- 2018 sounds like an amazing year for books so let’s see what we have (note: dates are subject to change, especially the ones scheduled for later in the year)
LIST: most anticipated 2018 releases
LIST: soc characters and book recs
LIST: best books of 2017
I only created this blog this year, but I've posted a lot more than I thought I would honestly. I'm not quite sure how often I'll be able to post next year, but based on how this semester has gone, it won't be a lot. I'll do my best though!
MINI-REVIEW: Frankie by Shivaun Plozza
**I received this ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. In no way was I compensated for this review.**
Frankie by Shivaun Plozza
Release Date: November 7, 2017
My Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Frankie Vega is angry. Just ask the guy whose nose she broke. Or the cop investigating the burglary she witnessed, or her cheating ex-boyfriend or her aunt who's tired of giving second chances...When a kid shows up claiming to be Frankie's half brother, it opens the door to a past she doesn't want to remember. And when that kid goes missing, the only person willing to help is a boy with stupidly blue eyes … and secrets of his own. Frankie's search for the truth might change her life, or cost her everything.
TOUR: Rosemarked by Livia Blackburne
I am so excited that Livia Blackburne's Rosemarked is out! I've been waiting for this book ever since I've heard of it. Can't wait to start it! Here's a word from the author herself!
SUMMARY: september📚
so. i'll be honest here and say that yesterday i was thinking of writing this post and thought, "september has so many great books out!" and then i realized. it IS september. next month is october. i'm so behind on my tbr list that i thought they hadn't come out. and now that i'm writing this, i've realized that i've only read eight books this entire month. well, nine because i reread one but, EIGHT BOOKS. that's how stressful school has been rip. anyway, here's the summary anyways:
TOUR: Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Hey! This week, I'm participating in the blog tour for Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman. This book comes out on Tuesday, September 26, and it was easily, hands-down one of my favorite books of this year. I hope you'll read it because it really means so much to me; for more reasons, here is a short list I wrote earlier about why I loved this book, and here is my review. (TW's: emotional abuse, parental abuse, anxiety, racism, sexual abuse, and suicide attempt)
#waitingonwednesday: fall releases
There are so many great releases this fall, and I was lucky to read some of my most anticipated ones! Here are four books (in chronological order) I absolutely loved that are coming out this fall!
REVIEW: Not Now, Not Ever by Lily Anderson
**Thank you to Wednesday Books for the giveaway I won on Goodreads for this book. These are my honest opinions, and I was in no way compensated for this review.**
Not Now, Not Ever by Lily Anderson
Release Date: November 21, 2017
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Summary: The sequel to The Only Thing Worse than Me Is You, inspired by The Importance of Being Earnest.
Elliot Gabaroche is very clear on what she isn't going to do this summer.
1. She isn't going to stay home in Sacramento, where she'd have to sit through her stepmother's sixth community theater production of The Importance of Being Earnest.
2. She isn't going to mock trial camp at UCLA.
3. And she certainly isn't going to the Air Force summer program on her mother's base in Colorado Springs. As cool as it would be to live-action-role-play Ender's Game, Ellie's seen three generations of her family go through USAF boot camp up close, and she knows that it's much less Luke/Yoda/"feel the force," and much more one hundred push-ups on three days of no sleep. And that just isn't appealing, no matter how many Xenomorphs from Alien she'd be able to defeat afterwards.
What she is going to do is pack up her attitude, her favorite Octavia Butler novels, and her Jordans, and go to summer camp. Specifically, a cutthroat academic-decathlon-like competition for a full scholarship to Rayevich College, the only college with a Science Fiction Literature program. And she's going to start over as Ever Lawrence, on her own terms, without the shadow of all her family’s expectations. Because why do what’s expected of you when you can fight other genius nerds to the death for a shot at the dream you’re sure your family will consider a complete waste of time?
This summer's going to be great.
LIST: autumn reading recs
i did another one of these posts for summer, so i decided to do one for autumn! this is my favorite season because of sweater weather. also, where i live, it's not too hot, not too cold. if you're looking for great books to curl up with this fall, here is a great place to start!
SUMMARY: august🎒
I'm posting this at the very last minute rip but I've been so busy! Senior year is lowkey killing me (even though it's not that much work, I'm just stressed), so I've been behind on some things. but here's the summary for august!
