Review: The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw & A Kiss in the Dark by Gloria Ciocca

The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw 

Release Date: March 6, 2018

Publisher: Simon Pulse 

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Witches 

Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Hocus Pocus and Practical Magic meets the Salem Witch trials in this haunting story about three sisters on a quest for revenge—and how love may be the only thing powerful enough to stop them.

Welcome to the cursed town of Sparrow…

Where, two centuries ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town.

Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them under.

Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into.

Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters.

But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself.

Review:

Love is an enchantress - devious and wild. 

It sneaks up behind you, soft and gentle and quiet, just before it slits your throat. - page 177, eARC

Hocus Pocus, Pratical Magic, and the Salem Witch trials?! I was sold before I even finished the first sentence of the synopsis. As the glowing reviews poured in and the gorgeous cover was revealed, my anticipation and excitement reached record levels, making The Wicked Deep one of most anticipated debuts of 2018.

So did it live up to the hype? Darn right it did! The anticipation, the excitement, the giddiness over being approved for an eARC? So. worth. it. Because The Wicked Deep is an UNFORGETTABLE debut! It's gorgeously written as well as beautifully crafted, and if you can read this book in more than one sitting, I give you major props - I couldn't even begin to have that kind of control.

One of the aspects I loved the most about The Wicked Deep was the setting. I love small, close-knit towns, especially towns that are hiding secrets as deadly as Sparrow's. Shea did such a fantastic job of developing the atmosphere here - it was lush as well as idyllic, but it had a hint of imperfection, a hint of something being terribly wrong. I also like that the town included Penny's family's island. The island was the same as Sparrow, and I appreciated the level of detail Shea put into it. It was easy to picture the main house, the light house, the guest houses, and the orchards, and I loved that it added even more of a mysterious vibe to the novel. 

The plot was also incredibly rich and unique. I enjoyed the way Shea brought together the sister's past, the Sparrow folklore involving them, and current times. The past scenes involving the Sparrow sisters were some of my favorites, and while the end game was obvious, it was still incredibly interesting to see what lead up to their execution. It wasn't at all what I had expected to say the least, and it blew my mind to see how confusion over the unknown could lead to so much hate. The sisters were something different; however, they didn't deserve what they were given by a long shot. The scenes involving current times provided an air of suspense, mystery, and romance. There's so much at at play. Boys are drowning at a record speed, the witches seem to be throwing their rules to the wayside, and Penny - sensible, independent Penny - is finding herself enamored with a boy she barely knows. I loved it all, and the twist towards the end? Didn't see it coming one bit! It blew my mind, and had me re-thinking everything I thought I knew.

Last but not least: the characters. I liked Penny the minute she was introduced. She was quiet and wise, focusing on her mother as well as keeping their island intact; however, there was something fiery about Penny brewing below the surface. It was interesting to see how Penny developed as the novel progressed, and it was interesting to see just how essential she was to the entirety of the plot - both past as well as present. The witches, on the other hand, were enchanting, scandalous, and, most surprisingly, lovable. Some were more spitfire than the others; however, I loved what each brought to the table. I can't even say that they were evil, because in some ways, they had every right to give Sparrow back the pain it gave them. 

I could go on about The Wicked Deep all day, but I'll stop here and leave you with the following: If you love witches and curses and stories of love as well as loss, you're going to adore The Wicked Deep!

5 stars! 

A Kiss in the Dark by Gloria Ciocca 

Release Date: March 6, 2018 

Publisher: Simon Pulse 

Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance 

Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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After being kissed by a mystery guy when the lights go out during a football game, Macy is determined to figure out which of three possible boys is the culprit in this funny, poignant, and achingly romantic novel from the author of Last Year’s Mistake.

When the lights go out at a Georgia high school football game, senior Macy Atwood finds herself in the arms of a boy who kisses her senseless—but he’s gone by the time the lights come back on. All she knows is that there was something special—and oddly familiar—about her mystery kisser.

