Recommended if you like magical realism and haunting childlike fairytales that are written for adults. This novel is original, unique, terrifying, enthralling and fascinating. It’s beautifully written and accurately portrays the innocence of childhood. This is about a boy who stumbles into another world and must deal with all the supernatural consequences of his fears.
The biggest drawback to this novel is the unusual pacing and the lack of explanations and answers. But if this doesn’t bother you, then don’t miss this magical, creepy and nostalgic story!
Recommended for those who like gritty contemporary novels, about a brave teen girl struggling to come back to life after being devastated by rape and the shame of being bullied for it. This story is heartbreaking and haunting. And the author paints a painfully realistic portrait of the inner torment a rape survivor suffers.
(My only complaint is that the timeline jumped around and was rather confusing.) This story is moving, well written, fast paced, shocking, and will probably upset you with its brutality. Also it’s an amazing portrayal of how rape will change a person, but that it doesn’t have to drown and destroy them.
The Grisha Trilogy; Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, Ruin and Rising: score 4.5
Recommended for those who like dark and high fantasy, about a kingdom in the midst of a civil war. This series is full of powerful magic, romance, love triangles, adventure, mythical creatures, mysteries, several memorable and lovable characters… and last but not least a frighteningly brutal, yet lovable villain!
In the first book, the main character is pretty annoying, but in book 2 & 3 she matures and grows as she comes to terms with herself and her power. The world building in this series creates an enchanting and fascinating Russian like culture. The plot itself is exciting, full of surprises and makes for a totally captivating and satisfyingly epic ride!
Recommended if you like fairytale retellings with a dark twist, steampunk, insta-love & an imaginative adventure about children trying to survive the end of the world. Recommended for younger audiences, who can relate to the teenage angst, (older readers may feel like the characters fall flat). Take away everything that makes Peter Pan whimsical & magical, then take all the main characters, insert them into a teenage dystopian series, and Everland is what you’ll get.
Recommended if you love fun, suspenseful murder mysteries, dangerous schemes, a brilliant, yet selfish & indifferent teenage detective, and her clever & oh so loyally devoted sidekick. Also If you love the show Sherlock, or pretty much anything Holmes related, then read on!
Recommended if you wonder things like, “What would it be like if Holmes and Watson were real?? And what if they had kids & grandkids? Or what would Holmes be like if he were female?” And if you’ve ever secretly shipped Holmes & Watson as soul mates, then you will enjoy this series!! Other than that, this mystery novel doesn’t really chart any new territory, it follows the same Sherlock formula one would expect, but it still packs a punch, with an exciting, & compelling YA plot, that pays plenty of homage to the original.
Recommended if you like bittersweet stories about breezy summer romances & the intoxication of first love. A wealthy and broken family (with a superiority complex) intriguing suspense, purple prose, and fragmented sentences. 😒
Starring four teenagers who’ve bonded together and are struggling to break free, while simultaneously staying young and innocent to the ways of he world.
This premise is promising, but it could have been so much better! Nevertheless it was still an enjoyable, & heartbreaking summer read.
Recommended for those who like English period pieces set in 1888. And for those who like revolutions, insta-romance, slow burn romance, steampunk, inventor rebels, a governess/spy, dual identities and magic verses machines. Though short, this book is a clever & fun ride.
Recommended if you like contemporary novels, with a dazzlingly lyrical prose, filled with dark & raw characters struggling to stay afloat, as abuse threatens to swallow them whole. This novel follows Cassie’s traumatic life as she leaves her mental institution & heads for college. The story-line was sometimes fast paced & other times dragged on slowly. It tried ambitiously to be an emotional & powerful story.
Also it’s rare to find a book like this, that perfectly captures what it’s like to feel uncomfortable in one’s own skin. And what it’s like for the mind to be crippled by fear & anxiety.
Recommended for those who like YA contemporaries and adorable slow burn romance novels about young teens struggling to define and discover who they are. This novel is a cute, likable, light hearted and relatable summer read perfect for younger audiences. Watching Emily go from a passive, tag-along sidekick who’s afraid to stand out, become a bold, brave, confident (and sometimes rule breaking) girl, is really what makes this novel so darling and entertaining.
Recommended to those who like time travel, pirate like sailors, cunning thieves, mystical lands, treasure, romance, maps, love triangles, mystery, & adventure! This novel is unique and enchanting, but the main character Nixie almost seems to have no personality. The character who really drives this story is her love interest who’s charming, clever & always saves the day! (He saves the book too.) The beginning half drags, while the 2nd half is exciting.
A charming read that while fails to fully captivate, does have some lovely hidden gems. In total, it’s somewhat underwhelming.
