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Review: Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

May1
Review: Boyfriend Material by Alexis HallBoyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
Series: Boyfriend Material #1
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on July 7, 2020
Pages: 427
Format: Paperback
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

Wanted:
One (fake) boyfriend
Practically perfect in every way

Luc O'Donnell is tangentially--and reluctantly--famous. His rock star parents split when he was young, and the father he's never met spent the next twenty years cruising in and out of rehab. Now that his dad's making a comeback, Luc's back in the public eye, and one compromising photo is enough to ruin everything.

To clean up his image, Luc has to find a nice, normal relationship...and Oliver Blackwood is as nice and normal as they come. He's a barrister, an ethical vegetarian, and he's never inspired a moment of scandal in his life. In other words: perfect boyfriend material. Unfortunately apart from being gay, single, and really, really in need of a date for a big event, Luc and Oliver have nothing in common. So they strike a deal to be publicity-friendly (fake) boyfriends until the dust has settled. Then they can go their separate ways and pretend it never happened.

But the thing about fake-dating is that it can feel a lot like real-dating. And that's when you get used to someone. Start falling for them. Don't ever want to let them go.

This book owns my whole heart. I loved everything about it. I loved Luc and Oliver. I loved the humor – I was laughing out loud for over half the book. I loved the plot. I loved the fact that, while reading it, I found out there’s going to be a sequel (!!!!!!!!!!). I just.. Omg. Just so so so so good.

Luc was incredibly relatable. I both loved how self-deprecating he was – because same – and also wanted to give him a giant hug and punch everyone who had hurt him. I also adored Oliver. He was so careful about keeping his true self from Luc, for fear Luc would hate what he saw. But those moments when he let his walls down? Just yes. So much yes. TBH, I kind of wanted to smack both of them and yell at them to let each other in. But I could also relate to both of them – Luc a little more than Oliver – so I understood why they felt and behaved the way they did. My heart broke for them near the end, and I nearly threw the book and started sobbing. Thankfully, the HEA was worth the angst and temporary heartache.

The humor in this book had me completely laughing out loud. I can’t remember the last time a book made me laugh as hard as Boyfriend Material did. The banter between Luc and Oliver just had me grinning like an idiot.

I seriously don’t know how I’m going to survive until the sequel comes out in 2022. I guess I’ll just have to re-read Boyfriend Material a couple times to hold me over!

So.. Yeah. That review was mostly incomprehensible rambling and fangirling. So if you couldn’t tell, I loved this book more than I can put into words. And I HIGHLY recommend it if you enjoy enemies-to-lovers and fake dating.

five-stars

Review: She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen

Apr30

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly QuindlenShe Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen
Published by Roaring Brook Press on April 20, 2021
Pages: 304
Source: the publisher
Goodreads
three-half-stars

High school nemeses fall in love in this queer YA rom com perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Casey McQuisten.

After losing spectacularly to her ex-girlfriend in their first game since their break up, Scottie Zajac gets into a fender bender with the worst possible person: her nemesis, the incredibly beautiful and incredibly mean Irene Abraham. Things only get worse when their nosey, do-gooder moms get involved and the girls are forced to carpool together until Irene’s car gets out of the shop.

Their bumpy start the only gets bumpier the more time they spend together. But when an opportunity presents itself for Scottie to get back at her toxic ex (and climb her school’s social ladder at the same time), she bribes Irene into playing along. Hijinks, heartbreak, and gay fake-dating scheme for the ages. From author Kelly Quindlen comes a new laugh-out-loud romp through the ups and downs of teen romance.

I wanted to love this one. I… liked it. I enjoyed the ending. But, sadly, I didn’t love it. The biggest reason? Scottie. For a huge chunk of the book, she’s just absolutely horrible to Irene, for absolutely no reason and with little to no provocation from Irene. I get that Scottie is coming out of a very toxic relationship that impacted her way more than she realized, but my heart just broke for Irene. Scottie did show a lot of character growth and development in the second half of the book, and especially in the last few chapters. By the second to last chapter, I was crying and grinning like an idiot. But it didn’t totally make up for some of her behavior before that.

Again, I loved Irene, and she deserved every good thing that came her way. I know she wasn’t perfect – she definitely had her flaws. But I still really liked her character and her journey. Like, I know Scottie didn’t force her to come out, but she still came out (potentially before she was ready) to go along with Scottie’s plan to get back at Tally, only to constantly end up on the receiving end of Scottie’s bad attitude. Honestly, I would have preferred if the story was told from Irene’s perspective, even partially. I was far more interested in her story than Scottie’s.

I think part of the problem was that this book was kind of short, so the plot was great but everything happened kind of fast. And the character development was slow until it wasn’t. It felt like Scottie went from hating Irene to loving her in the blink of an eye, with nothing in between.