Noah Granger, Ridgedale’s resident bad boy and newest transfer student, has no problem taking credit for the kiss, but Macy can’t shake the feeling that he’s lying. Especially since a photograph of Macy and former star football player Joel Hargrove resurfaced online moments before the blackout, a not-so-random reminder of how hard she fell for Joel last year. And how doing so ultimately sent her lifelong friendships with Meredith Kopala and Ben Collins up in literal smoke.

Soon last year’s wounds begin to reopen as Macy realizes the events that unfolded during junior year are somehow tied to her mystery kisser.

But the closer Macy gets to figuring it all out, the more she starts to worry that the boy who kissed her in the dark and the boy who is stealing her heart might be two very different people.

Review:

A Kiss in the Dark is fast paced as well as fun, and Gina even packs in a surprising twist at the end! 

It took A Kiss in the Dark a while to find its footing. I had a hard time at first keeping Macy's friends and potential love interests - there were THREE, which seemed nutty at the time but Gina brought it together quite nicely by the end - straight. Once I got a handle on everything, though, I found it easy to settle in for the long haul! 

A Kiss in the Dark introduces two time periods - Junior Year (a.k.a the year Macy's life turned into trash) and Senior Year (a.k.a. the year of picking up the pieces). I found the big reveal what happened junior year to be interesting as well as slightly suspenseful. I had my theories as to what had happened, but it was still fun to see everything unfold! I also liked the new revelations that Senior year brought with it. 

Macy isn't the most likable character at first. There was something about her that just rubbed me the wrong way; however, as the book progressed, I began to like her more and more. I loved seeing her take charge of her life again as well as go all Veronica Mars when it came to finding that mysterious kisser. I also loved that she had a hobby in the form of photography/yearbook. I found the three potential love interests to be likable and interesting as well. Ben, however, had my heart from the start. He was so stinkin' cute. Plus the ways he would go out of this way to help Macy during their junior year? I was SWOONING! 

Despite a slow start, A Kiss in the Dark is yet another enjoyable YA contemporary, and while it may be a bit premature to say this considering it's only February, I'll say it anyway: it would be a perfect beach/pool side read.

3.5 stars!!  

Review: The Calculus of Change by Jessie Hilb

Synopsis/Cover Image from Publisher's Website: 

A poignant and empowering teen novel of grief, unrequited love, and finding comfort in one's own skin.

Aden isn't looking for love in her senior year. She's much more focused on things like getting a solo gig at Ike's and keeping her brother from illegal herbal recreation. But when Tate walks into Calculus class wearing a yarmulke and a grin, Aden's heart is gone in an instant.

The two are swept up in a tantalizingly warm friendship, complete with long drives with epic soundtracks and deep talks about life, love, and spirituality. With Tate, Aden feels closer to her mom—and her mom's faith—than she has since her mother died years ago. Everyone else—even Aden's brother and her best friend—can see their connection, but does Tate?

Navigating uncertain romance and the crises of those she loves, Aden must decide how she chooses to see herself and how to honor her mom’s memory.

Review: 

Confession time: I'm a huge math nerd. When I was in high school and college, I would use math problems as a way to relax. There's just something so magical about the way numbers come together.

Therefore, when I discovered Jessie Hilb's THE CALCULUS OF CHANGE, a 2018 debut that involved a character that loved math (i.e. a girl after my own heart!), I knew I had to have it! Going into THE CALCULUS OF CHANGE I was expecting a sweet, cutesy romance; however, that's not exactly what I received. Instead, THE CALCULUS OF CHANGE was much more gritty, focusing on grief, change, complex relationships, student/teacher relationships, self image, and even teen pregnancy. In some ways, it worked well, and in other ways it didn't work at all.

At its heart, THE CALCULUS OF CHANGE is a coming-of-age. It primarily focus on Aden's growth over the course of her senior year as well as the numerous obstacles she faces and relationships she cultivates along the way.

When THE CALCULUS OF CHANGE starts, one this is clear: Aden hasn't been the same since her mother passed away. She feels incredibly responsible for her family's wellbeing, and she craves the guidance and love that only a mother figure can offer.