#waitingonwednesday: american panda
I am so excited for American Panda by Gloria Chao to come out!! It's YA, but it's set in college, and I am really close (too close, one might say) to being in this situation. A YA book set in college is pretty rare too, so if you've been looking for that, add this to your TBR list! It comes out February 6, 2018, and I'm counting down the days.
REVIEW: Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore
**I received an ARC thanks to Shenwei (@theshenners), thank you again!! This review is my own opinion, and I was not compensated in any way for it.
Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore
Release Date: September 19, 2017
My Rating: 4.25 stars
Summary: If you could change your story, would you?
Jane has lived a mostly ordinary life, raised by her recently deceased aunt Magnolia, whom she counted on to turn life into an adventure. Without Aunt Magnolia, Jane is directionless. Then an old acquaintance, the glamorous and capricious Kiran Thrash, blows back into Jane’s life and invites her to a gala at the Thrashes’ extravagant island mansion called Tu Reviens. Jane remembers her aunt telling her: “If anyone ever invites you to Tu Reviens, promise me that you’ll go.”
What Jane doesn’t know is that at Tu Reviens her story will change; the house will offer her five choices that could ultimately determine the course of her untethered life. But every choice comes with a price. She might fall in love, she might lose her life, she might come face-to-face with herself. At Tu Reviens, anything is possible.
MINI-REVIEWS: The Conspiracy of Us Series by Maggie Hall
THE CONSPIRACY OF US trilogy by Maggie Hall
SUMMARY: july💛
sooo i start school in less than a month, and i'm kind of freaking out bc of college applications and stuff but anyway i'm going to try to schedule posts so they'll be up regularly instead of randomly whenever i have time
REVIEW: Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao
**I received this ARC from a third-party giveaway. In no way was I compensated for this review, and these are my honest opinions.**
Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao
Release Date: October 10, 2017
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Summary: An East Asian fantasy reimagining of The Evil Queen legend about one peasant girl's quest to become Empress--and the darkness she must unleash to achieve her destiny.
Eighteen-year-old Xifeng is beautiful. The stars say she is destined for greatness, that she is meant to be Empress of Feng Lu. But only if she embraces the darkness within her. Growing up as a peasant in a forgotten village on the edge of the map, Xifeng longs to fulfill the destiny promised to her by her cruel aunt, the witch Guma, who has read the cards and seen glimmers of Xifeng's majestic future. But is the price of the throne too high?
Because in order to achieve greatness, she must spurn the young man who loves her and exploit the callous magic that runs through her veins--sorcery fueled by eating the hearts of the recently killed. For the god who has sent her on this journey will not be satisfied until his power is absolute.
REVIEW: Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman
**I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you, Simon Teen!). These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Release Date: September 26, 2017
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Summary: A half-Japanese teen grapples with social anxiety and her narcissist mother in the wake of a crushing rejection from art school in this debut novel.
Kiko Himura has always had a hard time saying exactly what she’s thinking. With a mother who makes her feel unremarkable and a half-Japanese heritage she doesn’t quite understand, Kiko prefers to keep her head down, certain that once she makes it into her dream art school, Prism, her real life will begin.
But then Kiko doesn’t get into Prism, at the same time her abusive uncle moves back in with her family. So when she receives an invitation from her childhood friend to leave her small town and tour art schools on the west coast, Kiko jumps at the opportunity in spite of the anxieties and fears that attempt to hold her back. And now that she is finally free to be her own person outside the constricting walls of her home life, Kiko learns life-changing truths about herself, her past, and how to be brave.
From debut author Akemi Dawn Bowman comes a luminous, heartbreaking story of identity, family, and the beauty that emerges when we embrace our true selves.
A William C. Morris Award Finalist; A New York Public Library Best Book for Teens of 2017; A Junior Library Guild Selection
REVIEW: Want by Cindy Pon
Want by Cindy Pon
Release Date: June 13, 2017
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Summary: Jason Zhou survives in a divided society where the elite use their wealth to buy longer lives. The rich wear special suits that protect them from the pollution and viruses that plague the city, while those without suffer illness and early deaths. Frustrated by his city’s corruption and still grieving the loss of his mother, who died as a result of it, Zhou is determined to change things, no matter the cost.
With the help of his friends, Zhou infiltrates the lives of the wealthy in hopes of destroying the international Jin Corporation from within. Jin Corp not only manufactures the special suits the rich rely on, but they may also be manufacturing the pollution that makes them necessary.
