The Lucky Ones by Liz Lawson

May is a survivor. She is the "lucky one". A school shooter took the lives of her classmates, friends and twin brother. May is filled with guilt, rage and anger. Her family is falling apart, she's lost friends and has been expelled from school due to her behavior. Her only friend left is, Lucy. 

Zack's mother is defending the school shooter and as a result of this his friends have alienated him, his girlfriend dumped him and with the exception of his one friend, Connor he is all alone. His mom is never home, his dad is distance and just sits around at home in his pajamas. Connor is caring for his sister all on his own and someone keeps vandalizing his home. 

May and Zack's paths cross and then form a strong bond but once Maya discovers who Zack is she lashes out in anger and is forced to revisit the guilt and rage she feels, while Zack is left to once again deal with the ramifications of his mother's choice to defend a killer. 

The Lucky Ones is told in point of view fashion, giving perspectives from May and Zack. This is one story of many about gun violence in our schools and society but this one shows what it's like to be the child of someone who defends a hated person and how it effects their lives and mental state. 

This story isn't all heartache and grief as with real life there are moments of laughter and happiness. There are also secrets and profound grief but Lawson deals with it sympathetic and multidimensional way. 

This is May's story. It's about hope, love and grief. 

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

Like Never and Always by Ann Aguirre

Liv is in a car crash and when she wakes up everyone calls her, "Morgan", her best friends name. Liv assumes that it is a case of mistaken identity  and that as soon as the bandages come off it will be revealed that Morgan is the who died and not Liv but when the bandages are removed the face staring back at Liv isn't her -it belongs to Morgan!

Liv as Morgan is forced into the life of her dead best friend. A life she always though was perfect and idyllic but Liv quickly finds out that this is not the case. Morgan had secrets piled onto of secrets, like those nesting dolls and it's up to Liv to figure them out. This means uncovering hurtful secrets about Morgan that make Liv question the type of person she was and makes her realize that Morgan is not the person she thought she was.

Morgan was popular, beautiful and so incredibly lonely. Her secrets are dangerous and others are just down right cruel. Liv has to solve the dangerous ones if doesn't want to end up dead like Morgan.

This is an incredible read. The characters are interesting and the read is super fast! This is a different type of book than we are used to from Ann Aguirre but it's most definitely worth reading.

The Gatekeepers by Jen Lancaster

Gatekeepers is inspired by true events that took place in Jen Lancaster's hometown. Suicide is a major theme in this novel and it focus's on teenagers and the teenage life in particular the pressure to reach perfection, to succeed , to be #1 at all costs.

Academics and extra curricular activities are the way of life at North Shore High School. One must excel, get into the right college, get the best of the best job and do better then their already successful parents. 98% of North Shore kids to to college but they aim to make it 100%.

This book is 450 pages but it seems like fewer than 200 because you can't stop reading it! You have to KNOW what happens next. The story is told from multiple perspectives and is full of interesting characters, some might even remind you of those you went to High School with.

Simone is our main character and she has just arrived from London. She is the new girl at school and has no interest in being #1 at everything, she's unlike her North Shore peers and doesn't stress about academics. She's laid back, fun and enjoying her teen years.

She's taken back when a student commits suicide shortly after she starts attending school, the school's history of suicide's start to unfold and more students sadly take their lives.  It's tragic and dark but there is some sunshine in this as other characters bloom and find their peace.

Full Throttle by Joe Hill

Joe Hill is quite possibly the very best short story teller I have ever come across. I normally avoid short stories - I tend to stay as far away from them as possible but Joe Hill always draws me into his.

Full Throttle is a phenomenal collection. Some of the stories still haunt me!
In particular, Dark Carousel, Late Returns, Twittering From the Circus of the Dead  and In the Tall Grass (They story is significantly better that the movie on Netflix).

This is an excellent collection of stories that are solid from start to finish. Please take the time to read the authors note and forward. It really adds to his storytelling.

Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner

Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner

Expected publication: May 19th 2020 

I am a huge fan of Jennifer Weiner and when I was given an opportunity to read an advanced copy of her newest novel I jumped at the opportunity. Weiner puts a bit of a different spin on this novel compared to her previous ones. It  doesn't disappointed. I was completely engrossed and you will be too! This will make for a perfect Summer read. 

Daphne Berg is our main character. She is a twenty something  plus sized social media influncer. She is dragged back into the past when her ex-best friend Drue contacts her asking her to be a bridesmaid in her wedding. Daphne is understandably hesitant but she has a big heart and gives in. 

Daphne ends up finding herself swept back into the life of Drue and the wedding planning.  Then the unthinkable happens and Daphne finds herself front and center. 

The story is told in present time with flashbacks to give historical content to aid the story telling. Weiner deals with a variety of topics in this novel, bullying and body shaming are prevalent but health friendships and love also makes the rounds.

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

Regretting You by Colleen Hoover

Regretting You is an excellent read. I was completely absorbed and stayed up way too late reading. Colleen Hoover really understand characters, emotions and knows how to tell a story. 

This story is told in alternating chapters, giving insight into Morgan and Clara, the relationship they have with one another and the relationships they have with others. 

Morgan had Clara as a teen and it's very interesting to see Morgan, Clara's mother as a teen vs. her daughter, Clara has a teen. 

 Morgan's story goes back from her teenage years and is seamlessly integrated into current time. Clara's teen voice is very distinct. All the relationships in the books seem rather typical until a life changing event takes place that results in secrets being discovered and trust being broken.

Morgan attempts to protect Clara but misunderstandings happen that results in causing additional fissures in a fragile relationship. 

There is a wonderful mix of romance but their is also grief, anger and healing. This is a book that can easily be enjoyed by young adults and adults. It doesn't really fit strictly into either slot and can easily fall into both categories. This would be a perfect book club read or a read for a mother and daughter to share. 

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

I am Mexican-American. I am first generation. My father was born in Mexico, in 1955. He was brought to the United States at age four. He was granted permanent residency and then eventually became a citizen in 2001.

 I grew up living in a  border city and spent a lot of my youth driving back and forth across the border to visit family. I learned how to speak English and Spanish at the same time as it was the only way I could communicate with grandparents, great-grandparents (who lived in the US) and my familia in Mexico.

I keep hearing about, "American Dirt", my gringo friends wanted to know my opinion on it - my thoughts. Why had I suddenly become the voice of the Mexican people? Why did my opinion matter? Was it because I am Latina or because I am the only Latina they know? What it because they genuinely carried about my opinion or because the book is so controversial?

I was hesitant to pick it up as I heard a lot of negative backlash on it. It sat in my TBR pile for days until I finally picked it up to read.

Immediately I rolled my eyes. It start's of with the slaughter of a family at quincenera, which immediately made me think of  The Border by Steve Schafer as his novel starts off the same way! I thought what a cliche way to start a novel. Suddenly everyone knows about quinces but 20 years ago they were not common to those outside the Latino community.

I pushed myself to read more because I was intrigued  and then I came across the main character using the word "carajo" - A word I didn't grow up using or know of  until my Puerto Rican friends taught it to me however I just dismissed it as something I wasn't familiar with as my family lived in a different part of Mexico.

I felt myself growing engrossed with the read, the characters and the writing. I feel in love with Luca and his mother as they made their trek across Mexico. Fleeing their hometown to make it to the United States so that they could have an opportunity to live and not be slaughtered like their loves ones. I winced as they attempted to get on "La Bestia"" the freight train the many migrants ride, a train that takes many of lives. The journey is dangerous and Cummins writing pushed my mind back to the many documentaries I've seen regarding this harrowing ride. I felt their fear.

I eventually became a bystander in their journey to the United States as they came across good and bad people. Auxiliary characters became important  and I was on edge in regards to who they could and could not trust. I turned page after page as the read and then ..... reality hit. My reality.

I had to set the book down and pace ..... Was I angry? Was I upset? Had Cummins, "white washed" the story, the journey, the characters ...... Was I a traitor to my gente for liking and enjoying a book that so many hate? After thinking, I came to this conclusion. I enjoyed the read. It isn't my experience or the experience of others as we all experience things differently.