Aden's situation is heartbreaking. If there's one girl who needs a huge hug, it's definitely Aden. Over the course of the book, Aden struggles with balancing her responsibilities as well as making time for herself. She knows she doesn't have to be the one to take care of her family as well as her friends, but she does so regardless. She's the constant shoulder to cry on as well as the girl to help clean up after a mess. Over the course of the book, Aden begins to let go - she lets her brother and father clean up their own messes and lets her best friend make her own decisions. It's hard for her, but at the same time, its vital. I loved the growth that came with this. Aden slowly becomes stronger as well as more decisive, standing up for herself along the way.

I will say that I enjoyed the focus on relationships here. Jessie includes a variety of important ones: daughter and father, sister and brother, best friends, etc. It was interesting to see how each played a part in Aden's overall life, and I especially liked the introspection that came with each. I thought the unrequited love one was especially well done. It was incredibly bittersweet, and while I didn't like the love interest for the majority of the book, I think the relationship was important for the overall feel.

Now for the bad. As mentioned above, Jessie Hilb sets out to accomplish a lot in THE CALCULUS OF CHANGE, and while I appreciated her determination, the plot and character development suffered as a result. There was A LOT going on here: grief, change, complex relationships, student/teacher relationships, self image, and even teen pregnancy. My head was reeling at times, especially when it came to keeping each storyline straight. The storyline involving Aden's best friend lacked the most development, in my opinion. Honestly, I felt that it was introduced as a shock factor, and I hated that so little time was spent on the fall-out as well as the consequences. Also, I didn't like how some things were swept under the rug. Yes, they sometimes had a conclusion, but it was almost too easy of a conclusion in some respects.

Overall, THE CALCULUS OF CHANGE wasn't what I had expected. In some ways, THE CALCULUS OF CHANGE worked well and other ways it feel short, which was disappointing given the potential it contained.

So do I recommend it? Sort of. I think other YA books cover these topics better; however, I still think fans of gritty, emotionally charged YA may like this.

3 stars

The Calculus of Change is now out! 

Source: eARC provided by publisher 

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Review: The Tombs by Deborah Schaumberg

The Tombs by Deborah Schaumberg

Release Date: February 20, 2018 

Publisher: HarperTeen   

Genre: YA, Historical, Fantasy 

Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

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New York, 1882. A dark, forbidding city, and no place for a girl with unexplainable powers.

Deborah Schaumberg’s gripping debut takes readers on a breathless trip across a teeming turn-of-the-century New York and asks the question: Where can you hide in a city that wants you buried?

Sixteen-year-old Avery Kohl pines for the life she had before her mother was taken. She fears the mysterious men in crow masks who locked her mother in the Tombs asylum for being able to see what others couldn’t.

Avery denies the signs in herself, focusing instead on her shifts at the ironworks factory and keeping her inventor father out of trouble. Other than listening to secondhand tales of adventure from her best friend, Khan, an ex-slave, and caring for her falcon, Seraphine, Avery spends her days struggling to survive.

Like her mother’s, Avery’s powers refuse to be contained. When she causes a bizarre explosion at the factory, she has no choice but to run from her lies, straight into the darkest corners of the city.

Avery must embrace her abilities and learn to wield their power—or join her mother in the cavernous horrors of the Tombs. And the Tombs has secrets of its own: strange experiments are being performed on “patients”...and no one knows why.

Review:

Deborah Schaumberg's The Tombs first landed on my radar because of its stunning cover. Then I read the synopsis and a decision was made: I needed it and pronto! As it turns out, The Tombs is a magical and rich debut. It's hard not to become completely enthralled by Avery's journey as well as rooting for her every step of the way. 

There's many things Deborah does well here; however, one of the best is the descriptions. It was so incredibly easy to be transported to New York City, 1882. I could picture Avery's world perfectly - the factory, her apartment, the tombs, etc. The tombs actually offered one of my favorite settings: a greenhouse where Avery discovers more answers to her problems! The greenhouse was so cool. I wish it was real so I could go and visit it. 

