Blog Tour: How to Breathe Underwater by Vickey Skinner (Review & Giveaway)

How to Breathe Underwater 

Vicky Skinner 

Published by: Swoon Reads

Publication date: August 14th 2018

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Kate’s father has been pressuring her to be perfect for her whole life, pushing her to be the best swimmer she can be. But when Kate finds her dad cheating on her mom, Kate’s perfect world comes crashing down, and Kate is forced to leave home and the swim team she’s been a part of her whole life.
Now in a new home, new school, and faced with the prospect of starting over, Kate isn’t so sure that swimming is what she wants anymore. But when she decides to quit, her whole world seems to fall apart. But when Kate gets to know Michael, the cute boy that lives across the hall, she starts to think that starting over might not be so bad. There’s only one problem: Michael has a girlfriend.
As the pressures of love, family, and success press down on her, can Kate keep her head above water?

Review: 

Prior to starting Vickey Skinner's How to Breathe Underwater, I hadn't heard too much about it. However, I can never resist a pretty cover and a synopsis that screams romance and contemporary goodness so I eagerly dove in. 

The result? How to Breathe Underwater was one heck of a treat! Romantic, emotional, and funny, How to Breathe Underwater managed to wow me the whole way through. 

How to Breathe Underwater introduces Kate, a high school junior, who isn't having the best year. She's dealing with family drama, friend drama, and starting all over at a new school. She's trying her best to be positive, but it's hard to do when everything seems to be going to wrong. I adored Kate from the get-go. She was sweet and kind, and I loved seeing her bloom in her new environment. I also appreciated how she always tried her best to do the right thing. Sometimes it all still blew up in her face, but you could tell she was always coming from a good place. 

Michael, the love interest in this, was SWOONY as heck! From the moment he was introduced I was praying he would be the one. He was the perfect mix of moody and light, and I loved the chemistry between him and Kate. It flowed well, and, more importantly, it made it easy to root for them! 

In addition to Michael and Kate, Vickey introduces a variety of other characters - Kate's friends, family, etc. Every single character brought something special to the book, and I loved pretty much every single one of them (well, besides Kate's dad...he was a bit of a jerk...scratch that a HUGE jerk). Vickey did a great job of developing everyone, and while I wish there had been more of them, I was 100% content with what I got. 

The plot in this mainly involves romance and creating a new life when everything gets turned upside down. I always love a starting fresh story line, and that rang true here. It was exciting to be there every step of the way with Kate. The romance in this had so much wonderful build up - there were so many times I was like "just kiss already!" but let me tell you, the wait was worth it in the end! 

Overall, summer may soon be coming to an end, but that doesn't mean there isn't time to fit some more summer reading in! How to Breathe Underwater should definitely be on your end of summer reading lists. It's sweet, heartwarming, and charming - I simply adored it and I think many others will as well! 

4 stars!!

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Author Bio: 

Born and raised in Texas, I don’t act like much of a Texan. I like cold weather and hate country music. I have a gorgeous husband, two dogs, and a Literature degree from the University of Texas at Dallas. If I’m not at home reading a book or doing laundry, I’m probably at the bookstore, nannying three rambunctious boys, or stuck on the side of the road with car trouble. I’m a reader, a writer, and a bit of a crazy person.

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Review: Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage

Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage 

Release Date: July 17, 2018 

Publisher: St. Martin's Press 

Genre: Adult, Thriller & Mystery 

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

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Meet Hanna.

She’s the sweet-but-silent angel in the adoring eyes of her Daddy. He’s the only person who understands her, and all Hanna wants is to live happily ever after with him. But Mommy stands in her way, and she’ll try any trick she can think of to get rid of her. Ideally for good.

Meet Suzette.

She loves her daughter, really, but after years of expulsions and strained home schooling, her precarious health and sanity are weakening day by day. As Hanna’s tricks become increasingly sophisticated, and Suzette's husband remains blind to the failing family dynamics, Suzette starts to fear that there’s something seriously wrong, and that maybe home isn’t the best place for their baby girl after all.

From blazing new talent Zoje Stage, Baby Teeth is a story about a perfect-looking family, and a darling little girl who wants nothing more than to kill her mother.

Review:

Twisted.
Jaw-dropping. 
Unputdownable. 
Those are just some of the words that describe Zoje Stage's explosive debut. 

When Baby Teeth first appeared on my radar, I wasn't too sure about it. It sounded unique and interesting, but a book about a young girl wanting to kill her mother? It definitely wasn't my typical read. However, the other week I decided to read a chapter to get a feel for it. Luckily, that chapter turned into two, and before I knew it, it was 2 am and not only was I finished but also completely and utterly shook. That last scene? I reread it twice, because I couldn't believe my own eyes! 