I did love the enemies-to-lovers and fake dating tropes. And I seem to be in the minority when it comes to how I felt about this book. So if you’re looking for a fun, angsty wlw fake dating book, then definitely give this one a shot! (Pun totally not intended but I’m definitely keeping it, haha).

three-half-stars

Review: Kate in Waiting by Becky Albertalli

Apr19

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Kate in Waiting by Becky AlbertalliKate in Waiting by Becky Albertalli
Published by Balzer + Bray on April 20, 2021
Pages: 400
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

Contrary to popular belief, best friends Kate Garfield and Anderson Walker are not codependent. Carpooling to and from theater rehearsals? Environmentally sound and efficient. Consulting each other on every single life decision? Basic good judgment. Pining for the same guys from afar? Shared crushes are more fun anyway.

But when Kate and Andy’s latest long-distance crush shows up at their school, everything goes off script. Matt Olsson is talented and sweet, and Kate likes him. She really likes him. The only problem? So does Anderson.

Turns out, communal crushes aren’t so fun when real feelings are involved. This one might even bring the curtains down on Kate and Anderson’s friendship.

I don’t think I’m ever going to read a Becky Albertalli book that I don’t like. Her books are just so… Amazing. Incredible. Insanely good. Like. I could go on. And Kate in Waiting was no exception. I devoured this book. I read it in three days. I just couldn’t put it down! It had a diverse cast of LGBTQ+ characters, a little bit of mental health rep, and some great Jewish rep. Not to mention a great plot. Basically, it had everything I love!

I don’t know how she does it, but Becky always manages to write such relatable characters. I always feel like I’m standing right there with them. Kate was great. I related to her on so many levels, even just with small things, like hating the rain and being a zombie demon after taking Xanax and not getting enough sleep. Anderson was amazing and so, so sassy. I felt so bad for him after that one scene (not gonna spoil it), but I understood why everyone involved behaved/acted/responded the way they did. Noah had my heart from the very beginning. He was just so adorably dorkish. I predicted what would happen with him and ____ (Sorry, no spoilers, hehe) less than a quarter of the way into the book and I definitely had a !!!!!!! moment when I found out I was right.

I need to shout-out Kate’s relationship with her brother, Ryan. I love the way Becky handles sibling relationships in her books. Media always makes siblings hate each other; they either fight all the time or they just ignore each other. And, yeah, that’s relatable for some people. But some people do get along with their siblings, and it’s a breath of fresh air to see that.

Sending a shout-out to Matt, Raina and Brandie and basically everyone in this book. Seriously, how does Becky Albetalli always write such amazing characters???

Also, shout-out to the Dear Evan Hansen reference and what I think was a Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda reference.

So.. Yeah. I loved this book. More than words can say. I loved everything about it. The only negative thing I can say is that I want more of these characters and this world, but I’m pretty sure it’s just a stand-alone. So that’s disappointing, haha.

But yeah. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves books about friendship, first love, and high school or musical theater. Also for anyone who likes LGBTQ+, mental health and Jewish rep. If you’re new to Becky Albertalli, this is a great book to pick up. And if you’ve read and loved her other books, then I can promise this one won’t disappoint!

Kate in Waiting releases tomorrow, so there’s still time to pre-order!!! Go do that, right now! You won’t regret it! And if you pre-order, you can get this adorable necklace!!!

five-stars

Review: The Love Curse of Melody McIntyre by Robin Talley

Feb27
Review: The Love Curse of Melody McIntyre by Robin TalleyThe Love Curse of Melody McIntyre by Robin Talley
Published by HarperTeen on December 1, 2020
Pages: 464
Format: Hardcover
Goodreads
four-half-stars

Perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Nina LaCour, this #ownvoices romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Robin Talley has something for everyone: backstage rendezvous, deadly props, and a seemingly insurmountable obstacle to True Love.

Melody McIntyre, stage manager extraordinaire, has a plan for everything.

What she doesn’t have? Success with love. Every time she falls for someone during a school performance, both the romance and the show end in catastrophe. So, Mel swears off any entanglements until their upcoming production of Les Mis is over.

Of course, Mel didn’t count on Odile Rose, rising star in the acting world, auditioning for the spring performance. And she definitely didn’t expect Odile to be sweet and funny, and care as much about the play’s success as Mel.

Which means that Melody McIntyre’s only plan now is trying desperately not to fall in love.

I don’t even know where to start with this review. This book was just… an absolute roller coaster of a read. I laughed. I cried. I got angry. Sometimes all during the same scene.

First of all, I obviously loved the fact that this centered around musical theatre. The Dear Evan Hansen references! The Legally Blonde the Musical references! Just so, so, SO fun. Also, I don’t know if it was intentional or not, but I loved how almost all the characters names could be seen as references to broadway actors/characters. Maybe I was just seeing things that weren’t there, but.. Evan Newton? Evan Hansen and Olivia Newton John? Dominic Connor? Connor Murphy? Anyway, maybe that was just my broadway-obsessed mind getting the best of me, but it was still fun to think about, hehe.

I both loved Mel and was incredibly exasperated with her all at once, but she was also a very relatable character. She had so much character growth by the end of the story, and I was so happy for how her story ended. I also loved Odile – who gave me serious Serena van der Woodsen vibes. Am I the only one who saw it? I really loved Mel and Odile’s relationship and how real it felt.