Additionally, Deborah did a fantastic job of fleshing out the story lines. I'll admit this isn't the most fast paced book ever. Deborah takes her time building up the world as well as Avery's past and current struggles; however, I was never once bothered by the speed. I eagerly ate up the descriptions, and I loved getting to know Avery better. More importantly, when things did speed up, I felt prepared. I knew what was going on - and had some very big questions!-and I couldn't wait to see Avery kick butt! 

Avery, the main character here, was likable and easy to root for. When the book first begins, Avery has grown use to blending into the background. It's easier for both her father and her that way; however, while Avery may be quiet, she's no pushover by any means. She's strong and powerful, more so than she even thinks. The scenes were she helped her fellow factory workers pulled at my heartstrings. Avery would risk anything for their safety, and that made her even more lovable in my opinion. Additionally, over the course of the book Avery's experiences a coming-of-age. She wants to get to the bottom of her mother's illness, Avery wants to know if she's like her. This brings about many struggles: between Avery and her father, between Avery and her best friend/trusted companion, and even between Avery and herself. It was interesting to see her face this struggle - should she leave it all alone or challenge everything - and I was very happy with the end result. 

Now for the one thing that dropped The Tombs down a star: the romance. There's two potential love interests - Avery's best friend & the boy Avery shared a kiss with years ago. Normally, love triangles don't bother me, but I just didn't like it here. I thought Avery's best friend was the better choice; however, she constantly felt drawn to this boy she knew almost nothing about (cue insta-love). It just didn't work for me - I wanted more for Avery, I wanted more for her best friend.

Regardless, The Tombs is a wonderful debut, perfect for YA readers who love their historical fiction with a touch of fantasy and magic. I can't wait to see where Deborah goes next. I'm personally hoping for a sequel! 

4 stars!! 

Review: Down and Across by Arvin Ahmadi

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website: 

Scott Ferdowsi has a track record of quitting. His best friends know exactly what they want to do with the rest of their lives, but Scott can hardly commit to a breakfast cereal, let alone a passion. With college applications looming and his parents pushing him to settle on a “practical” career, Scott sneaks off to Washington, DC, seeking guidance from a famous psychologist who claims to know the secret to success.

He never expects an adventure to unfold. But that’s what Scott gets when he meets Fiora Buchanan, a ballsy college student whose life ambition is to write crossword puzzles. When the bicycle she lends him gets Scott into a high-speed chase, he knows he’s in for the ride of his life.

Soon, Scott finds himself sneaking into bars, attempting to pick up girls at the National Zoo, and even giving the crossword thing a try—all while opening his eyes to fundamental truths about who he is and who he wants to be. 

Review: 

When a book is blurbed by Adam Silvera, the man behind the spectacular, rip-your-heart-out They Both Die at the End, you know it's going to be good...no, wait, I take that back...not just good excellent. 

As it turns out, Down and Across is indeed excellent. It's the kind of book that reminds me just how wonderful contemporary YA can be. Down and Across is smart, quirky, and incredibly charming. 

Down and Across introduces us to Scott Ferdowsi. Scott can't seem to follow through on anything - music, writing, internships, etc. He's the ultimate quitter much to his father's dismay. 

Scott is the character for anyone who seem to never measure up to their parent's wishes, who can't seem to find their "thing" in life no matter how hard they try. This is what makes Scott so incredibly relatable and likable, in my opinion. It's been a while since I've been in high school, but I can remember so clearly not having any idea of what I wanted to do, changing my mind everyday just as Scott does in this book. Therefore, seeing his journey in this book struck a chord in me - I could easily slip into his shoes and understand what he was feeling. It's also important to add that Scott isn't lazy - he's more ambitious than he thinks, especially when it comes to his journey on finding his "grit." I'm a strong believer on how one experience, or summer in this case, can change everything, and that's exactly what happens here. Scott finds his purpose, and he kicks a$$. 

