Review: Watch Over Me

Watch Over Me
Watch Over Me by Nina LaCour
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved this tender and beautiful and subtle story. I love Nina LaCour’s quiet voice.

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Review: The Twist of a Knife

The Twist of a Knife
The Twist of a Knife by Anthony Horowitz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love and adore Anthony Horowitz and his creative and unique stories and characters. These stories that are so meta and the characters, so memorable, each and every one of them.

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Review: Skye Falling

Skye Falling
Skye Falling by Mia McKenzie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

i am not sure why i checked out this book 11 times before I finally read it. It was absolutely excellent. About connection and love and giving into both loving people and letting yourself be loved. Really wonderful.

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Review: You’d Be Home Now

You'd Be Home Now
You’d Be Home Now by Kathleen Glasgow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a painful book to read but it was also beautiful and real. It’s hard to create YA characters that feel like teenagers and I think this book does an excellent job of it. And it captures struggles around substance abuse, parenting, dating and so much more in a raw and truthful manner.

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Review: Things We Do in the Dark

Things We Do in the Dark
Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I like Hiller’s storytelling, even though it’s always very dark and there are surprises but not twists that assume the reader is stupid. This story was no exception. You know she’s not guilty but you don’t know what’s going on. And then there are surprises. And when you think you know them, there are new ones. I will read more of her 🙂

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Review: Autoboyography

Autoboyography
Autoboyography by Christina Lauren
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not my favorite of Christina Lauren books but I still enjoyed reading it. Just didn’t think they did the YA voice as well as they do in their adult books. But I loved the subject and I loved the way they handled it.

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Review: The Go-Giver Marriage: A Little Story about the Five Secrets to Lasting Love

The Go-Giver Marriage: A Little Story about the Five Secrets to Lasting Love
The Go-Giver Marriage: A Little Story about the Five Secrets to Lasting Love by John David Mann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Love this. We only get to control what we do and what we give and who we choose. So let’s focus on noticing the good and loving our people.

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Review: Marigold and Rose: A Fiction

Marigold and Rose: A Fiction
Marigold and Rose: A Fiction by Louise Glück
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this in one sitting of course. Unique and beautiful. not for everyone, but i enjoyed it.

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Review: The Shamshine Blind

The Shamshine Blind
The Shamshine Blind by Paz Pardo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

“Sunshine always made my mind and body feel more welcome in the world. Like there was plenty of space for everything.”

The premise of this story was fascinating to me: a blend of mystery and science fiction and alternate-history. I loved the idea of emotions being used as weapons. I loved so much about this story and I was intrigued about so many of the details around the alternate history. I liked the characters and the mystery was twisty and interesting in its own way.

Alas, I think it really could have benefited from a good editor. The pacing was off, for me. Sometimes too slow and other times it was hard to understand what was happening. That made it a slog for me to get through the story and made me want to skim large swaths.

I still really liked the premise and am glad I read it.

with gratitude to netgalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Maureen

Maureen
Maureen by Rachel Joyce
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved both of the Harold Fry novels so I was very excited to see a third one to sink my teeth into. This is a short novella and it’s completely focused on Harold’s wife, Maureen, who goes on a journey to visit Queenie’s garden. It’s tough to like Maureen because she’s so negative and stuck up and wound tight and judgmental.

But then, things unravel, as they are won’t to do and we see that like most people Maureen is broken inside and struggling and doing the best she can and has created layers of shells to protect herself from the world. Isn’t that what most of us do?

Another lovely story from Joyce, this one is more like a character study. Deeply affecting and soft and kind and real as all her stories and characters are.

with gratitude to netgalley and Random House for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: A Hard Day for a Hangover

A Hard Day for a Hangover
A Hard Day for a Hangover by Darynda Jones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When it comes to this series Darynda Jones can do no wrong in my book. I love these characters, I love the story and the crazy, funny messes they get themselves into overlayed with the serious storylines. More than anything else, I love love love the dialogue in this book. Inner and outer. I laughed out loud the whole time I was listening to this book. It’s perfect on audio! Absolutely adore it and I really hope there are more of them in the series.

with gratitude to netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Lavender House

Lavender House
Lavender House by Lev A.C. Rosen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It took me a while to read this book and I started it a few times before it stuck with me. But once I got into it, I really enjoyed it. I usually hate comparisons but this did feel a bit like Knives Out to me in that the story kept twisting and turning. But it wasn’t as funny 🙂

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