Tag Archives: book review

(Even More) Recent Reads

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I’ve been reading a lot lately, hooray! I’m not even joking when I say that The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh seriously messed me up in the greatest way and I couldn’t really read anything for a couple months– with the exception of The Horse and His Boy. Twenty times. I’m not joking. I think I listened to the audiobook about twenty times in a row.

Now that I’m back in the swing of things, here are a few other books I’ve recently read:


acotarA Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas | This was my first Sarah J. Maas book I’ve read, even though I own the books in her Throne of Glass series. This is a re-telling of the Beauty and the Beast tale, set in a faerie world. It was romantic and kinda darkly sexy; the big twist came near the end, and I liked that. I’m not sure yet if I’m going to continue the series or not. Pretty sure a love triangle is going to pop up in the next book, and I really don’t want it to, not with these characters. Even though I had a tougher time connecting with Feyre, the main character, there is a lot of love for this book out there, and I’d love to discuss it with you, should you read it!

what i thoughtWhat I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick | This was a very engrossing read … could not put it down! It’s a story about Gwen Castle, an “island girl”– she’s one of the poor people who live on the island year-round, while in the summer, the rich people come to stay in their summer homes. This summer, though, rich-boy Cassidy Somers (awesome name, woot!) is working on the island too– and he is Gwen’s “mistake from last spring.” It was really fun to get to know Cass and Gwen and let them battle through their issues on the island. One of the things that I love about Huntley Fitzpatrick’s characters is the way that they talk through things with each other, even when they are awkward conversations. I love that she gives them the maturity enough to do that. I really loved this book. I can’t believe I get to be on a panel with Huntley Fitzpatrick this weekend. (Is this real life??)

emmy and oliverEmmy & Oliver by Robin Benway | Loved this story! Emmy and Oliver were best friends up until age seven, when Oliver was kidnapped by his own father. Ten years later, he comes home. At first, things are really awkward between them– Oliver barely remembers his former life, and he’s been told lies for the last ten years, not to mention that he still adores his dad, who is now in hiding, and is trying to wrap his head around his dad as the bad guy. But they begin to warm to each other, and of course this is a love story. It was very sweet, very thought-provoking, full of emotion, and I highly recommend it!

bounceBounce by Noelle August | Noelle August is, of course, the pseudonym for the partnership between Lorin Oberweger and Veronica Rossi. To me, this was the most interesting book of this series. It’s about nineteen-year-old Grey, a partying wannabe rockstar, and Skylar, an up-and-coming actress cast in the movie that Grey’s brother is working on. They have to read lines together, and of course there’s a kiss, and of course the kiss doesn’t feel like acting. 🙂 It was just a sweet, sexy romance that I read in one sitting. One of the reasons I think I loved it so much is that Skylar is a size twelve (and having to lose weight for the movie), but anytime we see her through Grey’s eyes, she’s so perfect. And not in spite of her weight, but because of it. The descriptions were spot-on and lovely and made this book so unique. A fun, charming read.

Book Review: Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead

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goodbye strangerI don’t read a lot of middle grade books, but I adore Rebecca Stead.

(Note: the term middle grade refers to the audience [for the middle grades, ages 8-12], not the book’s quality. I mention it because a lot of people simply don’t know that.)

Goodbye Stranger is a lovely book about seventh-grade Bridge, her long-time friends Tab and Emily, and her new friend Sherm. It’s about changing relationships and the staggered rate at which kids mature. It’s about walking that awkward line of caring about someone as more than a friend but not being ready to date.

Plus there is an anonymous second-person voice every few chapters dealing with her own issues. It was fun to try to guess who the person was … and I figured it out (eventually!).

Everything just came together in such a lovely way that feels customary to a Rebecca Stead novel, and it was very satisfying and the epilogue was perfection.

This would be a great novel for, well, anyone— but especially for kids on that cusp of junior high, students who are 10-14. A beautiful book that has me thinking a lot about the novel I’m writing!

Book Review: Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon

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everything everythingMadeline is allergic to everything. In fact, she hasn’t left her home since she was about four months old. She spends her days with Carla, her nurse, and her evenings with her mother, who is a doctor. Everything in her life is sterilized and according to a strict routine. She’s not unhappy– this is just the hand she’s been dealt, and she has a good attitude about things.

Then Olly moves in next door, and suddenly Madeline wants more.

Olly is adorable. So is Maddy. Their IM conversations are hilarious and flirty and fun. I just love them!

