#FirstPageFriday - Mirror, Mirror

Woohoo, another retelling! This week's #FirstPageFriday is Mirror, Mirror by Jen Calonita, and the review will drop January 8th!

Wayward Son - Rainbow Rowell

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the cover:

"The story is supposed to be over.

Simon Snow did everything he was supposed to do. He beat the villain. He won the war. He even fell in love. Now comes the good part, right? Now comes the happily ever after…

So why can’t Simon Snow get off the couch?

What he needs, according to his best friend, is a change of scenery. He just needs to see himself in a new light…

That’s how Simon and Penny and Baz end up in a vintage convertible, tearing across the American West.

They find trouble, of course. (Dragons, vampires, skunk-headed things with shotguns.) And they get lost. They get so lost, they start to wonder whether they ever knew where they were headed in the first place…"

Oh, this book gave me feelings. So many feelings. I don't know how she does it, but the way that Rainbow Rowell manages to write serious things happening while still giving it a light-hearted feel is just...magical. It starts of by delving into Simon's struggle with depression and some pretty heart-wrenching issues with Simon and Baz's relationship, but things are serious without being super heavy. There were so many one-liners that made me literally laugh out loud, and just as many moments that had me tearing up. Penelope, Simon, and Baz were only starting to get to know each other as something other than mortal enemies when Carry On ended, and seeing them now, the way their relationships had changed...ugh. Like I said, so many feelings. I thought I loved Carry On, but I loved this so much more, and I even have a theory about what might happen in the next book. 😬😬😬

Speaking of...there's going to be a third book! Y'all! Waiting for this will be torture, but I ALREADY CANNOT WAIT. I need a release date, the sooner the better. I need a happy ending for Baz and Simon. And Bunce. And Agatha, even though she drives me bonkers. And friggin Shepard now! I love them all.

#FirstPageFriday - Ashes to Ashes

Once again, I'm doing a #FirstPageFriday featuring the last book in a trilogy after not reviewing the previous books. Such a slacker move! The review will encompass the whole trilogy, and be warned: there will be spoilers. Also be warned...this trilogy is ridiculous. I can't wait to finish it. And I can't wait for the review to drop on January 1st. First review of the year, woohoo!

The True Queen - Sarah Fine

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐

From the cover:

"Now that Ansa knows she is the destined queen of Kupari, she is desperate to find a permanent home for her people, the Kriegere, in the Kupari lands. But as the small band of warriors crosses into the foreign territory, Ansa loses her fragile grip on her newly-acquired—and violent—fire and ice magic and puts everyone, including her love Thyra, in danger.

Inside the walls of Kupari, Elli maintains the facade that she is the magical queen, with her secret—that she has no magic at all—on the brink of exposure every day. But as she tries to prepare the citizens to protect themselves from another invasion, unrest spreads as wielders like her beloved Oskar begin to lose control of their powers.

As Kupari grows increasingly unstable, with the land literally crumbling beneath their feet, and a common enemy once again threatening everything, these two young women on a collision course with destiny must find a way to save the realm and their people from total destruction.In this epic conclusion to the Impostor Queen series, Sarah Fine’s sweeping tale of two fierce leaders imbued with unimaginable power and called to unthinkable sacrifice finally answers the question: who has the strength to be the True Queen?"

OMFG you guys, I posted my First Page Friday for this book and said it was weird reviewing this one since I hadn't reviewed the first two of the series, and then I went back to look through my old reviews, and I did review the first one! HA! How did I forget? And why did I review the first and decide to review the third, but I never reviewed the second? (Honestly...because I read the second book on a plane flying home from Italy, and that flight destroyed me.) I don't want to leave the second book out, so I'm going to turn this into a two-fer.

So...The Cursed Queen is the second book in this series, and it follows Ansa, who was stolen from her people by the Krigere, a warrior clan, as a small child. After a run-in with the Kupari's Valtia during a battle on the water, Ansa is imbued with the Valtia's powers over fire and ice. The young warrior believes herself to have been cursed by the Kupari leader, and, fearful of witchcraft, she struggles to hide and control her new powers. Gradually, she learns the true meaning of her powers, and as she gains knowledge about her past and future, she struggles to determine who she can trust. This book kept me on the edge of my seat. Ansa's journey was stressful and terrifying at times, and while I was pretty sure I knew who she could trust, there were definitely times where I, like Ansa, was terrified that she couldn't trust anyone. I also felt her powerlessness in the moments where she couldn't figure out how to control the fire and ice, and whew...this book was equal parts stressful and awesome.

The True Queen picks up with Ansa preparing to follow Thyra and her people into Kupari, to remove the person she believes to be a false queen from her throne and create a new home for the Krigere. It alternates between Ansa and her journey and Elli, who is struggling to lead the Kupari people as the land around them revolts, causing terrible earthquakes and, worse, weakening magic-wielders and causing some to lose control of their magic. Ansa must avoid falling under control of the evil elders who were responsible for the deaths of the Valtias before her while also harnessing her seemingly uncontrollable powers before they destroy her, and Elli must find a way to hold her people together and stop the earth itself from shaking apart so she can unite with her Valtia and, together, lead their people. I enjoyed parts of the third book in this trilogy, but I didn't feel the story was as compelling or as strong as the first two books. Much of the first two-thirds or so felt repetitive. The first two books were action-packed, while this third installment primarily featured Ansa wandering in the woods at the Kupari border and Elli wringing her hands about how to stop the earthquakes. I wish things had moved more quickly in the beginning so we could have had more action in the end. Overall, though, it was a great trilogy, and I enjoyed it!

#FirstPageFriday - Wayward Son

If you read my review for Carry On, then I'm sure it comes as no surprise how EFFIN PUMPED I am for the sequel, Wayward Son. Look for the review on December 25th. Ho ho ho!

The Fowl Twins - Eoin Colfer

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the cover:

"Criminal genius runs in the family...
Myles and Beckett are eleven-year-old twins, but the two boys are wildly different. Beckett is blonde, messy and sulks whenever he has to wear clothes. Myles is fanatically neat, he has an IQ of 170, and he wears a fresh suit every day like his older brother, Artemis Fowl.

Perhaps you have heard of the Fowl family and their adventures?

This Fowl adventure is filled with the most unusual of individuals: an immortal duke, a miniature troll, a nunterrogator and a Police Specialist that's 42% elf. And of course, the Fowl twins - one a certified genius with a criminal leaning, and the other possessing an unusual talent that has not been fully explored... yet!

Here begins the second documented cycle of Fowl Adventures."