What was important was that Cummins has brought attention to the violence in Mexico and Central America - the violence migrants are fleeing from. She's giving  a voice to those who shout but no one hears because they are deaf to the voices of the Latinos seeking asylum, safety and freedom or maybe I am too Americanized to be angry about this book - this story. Are there things she got wrong? Absolutely! Are there things that made me cringe? Yes! Was the story about a mothers love for her son a solid one? Yes, absolutely. Was this story worth the read? It was - for me that is. Make your own judgments, push the negative reviews aside and make your own opinions.

Follow Me by Kathleen Barber

                                   Expected publication: February 25 2020

Audrey Miller has thousands of Instagram followers. She's a social media influencer who has just moved to Washington D.C. to start a new and exciting job at The Smithsonian. She is young, naive, beautiful and only knows two people in D.C. Her ex-boyfriend and slightly peculiar sorority sister from college. Her upstairs neighbor is a creep and she has a stalker. She doesn't know who he is but he knows her every move and has made it his mission to make her belong to him.

Follow me is split into three different points of views, Audrey's, Cat's (the sorority sister) and his.  Each character had a distinct voice and the story keeps you turning the pages as fast as you can read. Be prepared to stay up late or get nothing done until you finish this novel. 

The writing style, the story, the characters are exciting. I in particular LOVED the side story of "The Life and Death of Rosalinda Rose" and was left wanting to know more about this small yet significant character. Be prepared to be left thinking about your own digital footprint and expect to be addicted to this read. 

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

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

I am still re-reading Jodi Picoult's books in the order they were published. I am finally on, The Storyteller which is one of my favorite novels of hers. 

Sage Singer is a baker who works at night. She is an introvert, grieving her mothers death and having an affair with a married man. Her life is lonely but she strikes up an unusual friendship with an elderly man named Josef. 

Josef asks, Sage to kill him. He confesses he was a former SS member who worked at Auschwitz and can no longer go on living with the memories of what he did. Sage is shocked and dismayed by this confession and conflicted as her grandmother is a Holocaust survivor.

Sage reaches out to The Justice Department and Leo, a Nazi Hunter is assigned to the case.  Together Sage and Leo are able to get Minka, Sage's Grandmother to tell about her experience during the Holocaust. It is incredibly moving and emotional. This is the BEST part of novel. Picoult pulls your into her writing and puts you on an emotional roller coaster.

This book has always stayed with me and I am sure it will stay with you too.

Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood) is back and her antics are just as funny as ever. Becky and Brandon are back in England and Becky has been charged with hosting the Christmas gathering at her home. Becky is besieged by requests from her family and friends.
She attempts to please everyone but ends up with small disasters following her around many of them created by her own hands. 


An old boyfriend shows up and Becky finds herself trying to look and be "cool" and dump the uncool mom persona. Becky and Brandon find themselves in a situation with the old flame and his current girlfriend that makes things awkward and uncomfortable. 

Becky struggles to find the perfect gift for Brandon and puts herself in  a situation that quickly spins out of control! 

This is a perfect light and fun read to help melt away the stress of work and life. I laughed and laughed and really enjoyed reading about Becky. I just hope this isn't the final book in the Shopaholic series. 

The Wives: A Novel by Tarryn Fisher

The Wives is a page turner. I couldn't read it fast enough to find out what was going to transpire. This is truly a well written thriller! I was compulsively reading  it every chance I could get. Everyone and everything was ignored.

I am not even sure how to review this novel as I don't want to give anything away!

There are three wives and Seth is the husband to all three, not legally of course but he is "married" to all three and all three have agreed to the arrangement. The wives know the others exist but they don't know anything else such as names, looks and who they are but this is all about to change when one of the wives find something out about the other and makes it her mission to find out more.

The more she digs into the lives of her husband and his other two wives the more twisted the story gets, causing you to sit on the edge of your seat to find out what the hell is going on! The plot is engrossing, the characters are beautifully flawed and the ending is brilliantly executed.

This is one book, I'll be passing around countless times to share with friends and family.