Initially, I didn’t want to read this book because– looking at the book description– I thought, “There’s no way this can end well.” Then I read a review that essentially said, “Just trust me. Read it. It will be okay.” So I did.

And I’m so glad I did.

I really loved the characters in this one (obviously), though I was a little put-off by Maddy’s selfishness in some situations– but I gave her grace because she’d been unselfish for her whole life, ya know? Early on, I guessed the twist. Then, stuff happens and I thought, “Oh, I guess I was wrong.” But I was right in the end.

All in all, this was a great, happy, interesting, sad (at times) novel that I really enjoyed reading! If you’re nervous about the ending, don’t be. Just read it.

I’ll be interested to chat in more depth in the comment section with anyone who has read it! (So AVOID THE COMMENT SECTION if you don’t want SPOILERS!)

Book Review: The Boy Most Likely To by Huntley Fitzpatrick

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boy most likelyThis. book. was. great.

First of all, it’s the sequel to My Life Next Door, but it also works as a standalone novel– in fact, I had read Next Door so long ago but Boy Most Likely To got me all caught up!

It’s about Tim Mason, who is a MESS: he’s a recovering alcoholic at age seventeen, and his distant father has just kicked him out. He has a few months to get his act together or he’ll lose his college fund. So he moves into the garage apartment at his best friend Jace’s house. It doesn’t hurt that he’s crazy attracted to Jace’s older sister Alice, who is trying to keep the family afloat while their dad is in the hospital.

I thought the “recovering alcoholic” thing was going to be the big hurdle of the book, but I was SO WRONG. Crap hits the fan in a major way– and there’s nothing in the book description to prepare you for it! But WOW, it was so amazing. I didn’t know how Fitzpatrick was going to be able to resolve it all. BUT SHE DID– in a very satisfying way!

The characters. Oh my gosh, the characters. I LOVE TIM MASON. This guy is a WRECK, but he’s freaking hilarious and brutally honest and really cute with … the spoiler. 🙂

Just read this book. You won’t regret it.

Here is a quote to whet your appetite:

“Tim, I’d chew you up and spit you out.” She slants forward, yanks the straps of her bikini behind her neck, ties them, and settles back. God. I almost can’t breathe.
But I can talk.
I can always talk.
“We could progress to that, Alice. But maybe we start with some gentle nibbling?”
Alice shuts her eyes, opens them again, and gives me an indecipherable look.
“Why don’t I scare you?” she asks.
“You do. You’re scary as hell,” I assure her. “But that works for me. Completely.”

Recent Reads

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all the bright places2All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
This book. You guys. This book. In it, we meet Violet Markey as well as Theodore Finch, who stole my heart and broke it. The characters in this book were phenomenal and layered, and I value that so much. Great characters are my #1 thing, even more than beautiful writing. If you give me great characters, I’ll be a slave to your writing prowess. I was so, so captured by these characters and their beautiful and heartbreaking story. Let’s just say that both Violet and Finch are hurting souls, and the opening scene is them meeting on the ledge of the school bell tower, both on the verge of jumping. Go. Read. This. Book. I need to be able to talk about it with someone.

i'll meet you thereI’ll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios
This book was pretty un-put-downable. I tore through it. The reviews have been nothing but raving, and I’m pleased to say that I loved it as well. It’s a story about Skylar “Sky” Evans, who wants nothing more than to escape her hometown, and about Josh Mitchell, a Marine who returns home without his leg. There are a couple of Ultimate No-No’s that characters can do in books that are sort of “unforgivable” for me … and this one had one. But I still really loved it. A lot. And highly recommend that you read it.

peter panPeter Pan by J.M. Barrie
What a treat this book is! I’ve long known the story of Peter Pan, Wendy Darling, Captain Hook, the lost boys, and all the rest … but knowing the story didn’t prepare me for the gem of this book. It was delightful. The voice is incredible and fascinating and clever. It reminded me a little of Alice in Wonderland in the way it made me think– but it was even more enjoyable! I tore through this novel breathlessly … even though I already knew what would happen. Find a copy of this sweet story for your own.

forgive me leonard peacockForgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick
This book is essentially a day in the life of high school student Leonard Peacock– in particular, the day he has planned to kill one of his classmates and then himself. It is dark, heavy stuff– but there are lots of moments of good, lighter times too. I don’t want to say a lot about this one except that I’m really glad I read it (I listened to the audio version), and you should read it too.