Aw yes, I missed that Artemis Fowl voice, and it is back! I was trying to figure out how to summarize the book, and I guess the tl;dr version is this: "Myles and Beckett, along with a toy troll and a Pixel, are kidnapped by a nun while being stalked by a 150-year-old man obsessed with living forever, then spend the rest of the book trying to get home." It sounds simplistic, but I promise...it's fantastic. There are references to the future sprinkled throughout that I enjoyed (and look forward to hopefully reading more about in future books!), and my one big wish is that there was like 25% more Beckett.  Beckett is my favorite. Myles, a close second, is even more snarky than his older brother, and I am here for it. The only character I was iffy about was Jeronima, mostly because her Spanglish was weird and sometimes...not Spanish? Granted, I am by no means fluent, but I'm pretty sure there was some French and Italian mixed in there, which was odd. Other than that, though, it's a great adventure and a fun read!

#FirstPageFriday - The True Queen

I feel a little weird about this one, since I didn't review the first two books in the trilogy, but this week's First Page Friday is the conclusion of Sarah Fine's trilogy, The True Queen. Come back December 18th for the review! I'll do my best to keep it spoiler-free for anyone who hasn't read the trilogy yet. 😬

Look Both Ways - Jason Reynolds

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the cover:

"This story was going to begin like all the best stories. With a school bus falling from the sky. But no one saw it happen. They were all too busy—

Talking about boogers.
Stealing pocket change.
Skateboarding.
Wiping out.
Braving up.
Executing complicated handshakes.
Planning an escape.
Making jokes.
Lotioning up.
Finding comfort.
But mostly, too busy walking home.

Jason Reynolds conjures ten tales (one per block) about what happens after the dismissal bell rings, and brilliantly weaves them into one wickedly funny, piercingly poignant look at the detours we face on the walk home, and in life."

Jason Reynolds knows how to tell a story that tugs at your heart strings! His characters and their friendships are pure in a way that only childhood friendships can be, and the stories from each block weave together so beautifully. Of course not everything is sunshine and rainbows, and the booger talk in the first chapter genuinely grossed me out, but the genuine love and affection in this book jumps off the page, and it made it impossible for me to not also fall in love with each of the characters. I am in awe that Jason Reynolds can generate characters who feel so alive in just one chapter. Honestly, if reading this book doesn't make you feel things, I'm not sure I want to know you.

#FirstPageFriday - The Fowl Twins

What's this? A #FirstPageFriday post on an actual Friday?! That's right! I learned my days of the week. Artemis Fowl fans, did you know there was a new book out about Artemis's younger siblings? I didn't, and I am so excited. Check back for a review December 11th, and enjoy the bonus doggo pic! She's staring down the unopened bag of pita chips next to me.

Carry On - Rainbow Rowell

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the cover:

"Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen.

That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right.

Half the time, Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here — it's their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up.

Carry On - The Rise and Fall of Simon Snow is a ghost story, a love story and a mystery. It has just as much kissing and talking as you'd expect from a Rainbow Rowell story - but far, far more monsters."

For those of you who have not read Fangirl, it goes hand-in-hand with this book (and is one of my favorite books of all time, but you know...this isn't a Fangirl review.). Fangirl is about fan fiction writer, Cath, who is a diehard fan of the Simon Snow series and...you ready for this?...wrote the fanfic that is Carry On. I mean, look, Rainbow Rowell says it shouldn't be considered a work of fanfic by Cath, but let's be real...that's what it is. And it's also pretty clearly inspired by Harry Potter, which makes this all so meta and cool.

Anyway. Let's talk about the book itself. For starters, I'm going to share a quote from right after Simon admits to Baz that he tries not to think about anything, because thinking about things you can't have or help is too painful.

"You're the most powerful magician alive - who's ever lived, probably. You can have anything you want. How is it pointless for you to think about that?"

Snow pushes up on both elbows and lets his head fall in my direction. "Because it doesn't matter. In the end, I just do what's expected of me. When the Humdrum comes after me, I fight him. When he sends dragons, I kill them. When you trick me into meeting a chimera, I go off. I don't get to choose or plan. I just take it as it comes. And someday, something will catch me unawares or be too big to fight, but I'll fight anyway. I'll fight until I can't anymore - what is there to think about?" 

This book is so funny, and Simon is such a physical, act first and think later character that it can be easy to forget the weight and expectations that he carries around with him and start to believe that he really does go through life without thinking about anything going on. Really, Simon is just a kid who had impossible expectations placed on him at a young age and only wants to live a normal life. I want to squeeze him and tell him everything will be ok.

Another quote, this one from Baz after he and Simon have teamed up to solve their mystery.

"I didn't expect to mend any fences with all this...co-operating. I didn't expect to convince or convert Snow. But I thought we were making progress. Like, maybe when this was all over, he and I would still be standing on either side of the trench, but we wouldn't be spitting at each other. We wouldn't be spoiling for the fight. I know Simon and I will always be enemies...But I thought maybe we'd get to a point where we didn't want to be."

Baz is so cool and unruffled on the surface, and he seems not to feel or care about anything, but there is so much going on under the surface. And Rowell is so great at including little details throughout the book that give readers insight into who here characters are. I love it. At first blush, this book seems straightforward, fun, maybe a little lighthearted...but it's so much deeper than that. It's really a beautiful book!

#FirstPageFriday - Look Both Ways

Woohoo, another First Page Friday! This one has been on my list for a loooooong time, so I can't wait to get reading! I give you...Look Both Ways by the incomparable Jason Reynolds. Check back for a review December 4th!

Conceal, Don't Feel - Jen Calonita

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the cover:

"What if Anna and Elsa never knew each other?

When a magical accident erases Anna and Elsa's memories not only of magic, but of each other the sisters are separated for protection. But when Elsa unexpectedly finds herself as a young queen mysterious magic begins to happen and questions of her past start to form. Will the sisters ever be reunited?"

Conceal, Don't Feel, or, Give Women Real Fucking Pockets! There was a pivotal letter involved in this book, and no one could find out what was written in it because the princesses kept dropping it. Usually when I'm planning to review a book I try to take notes as I read, but this one was a fairly quick read so I didn't. Literally my only note was about Anna and Elsa, and all women for that matter, needing better pockets. My kingdom (all of Arendelle!) for a pocket that can hold a piece of paper!

Pocket issues aside, this book is a part of the Twisted Tale series, which I greatly enjoy. It was an interesting spin on Frozen, and I kind of loved that even with such a big shift (an entire person being deleted not just from her sister's life, but from an entire kingdom's memory is...wow, quite a bit of troll magic!), the spirit and theme of the book remained remarkably similar to the movie. Hans is still a complete sociopath, Kristoff and Sven remain the perfect duo, Anna continues to be a delightful badass, and it was great fun revisiting Arendelle in this alternate reality.

#FirstPageFriday - Carry On

Whew, so many books! I might need to do these every other week instead of every week...eesh! But for now, this week's First Page Friday is Carry On by Rainbow Rowell.

The Four Tendencies - Gretchen Rubin

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the cover:

"During her multibook investigation into understanding human nature, Gretchen Rubin realized that by asking the seemingly dry question "How do I respond to expectations?" we gain explosive self-knowledge. She discovered that based on their answer, people fit into Four Tendencies: Upholders, Questioners, Obligers, and Rebels. Our Tendency shapes every aspect of our behavior, so using this framework allows us to make better decisions, meet deadlines, suffer less stress, and engage more effectively.