Yet the deeper Zhou delves into this new world of excess and wealth, the more muddled his plans become. And against his better judgment, Zhou finds himself falling for Daiyu, the daughter of Jin Corp’s CEO. Can Zhou save his city without compromising who he is or destroying his own heart?
LIST: if you like six of crows...
(redirects to my new blog)
REVIEW: Kissing Max Holden by Katy Upperman
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Kissing Max Holden by Katy Upperman
Release Date: August 1, 2017
My Rating: 2.5 stars
Summary: Kissing Max Holden was a terrible idea...
After his father has a life-altering stroke, Max Holden isn't himself. As his long-time friend, Jillian Eldridge only wants to help him, but she doesn't know how. When Max climbs through her window one night, Jill knows that she shouldn't let him kiss her. But she can't resist, and when they're caught in the act by her dad, Jill swears it'll never happen again. Because kissing Max Holden is a terrible idea.
With a new baby sibling on the way, her parents fighting all the time, and her dream of culinary school up in the air, Jill starts spending more and more time with Max. And even though her father disapproves and Max still has a girlfriend, not kissing Max is easier said than done. Will Jill follow her heart and allow their friendship to blossom into something more, or will she listen to her head and stop kissing Max Holden once and for all?
REVIEW: Tied Up In You by Erin Fletcher
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Tied Up In You by Erin Fletcher
Release Date: July 10, 2017
My Rating: 3.75 stars
Summary: Everyone says hotshot goalie Luke Jackson is God’s gift to girls, but the only girl he wants is his best friend, Malina Hall. He’s always known how brilliant she is, but now that he’s “accidentally” kissed her, he can’t stop thinking about her…or wanting to kiss her again.
Problem is, things have been a little…awkward since the kiss. Because she likes him, too? Hopefully, but even if she did, their futures—and the ridiculous schedules that come with them—are in the way. And now one of his teammates is showing interest, and the guy has more in common with Malina than Jackson ever will.
As her best friend, Jackson should get out of the way. But if there’s one thing he’s learned from hockey, it’s that you have to go for what you want, even if it means falling flat on your face. And he’s definitely falling for Malina.
Disclaimer: This book contains a hot hockey player who goes after what he wants, a super-hot, super-distracting shirtless workout, and the kind of best friends to lovers romance every girl in the friend zone has dreamed of.
REVIEW: The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee
Release Date: August 8, 2017
My Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Genie Lo is one among droves of Ivy-hopeful overachievers in her sleepy Bay Area suburb. You know, the type who wins. When she’s not crushing it at volleyball or hitting the books, Genie is typically working on how to crack the elusive Harvard entry code.
But when her hometown comes under siege from hellspawn straight out of Chinese folklore, her priorities are dramatically rearranged. Enter Quentin Sun, a mysterious new kid in class who becomes Genie’s self-appointed guide to battling demons. While Genie knows Quentin only as an attractive transfer student with an oddly formal command of the English language, in another reality he is Sun Wukong, the mythological Monkey King incarnate—right down to the furry tale and penchant for peaches.
Suddenly, acing the SATs is the least of Genie’s worries. The fates of her friends, family, and the entire Bay Area all depend on her summoning an inner power that Quentin assures her is strong enough to level the very gates of Heaven. But every second Genie spends tapping into the secret of her true nature is a second in which the lives of her loved ones hang in the balance.
TOUR / REVIEW: Why I Loathe Sterling Lane by Ingrid Paulson
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Why I Loathe Sterling Lane by Ingrid Paulson
Release Date: June 6, 2017
My Rating: 4.25 stars
Summary: Per her 537 rules, Harper Campbell keeps her life tidy—academically and socially. But the moment Sterling Lane transfers into her tiny boarding school, her twin brother gets swept up in Sterling’s pranks and schemes and nearly gets expelled. Harper knows it’s Sterling’s fault, and to protect her brother, she vows to take him down. As she exposes his endless school violations, he keeps striking back, framing her for his own infractions. Worst of all, he’s charmed the administration into thinking he’s harmless, and only Harper sees him for the troublemaker he absolutely is.
As she breaks rule after precious rule in her battle of wits against Sterling and tension between them hits a boiling point, she’s horrified to discover that perhaps the two of them aren’t so different. And maybe she doesn't entirely hate him after all. Teaming up with Sterling to save her brother might be the only way to keep from breaking the most important rule—protecting Cole.