All the LightAll the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
I’m still sorting out my thoughts on this book, which has been called “the most important book of 2014”– in another place on the internet, I’ve heard it called “the most important book of the decade.” It’s a World War II story, alternating perspectives of a young, brilliant French girl and a young, brilliant German boy. I felt quite at home with this book for adults, since the characters were young people, just like in the YA stories I typically read. This book was more literary, slower, very beautiful, but very sad. I … liked it. I did not love the way it ended. In fact, I nearly chose to stop reading with only about thirty pages left. But I’m glad I did. This book is lovely, important, beautiful, well-written, and I’m glad I read it. I don’t want to say much more. It was its own experience reading this story. I am ready for more YA now. 🙂

Poetry 2015 Review: Stupid Hope by Jason Shinder

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stupid hopeThough Jason Shinder is highly esteemed, this was the first of his work I’d ever read.

It was interesting. Very spare language. Very vulnerable.

There were four parts. In the first two parts, Shinder talks a lot about his mother’s illness. But in part three, readers learn that he also has an illness– and is dying from it. This is where the book took a turn for me. The first half I could do without, but the second half– when Shinder was facing his own mortality– had an urgency and honesty that made it special.

It was, in fact, so imbued with urgency, that I wondered if Shinder would die before part four. Then I realized that there wouldn’t be a part four without him.

It was tragic, and readers learn in the postscript that his dear friends put together the book after he died and at his request.

You should read this one, or at least the second half.

If you’re reading along with my Poetry 2015 Campaign, then make sure to track down a copy of Pablo Neruda’s Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair for March!

Recent Reads

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rrThis is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett
When I heard David Sedaris speak last fall, he strongly endorsed this collection of Ann Patchett’s essays, and basically, if David Sedaris tells me it’s good, I’m gonna go buy it. I’m so glad I did. The essay topics range from divorce and marriage to death, dogs, and writing. I cried multiple times while listening to the audio version (read by Patchett herself). Writers, even if you don’t read the entire book, I highly recommend that you at least read her essay entitled “The Getaway Car: A Practical Memoir about Writing and Life.” It’s about 40 pages long and so, so good.

rr2Open Road Summer by Emery Lord
This debut novel was showing up on everyone’s end-of-the-year best-of-2014 lists, and I had it on my TBR shelf, so I happily plucked it from its resting place and gave it a read. It’s the story of bad-girl-on-the-mend Reagan, who goes on tour with her country music star best friend Dee and falls for Matt, the boy who is opening for Dee. I found a couple things hard (personally) as I read: since they’re on a giant cross-country music tour, the setting changes faster than I can keep up! Also, I was a little unclear on what drew Matt and Reagan to one another. That said, this is a lot of people’s favorite book of 2014, so if a country music tour and summer love with a hottie guitarist is up your alley, you’re gonna love this one!

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Adverbs by Daniel Handler
One of those books where you go, “WHAT did I just READ?” But I loved it. Daniel Handler (AKA Lemony Snicket) is hilarious in this book. He takes tropes and ridiculous analogies and bizarre events and makes them work to his advantage. I had thought this was a YA book, but it’s for adults. It’s strange and wonderful and funny and makes me believe that I could never, ever match Handler’s wit. I saw that another reviewer of this book had said, “It’s a collection of short stories that feels like a novel.” It does and it doesn’t. It was like David Sedaris writing fiction. It breaks every single rule with aplomb.

 rr4Everything that Makes You by Moriah McStay
I’ve saved the best for last. Moriah McStay and I share an agent and an editor; she’s like my publishing “big sister” and lets me whine to her anytime I want. When our editor was in Minnesota this past summer, she gave me an ARC of Everything that Makes You, and as Moriah’s publication date approaches (March 17th!), I realized I’d better hop on it and read the ARC. My. Gosh. I mean this in the best way possible when I say that this book made me bawl and bawl and bawl. It’s a fascinating premise told in alternating chapters: in one part, we learn the story of Fiona, a girl with facial scars; in the other, we hear from Fi, who never had the accident. You encounter the same cast of characters in each story, but Fiona’s interactions with them are vastly different based on which reality she’s in. It was brilliant and incredible and put my heart into a vice and squeezed. I cannot wait for the rest of the world to meet Fiona and her friends. I sent Moriah a barrage of emails and tweets while I read this. It’s fair to say it clobbered me.