Besides Scott, Down and Across offers up such a wonderful cast of characters. Fiora, for instance, is wild and reckless. I've never seen someone love cross words as much as she does. Additionally, I enjoyed seeing the role she plays in Scott's summer. She inspires him to do crazy things - some of which he most certainly shouldn't do - but she makes him more well rounded because of it, someone who'd rather go on adventure than sit around. More importantly, I appreciated that Fiora wasn't perfect. She dealt with her own setbacks in this book, some of which broke my heart, but at the end of the day, she's just someone who won't let the bad get her down - she's just on to her next adventure. I also came to love Rick, Fiora's best friend and Scott's constant savior. Rick's view on politics was heartwarming, and I loved seeing him hone his passions in this. This boy definitely do what his "grit" was! 

At its core, Down and Across is a coming-of-age: Scott goes to Washington, DC on a whim and finds himself. First of all, I LOVED the DC setting. DC is a city that will always have my heart, and I loved that Arvin included so many real restaurants/venues within Down and Across's pages! Additionally, I loved the crossword application to life. It truly was the perfect metaphor, and better yet, I loved that actual crosswords were included in the book.  I also enjoyed how this book shows the ups and downs to growing up. Scott experiences the good and bad in DC. He makes life long friends, finds his "grit," learns to live on his own, but he also experiences hate, a bad relationship, and the consequences of lying. It made for an interesting read. 

Also, the epilogue? I don't think I've ever been happier with an epilogue! I loved how everything ended - it was the perfect mix of closure and openness. 

So in summary: Buy (or borrow!) Down and Across. Read it. And (hopefully!) love it (and come back and tell me!). Arvin is a fantastic new voice in YA. I'll be the first in line to buy his second book! 

Grade: A+ 

Down and Across is now out! 

Source: eARC provided by Penguin Random House's First to Read program

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Review: Nice Try, Jane Sinner by Lianne Oelke

Synopsis/Cover Image from Publisher's Website: 

It’s Kind of a Funny Story meets Daria in the darkly hilarious tale of a teen’s attempt to remake her public image and restore inner peace through reality TV. The only thing 17-year-old Jane Sinner hates more than failure is pity. After a personal crisis and her subsequent expulsion from high school, she’s going nowhere fast. Jane’s well-meaning parents push her to attend a high school completion program at the nearby Elbow River Community College, and she agrees, on one condition: she gets to move out.

Jane tackles her housing problem by signing up for House of Orange, a student-run reality show that is basically Big Brother, but for Elbow River Students. Living away from home, the chance to win a car (used, but whatever), and a campus full of people who don't know what she did in high school… what more could she want? Okay, maybe a family that understands why she’d rather turn to Freud than Jesus to make sense of her life, but she'll settle for fifteen minutes in the proverbial spotlight.

As House of Orange grows from a low-budget web series to a local TV show with fans and shoddy T-shirts, Jane finally has the chance to let her cynical, competitive nature thrive. She'll use her growing fan base, and whatever Intro to Psychology can teach her, to prove to the world—or at least viewers of substandard TV—that she has what it takes to win.

Review: 

Lianne Oelke's Nice Try, Jane Sinner is a lot of things so to give you the basic rundown I've created a list. 

1) It's blunt. 

2) It's laugh-out-loud funny. Some parts made me laugh so hard I cried. Seriously, that's how hilarious this book is. 

3) It's hopeful. 

5) Most importantly, Jane Sinner is a riot! 

Love it or hate it but there's something vastly compelling about reality television. Luckily, that compelling aspect perfectly transitioned over into Nice Try, Jane Sinner's House of Orange. Three words to describe House of Orange? One hot mess, but it was a mess I couldn't look away from. The challenges were ridiculous yet hilarious - I'm still dying over the one involving living in the van. The production team was this weird mix of smart yet silly. The Hoocaps always managed to crack me up, and Alexander, the man behind the show, was one wise guy. He sometimes made stupid decisions, but boy, did he know how to make for quality television reading. I also enjoyed that show involved college students. It added another interesting angle. Plus it was fun to see a YA set in the big world of college. Some of the professors and guidance counselors reminded me of ones I've encountered over my years.