Baby Teeth contains two POVs - Suzette's as well as Hannah's. Zoje did a fantastic job of bringing the two voices together. It was also incredibly worthwhile as well as eye-opening to see from both of their perspectives. The interesting thing here, however, is that I could never exactly pinpoint a villain.  Instead, Suzette and Hannah are both victims as well as instigators, in my opinion. In their minds, they both believe they are doing the "right" thing. Suzette is attempting to save her marriage, daughter, and health through her occasional tough-love yet mostly understandable actions while Hannah believes the only way to be happy is to get rid of her mother. While Hannah's reasoning is a bit more wild, I felt bad for the girl. Yes, she did some truly evil things in this book; however, at the end of the day, she was a little girl who needed help. The only problem was that no one seemed to know what that help should be. 

At its core, Baby Teeth is a game of cat-and-mouse. The majority of the book focuses on the back-and-forth between Hannah and Suzette, their constant need to one-up each other as well as win. I was always on the edge of my seat, dying to know what would happen next. Would Hannah finally succeed in killing her mother? Would Suzette find help that would work? Those were just some of the questions swirling around in my head. As the book progressed, things only became crazier. I couldn't believe some of what I was reading. Gosh, if I was Suzette, I would've been running from that house screaming. I also enjoyed the conflict Suzette's husband/Hannah's father brought to the table. In a way, he played a Switzerland type role. He refused to believe that his little angle could be so evil but he also couldn't believe his wife could be lying about such things. For the majority of the book, he tries to play the middle man, sometimes making things better but sometimes making them even worse... 

In addition to the conflict/dynamic between Hannah and Suzette, the book also includes Suzette's struggles with Crohn's disease. I appreciated the fact that Zoje included this and addressed the everyday issues that arise with the disease. Several people close to me have suffered from Chron's, and I thought Zoje did a fantastic job of giving it a realistic, honest feel. 

Overall, Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage is an edge-of-your-seat thriller. While I don't think this book will be for everyone, I think it will definitely find its audience within those craving a dark, mind-bending thriller. I look forward to reading more by Zoje in the future. 

4 stars!!

Review: The Gallery of Unfinished Girls by Lauren Karcz

The Gallery of Unfinished Girls by Lauren Karcz 
Release Date: July 25, 2017  
Publisher: Berkley 
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary 
Source: Library 

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A beautiful and evocative look at identity and creativity, The Gallery of Unfinished Girls is a stunning debut in magical realism. Perfect for fans of The Walls Around Us and Bone Gap.

Mercedes Moreno is an artist. At least, she thinks she could be, even though she hasn’t been able to paint anything worthwhile in the past year.

Her lack of inspiration might be because her abuela is in a coma. Or the fact that Mercedes is in love with her best friend, Victoria, but is too afraid to admit her true feelings.

Despite Mercedes’s creative block, art starts to show up in unexpected ways. A piano appears on her front lawn one morning, and a mysterious new neighbor invites Mercedes to paint with her at the Red Mangrove Estate.

At the Estate, Mercedes can create in ways she hasn’t ever before. But Mercedes can’t take anything out of the Estate, including her new-found clarity. Mercedes can’t live both lives forever, and ultimately she must choose between this perfect world of art and truth and a much messier reality.

Review: 

I'll admit it: I added this book to my TBR simply because of the flamingos (Note to publishers: if you put a flamingo on a book, there's a 99.99% I will buy/read it because my love for flamingos is just that strong). 

Thankfully, Lauren Karcz's The Gallery of the Unfinished Girls contains so much more than just a pretty cover! Lush, introspective, and a tad bit eccentric, The Gallery of Unfinished Girls chronicles the eventful, life changing year of the Moreno sisters.  

The Gallery of the Unfinished Girls begins just as the Moreno family is falling apart. Mercedes’s abuela has sunken into a coma she may never come out of, and because of that, Mercedes's mom has left the country to go take care of her. Alas, Mercedes and her younger sister Angela find themselves left alone to fend for themselves. Some teenagers would go wild from the sudden burst of freedom; however, Mercedes and Angela go about their lives as normal. Wake up, school, home, sleep, repeat. But everything changes the moment a piano and a new secretive neighbor named Lillia suddenly (and maybe even a bit magically) appear. Suddenly, Angela looses herself in the music, Lillia becomes a mentor to Angela as well as Mercedes, and Mercedes has the sudden urge to paint something worthwhile, something that will make herself (and maybe even Lillia) proud. But Lillia is hiding secrets, and Mercedes thinks most of them revolve around the mystical Red Mangrove Estate, the place for artists to loose themselves in their work....

The Gallery of Unfinished Girls is incredibly character driven. Sometimes that works for me and sometimes it doesn't, but thankfully in this case it worked quite well. 

The characters in The Gallery of Unfinished Girls felt so real, so life like.

Mercedes, the main character, became the one closet to my heart. I've never been an artist (Fun fact: I was actually told in high school to never take another art class besides the required once because my work was just that terrible) ; however, I've always been interested in what drives an artist to create their work...what makes them tick, what makes them passionate, driven....and within Mercedes this was displayed front and center. As the book begins, Mercedes is in a rut: she hasn't created a worthwhile piece, something to be proud of, since her award-winning food poisoning inspired painting the previous year. She's lost. Her art has always been her "thing," the one thing that always has made sense, the thing by which she defines herself as. Who is Mercedes without the art? Throughout the novel, Mercedes slowly gets her grove back thanks to Lillia and learns a lot about herself in the process. This transformation was incredibly worthwhile to see, and I especially appreciated the growth she obtained. 