More than 600,000 people have taken her online quiz, and managers, doctors, teachers, spouses, and parents already use the framework to help people make significant, lasting change.

The Four Tendencies hold practical answers if you've ever thought...

· People can rely on me, but I can't rely on myself.
· How can I help someone to follow good advice?
· People say I ask too many questions.
· How do I work with someone who refuses to do what I ask or who keeps telling me what to do?

With sharp insight, compelling research, and hilarious examples, The Four Tendencies will help you get happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative. It's far easier to succeed when you know what works for you."

I was introduced to this book and the concept of the "four tendencies" in a training about bullet journaling and productivity, and although I am not usually a non-fiction person, I was intrigued. The tendencies focus on why we do or don't act, and delving into each tendency to identify what keeps them motivated, what doesn't, and how to adapt based on individual tendencies was really intriguing. Knowing how people you interact with on the daily are motivated and respond to expectations can be eye-opening, and it's incredibly helpful to get a clearer understanding of how to better work together and keep each other motivated. I highly recommend checking out this book or, at the very least, taking Gretchen Rubin's quiz at https://quiz.gretchenrubin.com/. For anyone curious, I am an obliger (with some upholder tendencies), and that surprises me not at all. Which tendency are you? Is it what you expected, or did it surprise you?

#FirstPageFriday - Conceal, Don't Feel

Three things I love? Disney, Fractured Fairytales, and Frozen. (Man, if only Disney started with an F...a fourth thing I love is alliteration.) Consequently, this weeks First Page Friday is one I've been looking forward to! I give you...

Conceal, Don't Feel by Jen Calonita

I've read all but one of the Twisted Tale books that have been published so far and really enjoyed them, so I'm looking forward to reviewing this one! Tune in a week from Wednesday, November 20th, to see how it goes!

Crown of Feathers - Nicki Pau Preto

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the cover:

"I had a sister, once…

In a world ruled by fierce warrior queens, a grand empire was built upon the backs of Phoenix Riders—legendary heroes who soared through the sky on wings of fire—until a war between two sisters ripped it all apart.

I promised her the throne would not come between us.

Sixteen years later, Veronyka is a war orphan who dreams of becoming a Phoenix Rider from the stories of old. After a shocking betrayal from her controlling sister, Veronyka strikes out alone to find the Riders—even if that means disguising herself as a boy to join their ranks.

But it is a fact of life that one must kill or be killed. Rule or be ruled.

Just as Veronyka finally feels like she belongs, her sister turns up and reveals a tangled web of lies between them that will change everything. And meanwhile, the new empire has learned of the Riders’ return and intends to destroy them once and for all.

Sometimes the title of queen is given. Sometimes it must be taken.

Crown of Feathers is an epic fantasy about love’s incredible power to save—or to destroy. Interspersed throughout is the story of Avalkyra Ashfire, the last Rider queen, who would rather see her empire burn than fall into her sister’s hands."

Y'ALL. So full disclosure, this book is long, and I am not finished. I'm about two-thirds of the way through, and while I got impatient at first for the story to really get going, I think it is fabulous. I was hooked from the beginning, both by the premise (badass warriors who fight on the backs of Phoenixes, primarily female warriors? What's not to love!) and by the relationship between Veronyka and Val. Is Val really as unfeeling as she seems? Or does she actually love and care for Veronyka? Are the moments of vulnerability she shows, like when she cries during the phoenix hatching at the start of the book, sincere? Or for show? I MUST KNOW! Another thing I love about it is the snippets at the beginning of every chapter and the pages included at the end of some chapters revealing the story of  Avalkyra Ashfire and Pheronia bit by bit. Fantastic.

Nicki Pau Preto writes so beautifully and evocatively, you can't read it without seeing and feeling everything that the characters do. Take this gorgeous description of Veronyka's bond with her Phoenix, for instance:

"It wasn't love--such a small word couldn't begin to encompass the feelings of respect and devotion, of trust and codependence that existed between human and beast. The bond was a unity that was written in the stars, older than the empire and the valley and the mountains, older than the gods, a connection that not even death could shake. Endless, limitless, and somehow timeless, Veronyka's fate was tied to this creature, and they would always be together."

Chills. Just beautiful.

Do you need more? Let's talk about the rich world-building and character development. So many amazing details, like the custom among Veronyka's people of keeping their hair in braids and weaving into them tokens of like experiences, like a shell from the beach Veronyka swam to after she first learned how.  And the strong personalities of each character (Kade is my dude, from the first time he talks to Sev he had my heart). Even characters who (at this point, at least) are side characters have a fully formed, developed history. That so much detail is worked in about characters you only catch glimpses of blows my mind.

I would love to continue raving about this empowering, thrilling story, but I presented for the first time ever at a professional conference today, then drove several hours home, and it is now almost an hour past my bedtime, so if I want to sneak in a few chapters before I pass out, I need to sign off and head upstairs. Read this book, though, friends! Especially if you're a fan of strong female characters, because Veronyka will inspire you. Read it! And then comment and tell me what you think.

Coming Soon...Crown of Feathers, the review

Hey remember when I said I was going to start reviewing my #FirstPageFriday books on Wednesdays? Well...I'm in another city for a conference, and I have my book. I have my notes. I have my laptop. What I don't have? A charger for my laptop's dead battery! So...i get home tomorrow evening, and with any luck I'll be able to post a review then! Keep an eye out!

#FirstPageFriday - The Four Tendencies

HOLD THE PHONE, Dewey reads more than just YA fiction?! That's right! This week's First Page Friday is The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin. Stay tuned to find out what personality profile I have!

#FirstPageFriday - Crown of Feathers

Welcome to my first #FirstPageFriday blog post! The goal is to start a new book every Friday and then later post a review for that book. This week will be funky, since I'm just getting started, but the plan (hopefully, maybe?) is to post a new first page on Friday, then a review of the previous first page book on Wednesday. We'll see how long it takes me to read this first one!

Anyway, without further ado, I give you Crown of Feathers by Nicki Pau Preto!

Exit, Pursued by a Bear - E.K. Johnston

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the cover:

"Hermione Winters is captain of her cheerleading team, and in tiny Palermo Heights, this doesn’t mean what you think it means. At PHHS, the cheerleaders don't cheer for the sports teams; they are the sports team—the pride and joy of a tiny town. The team's summer training camp is Hermione's last and marks the beginning of the end of… she’s not sure what. She does know this season could make her a legend. But during a camp party, someone slips something in her drink. And it all goes black.

In every class, there's a star cheerleader and a pariah pregnant girl. They're never supposed to be the same person. Hermione struggles to regain the control she's always had and faces a wrenching decision about how to move on. The assault wasn't the beginning of Hermione Winter's story and she's not going to let it be the end. She won’t be anyone’s cautionary tale."