What also makes this book so fantastic and interesting crew of characters Lianne has at play. None of them are truly the *standard* reality TV shows stars, and honestly, that's part of what makes this book so lovable and relatable.

Jane, main character extraordinaire, is so utterly fabulous I don't even know where to begin. I'll be honest: it may take a while to warm up to Jane's particular mix of humor/sarcasm/sass. Once you get to that point, however, it's smooth sailing. Like House of Orange, Jane is a kind of a mess - a lovable mess for sure but still a mess. She hasn't been the best friend, student, sister, and/or daughter lately, but she's trying - she really is. She's just chosen to hide behind her self-made shield of humor, sarcasm, and incorrect idioms. Jane's a tough cookie - you hit her, she'll hit you right back - but at the same time, there's this sense of vulnerability to her. She's scared - scared of not winning, scared of losing the last of her friends, scared of falling in love, and scared of falling back into that place she was last year. Her feelings and thoughts felt so real, and I could easily relate. I'm often the person who hides behind humor and jokes so I could understand why Jane used that method - it's easy and painless. Over the course of the book, however, I rooted for her to open-up and to be straightforward.

In addition to Jane, I enjoyed the side characters that came along for the ride. There's a fair share so I'm going to just focuses on my favorites. Marc reminded me of one of those greasy guys from Jersey Shore, and while he was a jerk more times than nice, I still came to like him, especially when he did such ridiculous things. Robbie was a wild-card. I could never quite figure him out. Sometimes I thought he would be a great potential boyfriend for Jane, but other times not so much. Like Jane, Robbie had his own issues to figure out, and I did like the ways in which Jane and Robbie helped each other. Jenna, Jane's unlikely friend, was also a favorite of mine. She was hard to figure out, but I appreciated the way she always went to save the day.

Nice Try, Jane Sinner is told through Jane's journal entries, and I thought Lianne did such a great job of fleshing them out. Never once did I feel that I missed out on something important or that I needed more details. I also liked the emphasis it put on dialogue, especially since the dialogue was golden.

I could go on about this book all day, but I'll stop here and leave you with this message: give Lianne Oelke's Nice Try, Jane Sinner a try! Regardless if you love YA or not, Jane Sinner is a character that I feel all age groups could relate to. This was such a fantastic debut, and I can't wait to see what Lianne has for us next.

Nice Try, Jane Sinner is now out! 

Source: eARC provided by publisher for review - thanks HMH! 

4.5 stars!! 

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Review: Everless by Sara Holland

Synopsis/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

In the kingdom of Sempera, time is currency—extracted from blood, bound to iron, and consumed to add time to one’s own lifespan. The rich aristocracy, like the Gerlings, tax the poor to the hilt, extending their own lives by centuries.

No one resents the Gerlings more than Jules Ember. A decade ago, she and her father were servants at Everless, the Gerlings’ palatial estate, until a fateful accident forced them to flee in the dead of night. When Jules discovers that her father is dying, she knows that she must return to Everless to earn more time for him before she loses him forever.

But going back to Everless brings more danger—and temptation—than Jules could have ever imagined. Soon she’s caught in a tangle of violent secrets and finds her heart torn between two people she thought she’d never see again. Her decisions have the power to change her fate—and the fate of time itself.

Fans of Victoria Aveyard, Kendare Blake, and Stephanie Garber will devour this lush novel's breathtaking action, incredible romance, and dangerous secrets.

Review: 

Sara Holland's Everless was one of my most anticipated releases of 2018. Not only was the cover exquisite but also the premise sounded unique and fresh. Time as currency? I was definitely intrigued. As the praise and rave reviews began pouring in, the larger the hype grew and the more excited I became. Thankfully, Everless was everything I had hoped it would be, and much, much more. Everless is intoxicating as well as spellbinding. It was so incredibly easy to lose myself within its pages - ten more minutes would become an hour and an hour would quickly become several and before I knew it I was at the end.