In addition to art problem, Mercedes has also found herself in another situation: an unrequited love situation. Mercedes is bisexual and head-over-heels in love with her best friend Victoria. The only problem? She doesn't know if Victoria would ever return her feelings. I'll be honest here: I never could see the appeal in Victoria. I didn't think she was that great of a friend, and honestly, she was selfish at times, especially towards the end. So at times it was hard to root for a Victoria-Mercedes pairing, but it was never hard to root for Mercedes falling in love, because I wanted Mercedes to be happy, and I was so incredibly proud of her for being true to herself. 

I also appreciated the family dynamic that The Gallery of Unfinished Girls offered. The bond between Mercedes and Angela was at times messy and fragile, but in the long run, those two girls would go to the end of the Earth for each other. It was especially interesting to see them bond and root each other on regarding their own form of art - Mercedes with her paintings and Angela with her music. It was also worthwhile to see Mercedes deal with the risk of loosing someone who close to her. Throughout the novel, she questions those kind of questions that everyone wonders - could she have done more for her abuela? did she say everything she needed to say? It broke my heart, but I thought Lauren did such an amazing job of giving Mercedes's grief a voice. 

Last but not least I want to hit upon Red Mangrove Estate. It gave the book a fantasy approach in some ways. I don't want to say too much about it, because it's one of those things you need to experience for yourself. However, I will say it was an interesting plot device. At first, it caused a lot of confusion for me and I didn't always like it. I wondered what the point really was of it, but as the novel progressed, it became clear. I have to say Lauren did such a smart, innovative thing here - I loved the overall message it was able to convoy. 

In all, The Gallery of Unfinished Girls is a beautiful, introspective novel about life, loss, love, and moving on. I'll be in upfront in saying this book won't be for everyone, especially those who prefer action packed books over character driven ones, but for those of you who like a unique novel, I highly suggest it. I look forward to Lauren's future novels. 

4 stars!! 

Review: What You Left Me by Bridget Morrissey

What You Left Me by Bridget Morrissey
Release Date: June 5, 2018
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

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

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If I Stay meets While You Were Sleeping in this beautiful and heartbreaking novel told in dual perspectives about friendship, family, and all the other threads that bind us together.

Martin and Petra meet for the first time at graduation, and though they’ve shared the halls of their high school for four years without crossing paths, there’s an instant connection the moment they’re seated next to each other at the commencement ceremony.

Then a car accident puts Martin into a coma; and Petra is somehow left picking up the pieces, using friends, family, and shared dreams to keep their surprise connection going.

Together they must unlock the truth of his situation, and with time running out, their bond becomes Martin’s best shot at waking back up to the life he's left behind.

Review: 

Have you ever read a book where you were constantly hoping for the best but preparing for the worst? That's how I was for the entirety of What You Left Me. I kept hoping that Bridget wouldn't take a certain path, but at the same time, I could see it being a very strong possibility. 

What You Left Me wasn't what I was expecting. Honestly, I don't know exactly what I was expecting, but I wasn't expecting such a deep and moving read. This book made me laugh and cry. I alternated between angry, happy, and sad. There were so many times I wished that things could be different, but at the same time, I gave props to Bridget for making the choices she did regarding the plot. It made it a tough read for sure, but a tough read that I won't forget for quite some time. 

What You Left Me introduces Martin and Petra. They couldn't be anymore different. Martin is the funny guy, constantly in trouble with his teachers and family but loved by his classmates. Petra, on the other hand, has always been the star student, the trustworthy daughter, and the steadfast friend but all that changed one night. Now she's stuck sitting next to Martin at graduation instead of being at the front with the top of her class. Martin can tell that something isn't right with Petra, that she's brooding about something big, and even though it spells out nothing but trouble, he tries to get her attention, to make her smile, and this is what changes everything. 

Over the course of the book, I came to love Martin and Petra. On the surface, they seemed incredibly different. Martin seemed wild and carefree, forever the life of the party, while Petra was the smart girl, sticking to her books and her tight knit group of friends. Deep down, however, both Martin and Petra were lost...

Petra is dealing with the backlash of suddenly not being the perfect daughter, the perfect student. Everyone thinks she's graduating, but the truth is she's one credit short. She knows she should feel bad, even mad at herself for getting to this place, but she can't bring herself to feel anything. My heart broke for Petra. It was easy to tell from the start that something wasn't right, that she was just going through the motions. I wanted to know more, to learn more about what happened that night. More importantly, I wanted her to smile again, to live again. Yes, her decisions following that night weren't the best, but they were understandable. They could easily be fixed. What couldn't be easily fixed, however, was the non visible scars that remained on Petra, something that everyone failed to see but Martin. 

Martin, on the other hand, is growing tired of always being the funny, goofy guy. He wants people to see that there's more to him than his jokes and his bets. He wants more for himself. Some parts of him wonder if he even lived high school to the fullest...