Recent Reads

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janie face to faceJanie Face to Face by Caroline B. Cooney | Do you remember The Face on the Milk Carton? It was published back in 1990 and was an important book in my childhood, about a girl who saw a picture of herself on a milk carton ad about an abducted child. This book is the last of the Janie books, and I think it was mostly nostalgia and the desire for a neat conclusion that drove me to read it. The sad truth is that I didn’t find it well-written, which confused me and made me wonder if maybe Milk Carton hadn’t been as good as I’d thought. So I went back to it, and no– it still held up. But Janie Face to Face just didn’t. It covered years much too quickly, and it made Janie and Reeve seem a bit ridiculous. It was a let-down, but at least now I know what happened to everyone!

wild awakeWild Awake by Hilary T. Smith | This book was fascinating and visceral, exciting and sad and overwhelming. It’s the story of Kiri, a piano prodigy whose parents leave her at home for a month while they travel the world, and about what happens while they’re gone (hint: a lot). It was an eye-opening look at bipolar disorder, and I’ve already added Smith’s next book to be TBR list, though it doesn’t come out till May.

undividedUndivided by Neal Shusterman | Wow, okay. So, you guys know that I have been dying for this final book in the Unwind Dystology, and it did not disappoint! In fact, I have a confession to make: at one point, I was so overwhelmed with the story that I had to peek at the ending. Isn’t that just awful? I try not to do that, but Shusterman is such an intense, keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat, nothing-is-too-sacred-to-keep writer that I just had to. Anyway, I was very, very pleased with the book, and I’m going to write up a whole blog post about this series, since I’m such a big fan. I highly recommend this series but have to warn you: it contains some of the most intense scenes I’ve ever read. Actually, the first book– Unwind— has a scene that might haunt me till the day I die. Worth. It.

magnoliaMagnolia by Kristi Cook | This book was billed as a “backward Romeo and Juliet“– that is, the families want the kids together, but the kids are not interested. It wasn’t really my cup of tea (or sweet tea– it’s a Southern novel!) because I didn’t think the main characters had much chemistry. (Gosh, I hate bad-mouthing books because I know how much work goes into them! I’m sure lots of other people will like this book, but it wasn’t for me.)

blue lilyBlue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater | I’ve basically been frothing at the mouth for this book, and– as one would expect from Maggie Stiefvater– it was fantastic. Her characters just kill me. They are so deep and complicated and broken and beautiful. I hope that someday I can write such intense, complex characters as Stiefvater does. To be honest, I’d not be particularly interested in the premises of her books (which tend to be about things like mythical water horses and sleeping Welsh kings), but the characters make everything more than worth it. This is the third book in a four-book series, so I’ll return to my frothing-at-the-mouth for now.

shaking the treesShaking the Trees by Azra Tabassum | Another poet I found via Tumblr. I really liked this book, though I did think that the poems suffered a tiny bit from her young age. One thing that I really loved about this collection of poems was that there was a narrative arc to the poems. You actually follow a couple through the highs and lows of their relationship as you go through the pages, which was incredibly satisfying and something I’ll be looking for in future poetry books.

And for the little readers …

book with no picturesThe Book with No Pictures by BJ Novak | This book is so much fun! It doesn’t have pictures, but the words are so fun and goofy that kids will love it anyway. I love the way that Novak is able to display the power of words alone to young readers via this book. I bought several copies already.

poem that heals fishThis is a Poem that Heals Fish by Jean-Pierre Simeon | My friend Kathy Ellen Davis, a fantastic children’s writer herself (check out her website here!), sent me this book, and it was fun and lovely and a super adorable search for the answer to What exactly is a poem? I loved it so much and can’t wait to read it to my favorite kiddos!

What have you been reading lately?

Recent Reads

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anne lamott 3Help Thanks Wow & Stitches by Anne Lamott | It’ll be no surprised that I adored these books. Anne Lamott’s words– whether I’m reading one of her books, listening to her speak, or gulping down her Facebook posts– feel sacred, true, and deep. I absolutely adore her as a writer– and as a person. I would read her grocery lists. Help Thanks Wow is about the three essential prayers of the title. Stitches is about “meaning, hope, and repair.” I listened to both of these books on audio, at night, in the dark, and each one was like applying balm to my broken heart.

what we buriedWhat We Buried by Caitlyn Siehl | I purchased this book of poetry after bumping into some of Caitlyn’s free verse online. There were some gems in this collection, though I think her youth showed in the book (she is in her twenties). Not one I’ll revisit often, but it was still worth the read!

lips touchLips Touch: Three Times Laini Taylor | I would not have ever picked up such a book except that it was written by the indomitable Laini Taylor. It’s a collection of three short stories, and they were a treat.  Short stories are not my forte, and I’m bowled over when a short story can capture me in such a small space. These ones were fantastic, full of the powerful, literary prose you’d expect from Laini Taylor. When I finished the book, I was flummoxed and got into a little tweet-happy mini-convo with Laini and her husband Jim.

lips touch tweets

all our yesterdaysAll Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill | I love time travel in books. I love when two stories are really one story. This book had both, plus a shocking twist ending. Picture this: in the future, your best friend becomes evil, so you need to go back in time to kill him. Only your childhood self is in the past, working hard to protect him from you. Yup: mind-bending. An engrossing read, though not a new favorite (I’m pretty darn picky).

jandyI’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson | Oh yes. I pre-ordered this book at my first sniff that it existed. I’ve been so, so looking forward to this book, and it did not disappoint. This is the story of twins Noah and Jude, told in dual POV: from 13-year-old Noah before the tragedy and from 16-year-old Jude after it. So clever!  I loved it, loved the characters, loved all the art, loved Jandy Nelson’s mastery of language (she’s studied poetry, and it shows), loved the complicated emotions it evoked from me. It was a sad, heavy book. It occurs to me now that The Sky is Everywhere is sad too … but I felt that it had more light than this one (probably thanks to Joe Fontaine). Regardless, this book is incredible, a must-read.

What have you read recently? What’s up next for you?

Recent Reads

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smoke and bone2Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy by Laini Taylor | These books are full of some of the most beautiful prose available in YA lit! The world-building, the characters, the humor, the beautiful imagery: this was the fantasy series I’ve been waiting for. Karou is a young artist living in Prague, and she was raised from birth by several chimaera “monsters.” They love Karou, and she brings them teeth. (Yes, you read that right.) So, what does a super-hot angel, an old love story, wishes, and all the teeth have to do with Karou? Please read this trilogy to find out. You won’t regret it. I think the second book was my favorite, and the third one my least (because of some detouring storylines, which I’d be happy to whine about to anyone else who’s read the series), but the writing in all three is full of over-the-top gorgeous imagery, the kind you typically can’t get away with except for in fantasy writing.

midwinterbloodMidwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick | This being the most recent Printz winner, I knew I wanted to read it– especially with that amazing cover! This was a novel in seven parts– seven short stories that are connected to one another through a little thread that you will search for the whole book but only discover in the end. I thought the execution of the format was done masterfully, though there were some stories I loved more than others. The hard thing for me with the short story format was that it was harder for me to truly connect with the characters. But it had the definite feel of a psychological thriller, something I don’t often encounter in the books I read, and I liked it. I finished this book in only a few days.

help thanks wowHelp Thanks Wow: the Three Essential Prayers by Anne Lamott | I’d read Annie’s grocery lists if she’d let me. She’s one of my favorites, and this short little book didn’t disappoint.  Yes, it’s definitely hokier than most other Christian books you might read, but she has a good heart and deeply loves Jesus, and I give her a pass on some of her more “out-there” ideas because she is able to reach so many crowds this way. What an impressive platform she has! Anyway, this book was about the “three essential prayers” that she’s mentioned in other books, and she takes time to meditate on each type of prayer while also sharing some of her amazing stories that fit the theme. I drank this one down in quick gulps and would be happy to drink up again.

unstrungUnstrung: an Unwind short story by Neal Shusterman | I’ve written before about the Unwind dystology that has me so enamored, and this short story about Lev’s time on an “Chance folk” reservation reminded me how freakin’ excited I am for the fourth and final book in the series to come out this fall!  This short story also helped me to better understand and appreciate what happened in the third book. Obviously, don’t read this unless you’ve read or are reading the whole series, but if you are, this is a deep and profound little extra!

chaos walkingThe New World: a Chaos Walking Prequel by Patrick Ness | I’ve also written about how much I ADORED the Chaos Walking trilogy, so this was a fun (but sad) little opportunity to peak into Viola’s perspective before she and Todd met and began the journey of their lives. Viola seemed really different in this short story than she did in the entire series, so that was a little stranger, but then again, an event that happens in this prequel is a life-shaping, life-altering one, so that sort of makes sense Another little extra– but not necessary in order to enjoy the series!

 

What’s up next for me?

Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater (even though I only read the first book of the Shiver series, this book can be read as a standalone, and I’m loving it.  It’s intense though, and emotionally draining, so I can only tackle it in small doses!)
All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill (started today and am already quite enjoying it!)
Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Have any awesome YA contemporaries to suggest? I’d love a list. Also, as far as fantasy series go, should I next read the Lunar Chronicles or the Grisha series or the Throne of Glass series?