World building can make or break a fantasy, in my opinion, and thankfully, it made the book in this case. Sara Holland has created such a lush world within the pages of Everless. It was incredibly easy to picture the kingdom of Sempera, and I also enjoyed the detail she put into the Gerlings and their aristocracy as well as the alchemist and sorceress. Actually, the story of alchemist and the sorceress was one of my favorite parts of the book, and I especially enjoyed the way in which Sara Holland presented it through whispers and long passed down stories. It added a questioning, suspenseful edge to the novel- Were the stories correct? How much was fact and how much was fiction? Were there hidden clues to be found within?

Additionally, I found the characters to be well developed and likable. Jules is a woman on a mission, and nothing - not even the cunning, tricky Gerlings - can get in her way. Jules is headstrong, determined, and dauntless. She'd do anything to save her family, especially when it comes to the father she loves so dearly. Over the course of the book, Jules deals with a fair amount of change - scenery, family dynamic, friends, etc; however, never once did Jules falter in the sight of the unknown. She embraced it, and I appreciated that about her. It was fun to see her on her journey and it was even better to see her pull in wins. In addition to Jules, I also liked her father. He was incredibly caring, the type of person who'd give his last shirt up to keep someone else warm. Seeing him and in turn seeing his relationship with Jules made it crystal clear why Jules would risk everything for him. He was her world and she was his. I also enjoyed the power players encountered in the castle. The queen was twisty and chilling. The princess was reckless and easy to trust as well as love. The two princes were like day and night. Roan was warm and welcoming while Liam was foreboding and staunch. While Roan should have been the easy favorite, Liam was the one I was drawn to. He had a twisty, dark past, but I had a sneaky suspicion there was more good to him than met the eye.

The plot of Everless best described in one word? Thrilling! Once the story got going and the adventure and thrills started churning out in rapid speed, I was one hundred percent hooked. I loved the court drama, the sabotage that kept peeking up, the bad that came with the Queen's arrival, and the feeling that something incredibly sinister was at play. I read this book way faster than I would've liked, but I couldn't help it. I also appreciated that while there's romance, it isn't a huge part of the book. There's a slight touch here and there, which ended up being plenty. Additionally, I liked that the romance wasn't what I had expected - the ending of the novel truly managed to surprise me!

In all, Sara Holland's Everless is a stellar debut. Blending together romance, suspense, and royal intrigue, Everless will most likely end up on many Best of 2018 lists and rightfully so.

4.5 stars!!

Everless is now out!

Source: eARC provided by publisher for review - thanks HarperCollins!

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Waiting on Wednesday (163)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang 

(June 5th, 2018!) 

A heartwarming and refreshing debut novel that proves one thing: there's not enough data in the world to predict what will make your heart tick.

Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases--a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old.

It doesn't help that Stella has Asperger's and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice--with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can't afford to turn down Stella's offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan--from foreplay to more-than-missionary position...

Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but to crave all the other things he's making her feel. Soon, their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic...

Reasons Why I Want This:

• "Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe" I can relate to this so much! 
• Michael Phan sounds like he's going to bring some exciting stuff to this novel! 
• It's a 2018 debut!! 

Add on Goodreads!

Find out More about the Author:

Twitter | Website

Always Never Yours by Austin Siegemund-Broka & Emily Wibberley

(Coming May 22, 2018)

Megan Harper is the girl before. All her exes find their one true love right after dating her. It’s not a curse or anything, it’s just the way things are, and Megan refuses to waste time feeling sorry for herself. Instead, she focuses on pursuing her next fling, directing theatre, and fulfilling her dream school’s acting requirement in the smallest role possible. 

 
But her plans quickly crumble when she’s cast as none other than Juliet–yes, that Juliet–in her high school’s production. It’s a nightmare. No–a disaster. Megan’s not an actress and she’s certainly not a Juliet. Then she meets Owen Okita, an aspiring playwright who agrees to help Megan catch the eye of a sexy stagehand in exchange for help writing his new script. 