Martin and Petra's meeting is sudden and quick, but it not only changes everything but starts What You Left Me off with a bang. I wanted to see more of Martin and Petra, to see them interact, to see if maybe there was more to everything than a quick meeting, but a car accident shatters everything. Suddenly, Martin is in a coma and Petra is devastated. Sure, she didn't know him well, but for some reason she can't get over what has happened, she's pulled to his bedside and pulled into his life. 

At its heart, What You Left Me is a book about second chances and how random encounters can change everything. What You Left Me is primarily character driven. Bridget spends a great deal of time building Petra and Martin's characters, and I really liked that aspect. There was something very interesting about their bond, something that made me curious to know what would happen next. I also liked how Bridget made everything interconnected. I loved seeing Martin and Petra's friend groups come together, often in some very surprising ways. 

There are two things, however, that I didn't like about What You Left Me. For one, I wish the POVs would have been labeled with the character's name. At first, it was hard to tell who was talking when, especially when the POVs expanded beyond just Martin and Petra. Additionally, I wish there was more about what happened to Petra that night. There was some resolution to it, but I wish there would've been more. In some ways, I feel like it was slightly pushed under the carpet by the end of the book. 

Overall, What You Left Me is a an emotional, deeply moving addition to contemporary YA. If you're anything like me, it will probably make you cry your eyes out, but I promise it's worth it. Bridget has something very special here. 

4.5 stars!! 

Spotlight Tour: The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls by Jessica Spotswood (Review, Giveaway, and Excerpt)

The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls by Jessica Spotswood
Release Date: June 5, 2018
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Source: ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
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One summer will challenge everything the Garrett sisters thought they knew about themselves—and each other in this captivating new novel by Jessica Spotswood.

Kat lands the lead in the community theater's summer play, but the drama spills offstage when her ex and his new girlfriend are cast too. Can she get revenge by staging a new romance of her own?

Bea and her boyfriend are heading off to college together in the fall, just like they planned when they started dating. But Bea isn’t sure she wants the same things as when she was thirteen…

Vi has a crush on the girl next door. It makes her happy and nervous, but Cece has a boyfriend...so it's not like her feelings could ever be reciprocated, right?

As the oldest, Des shoulders a lot of responsibility for her family and their independent bookstore. Except it’s hard to dream big when she's so busy taking care of everyone else.

Told through four alternating points of view, readers will laugh, cry, and fall in love alongside the Garrett girls.

Review:

The one word that perfectly sums up The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls? 

ADORABLE! 

Honestly, if this isn't the perfect start of summer read, I don't know what is! 

My favorite thing about this book? The Garrett Girls of course! I'm always a little leery of books with multiple POVs; however, Jessica did a fantastic job of not only alternating between the girls but also making their voice's sound distinctive and completely originally. I loved that each sister was so different. 

Des, the oldest, holds the "mom" role in the family. Ever since the sisters lost their mom, Des has tried her best to step into her role. She cooks, she cleans, she keeps track - it's not an easy job but she loves her sisters. Des is strong, resourceful, and hardworking. I admired what she did for her family; however, there were so many times I wished she would start living her own life a little more, stepping out of her comfort zone. The introduction of a new, potentially wild friend pushes this into play, and I enjoyed seeing the outcome. 

Next up: Bea. To the outside world, she has the perfect life: a long-term boyfriend she'll most likely marry and acceptance to one of the best colleges in the country. The only problem? She's tired of it all. She doesn't want any of it anymore. She wants adventure, to find her true purpose, not to live up to everyone else's expectations of what she should be doing. I found Bea to be the most relatable out of all the girls. I think everyone's reached that point in their lives where they stop and think "wait, why am I doing this? And this really what I want?" I know I have. Over the course of the story, Bea takes some risks, makes some bold choices, and while they aren't always ideal, I gave her props. She started to take control again, no matter how messy everything became. My only compliant? I wish she would've been a bit more straightforward with her boyfriend. I felt bad for the poor guy. 

Kat is the wild child. Dramatic and sassy...it's no surprise that Kat is an actress. After landing the lead role in her town's play this summer, Kat knows she should be excited, but she's letting her boy troubles get in the way. She wants revenge against her ex, but for some reason it's getting harder and harder to achieve it...At first, I wasn't the biggest fan of Kat. She seemed immature, and I wish she would let the whole ex-boyfriend thing go. He seemed like a jerk, definitely not someone to waste time thinking about. As the book continued, however, I started to like Kat more and more. She became more "human." She got involved in a "fake" relationship that became more and more real by the second, and she was scared and confused. Could she let someone back in her life in that kind of way? Also, more was revealed about her past. She's struggled with an eating disorder most of her life, and she's tired of her sisters always focusing on it. 

Last but not least: Vi. Vi's the youngest. She's bookish and quiet, preferring her favorite books to the company of other's more times than none. But there's one person she'd put down her book for: CeCe. I couldn't help but root for Vi the whole way through, especially when it came to her getting the girl. Cece and Vi were adorable together. I loved how they bonded over their love of books. I also liked that Jessica spent a good amount of time developing their relationship. It started as unrequited love turned into friends and then maybe into something more. Honestly, out of all the girls, Vi was probably the strongest sister. She knew what she wanted, and even though she was used to letting her fears get in the way of her wants, she wasn't letting that get her this time. She was a cool girl, and I wanted nothing more than for her to have a happy ending. 

As can be expected, the plot mainly focuses on the girls's summers. The drama, the romance, the adventure, the risks....It's what moved this book forward, but as I alluded to above, the girls are what made this book so special. I also enjoyed the shore setting. It added such a wonderful summer vibe to the story. 

Overall, The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls is must read in my opinion! Funny and emotional, The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls will have a little something for everyone. My only compliant? I wish it was longer! I needed more of the Garrett's, that's for sure! 

About the Author: 

Jessica Spotswood lives in Washington, DC, with her husband and works as a children’s library associate. Visit jessicaspotswood.com.

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Giveaway: 

2 Copies of The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls

Runs June 8th -30th (US & Canada only)

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Excerpt: 

Blog Tour: Dive Smack by Demetra Brodsky

Dive Smack by Demetra Brodsky
Publisher: TorTeen
Release Date: June 19, 2018
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: eARC provided by author in exchange for a review 

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Theo Mackey only remembers one thing for certain about the fire that destroyed his home: he lit the match.

Sure, it was an accident. But the blaze killed his mom and set his dad on a path to self-destruction. Everything else about that fateful night is full of gaping holes in Theo’s mind, for good reason. Maybe it’s better that way. As captain of the Ellis Hollow Diving Team, with straight A's and solid friends, he's only one semester away from securing a scholarship, and leaving his past behind.

But when a family history project gets assigned at school, new memories come rushing to the surface, memories that make him question what he really knows about his family, the night of the fire, and if he can trust anyone—including himself.

Review:

Dive Smack caught my attention as soon as I read the synopsis. I wanted to know more about Theo. Did he truly kill his mother? Was there more to the story than he realized? And what secrets was his family keeping? Those were just some of the questions swirling around in my head. 

The result? Dive Smack was a slam dunk. Thrilling as well as dark, Dive Smack is perfect for fans of psychological thrillers.  

Dive Smack introduces Theo, a high school student. Over the past few years, Theo has faced many ups as well as downs. While he's well known for his swimming skills, he's also well known for his family's twisted history. First his mother dies in a fire and then his father dies while driving. From the first page I was captured by Theo's voice. There was something about it that grabbed me. I loved the casual, talkative feel to the narrative, and I also liked that Theo was flawed. On one side he's the typical teenager - nervous to ask the girl of his dreams out, scared about loosing his top spot on the swim team, and dreading a group project. However, on the other side, he's dealing with the emotional drama his parent's deaths brought to the table as well as the guilt that comes along too. I wanted nothing more than for Theo to move past the accident. It broke my heart that he felt so responsible, so guilty. I also liked seeing Theo's relationships with the other characters bloom over the course of the book. I adored his best friend, and I loved how authentic their scenes felt. Demetra made their friendship incredibly believable. I also liked Iris, Theo's love interest/family history project partner. She had a lot of spunk to her. 

Dive Smack primarily focuses on the mystery surrounding Theo's family. I always felt like there was more to the Theo's mom's accident than was let on, and I loved seeing Demetra and Theo dig further into that. There was always an exciting twist or turn to push the book along. I also enjoyed the focusing on swimming. It was always interesting to see Theo nerd out over swimming. 

Filled with twists, turns, and some hilariously awkward moments, Dive Smack is sure to win over many readers this summer. 

4 stars!!

About the Author:

Demetra Brodsky is an award-winning graphic designer & art director turned writer. She has a B.F.A from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and lives in Southern California with her family of four and two lovable rescue dogs. Dive Smack, her debut novel, is dedicated to Pumpkin, the monarch butterfly she once saved from the brink of death. Once you read the book, you’ll understand why. She is a first generation Greek-American and a member of International Thriller Writers. Dive Smack is a 2018 Junior Library Guild Selection.

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Giveaway: 

Prize: Hardcover copy of DIVE SMACK by Demetra Brodsky & Prize pack of necklace, bracelet, signed bookmark, & signed book plate

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Starts: 6/13

Ends: 6/26

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Follow the Tour!

June 13th

Pink Polka Dot Books- Welcome Post

June 14th

Never Too Many To Read- Mood Board

BookCrushin- Review

June 15th

Malanie Loves Fiction- Review

Book Slaying- Gif Story

RhythmicBooktrovert- Review

Kat’s Books- Review & Favorite Quotes

June 16th

Confessions of a YA Reader- Dreamcast

MetalPhantasmReads- Review

Book Lady's Reviews- Review & Favorite Quotes

June 17th

Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf- Review

Life at 17- Review & Favorite Quotes

A New Look On Books- Official Book Playlist

June 18th

Blushing Bibliophile- Review

The Book Dutchesses- Review

The Clever Reader- Gif Story

June 19th

Girl in the Pages- Review & Favorite Quotes

The Book Enigma- Official Book Playlist

Smada's Book Smack- Dreamcast

Review: The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Release Date: June 5, 2018
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Adult, Romance
Source: ARC provided by publisher via Bookish First in exchange for an honest review
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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 crave all of the other things he's making her feel. 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...

Review: 

The Kiss Quotient has been high on my wish list ever since I stumbled upon it last winter. I love the title (Can we PLEASE have more math related titles? It makes the math lover in me so incredibly happy!). The cover is all kinds of adorable. Most importantly, the synopsis was screaming "Read me, Read me!"

I will admit, however, that I was beyond nervous when I finally did get my hands on a early copy. I was so worried that it wouldn't leave up to my expectations, that I wouldn't love it as much as everyone else. Luckily, the worse case scenario didn't occur. Because the The Kiss Quotient? It's I-can't-stop-smiling adorable, burn-the-house-down sexy, and pee-your-pants funny. It's one of my favorite romance reads of the year (right up there with The Wedding Date!), and honestly, I can't suggest it highly enough. 

I knew from the synopsis that I was going to connect with Stella. I mean, how couldn't I? I love math nearly as much as she does. As it turns out, my predication was correct. Stella was so incredibly easy to love. She's smart, fearless, and incredibly thoughtful. I loved her bunt way of speaking. It broke my heart, though, that there were several times that she didn't believe she was worthy of a true, all consuming type of love. Those were the times where I wished I could talk to her, give her pep talk, and tell her things were going to work out. She was perfect the way she was, and anyone who told her otherwise wasn't worth her time. Her thoughts about numbers and math also completely reflected my own. There's something just so marvelous about numbers, perfect in a sense, and I could understand why she was so driven by her work. Additionally, Stella has Aspergers, and Helen did a fantastic job of intertwining it within Stella's character. I appreciated the representation. What I appreciated the most, however, was that Helen stressed that Stella could have the world and more, that nothing was out of her reach, even with being on the spectrum. It was incredibly positive to say the least. 

While I do admit Stella was my favorite character in The Kiss Quotient, Michael also managed to wiggle his way into my heart. Like Stella, he's come to the conclusion that true love isn't meant for him as well but for completely different reasons. Michael is in a sense the ultimate hero. He's compassionate and stunning on the inside as well as the outside. I loved how patient he was with Stella, how he never questioned her quirks, and instead worked with her to make things right. It was heartwarming to say the least, and it made me fully believe that they were meant to be. 

The Kiss Quotient primarily focusses on Michael and Stella's business agreement turned relationship, and I loved every single second of it. Michael and Stella's first meeting was one of my favorite parts of the book (I'm still laughing about the word wholly). Plus it established their chemistry, making me committed to their story from that moment onward. As the book continues, Michael and Stella have a push-and-pull kind of relationship. Every time Michael or Stella feels that they aren't meant to be, they push the other away, only to have that person pull them back. I also loved that this book took on so many different tones. There were times I thought this was going to be nothing but a spicy hot romance novel (some of the scenes in this are OFF THE CHARTS), and I was okay with that - I love fluff just as much as the next person. However, Helen managed to throw me a curveball here, as she also made The Kiss Quotient so incredibly personable as well as emotional. We see Michael and Stella at so many highs as well as lows, not only in their relationship but in their lives in general. Michael  struggles with his family's reputation as well as the sacrifices he made to help his mother and sisters. Stella struggles with living her life to the fullest and not letting her Asperger's control what she does and doesn't do. Both story lines wormed their way into my heart, and I felt every emotion hard. 

My only compliant? I wish the secondary characters would have been slightly more developed. I wanted to know more about Michael's sisters and cousin as well as Stella's parents. 

Regardless, The Kiss Quotient is a standout debut, and I can't wait for June to come so I can suggest this book to everyone I know. I'm probably a broken record by now, but I'll say it again...

Adorable as well as sexy, The Kiss Quotient contains all my favorite romance book traits while also bringing with it honesty, charm, and enough emotions to have even the most stoney person smiling.  

4 stars!! 

Review: Don't Believe It by Charlie Donlea

Don't Believe It by Charlie Donlea
Release Date: May 29, 2018
Publisher: Kensington Books
Genre: Adult, Thriller & Mystery
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From acclaimed author Charlie Donlea comes a twisting, impossible-to-put-down novel of suspense in which a filmmaker helps clear a woman convicted of murder—only to find she may be a puppet in a sinister game.

The Girl of Sugar Beach is the most watched documentary in television history—a riveting, true-life mystery that unfolds over twelve weeks and centers on a fascinating question: Did Grace Sebold murder her boyfriend, Julian, while on a Spring Break vacation, or is she a victim of circumstance and poor police work? Grace has spent the last ten years in a St. Lucian prison, and reaches out to filmmaker Sidney Ryan in a last, desperate attempt to prove her innocence.

As Sidney begins researching, she uncovers startling evidence, additional suspects, and timeline issues that were all overlooked during the original investigation. Before the series even finishes filming, public outcry leads officials to reopen the case. But as the show surges towards its final episodes, Sidney receives a letter saying that she got it badly, terribly wrong.

Sidney has just convinced the world that Grace is innocent. Now she wonders if she has helped to free a ruthless killer. Delving into Grace’s past, she peels away layer after layer of deception. But as Sidney edges closer to the real heart of the story, she must decide if finding the truth is worth risking her newfound fame, her career . . . even her life.

Review: 

Have you ever read a book were the big twist came at you so fast, so unexpectedly, that you had to go back and re-read what had just happened simply because you couldn't believe it? That's what happened to me with Charlie Donlea's Don't Believe It. 

I couldn't believe my own eyes. 
I didn't want to believe my own eyes.
It was cruel yet deliciously so. 

Most importantly, it's a large part of why I love this book so much, because while it was easy to spot the true culprit in the beginning, there were ample twists, a surplus of oh-my-gosh moments, and even a few red herrings to keep me on the edge of my seat, constantly double guessing myself. 

Similar to Making a Murderer, Charlie Donela's Don't Believe Me focuses on a documentary aiming to set the story straight on a crime that shocked the nation years prior. I liked the incorporation of the documentary. It made this novel more unique, setting it apart from previous thrillers I've read this year. I also liked that it was primarily from the filmmaker's perspective. It was exciting to follow Sidney as she set out to find the truth. 

I will admit that I had a hard time connecting to Sidney at first. It's a problem I usually have with books set in third person; however, as time went on, Sidney began to grow on me. She was an ambitious women. I admired her determination to give the innocent a voice. Not too many people would take on the daring situations she got herself involved in. Additionally, I liked that there was more to Sidney's ambition than what meets the eye. Charlie presented some interesting things about her backstory, and while at times I did wish they were slightly more developed, it still worked well in creating Sidney's character. 

In addition to Sidney a variety of other characters were included. Some good, some evil, and some falling somewhere in between. From the moment Grace, the supposed killer, was introduced, I didn't know what to think. On one side, her case was convincing. It did seem like the authorities rushed the case, only focusing on clues that worked in their favor; however, on the other side, she seemed to be hiding something. Her relationship with her brother, in particular, never set well with me. There was a disturbing air around  it, but I couldn't always put my finger on what exactly made it that way. Grace's friends also added a lot to the novel. Ellie and Daniel were just as suspicious as Grace at times, and I was always dying to know what would be revealed next about each. 

It's hard to talk about Don't Believe It's plot without giving too much away so I'll keep it short and simple here. Basically, it was good. I thought Charlie did a great job of building up the story, using the documentary aspect to really reel the reader in. The build-up was slow at times, especially in the beginning, but as more was known about the case, the more thrilling everything became. By the middle, it seemed as if there was a race against time in Sidney's case. She was caught in the middle of a dangerous situation, one that she didn't have even half the answers to. 

Overall, Don't Believe It may be my first book by Charlie Donlea but it certainly won't be my last. It's not everyday that a thriller manages to take me completely by surprise, and I hope that Charlie's other books will have the ability to do the same. If you love thrillers, you simply must check this book out! It's GOOD. 

4 stars!! 

Review: Lies by T.M. Logan

Lies by T.M. Logan 

Release Date: September 11, 2018 

Publisher: St. Martin's Press 

Genre: Adult, Mystery & Thriller 

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

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What if you have the perfect life, the perfect wife and the perfect child―then, in one shattering moment, you discover nothing is as it seems? Now you are in the sights of a ruthless killer determined to destroy everything you treasure.

“[T. M. Logan's Lies] is assured, compelling, and hypnotically readable―with a twist I guarantee you won’t see coming.” ―Lee Child

It’s the evening drive home from work on a route Joe Lynch has taken a hundred times with his young son. But today, Joe sees his wife meet another man―an encounter that will rip two families apart. Raising the question: Can we ever really trust those closest to us?

Joe will do whatever it takes to protect his family, but as the deception unravels, so does his life. A life played out without any rules. And a cunning opponent who’s always one step ahead.

T. M. Logan’s Lies is an unputdownable thriller that will keep readers guessing until the jaw-dropping finale.

Review: 

I came *so* close to giving up on T.M. Logan's  Lies in the beginning. It wasn't catching my attention, and I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style. It was very cut-and-dry, using a lot of "I did this, then I did that." However, I decided to stick it out, and I'm so glad I did. It may have taken a while to warm up, but at 1/4 of the way through, it gained MAJOR speed. By the end, I was (1) shocked, as the major twist was INSANE, (2) completely scared, as I made the big mistake of reading this at night, and (3) craving more books by T.M. Logan! 

To be honest, Joe is a somewhat bland character, especially at first. He's soft spoken, not very motivated, and slightly spineless. He wasn't exactly someone that was easy to root for; however, I was still intrigued by his life. I was curious to see what would happen to him. Would he stop trusting everyone? Would he start demanding answers? Would he prove his innocence before his life was forever ruined? Those were the questions circling my mind. Over the course of Lies, Joe does experience a transformation. He becomes more gutsy and fearless, knocking down doors to get answers, and while he still made some reckless decisions, I gave him props - he was willing to risk it all if it meant proving his innocence and keeping his son. 

The other characters in this were interesting, and I loved that almost everyone was a suspect. It kept me on the edge of my seat! For example, there always seemed to be something off about Joe's wife Alice. She was aloof and mysterious, obsessed with social media and bad at telling the truth. I questioned everything she said, and I never thought she was a good person. Ben, the antagonist, in this was scary from the get-go. I got so many chills from the things he did or said! I couldn't understand why he was so determined to ruin Joe's life; however, as more and more were revealed about his motive, the more hooked I became. 

The plot in in Lies mainly focuses on Joe and Ben's game of cat-and-mouse. As I said before, it took a while for Lies to warm up; however, once the game got in full swing I was hooked! There were so many shocking moments. I never knew what Ben and Joe were going to do next, and that was part of what made it so much fun to read. While sometimes I couldn't believe how willing everyone was to jump to conclusions (Joe, the police, etc.), it didn't hinder my reading experience too much. There were some moments, though, where I wanted to scream "Really?!"  I also liked how T.M. also addressed social media in Lies (i.e. the addicting quality, the problems it may bring, etc.). When the book first begins, Joe and his wife are obsessed with social media, documenting their lives online; however, Joe's social media is eventually used against him. He's made to look guilty and unhinged through the hacking of his account, even photos of him online are altered to make him look suspicious...It makes you question just how much you put out there, could someone do to you what they did to Joe? And it makes you wonder how willing you are to trust posts, because as they say, sometimes something it nothing like it seems. 

My only real problem here besides the slow start was the writing style. As I said before, it was very cut and dry, and while I eventually got used to it, I wished that it was a little more descriptive. I think it would've allowed for more character development, as sometimes the characters were slightly one dimensional. 

Perfect for fans of thrillers, Lies is sure to entice and engage readers. I can't wait to see what T.M. writes next! 

4 stars!! 

Blog Tour: Always Forever Maybe by Anica Mrose Rissi (Review & Giveaway!)

Always Forever Maybe by Anica Mrose Rissi
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: June 5, 2018
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

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

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When Betts meets Aiden at the candy store where she works, their connection is like a sugar rush to the heart. Betts already knows the two of them are infinite. Inevitable. Destined to become an us.

Betts has only ever kept one secret from her best friend, Jo, but suddenly there’s a long list of things she won’t tell her, things Jo wouldn’t understand. Because Jo doesn’t see how good Aiden is for Betts. She finds him needy. Possessive. Controlling.

She’s wrong. With a love like this, nothing else matters.

Review:


Given how much I've enjoyed the books Anica has edited, I was excited to read a book written by her, and as it turns out, I had every right to be excited, as Always Forever Maybe blew me away. It was raw and heartbreaking, and while it was hard at times to keep reading - to keep watching Betts let Aiden walk all over her, to see Betts drift further and further away from her friends - I couldn't look away. I wanted to know - no I needed to know - what would happen to Betts. Would she be okay? Would she make amends with her friends before it was too late? And most importantly, would she see Aiden for what he truly was? 

Always Forever Maybe is an incredibly fast paced read. I sat down to read it one afternoon and didn't stop once until I was down. Anica does such an amazing job of reeling the reader in. Her writing has a casual, simple feel, but it's never too simple. She does a great job of capturing the voice of Betts while also doing a great job of establishing the story and capturing the emotions involved. I felt so many different things while reading this - happiness, sadness, anger... 

Betts is a complicated character, and I'd be the first to admit that sometimes it was difficult to stomach the choices she made. There were so many times I wish I could reach through the book and talk some sense into her. At the same time, however, I could understand the choices she made to a certain point. Sometimes it is easy to be wrapped up in the idea of new love, especially when it's first love. I know some have said that they couldn't believe how fast Betts fell in love with Aiden, but I could find it believable. I've seen friends become consumed by similar situations, seeing the good in people that they shouldn't. 

One of my favorite parts about this book was the friendship between Betts and Jo. It was real as well as relatable, and it also didn't hurt that I ADORED Jo. She was sassy and fierce, and I admired how she wouldn't give up on her friends, no mater how much they push her away. In some ways, I feel like the reader takes on a role similar to Jo in the book - seeing Aiden for what he is while Betts remains blinded by it all. 

Overall, Always Forever Maybe is a gripping book, perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen's Dreamland or readers who love contemporary books that take on harder issues. 

4 stars!! 

About the Author: 

Writer, storyteller, editrix. Author of the Anna, Banana chapter-book series, the picture book The Teacher's Pet, the forthcoming YA novel Always Forever Maybe, and more. Fan of dogs and ice cream.

Anica Mrose Rissi grew up on an island off the coast of Maine, where she read a lot of books and loved a lot of pets. She now tells and collects stories, makes up songs on her violin, and eats a lot of cheese with her friends in Princeton, New Jersey. As a former book editor turned full-time writer and storyteller, Anica has spoken with kids and adults across the country about all pieces of the writing process. Her essays have been published by The Writer magazine and the New York Times. She tweets about bookish things and her dog, Arugula, at @anicarissi, which is also her handle on Instagram. Find out more at http://anicarissi.com.

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