I'm going to pretend this book description doesn't exist, because it doesn't do the book justice. I feel like on paper, yes, it describes what happens, but there's something nuanced and emotional that is missing, and I just...read the book, ok?

Exit, Pursued by a Bear starts off with Hermione and the rest of her cheerleading team pulling in to summer training camp for her last year at Palermo Heights High School. She and her best friend, Polly, have been voted co-captains, and they have high hopes and big plans for their squad. Then some asshole drugs and rapes her during a camp party, and she wakes up in the hospital with no memory of what happened beyond stumbling away from the party looking for a trash can to throw her empty cup away in. This moment marks a strange shift in her life. Hermione was raped, yes, and she has to deal with the fallout--finding out she's pregnant, getting an abortion, the way everyone walks on eggshells around her--but with the gap in her memory, the assault also doesn't feel like something that happened to her, and she has to work through that as well.

This is not how Hermione planned on starting her senior year, but it's where she is, and with a virtual army of support at her side in Polly, her parents, and her cheerleading team, she begins to work her way through what happened and learn how to navigate her altered life. There are ups and downs, stumbling blocks and moments of clarity, and through it all that support is a lifeline that keeps her going and makes her strong. That support is also what makes this book what it is: an emotional, powerful handbook for what should happen anytime someone comes forward about sexual assault. 

While the nature of this book made it tough to read at times and I definitely cried plenty, I found myself thinking often as I read of the experience I had with Asking for It by Louise O'Neill and juxtaposing Hermione's experience with Emma's. The sad truth is that people who come forward about assault tend to have experiences closer to Emma's (horrible, for those who have not read Asking for It) than to Hermione's. It gave me hope seeing Polly fiercely defend her friend, seeing her squad unite in looking out for her, and watching as Hermione found people in her corner whom she never expected to be there. Was it neater and less realistic than this experience would probably actually be? Sure. But that's what makes it such an excellent road map for how to be supportive to loved ones after an assault. Read this book. Share it with the people in your life, especially the men. Let's all learn how to be allies.

Permanent Record - Mary H.K. Choi

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the cover:

"After a year of college, Pablo is working at his local twenty-four-hour deli, selling overpriced snacks to brownstone yuppies. He’s dodging calls from the student loan office and he has no idea what his next move is.

Leanna Smart’s life so far has been nothing but success. Age eight: Disney Mouseketeer; Age fifteen: first #1 single on the US pop chart; Age seventeen, *tenth* #1 single; and now, at age nineteen…life is a queasy blur of private planes, weird hotel rooms, and strangers asking for selfies on the street.

When Leanna and Pab randomly meet at 4:00 a.m. in the middle of a snowstorm in Brooklyn, they both know they can’t be together forever. So, they keep things on the down-low and off Instagram for as long as they can. But it takes about three seconds before the world finds out…"

Pre-read thoughts: I loved Emergency Contact so much that, although after I read it I promised a review would come after a second read, I have no read it four times and still can't find the words to explain how beautiful and perfect it is, so I never delivered on that review promise. All of this to say...I was pretty thrilled to get an ARC of Mary H.K. Choi's second book. My fingers are crossed that I love it as much as even more than I loved Emergency Contact.

Alright. I loved this book, but I do have to clarify one thing before we get into things. If you read Emergency Contact and were expecting another dual-narrator story, delete that preconceived notion from your head. Kinda seems from the description like we'll be rotating back and forth between Pablo and Leanna, but nope. It's all Pab. Nothing wrong with that, just putting it out there for anyone who shared my expectations.

Now, on to actual review-y things! The cover blurb makes it sound like Pablo and Leanna start dating, their spot gets blown, and then the book is about them navigating the fallout. Not the case, and honestly I think what actually happens is so much better than what I expected based on the description. Pablo is working nights at a bodega health food store after taking out a bunch of student loans, signing up for multiple credit cards, and then flunking out of NYU. In the middle of what promised to be an uneventful shift, Leanna stumbles in, severely under-dressed for the sub-zero weather and looking for a middle-of-the-night snowstorm snack. The two fall into an easy exchange, and shortly after realizing that he kind of has a thing for this mysterious, clearly half-frozen stranger, he also realizes that holy shit...she's a super famous pop star. And there goes that starry-eyed dream.

Until she comes back. It's obvious that they have a connection, but it's also immediately apparent that the two lead very different lives. Leanna jets from place to place, chauffeured in private cars, flying in private plans, to manage her vast media empire. Pablo is actively dodging calls from collection agencies and refuses to open his mail to avoid confronting the massive mountain of debt he is being buried under. Leanna knows exactly what she wants from life and is hustling to get it. Pablo hesitates to make firm plans with his little brother, let alone come up with a longterm plan for his life. Can their burgeoning relationship survive their differences? And is this new relationship even what Pablo should focus on when, if it isn't to answer a phone call or respond to a text from Lee, he can't even find a reason to get out of bed most mornings?

At first blush, this seems like a sweet doomed-romance novel about an A-lister and a kid just scraping by, which I was into because in case it wasn't clear, I love Mary H.K. Choi. If she hadn't written this, though, being honest? I probably would have passed this up. Been there, done that. Nothing new. And that's why I had to point out earlier that this book is so much better than the description makes it sound! There's so much happening here. It isn't just Pablo falling in deep with Lee and trying to avoid public scrutiny, it's Pablo struggling to manage his relationships with his roommates, his parents, and his younger brother. Drowning in the expectations of others while feeling too frozen and buried to do anything or even begin to evaluate his own expectations. It's such a frank look at the weight and expectations put on young people, on the massive hole you can wake up one day and find yourself dug into because you were expected to make all these huge decisions and you didn't know what to do. This review is getting wordy as hell, but I swear it isn't enough to convey my love of this book and the perfection Mary Choi has created. I honestly don't know how she managed to build so many vibrant characters up in so short a time, but if you don't immediately fall in love with Rain, Tice, the Kims, and everyone else I don't know what's wrong with you. Permanent Record is perfection, from the first page to the last.

The Girl the Sea Gave Back - Adrienne Young

My rating: ⭐⭐

From the cover:

"For as long as she can remember, Tova has lived among the Svell, the people who found her washed ashore as a child and use her for her gift as a Truthtongue. Her own home and clan are long-faded memories, but the sacred symbols and staves inked over every inch of her skin mark her as one who can cast the rune stones and see into the future. She has found a fragile place among those who fear her, but when two clans to the east bury their age-old blood feud and join together as one, her world is dangerously close to collapse.

For the first time in generations, the leaders of the Svell are divided. Should they maintain peace or go to war with the allied clans to protect their newfound power? And when their chieftain looks to Tova to cast the stones, she sets into motion a series of events that will not only change the landscape of the mainland forever but will give her something she believed she could never have again—a home. "

This is a companion novel to Sky in the Deep, which I loved, so when I saw that there would be a second novel set in Eelyn's world, I was instantly on board. Give me all the Viking stuff, the fierce women, the intricate characters. Where could you go wrong?

This cover gives me heart eyes.

Tova, a Truthtongue and member of the mysterious Kyrr clan, dies as a child and her people set her adrift on a funeral boat. The boat drifts, half-burned, to the shores of the Svell, where their Tala, the interpreter of their God's will, finds Tova...alive. The Svell, believing her presence to be an ill omen, nevertheless unwillingly agree to let her stay in the village as their Truthtongue, casting the stones and predicting the future for them. Everyone in the village fears her, though, and she lives among them, but apart, always treated as Other, with some members of the clan even making attempts to kill her. Years later, pressed to cast the stones after an attack by the Svell on a rival clan, Tova unwittingly sets in motion a bloody series of events that, despite her gift to see the path of fate, she may be powerless to stop.

Halvard, a young member of the Nadhir clan who is being groomed as the future village leader, doesn't know what he is getting his people into when he talks their current leader into meeting with the Svell after a brutal attack by the rival clan on one of their villages. Bekan, the Svell leader, promises reparations, but what happens instead is a bloodbath, with only Halvard left alive. He escapes, but barely, and with their village leader dead he must make it back to his village in time to take on the mantle of leadership, warn his people that a massive army of Svell is coming to destroy them all, and find a way to save his clan. The mysterious Kyrr woman he spotted at the ill-fated meeting with the Svell keeps appearing to him in visions, but what does her presence mean? Is she, along with her clan, working with the Svell? Or will she be an ally in the coming war?

As noted, this book had me pumped. Everything about it sounds awesome, and in fairness, a couple parts of it were! Adrienne Young can write a great battle scene. The majority, unfortunately, was a struggle to get through. The writing is incredibly repetitive: Tova cast the stones and the Svell reacted in a way she didn't expect! She wishes she could take it back, but now there is blood on her hands. Halvard isn't sure if he can lead his people, but now he has to or his entire clan will be wiped out, their blood on his hands. Wait, did you forget? Tova cast the stones and the Svell reacted in a way she didn't expect! She wishes she could take it back, but now there is blood on her hands. Halvard isn't sure if he can lead his people, but now he has to or his entire clan will be wiped out, their blood on his hands. Hold on, I'm not sure it was clear enough. Tova cast the stones and the Svell reacted in a way she didn't expect! She wishes she could take it back, but now there is blood on her hands. Halvard isn't sure if he can lead his people, but now he has to or his entire clan will be wiped out, their blood on his hands.

I persevered, because it was obvious from pretty early on that Tova and Halvard will end up together, and I am always here for a good romance. Sadly, the fated-ness of their relationship is incredibly heavy-handed, and although for 90% of the book they are apart, they are still, inexplicably, drawn to each other. Even after they join forces, you wouldn't need more than ten fingers to count the number of sentences they exchange. Literally, it goes from Halvard trying to kill her in their first interaction to, like three conversations later, him kissing her and the two being destined for each other? I wish their relationship had been developed in a better way than their eyes meeting across a soon-to-be-bloodsoaked forest and both of them feeling an undeniable connection. That's not exciting for anyone.

Ultimately, it felt like there wasn't enough to this story and instead of developing more, what little there was ended up rehashed again and again. It breaks my heart to say this, but The Girl the Sea Gave Back is best skipped. If you want some rad viking action with badass lady warriors, go back and read Sky in the Deep again. Maybe catch this one when they make it into a movie.

The Field Guide to the North American Teenager - Ben Philippe

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the cover:

"Norris Kaplan is clever, cynical, and quite possibly too smart for his own good. A black French Canadian, he knows from watching American sitcoms that those three things don’t bode well when you are moving to Austin, Texas. Plunked into a new high school and sweating a ridiculous amount from the oppressive Texas heat, Norris finds himself cataloging everyone he meets: the Cheerleaders, the Jocks, the Loners, and even the Manic Pixie Dream Girl. Making a ton of friends has never been a priority for him, and this way he can at least amuse himself until it’s time to go back to Canada, where he belongs.

Yet, against all odds, those labels soon become actual people to Norris. Be it loner Liam, who makes it his mission to befriend Norris, or Madison the beta cheerleader, who is so nice that it has to be a trap. Not to mention Aarti the Manic Pixie Dream Girl, who might, in fact, be a real love interest in the making. He even starts playing actual hockey with these Texans.

But the night of the prom, Norris screws everything up royally. As he tries to pick up the pieces, he realizes it might be time to stop hiding behind his snarky opinions and start living his life—along with the people who have found their way into his heart."

I picked this book up after a friend recommended it, and I'm glad she suggested I read it, both because it's a great book and because I might have given up on it otherwise. Weird dichotomy, right? Yeah, well...I'm a weird person. In fairness, I wouldn't say I considered giving up on it because of any true flaws on the book's part. It was more because it's summer, I'm a children's librarian, and as such I have been S O B U S Y S O T I R E D O M G FUCK. 

When I have time I like to treat reading like bingewatching a show on Netflix...coffee, snacks, cozy spot on the couch, read all day. That's my jam. When you don't have a full day to devote to reading, you have to resort to stealing moments to read a chapter here and a chapter there, and when that happens...sometimes it's harder to get into a new book. Like this one. Because look...let's just say it...

Norris Kaplan is not a likable character! He's hella snarky, judgmental, and he bases way more of his first impressions of people on high school movie stereotypes than he should. Perhaps in his head he is the misunderstood new kid loner, but in real life...dude is kind of a bully. BUT! This is why for certain books having the time for a binge read is important. Because...

Much like IRL teenagers, Norris grows and changes! It has been a while since I graduated high school, but this book felt so true to my teenage experience. I've been there, Norris. I too spent a lot of my high school years feeling like a misunderstood outsider, being so overly prepared for how other people might react to me that I was too ready with the snarky quips and ended up coming off as a dick because I was so afraid that people were going to be horrible to me that I was horrible to them first. It isn't easy being the new person, the different person, the person who doesn't already have a friend group, and while it was tough at first adjusting to Norris's inner (and often outer) critiques, he learns a lot of lessons throughout the course of the book and comes out of it a better person. As a bonus, the closer I got to the end the more nervous I was that it would wrap up superduper neatly and end too perfectly, but I was pleasantly surprised. This might be one of my favorite endings to a book ever.

I do have one question after finishing reading this book, and it is this: Do the teens of today watch movies like The Mighty Ducks? Don't get me wrong, they should. It may just be nostalgia speaking, but the movies of my childhood were wonderful. That said...do they?

Amber & Dusk - Lyra Selene

My rating: ⭐⭐

From the cover:

"Sylvie has always known she deserves more. Out in the permanent twilight of the Dusklands, her guardians called her power to create illusions a curse. But Sylvie knows it gives her a place in Coeur d'Or, the palais of the Amber Empress and her highborn legacies. 

So Sylvie sets off toward the Amber City, a glittering jewel under a sun that never sets, to take what is hers.

But her hope for a better life is quickly dimmed. The empress invites her in only as part of a wicked wager among her powerful courtiers. Sylvie must assume a new name, Mirage, and begin to navigate secretive social circles and deadly games of intrigue in order to claim her spot. Soon it becomes apparent that nothing is as it appears and no one, including her cruel yet captivating sponsor, Sunder, will answer her questions. As Mirage strives to assume what should be her rightful place, she'll have to consider whether it is worth the price she must pay."

Amber & Dusk reads like an outline of major plot points - lots of THINGS happen, but there isn't much in between to develop characters, build up to actions, or connect the reader to what is going on. Sylvie's journey starts off in a caravan, traveling from the Dusklands to Coeur d'Or because she deserves to be there! But...why? She has a legacy, whatever that means, but why does that lead to such a strong sense of entitlement? 

After Sylvie makes it to Coeur d'Or, learns that life at the palais is nothing like she expected, and becomes Mirage her sense of entitlement holds strong. We get sporadic scenes of her training with her sponsors, which basically consists of her getting angry at them and not actually putting in the work she needs to to strengthen her legacy, interspersed with weird attempted-witty repartee between her and Sunder, and every couple of chapters something new and major happens out of nowhere, keeping the reader ping-ponging back and forth between weird, apropos of nothing, new developments. 

Ultimately, the Big Revelation toward the end of the book was obvious from the first couple of chapters, the final showdown was lackluster, and at the end of the day while there are some great individual scenes in this book, as a whole it didn't work for me. Like Mirage's power, this book was mostly flash, not a lot of substance. 

I'm Not Dying with You Tonight - Gilly Segal and Kimberly Jones

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the Cover:

"Lena and Campbell aren't friends.

Lena has her killer style, her awesome boyfriend, and a plan. She knows she's going to make it big. Campbell, on the other hand, is just trying to keep her head down and get through the year at her new school.

When both girls attend the Friday-night football game, what neither expects is for everything to descend into sudden mass chaos. Chaos born from violence and hate. Chaos that unexpectedly throws them together.

They aren't friends. They hardly understand the other's point of view. But none of that matters when the city is up in flames, and they only have each other to rely on if they're going to survive the night."

💭💭💭

This book clocks in at 272 of some of the fastest pages I have ever read. It alternates between two voices. Campbell is new to McPherson High School, doesn't know anyone, and still isn't sure what she's doing here or how she got roped into helping run the concession stand at this weekend's football game. Lena, stylish and assertive, grew up here and knows how to handle herself when shit goes down...or at least, she thinks she does. Neither are expecting to find themselves in the middle of the fight that breaks out at halftime, but the riot that ensues forces them to band together to escape the school unscathed, and escaping the school is only the beginning. Their night is about to take a turn from bad to much, much worse. These two young women may live in the same city, but it's clear from their first interaction that they come from different worlds. With only each other to rely on, will they be able to work together and keep the silent promise they've made each other? 

The pace of this book pulls the reader in from the first chapter, taking you along as Lena and Campbell escape the concession stand, trying to find their way home, and it will have you on the edge of your seat until the last pages. The characters all felt like people I could have gone to school with in high school, and the emotions Lena and Campbell experience leap off the page. The differences in Lena and Campbell's experiences also provide a frank look at racism in the United States. This book is a conversation starter, and it's a conversation that needs to be had.

Two Can Keep a Secret - Karen McManus

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the cover:

"Echo Ridge is small-town America. Ellery's never been there, but she's heard all about it. Her aunt went missing there at age seventeen. And only five years ago, a homecoming queen put the town on the map when she was killed. Now Ellery has to move there to live with a grandmother she barely knows.

The town is picture-perfect, but it's hiding secrets. And before school even begins for Ellery, someone's declared open season on homecoming, promising to make it as dangerous as it was five years ago. Then, almost as if to prove it, another girl goes missing.

Ellery knows all about secrets. Her mother has them; her grandmother does too. And the longer she's in Echo Ridge, the clearer it becomes that everyone there is hiding something. The thing is, secrets are dangerous--and most people aren't good at keeping them. Which is why in Echo Ridge, it's safest to keep your secrets to yourself."

💭💭💭

After their mom lands herself in rehab, Ellery and her twin brother, Ezra, move away from California to live with their grandma in Echo Ridge, a small town in Vermont. Echo Ridge is a far cry from what they're used to, but while Echo Ridge may seem like a sleepy little town on the surface, it has a dark past. The twins' aunt went missing her senior year in high school and was never found, and just five years ago the town's homecoming queen was strangled to death at the aptly named local theme park, Murderland. Ellery, obsessed with True Crime and unsolved mysteries, is wary of Echo Ridge from the moment they arrive, and for good reason when ominous threats begin to appear, suggesting that whomever murdered Lacey Kilduff might be back for more. Ellery is determined to get to the bottom of the unsolved mystery of Echo Ridge's missing girls, but will her digging into the town's secrets stir up more trouble than she is prepared to handle? 

WHEW, my friends, Karen McManus does not mess around! I started reading this book in the early afternoon yesterday with every intention of taking it slow...nope. Stayed up past my bedtime to finish it because it was impossible to put down. I started off with every intention to take notes as I read and document my theories, but I pretty much got "it's always the boyfriend" a couple of chapters in and then could not stop reading long enough to write anything else down. This book is fucking intense, and it will leave you chilled to the bone, right down to the last chapter.

Unbroken: 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens - Marieke Nijkamp

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the cover:

"This anthology explores disability in fictional tales told from the viewpoint of disabled characters, written by disabled creators. With stories in various genres about first loves, friendship, war, travel, and more, Unbroken will offer today's teen readers a glimpse into the lives of disabled people in the past, present, and future.

The contributing authors are awardwinners, bestsellers, and newcomers including Kody Keplinger, Kristine Wyllys, Francisco X. Stork, William Alexander, Corinne Duyvis, Marieke Nijkamp, Dhonielle Clayton, Heidi Heilig, Katherine Locke, Karuna Riazi, Kayla Whaley, Keah Brown, and Fox Benwell. Each author identifies as disabled along a physical, mental, or neurodiverse axis―and their characters reflect this diversity."

💭💭💭

This anthology is amazing! So many different voices, writing styles, and characters in one book did my little book nerd heart good. It's hard to do justice to a review of an anthology with one umbrella review, so I'm going to do my best to review each short story below. Overall, though...wonderful.

The Long Road by Heidi Heilig

Lihua is a young woman from Xi'an who once had a garden, an engagement, and a life. Now, seeking treatment for an illness referred to as her "bad fate," she finds herself riding through the desert with her parents, hoping to survive the dunes of the Takla Makan, the Place of No Return, and find a cure in Persia. The depth to the characters and the world they live in that Heidi developed in such a short story is a lovely way to start off this anthology. I loved the young woman Lihua meets at their stop along the road and the conversation the two share, highlighting their similar fates and vastly different outlooks on life. 5 stars.

Britt and the Bike God by Kody Keplinger

Britt, like her dad, has loved cycling since she was a child. After she started to lose her sight, her dad started a cycling club and found a tandem racing bike so Britt could still enjoy riding. Another member of the club always rides with her as captain, and she worries that those who are assigned to captain for her, especially her crush Andre, see her as a burden. When she learns that night before a big ride that Andre will be captaining for her, this worry will kick into overdrive, feeding every insecurity Britt has tried to suppress since losing her sight. This story was sweet and light, and I loved it. 5 stars. 

The Leap and the Fall by Kayla Whaley

Eloise and her best friend, Gemma, go exploring and find an abandoned carnival in the middle of the woods. Something about the place unsettles Eloise, but she follows Gemma through the dilapidated grounds...is it just the lingering air of disuse and decay setting Eloise on edge? Or is there more to the fairgrounds than meets the eye? This one might have been my favorite. 5 stars, hands down.

Per Aspera ad Astra by Katherine Locke

Lizzie is a genius coder and landed an internship with Dr. Shaw, an electromagnetic physicist assigned to develop a defense system for their planet. Lizzie helps develop a powerful shield to keep Lo safe, but her debilitating anxiety becomes too much, ultimately forcing her into a leave of absence. When Lo is attacked and her shield overpowered, will Lizzie be able to battle her anxiety and do what she can to help protect her planet and her family? As a person with anxiety, this one really hit home for me, and I felt for Lizzie and her struggle with knowing that everyone around her thought she was exaggerating or lying about the things she was experiencing. 5 stars.

Found Objects by William Alexander

A drama student with a powerful gift inadvertently leaves too much of their latest character on the stage, and a ghostly King Richard III lingers after the performance concludes. This one was interesting, but through no fault of its own was not my cup of tea. 4 stars.

Plus One by Karuna Riazi

Hafsah has the chance to go on a pilgrimage, but will her plus one, dubbed "It," weigh her down and prevent her from forming a deeper connection with her beliefs? I wasn't into this one at first, but I liked it more the further I read, and by the end I really enjoyed it. 4 stars.

The Day the Dragon Came by Marieke Nijkamp

Alix is a bonded servant to a wealthy member of the weaver district who dreams of escaping her bond and her city. Delfin is an apprentice thrilled to be a part of the construction of the city's newest tower. After the two meet, will waiting be enough? Or will Alix still do anything she can to escape her servitude and explore more of the world? This one...it's Marieke Nijkamp, guys, it was amazing, of course. 5 stars.

Captain, My Captain by Francisco X. Stork

Alberto is a teenage undocumented immigrant in the United States, living with his sister, her boyfriend, and their baby. Alberto works as a painter for his sister's boyfriend, making half what the other painters on their crew do and sending most of what he earns back to his family in Mexico. This won't be the case much longer, though, if Captain America has anything to say about it. Cap started talking to Alberto, two months ago, whispering to him that he deserved a better life and explaining to him how to get it...will Alberto listen, abandoning his sister and her baby to life with abusive Wayne? This story really tugged at my heart, and I felt Alberto's powerlessness and uncertainty. 5 stars.

Dear Nora James, You Know Nothing About Love by Dhonielle Clayton

Nora does not date. Ever. But she does write a regular column in the school newspaper called "Madame Amour," dispensing relationship advice to her fellow students. When her best friend convinces her to go on a double date with Marcus, a guy who has been crushing on her for a long time, she realizes that romantic comedies and novels aren't enough to teach her everything about relationships. Listen, guys...Dhonielle Clayton is basically a goddess. This short story was wonderful. 5 stars, duh.

A Play in Many Parts by Fox Benwell

E, pronouns they/them, doesn't want much. They just want a chance to act in one more play. Faustus. Alright, maybe they want a little more than that...they want to put together the perfect interpretation of the play, giving it everything they have and making their final performance count. Will the final production be everything E dreams of? This one was really lovely, and I enjoyed the format, a mix of narrative and script. 5 stars.

Ballad of Weary Daughters by Kristine Wyllys

River had the perfect family, until her preacher father left out of nowhere to start a new life with his mistress. Her mother started working extra hours to make ends meet, and River has to step in to care for her siblings. Lucy, her best friend, helps. The stress of trying to hold everything together will always be there, but so will Lucy.  This one was simple and sweet, and I enjoyed it. 4 stars.

Mother Nature's Youngest Daughter by Keah Brown

It's imperative that Mother Nature's children keep the secret of their powers or nothing will ever be the same. Millie, tormented by a group of popular girls at school, isn't sure she can resist finding a way to get even with the mean girls. But what will her mother say if she uses her powers over weather to get revenge? Honestly, this one was probably the one I enjoyed least. It was fine, but a little simple and just...kind of lacking when taken with the rest of the stories included in the anthology. 3 stars.

A Curse, A Kindness by Corinne Duyvis

Sienna was cursed years ago into a life as a sort of genie...if someone shows her kindness, she must repay it by granting the person three wishes. When Mia returns her chapstick and is granted the wishes, she offers to find a way to help free Sienna. Sienna, after years of seeing even the best people turn greedy in the face of such limitless options, doesn't believe freedom is possible. Will the two be able to come up with a plan to free Sienna from her curse? Loved. This. One. 5 stars.

Rapidfire Reviews

or, a touch more accurately, first impressions?

I've been recovering from surgery for the past week, and as cabin fever set in and I started getting more and more stir-crazy, I also started reading a bunch of different books at once. Why do I read multiple books at the same time instead of sticking with one and finishing it more quickly? I don't know. But since I am, here are five (and a half) of my first impressions for you:


On the Come Up - Angie Thomas

I love that it's set in the same world as The Hate U Give, and I'm enjoying the alternate perspective of growing up in Garden Heights. I'm reading this one out loud to my husband, and we're both into it so far, although as an incredibly white person I should 1000% not be reading this book aloud. Joel literally claps his hands with glee every time I get to a part where Bri raps because he can't wait to laugh at me.


Queen of Air and Darkness - Cassandra Clare

Fine, this is a re-read, so it isn't actually first impressions, but when I read the series before it was first book when it came out...wait a long time...second book when it came out...wait a long time...finally, third book! So this is the first read through where I actually remember all the details from previous books. That said, while I love this series (Ty has my heart forever), this might be my least favorite of the trilogy. I have theories, though. One theory, specifically. And I need more books to come out so I can find out if I'm right.

Sidenote: There have been multiple uses of "fire wants to burn" which is also used in the Magisterium series, which Clare writes with Holly Black. Irrelevant to the story and my enjoyment thereof, but interesting nonetheless. Also, bonus "review" since I recently finished the audiobook of the The Silver Mask...that series is a little more meh for me. Character development is lacking, the plot meanders and nothing much actually happens. I've read Holly Black before, and obviously I've read Cassandra Clare, and the Magisterium series just doesn't stand up against their other work. So uh...there you have it. End of tangent.


Mirage - Somaiya Daud

This book is making me stay up past my bedtime. The world-building, cultural detail, themes...ugh, just endlessly glorious. Read this, it's a good one.


Shadow of the Fox - Julie Kagawa

This one is a bit of a slower burn for me, but I'm intrigued by the Japanese mythology and looking forward to getting deeper into the story.


Saints and Misfits - S.K. Ali

Into this story, not into the narrator of the audiobook. I'm powering through because I need to know what happens, but I wish they had picked a reader who varied their tone and inflection based on what was happening in the story. If you're interested, go with the book, not the audio.

Grace and Fury - Tracy Banghart

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the cover: 

"In a world where women have no rights, sisters Serina and Nomi Tessaro face two very different fates: one in the palace, the other in prison.

Serina has been groomed her whole life to become a Grace - someone to stand by the heir to the throne as a shining, subjugated example of the perfect woman. But when her headstrong and rebellious younger sister, Nomi, catches the heir's eye, it's Serina who takes the fall for the dangerous secret that Nomi has been hiding.

Now trapped in a life she never wanted, Nomi has only one way to save Serina: surrender to her role as a Grace until she can use her position to release her sister. This is easier said than done. A traitor walks the halls of the palace, and deception lurks in every corner. But Serina is running out of time, imprisoned on an island where she must fight to the death to survive and one wrong move could cost her everything."

💭💭💭

I've had this book sitting on my nightstand for months, and for one reason or another (aka other books that demanded to be read) I kept putting it off. Now that I have finally read it, I'm glad I did. Why? Because the second half of this duology doesn't come out until FRIGGIN JULY, and I don't know if I can wait that long.

That's right...after months of delaying picking this book up, when I finally did, I read it in two sittings. I wanted to finish it the night I started reading, but I had to work the following day, and the smart part of me that didn't want to be a zombie running three programs finally forced the rest of me to put the book down halfway through. Even after I did, though, it took me forever to fall asleep because I could not stop thinking about Serina and Nomi. This book stays with you.

In the kingdom of Viridia, it is illegal for women to read. If they want work, they can find it in a factory working as a seamstress, as a wife or a housekeeper, or they can work to become a Grace, one of the women chosen to serve as companions to the Superior, ruler of Viridia. Serina has trained her entire life to become a Grace. She is demure, gentle, and polite, and she has a plan--become the Head Grace, spare her mother from difficult factory labor, and keep the rest of her family safe. Nomi, Serina's headstrong, rebellious younger sister, makes the journey to Bellaqua with her to serve as Serina's handmaid. She also has a plan--find a way to escape Viridia and live somewhere with more freedom. 

After a run-in with the Superior's heir, both sisters' plans are turned upside down when the Heir, choosing his own Graces for the first time, selects Nomi, not Serina, to serve as his companion. Both young women are still reeling from this decision when Serina is caught holding a book and sentenced to Mount Ruin, a prison for the kingdom's most dangerous, violent women. Within hours, each sister finds herself alone, thrust into an environment she is unprepared for, in completely over her head. 

Will Serina, dubbed "Dead Girl" by one of the guards upon her arrival at Mount Ruin, live up to the name, or will she toughen up and learn to fight for her survival? Will Nomi's fierce spirit be tamed and broken by the Superior and his Heir, or will she succeed in navigating the intricacies of being a Grace and find a way to save her sister? If you react to this book the way I did, you'll get some answers pretty quickly...but maybe learn from my experience and wait until a little closer to July to find out.

Holding Up the Universe - Jennifer Niven

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the cover:

"Everyone thinks they know Libby Strout, the girl once dubbed “America’s Fattest Teen.” But no one’s taken the time to look past her weight to get to know who she really is. Following her mom’s death, she’s been picking up the pieces in the privacy of her home, dealing with her heartbroken father and her own grief. Now, Libby’s ready: for high school, for new friends, for love, and for every possibility life has to offer. In that moment, I know the part I want to play here at MVB High. I want to be the girl who can do anything. 

Everyone thinks they know Jack Masselin, too. Yes, he’s got swagger, but he’s also mastered the impossible art of giving people what they want, of fitting in. What no one knows is that Jack has a newly acquired secret: he can’t recognize faces. Even his own brothers are strangers to him. He’s the guy who can re-engineer and rebuild anything, but he can’t understand what’s going on with the inner workings of his brain. So he tells himself to play it cool: Be charming. Be hilarious. Don’t get too close to anyone.

Until he meets Libby. When the two get tangled up in a cruel high school game—which lands them in group counseling and community service—Libby and Jack are both pissed, and then surprised. Because the more time they spend together, the less alone they feel. Because sometimes when you meet someone, it changes the world, theirs and yours."

YES, Libby! I was a touch nervous going into this book because of how much I loved All the Bright Places, but there was no need to be. Once again, Jennifer Niven has delivered.

Libby Strout is starting her junior year of high school, returning to public school after being homeschooled and ultimately ending up housebound following her mother's death when she was 10. Starting high school is a lot for anyone, so Libby is understandably nervous, but she's ready. She has a plan. She's prepared for the anxiety. And she's not going to let anyone stop her from living her life. Because Libby? Is a badass.

Jack Masselin is one of the popular kids at school. Everyone wants to be him, but nobody knows that he has a secret. Jack can't recognize people by their faces, and his prosopagnosia has become the defining feature of his life. Everything, from what he does during the day to who his friends are, all centers around keeping his face blindness a secret. He has engineered a life he can live in survival mode, but this carefully constructed existence is about to be shattered.

After Jack, in a misguided effort to spare her humiliation, drags Libby into a shitty high school "game" his friends cooked up and the two of them find themselves in group counseling together, the two are shocked to find themselves drawn to each other. Libby is confident, fearless, and speaks her mind, which is exactly what Jack needs. Jack turns out to be introspective and creative, and Libby is realizing that the boy she wrote off at the beginning of the school year might actually be someone she could fall for. Will their burgeoning relationship survive the tumultuous waters of high school? Or is this a relationship that is doomed to fail?

Seeing Libby and Jack blossom alongside each other is a delight, but if you ask me the real MVP of this book? Dusty Masselin, Jack's youngest brother. This little dude just...my heart. He is such a beautiful soul, and being totally honest, I could read a whole book just following him as he goes about his day being a sweet, kind, heartwarming tiny human. Dusty deserves all the happiness in the universe, and if I could meet any character in this book and give them a hug or a high five, it would be him. If you don't read this book for anyone else, read it for Dusty.