SUMMARY: june☀
i'm trying to post more, but pretty soon i have to start doing my college applications, so i'm kind of spiraling right now
REVIEW: Girl on the Verge by Pintip Dunn
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Girl on the Verge by Pintip Dunn
Release Date: June 27, 2017
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Summary: How far would you go to belong?
In her small Kansas town, at her predominantly white school, Kanchana doesn’t look like anyone else. But at home, her Thai grandmother chides her for being too westernized. Only through the clothing Kan designs in secret can she find a way to fuse both cultures into something distinctly her own.
When her mother agrees to provide a home for a teenage girl named Shelly, Kan sees a chance to prove herself useful. Making Shelly feel comfortable is easy at first—her new friend is eager to please, embraces the family’s Thai traditions, and clearly looks up to Kan. Perhaps too much. Shelly seems to want everything Kanchana has, even the blond, blue-eyed boy she has a crush on. As Kan’s growing discomfort compels her to investigate Shelly’s past, she’s shocked to find how much it intersects with her own—and just how far Shelly will go to belong…
REVIEW: I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo
I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo
Release Date: May 30, 2017
My Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Desi Lee believes anything is possible if you have a plan. That’s how she became student body president. Varsity soccer star. And it’s how she’ll get into Stanford. But—she’s never had a boyfriend. In fact, she’s a disaster in romance, a clumsy, stammering humiliation magnet whose botched attempts at flirting have become legendary with her friends. So when the hottest human specimen to have ever lived walks into her life one day, Desi decides to tackle her flirting failures with the same zest she’s applied to everything else in her life. She finds guidance in the Korean dramas her father has been obsessively watching for years—where the hapless heroine always seems to end up in the arms of her true love by episode ten. It’s a simple formula, and Desi is a quick study. Armed with her “K Drama Steps to True Love,” Desi goes after the moody, elusive artist Luca Drakos—and boat rescues, love triangles, and staged car crashes ensue. But when the fun and games turn to true feels, Desi finds out that real love is about way more than just drama.
MINI-REVIEW: Ready to Run by Lauren Layne
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Ready to Run by Lauren Layne
Release Date: August 22, 2017
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Summary: The Bachelor meets The Runaway Bride in this addictive romance novel about a reality TV producer falling for her would-be star: a Montana heartthrob who wants nothing to do with the show.
Jordan Carpenter thinks she’s finally found the perfect candidate for Jilted, a new dating show about runaway grooms: firefighter Luke Elliott, a known player who’s left not one but three brides at the altar. The only problem? Luke refuses to answer Jordan’s emails or return her calls. Which is how she ends up on a flight to Montana to recruit him in person. It’s not Manhattan, but at least the locals in Lucky Hollow seem friendly . . . except for Luke, who’s more intense—and way hotter—than the slick womanizer Jordan expected.
Eager to put the past behind him, Luke has zero intention of following this gorgeous, fast-talking city girl back to New York. But before he can send her packing, Jordan’s everywhere: at his favorite bar, the county fair, even his exes’ book club. Annoyingly, everyone in Lucky Hollow seems to like her—and deep down, she’s starting to grow on him too. But the more he fights her constant pestering, the more Luke finds himself wishing that Jordan would kick off her high heels and make herself comfortable in his arms.
The I Do, I Don’t novels each have their own enchanting HEAs, and can be read in any order.
LIST: summer reading recs
looking for some great books to read this summer? i don't know about you, but summer is my most productive time (reading-wise), so i plan on reading as much as i possibly can! here's a list to help you do the same.
SUMMARY: may🌼
I am finally on summer break, so I hope to update this blog more and write more than just reviews!
LIST: if you like tatbilb
I've always loved those posts that recommend books that are similar to something you like, so I decided to do one of my own! This one will be based on one series, but in the future I might write posts featuring recommendations for several different books or genres.
IF YOU LIKE: To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
REVIEW: Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han
Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han
My Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Lara Jean is having the best senior year.
And there’s still so much to look forward to: a class trip to New York City, prom with her boyfriend Peter, Beach Week after graduation, and her dad’s wedding to Ms. Rothschild. Then she’ll be off to college with Peter, at a school close enough for her to come home and bake chocolate chip cookies on the weekends.
Life couldn’t be more perfect!
At least, that’s what Lara Jean thinks . . . until she gets some unexpected news.
Now the girl who dreads change must rethink all her plans—but when your heart and your head are saying two different things, which one should you listen to?
REVIEW: Things I Should Have Known by Claire LaZebnik
Things I Should Have Known by Claire LaZebnik
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Summary: Things Chloe knew: Her sister, Ivy, was lonely. Ethan was a perfect match. Ethan’s brother, David, was an arrogant jerk.
Things Chloe should have known: Setups are complicated. Ivy can make her own decisions. David may be the only person who really gets Chloe.
Meet Chloe Mitchell, a popular Los Angeles girl who’s decided that her older sister, Ivy, who’s on the autism spectrum, could use a boyfriend. Chloe already has someone in mind: Ethan Fields, a sweet, movie-obsessed boy from Ivy’s special needs class.
Chloe would like to ignore Ethan’s brother, David, but she can’t—Ivy and Ethan aren’t comfortable going out on their own, so Chloe and David have to tag along. Soon Chloe, Ivy, David, and Ethan form a quirky and wholly lovable circle. And as the group bonds over frozen-yogurt dates and movie nights, Chloe is forced to confront her own romantic choices—and the realization that it’s okay to be a different kind of normal.
REVIEW: The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli
The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli
Release Date: April 11, 2017
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Summary: Seventeen-year-old Molly Peskin-Suso knows all about unrequited love—she’s lived through it twenty-six times. She crushes hard and crushes often, but always in secret. Because no matter how many times her twin sister, Cassie, tells her to woman up, Molly can’t stomach the idea of rejection. So she’s careful. Fat girls always have to be careful.
Then a cute new girl enters Cassie’s orbit, and for the first time ever, Molly’s cynical twin is a lovesick mess. Meanwhile, Molly’s totally not dying of loneliness—except for the part where she is. Luckily, Cassie’s new girlfriend comes with a cute hipster-boy sidekick. Will is funny and flirtatious and just might be perfect crush material. Maybe more than crush material. And if Molly can win him over, she’ll get her first kiss and she’ll get her twin back.
There’s only one problem: Molly’s coworker Reid. He’s an awkward Tolkien superfan with a season pass to the Ren Faire, and there’s absolutely no way Molly could fall for him. Right?
SUMMARY: april🌿
This is so late, I'm sorry! I've been so busy the past week with school and life, but hey, better late than never.
MINI-REVIEW: Walk of Shame by Lauren Layne
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Walk of Shame by Lauren Layne
Release Date: April 18, 2017
My rating: 3.75 stars
Summary: Sparks fly between a misunderstood New York socialite and a cynical divorce lawyer in this lively standalone rom-com from the USA Today bestselling author of Blurred Lines and Love Story.
Pampered heiress Georgianna Watkins has a party-girl image to maintain, but all the shopping and clubbing is starting to feel a little bit hollow—and a whole lot lonely. Though Georgie would never admit it, the highlights of her week are the mornings when she comes home at the same time as her uptight, workaholic neighbor is leaving to hit the gym and put in a long day at the office. Teasing him is the most fun Georgie’s had in years—and the fuel for all her naughtiest daydreams.
Celebrity divorce attorney Andrew Mulroney doesn’t have much time for women, especially spoiled tabloid princesses who spend more time on Page Six than at an actual job. Although Georgie’s drop-dead gorgeous, she’s also everything Andrew resents: the type of girl who inherited her penthouse instead of earning it. But after Andrew caps one of their predawn sparring sessions with a surprise kiss—a kiss that’s caught on camera—all of Manhattan is gossiping about whether they’re a real couple. And nobody’s more surprised than Andrew to find that the answer just might be yes.
REVIEW: Heels Over Head by Elyse Springer
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Heels Over Head by Elyse Springer
Release Date: May 29, 2017
My rating: 4 stars
Summary: Jeremy Reeve is one of the best divers in the world, and he’s worked hard to get where he is. He intends to keep pushing himself with one very clear goal in mind: winning gold at the summer Olympics in two years. That medal might be the only way to earn his father’s respect as an athlete.
Brandon Evans is everything Jeremy isn’t: carefree, outgoing, and openly gay. With his bright-blue eyes and dramatic tattoos, he’s a temptation that Jeremy refuses to acknowledge. But Jeremy can’t ignore how talented Brandon is—or that Brandon has no interest in using his diving skills to compete.
They’re opposites who are forced to work together as teammates, but Jeremy’s fear of his own sexuality and Brandon’s disinterest in anything “not fun” may end their partnership before it begins. Until a single moment changes everything, and they help each other discover that “team” can also mean family and love.
REVIEW: Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan
Release Date: May 23, 2017
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Summary: Kevin Kwan, bestselling author of Crazy Rich Asians and China Rich Girlfriend, is back with an uproarious new novel featuring a family driven by fortune, an ex-wife driven psychotic with jealousy, a battle royal fought through couture-gown sabotage, and the heir to one of Asia's greatest fortunes locked out of his inheritance.
When Nicholas Young hears that his grandmother, Su Yi, is on her deathbed, he rushes to be by her bedside—but he's not alone. The entire Shang-Young clan has convened from all corners of the globe to stake claim to their matriarch's massive fortune. With each family member vying to inherit Tyersall Park—a trophy estate on sixty-four prime acres in the heart of Singapore—Nicholas' childhood home turns into a hotbed of backbiting and intrigue. As Su Yi's relatives fight over heirlooms, Astrid Leong is at the center of her own storm, desperately in love with her old sweetheart Charlie Wu but tormented by her ex-husband—a man hell-bent on destroying Astrid's reputation and relationship. Meanwhile, Kitty Pong, married to China's second richest man, Jack Bing, still feels upstaged by her new stepdaughter, famous fashionista Colette Bing.
In this sweeping tale that takes us from the elegantly appointed mansions of Manila to the secluded private islands in the Sulu Sea, from a kidnapping at Hong Kong's most elite private school to a surprise marriage proposal at an Indian palace that is caught on camera by the telephoto lenses of paparazzi, Kevin Kwan hilariously reveals the long-buried secrets of Asia's most privileged families and their rich people problems.
MINI-REVIEW: The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich
My Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A thrilling YA debut about teen spies disguised as "love interests"--whoever gets the girl lives; but the one she rejects, dies.
There is a secret organization that cultivates teenage spies. The agents are called Love Interests because getting close to people destined for great power means getting valuable secrets.
Caden is a Nice: The boy next door, sculpted to physical perfection.
Dylan is a Bad: The brooding, dark-souled guy, and dangerously handsome.
The girl they are competing for is important to the organization, and each boy will pursue her. Will she choose a Nice or the Bad?
Both Caden and Dylan are living in the outside world for the first time. They are well-trained and at the top of their games. They have to be - whoever the girl doesn't choose will die.
What the boys don't expect are feelings that are outside of their training. Feelings that could kill them both.
From debut author Cale Dietrich comes a fast-paced adventure that is full of both action and romance and subverts common tropes.
SUMMARY: march☂
I've decided to post a summary of the past month, every month! I'll also add my most anticipated books for the next month. Since this is the last week of March, here's most everything I've read in the past month.😊
REVIEW: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Release Date: February 28, 2017
My Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.
Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.
But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.
MINI-REVIEW: Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza
Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza
Release Date: February 7, 2017
My Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Crown Princess Rhiannon Ta'an wants vengeance.
The only surviving heir to an ancient Kalusian dynasty, Rhee has spent her life training to destroy the people who killed her family. Now, on the eve of her coronation, the time has finally come for Rhee to claim her throne - and her revenge.
Alyosha is a Wraetan who has risen above his war refugee origins to find fame as the dashing star of a DroneVision show. Despite his popularity, Aly struggles with anti-Wraetan prejudices and the pressure of being perfect in the public eye.
Their paths collide with one brutal act of violence: Rhee is attacked, barely escaping with her life. Aly is blamed for her presumed murder.
The princess and her accused killer are forced to go into hiding - even as a war between planets is waged in Rhee's name. But soon, Rhee and Aly discover that the assassination attempt is just one part of a sinister plot. Bound together by an evil that only they can stop, the two fugitives must join forces to save the galaxy.
REVIEW: Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde
**I received an ARC from Netgalley. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Summary: Three friends, two love stories, one convention: this fun, feminist love letter to geek culture is all about fandom, friendship, and finding the courage to be yourself.