Between rehearsals and contending with her divided family, Megan begins to notice Owen–thoughtful, unconventional, and utterly unlike her exes, and wonders: shouldn’t a girl get to play the lead in her own love story?

Reasons Why I Want This: 

• The cover! It's so pretty and spring like.
• Megan seems like she'll be easy to relate to.
• It's another 2018 debut!

Add on Goodreads!

Find out More about the Authors: 

Website | Austin Twitter | Emily Twitter

Waiting on Wednesday (153)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

My pick this week is:

People Like Us by Dana Mele  
(coming February 27, 2018!)

A sharp psychological thriller that's just right for fans of Thirteen Reasons Why and Pretty Little Liars --this story will seduce, mislead, and finally, betray you. 

Kay Donovan may have skeletons in her closet, but the past is past, and she's reinvented herself entirely. Now she's a star soccer player whose group of gorgeous friends run their private school with effortless popularity and acerbic wit. But when a girl's body is found in the lake, Kay's carefully constructed life begins to topple. The dead girl has left Kay a computer-coded scavenger hunt, which, as it unravels, begins to implicate suspect after suspect, until Kay herself is in the crosshairs of a murder investigation. But if Kay's finally backed into a corner, she'll do what it takes to survive. Because at Bates Academy, the truth is something you make...not something that happened.

Debut author Dana Mele has written a taut, sophisticated suspense novel that readers will tear through and not stop talking about.

"This story will seduce, mislead, and finally, betray you."?! 

That's it, I'm sold! Gimme, gimme. 

But seriously this one looks great. I love private school based books, especially when there is a mystery is involved. Plus this has gotten nothing but 4/5 star ratings so far on Goodreads. So....is it February yet?! 

Add People Like Us to your wish list:

Goodreads | Amazon 

Learn more about the author:

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook 

Waiting on Wednesday (152)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

My pick this week is:

The Window by Amelia Brunskill  
(coming April 3, 2018!)

Anna is everything her identical twin, Jess, is not. The same on the outside, yet so completely different inside—it’s hard to believe that the girls are even sisters, let alone twins. But they are. And they tell each other everything.

Or so Jess thought.

After Anna falls to her death while sneaking out her bedroom window, Jess’s life begins to unravel. Everyone says Anna’s death was a tragic accident, but to Jess, that doesn’t add up. Where was Anna going? Who was she meeting? And how long had Anna been lying to her? 

And as Jess digs deeper, she learns that the answers she’s looking for may contain dark truths that no one else wants her to find.

Reasons Why I Want to Read This:

• I love how the cover is simple yet eye-catching at the same time. 
• Books with mysteries always intrigue me. So I'm really curious to learn more about Anna's untimely death. 
• As I've said before, I always love books involving twins! 

Add The Window to your wish list:

Goodreads | Amazon 

Learn more about the author:

Website | Twitter | Instagram | 

Waiting on Wednesday (148)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

My pick this week is:

Everless by Sara Holland 
(coming January 2, 2018!)

In the land of Sempera, time is extracted from blood and used as payment. Jules Ember and her father were once servants at Everless, the wealthy Gerling family’s estate, but were cast out after of a fateful accident a decade ago. Now, Jules’s father is reaching his last hour, and she will do anything to save him. Desperate to earn time, she arrives at the palace as it prepares for a royal wedding, ready to begin her search into childhood secrets that she once believed to be no more than myths. As she uncovers lost truths, Jules spirals deeper into a past she hardly recognizes, and faces an ancient and dangerous foe who threatens her future and the future of time itself. 

Reasons Why I Want to Read This:

• The cover!! I'm so incredibly in love with it! At first, I didn't even realize it was made in the shape of an hourglass. 
• The land of Sepera seems interesting! Time being extracted from blood to be used as payment? I don't think I've seen that before! 
• It's a 2019 debut! Plus it's one of Glasstown Entertainment's books and they've never lead me astray before.  

Add Everless  to your wish list:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Learn more about the author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram