Mini Reviews: the Fourth in the Summer Catch Up Addition

The first three mini review posts can be found HERE and HERE and HERE.

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Partials by Dan Wells

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.

Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic-in-training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws have pushed what's left of humanity to the brink of civil war, and she's not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will find that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them—connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there.

Dan Wells, acclaimed author of I Am Not a Serial Killer, takes readers on a pulsepounding journey into a world where the very concept of what it means to be human is in question—one where our humanity is both our greatest liability and our only hope for survival.

Review:

I was initially hesitant to give Partials a try. I wasn't the biggest fan of the cover, and the premise seemed okay, but nothing I was really dying to read. However, after seeing great review after great review for this, I decided to give it a try, and I'm so glad I did, because Partials was simply spectacular! It took a while to really get going, but once it did I was hooked. That premise that I was so easy to dismiss turned out to be fascinating. The idea behind the partials was original, and I really enjoyed learning about their back history. I also liked seeing the constant struggle for power between them and the humans. It caused a lot of tension, tension that made me not want to stop reading. I also really enjoyed the main characters in this. Kara was someone who had a lot of drive and spunk, and it was always fun to see how she constantly pushed the boundaries surrounding her world as well as her heart. I also enjoyed the addition of Samm, the partial that Kara begins an alliance with in the book. He was not the typical character, as could be expected, and it was always interesting to get into his head. What I enjoyed most about this book, though, was how little romance it had, because while I am a huge fan of romance subplots, it was a refreshing change- one that I wouldn't mind seeing more often. Lastly, Dan Wells did a fabulous job of setting the world in this one up. In all, Partials by Dan Wells is a great Sci-Fi, Dystopian read, and I can't wait to read the sequel.

Partials (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) is now out!

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

A gripping murder mystery and satisfying romance drive this powerful debut

Allie lost everything the night her boyfriend, Trip, died in a horrible car accident-including her memory of the event. She doesn't remember driving on the cliff road. She doesn't recall jumping from the truck just before Trip lost control. As their small town mourns his death, Allie is afraid to remember because doing so means delving into what she's kept hidden for so long, the horrible reality of their abusive relationship.

When the police reopen the investigation, it quickly turns on Allie and her best friend, Blake, especially as their budding romance raises eyebrows around town. As the threats begin and the survivor's guilt takes over, Allie knows she must tell the truth. Can she reach deep enough to remember that night so she can finally break free?

Fans of dark contemporary stories will feel right at home in the hands of debut writer Jennifer Shaw Wolf as she takes them on an emotional ride through the murky waters of love, shame, and ultimately, forgiveness.

Review:

Breaking Beautiful was a spectacular read to say the very least! From the first page, I was instantly hooked on Allie's story. Her voice was realistic and believable given the circumstances. I felt that Jennifer did a fabulous job of expressing the pain and guilt as well as relief Allie felt over the accident involving her boyfriend's death and the fact that she couldn't remember it. Allie herself was a character that had hit rock bottom, and through this book, she begins to find herself once again. Her journey was unforgettable, and I couldn't get enough of it to say the least. I also thought Jennifer did a great job with the fact that Tripp was abusive. She didn't cookie cut nor make it extremely unbearable...instead she presented the situation perfectly and in a way that I'm sure will help others going through the same situation. I loved the wide variety of secondary characters introduced such as her brother and his girlfriend as well as Blake, Allie's best friend and something more...The aspect that really had me hooked on this book, though, was the mystery behind it all. I was always racing through, dying to know what happened that fateful night...would Allie ever remember it? Was Tripp's accident planned? There were so many questions swirling around in my head to say the least! In all, Breaking Beautiful is amazing as well as perfect for fans of suspenseful YA.

Breaking Beautiful (Amazon/ Barnes and Noble/ Goodreads) is now out!

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Supergirl Mixtapes by Meagan Brothers

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

After years of boredom in her rural South Carolina town, Maria is thrilled when her father finally allows her to visit her estranged artist mother in New York City. She’s ready for adventure, and she soon finds herself immersed in a world of rock music and busy streets, where new people and ideas lie around every concrete corner. This is the freedom she’s always longed for—and she pushes for as much as she can get, skipping school to roam the streets, visit fancy museums, and flirt with the cute clerk at a downtown record store.

But just like her beloved New York City, Maria’s life has a darker side. Behind her mother’s carefree existence are shadowy secrets, and Maria must decide just where—and with whom—her loyalty lies.

Review:

I really don't have that much to say about Supergirl Mixtapes. It was an okay read overall. I found the story to be interesting enough, and I easily read it in one period. However, it wasn't exactly a favorite of mine. I don't know why exactly. I found the main characters to be interesting and likable enough. It was always fun to see Maria's life begin in New York City as well as to see her evolve as a person because of it. Her relationship with her mom brought a lot of tension, which always made the plot move in a rapid pace. The setting was always interesting. It took place in the '90s which I wasn't expecting. However, there was just something about this one that seemed off to me. Maybe it was because it wasn't what I was expecting, or maybe because I felt that certain parts of it were one hot mess, especially the rushed ending. In all, Supergirl Mixtapes wasn't my read, but I still suggest you give it a try if it seems like your speed. Hopefully, you'll end up liking it much more than I did.

Supergirl Mixtapes (Amazon/ Barnes and Noble/ Goodreads) is now out!

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Stunning (Pretty Little Liars, #11) by Sara Shepard

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

In Rosewood, Pennsylvania, four stunningly beautiful girls are haunted by a very ugly past. Spencer, Aria, Hanna, and Emily want nothing more than to forget Alison DiLaurentis, their former best friend who tried to ruin their lives. But someone refuses to let her memory die. A is still out there, lurking in the shadows and digging up the pretty little liars' newest secrets.

Emily's reconnecting with an old flame, one baby step at a time. But is she headed toward true love or another bundle of heartache? Spencer's learning about the highs and lows of campus life on a trip to Princeton. Aria's seeing a whole new side to Noel's dad—and it could drive a wedge between her and Noel. And, for better or worse, Hanna's getting in touch with her inner A.

Secret by secret, lie by lie, the girls get tangled in A's dangerous web. A knows about everything, from their tiniest transgressions to the awful incident in Jamaica. Soon A will have enough ammunition to pull the trigger and end the pretty little liars, once and for all. . . .

Review:

If you've been a reader of my blog for any length of time, you will probably by now that I absolutely adore the Pretty Little Liars series. They are without a doubt my guilty pleasure reads. I can't get enough of the scandal, the secrets, and the forbidden romances, and with Stunning, that statement remained the same. I loved seeing the new trouble the girl's faced...such as Aria's worry and guilt over telling Noel what she saw, Spencer's eventful trip to Princeton, Hannah's insecurities with Mike moving on, and Emily's drama from the past as well as a visit from an old flame. Everything was super juicy, and had me finishing this book in one sitting. I can't wait to read the next one, and while somedays I feel like this series is a neverending loop, I still love it.

Stunning (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) is now out!

Source: Publisher- thanks HarperTeen!