read this book but I didn't think the main focus would be about Jenny and Kristens relationship with Buffy as an afterthought. This doesn't mean it wasn't a good read because it was but I wanted more Buffy. 

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

Count My Lies by Sophie Stava

Sloane Caraway is a liar! She uses her ability to lie to get what she wants. I'm not even sure Sloane knows why she is a liar. She just is. 

Sloane Caraway lies her way into becoming a nanny for a family. A wealthy family that has some secrets of its own. Jay and Violet appear to be the perfect couple. Their story along with Sloane unravels via different points of view and each point of view is unreliable. 

Sloane is creepy and bat shit crazy but Jay and Violet are messy. There are too many lies to count which makes you addicted to this read. The twists and turns are the best I've come across this year. It's hard to believe that this is a debut novel. Stava has written a well executed novel that keeps you guessing. 

Garden of Shadows (Dollanganger, #5) by V.C. Andrews

Garden of Shadows is the prequel to Flowers in the Attic. I strongly recommend that you read it last as it is book 5 and will have more of a punch after having read the Dollanganger saga. 

This book gives insight into Olivia and how circumstances changed her into the person we read about in Flowers in the Attic. Olivia wasn't initially a cruel person. She was naive and fell for the handsome Malcom Foxworth. What she thought would be a marriage turned into a disaster.

Initially Olivia is a likable character and while her circumstances don't excuse who she becomes her story is sad. She has a different expectation of marriage than Malcom does. Malcom is cruel and treats her as though she is less than a person. Olivia experiences loses in a variety of ways and each loss chips away at her turning her into the shadow version of Malcom. 

Readers are given a lot of background information and answers to some questions from the previous four books. Be prepared for an emotional journey.

Guillotine | By Delilah S. Dawson

Guillotine is quite possibly the most violent and disturbing book I have read but I liked it! Lets just saw revenge is so so sweet and our character is badass!

Dez Lane is a fashionista and she wants meet Marie Caulfield-Ruskin. Marie is editor-in-chief of Nouveau magazine and Dez wants to impress her and secure an internship. In order to do this she HAS to date Patrick Ruskin. She doesn't like him but he is the son of Marie. Patrick is a jerk and self pretentious. He thinks he is gods gift to women but he makes my skin crawl.

Patrick invites Dez to his family's estate for Easter. Once they arrive things become odd. Dez must sign and NDA (as do all servants and guests). Dez is given rules to follow and everything feels just a bit off and creepy. 

As things unravel,  get ugly and full of  gory violence you'll cheer for Dez. This book is full of suspense and is deliciously dark. I need this to be made into a movie. Put some time a side because you will want ot read this is one swoop. 

Kristy and the Walking Disaster: A Graphic Novel (The Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels #16) | By Ellen T. Crenshaw (Adapter, Illustrator), Ann M. Martin (Author)

 

Kristy forms a softball team called Kristy's Krushers. It's made up of children that aren't very athletic or know how to play but want to. It' proves to be challenging but worth it. Kristy also has her first crush! This is a super cute read. 

Seeds of Yesterday (Dollanganger, #4) by V.C. Andrews

This is the fourth installment in the Dollanganger series. Bart is about to turn 25 and will be able to claim his inheritance. He is having a massive celebration at the fully renovated Foxworth Hall. Cathy, Chris, Cindy, Jory and his wife Melodie will be in attendance. Bart has a surprise for the family. A surprise that will result in more pain for the family and bring back memories of the evil grandmother. 

A tragic accident befalls a member of the family resulting in the family living at Foxworth Hall. Foxworth and the evil that lurks in the walls makes its rounds causing more heartache however some moments of beauty and love makes its way in showing that love can prevail. 

In many ways this is the saddest book in the series. 

Only If You're Lucky | By Stacy Willingham

 

Margot meets Lucy Sharpe at the end of her freshmen year. Without knowing Lucy she eagerly accepts her invitation to be her roommate. Margot joins Lucy, Sloan and Nicole at an off campus house owned by the next door fraternity. 

Margot has been dealing quietly with the death of her best friend Eliza and becoming friends with Lucy is helping the wound heal. Then one of the frat boys is murdered and Lucy goes missing. Margot, Sloan and Nicole are being questioned and finding out that Lucy isn't who she said she was. 

Only If You're Lucky is told via multiple points of views and different timelines. As the story unravels more than one character becomes suspect. The story unravels quickly and unreliable narrators put you on edge as the plot twists unravel.