Charlie likes to stand out. She’s a vlogger and actress promoting her first movie at SupaCon, and this is her chance to show fans she’s over her public breakup with co-star Reese Ryan. When internet-famous cool-girl actress Alyssa Huntington arrives as a surprise guest, it seems Charlie’s long-time crush on her isn’t as one-sided as she thought.
Taylor likes to blend in. Her brain is wired differently, making her fear change. And there’s one thing in her life she knows will never change: her friendship with her best guy friend Jamie—no matter how much she may secretly want it to. But when she hears about a fan contest for her favorite fandom, she starts to rethink her rules on playing it safe.
Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde, chosen by readers like you for Macmillan's young adult imprint Swoon Reads, is an empowering novel for anyone who has ever felt that fandom is family.
REVIEW: Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst
**I received an ARC from a giveaway (thank you Balzer + Bray!). These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst
Release Date: November 22, 2016
Summary: Betrothed since childhood to the prince of Mynaria, Princess Dennaleia has always known what her future holds. Her marriage will seal the alliance between Mynaria and her homeland, protecting her people from other hostile lands. But Denna has a secret. She possesses an Affinity for fire—a dangerous gift for the future queen of a kingdom where magic is forbidden.
Now, Denna must learn the ways of her new home while trying to hide her growing magic. To make matters worse, she must learn to ride Mynaria’s formidable warhorses—and her teacher is the person who intimidates her most, the prickly and unconventional Princess Amaranthine—called Mare—the sister of her betrothed.
When a shocking assassination leaves the kingdom reeling, Mare and Denna reluctantly join forces to search for the culprit. As the two become closer, Mare is surprised by Denna’s intelligence and bravery, while Denna is drawn to Mare’s independent streak. And soon their friendship is threatening to blossom into something more.
But with dangerous conflict brewing that makes the alliance more important than ever, acting on their feelings could be deadly. Forced to choose between their duty and their hearts, Mare and Denna must find a way to save their kingdoms—and each other.
REVIEW: The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
**I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
Release Date: March 7, 2017
My Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The beast raged; it punctured the air with its spite. But the girl was fiercer.
Tea is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy makes her a bone witch, who are feared and ostracized in the kingdom. For theirs is a powerful, elemental magic that can reach beyond the boundaries of the living—and of the human.
Great power comes at a price, forcing Tea to leave her homeland to train under the guidance of an older, wiser bone witch. There, Tea puts all of her energy into becoming an asha, learning to control her elemental magic and those beasts who will submit by no other force. And Tea must be strong—stronger than she even believes possible. Because war is brewing in the eight kingdoms, war that will threaten the sovereignty of her homeland…and threaten the very survival of those she loves.
REVIEW: This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills
This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills
Release Date: October 4, 2016
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Summary: Sloane isn't expecting to fall in with a group of friends when she moves from New York to Florida—especially not a group of friends so intense, so in love, so all-consuming. Yet that's exactly what happens.
Sloane becomes closest to Vera, a social-media star who lights up any room, and Gabe, Vera's twin brother and the most serious person Sloane's ever met. When a beloved painting by the twins' late mother goes missing, Sloane takes on the responsibility of tracking it down, a journey that takes her across state lines—and ever deeper into the twins' lives.
Filled with intense and important friendships, a wonderful warts-and-all family, shiveringly good romantic developments, and sharp, witty dialogue, this story is about finding the people you never knew you needed.
first post!
Hi!! My name is Michelle, and today I launch my book blog with this post! I'm new to this platform, so be warned, I am very confused and this blog will probably be a bit of a mess for the first couple of months. However, I am not new to the book-ish community; I've had a tumblr (mydarlinginej) for a while, and you might know me in particular for my Six of Crows posts. You can also add me on goodreads or follow me on twitter! The links are in the sidebar.
While I've only recently begun posting full book reviews, I have been a reader my entire life. My aim with this blog is to post mainly about books that bring several diverse aspects, whether race, sexual orientation, or religion. I hope to post at least once every two weeks, but I am fairly busy with school and my extracurriculars. My next posts will be old reviews that I originally wrote on my goodreads account.
Thanks for reading! -💙
While I've only recently begun posting full book reviews, I have been a reader my entire life. My aim with this blog is to post mainly about books that bring several diverse aspects, whether race, sexual orientation, or religion. I hope to post at least once every two weeks, but I am fairly busy with school and my extracurriculars. My next posts will be old reviews that I originally wrote on my goodreads account.
Thanks for reading! -💙
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