I adored Gabby and Dom, as well, though I would have liked to see a little more of Mel and Dom’s friendship.

Even though I gave this book a 4.5, there were definitely a few things that bugged me. First of all, the slut shaming. I don’t even need to explain why. That should be obvious. The slut shaming was just absolutely gross. I think the worst offenders involved in this were Nick and Jasmin. I grudgingly admit that they had some redemption near the end, but I still don’t forgive them. Related to that, my other issue with this book was how horrible Mel’s friends were to her. Seriously, I don’t think I’ve encountered a friend group as bad as this since I read Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. I honestly can’t decide who had worse friends – Mel or Simon.

Other than that, I really loved this book. I loved the way everyone came together by the end of it to put on the best damn show they could. I loved the character growth. I loved the broadway references. And I loved how much it made me feel. Whether I was grinning like an idiot at it or glaring viciously at it, this book made me feel SO many feels.

Overall, I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book and HIGHLY recommend it for fans of broadway musicals and delightful rom-coms.

four-half-stars

Review: Verona Comics by Jennifer Dugan

Feb22
Review: Verona Comics by Jennifer DuganVerona Comics by Jennifer Dugan
Published by GP Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers on April 21, 2020
Pages: 352
Goodreads
four-stars

From the author of Hot Dog Girl comes a fresh and funny queer YA contemporary novel about two teens who fall in love in an indie comic book shop.

Jubilee has it all together. She’s an elite cellist, and when she’s not working in her stepmom’s indie comic shop, she’s prepping for the biggest audition of her life.

Ridley is barely holding it together. His parents own the biggest comic-store chain in the country, and Ridley can’t stop disappointing them—that is, when they’re even paying attention.

They meet one fateful night at a comic convention prom, and the two can’t help falling for each other. Too bad their parents are at each other’s throats every chance they get, making a relationship between them nearly impossible…unless they manage to keep it a secret.

Then again, the feud between their families may be the least of their problems. As Ridley’s anxiety spirals, Jubilee tries to help but finds her focus torn between her fast-approaching audition and their intensifying relationship. What if love can’t conquer all? What if each of them needs more than the other can give?

Oh, man. This book. I don’t even know where to start. It was just.. SO good. Both Jubilee and Ridley were incredibly relatable characters for different reasons. I adored them both as individual characters and as a couple. Their banter was great and truly entertaining to read. I loved the brief two person love triangle trope – something I’ve only recently discovered and that has very quickly become one of my favorite tropes.

I knew this book was going to be a bit heavier than most rom-coms when I went into it, but the angsty parts definitely hurt. I loved the way Jennifer Dugan handled the mental health aspects of the story. And though I was a bit disappointed in the ending, it was also realistic and very fitting for the story, and I don’t think it could have ended any other way.

I also really loved the nerdy comic-con and fandom elements of the story. So fun!

Overall, I loved this book and I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to read a book that has romance, a discussion on mental health, and nerdy/fandom elements.

four-stars

Review: What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

Feb20
Review: What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam SilveraWhat If It's Us by Adam Silvera, Becky Albertalli
Series: What If It's Us #1
Published by HarperTeen on October 9, 2018
Pages: 437
Format: Hardcover
Goodreads
four-stars

Arthur is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it.

Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things.

But when Arthur and Ben meet-cute at the post office, what exactly does the universe have in store for them?

Maybe nothing. After all, they get separated.

Maybe everything. After all, they get reunited.

But what if they can’t quite nail a first date . . . or a second first date . . . or a third?

What if Arthur tries too hard to make it work . . . and Ben doesn’t try hard enough?

What if life really isn’t like a Broadway play?

But what if it is?

This book has been on my TBR for a VERY long time. It was also the first book I read in almost a year – and I can’t express how happy I am that this was the first book I decided to read. It was fun, cute, fluffy and a little bit angsty. It’s by one of my favorite authors – Becky Albertalli – and it made me even more excited to read more of Adam Silvera’s books.

First of all, the Dear Evan Hansen references. Oh my god!!! If you read my newest On Meredith’s Mind post, you’ll know that I’ve been obsessed with Dear Evan Hansen for over a year now. So that, right off the bat, was one of the main reasons I wanted to read it. And it definitely did not disappoint! All the DEH and broadway references made me so happy!

Also, Arthur!! I adored Arthur to pieces. He was so relatable and adorable and anxious and Jewish and I just wanted to hug him. I loved him and being in his head. His relationship with Ben was adorable and felt so realistic. I loved the series of awkward dates. The “getting to know you” phase of a relationship can be SO awkward, and it’s a nice change from all the perfect fairytale dates that Hollywood always plays up. That’s not always reality and it was nice to see that acknowledged.

I also loved Ben and Dylan’s bromance. It was hilarious and adorable.

This book was also super quotable. Some of my favorites were:

“Box Boy dates guys. I’M A GUY.”

“I need to ship myself with me for a bit.”

“Speaking from the dick was never a logical step.”

My only issue with this book was the ending, but it definitely didn’t ruin the book for me, or lower my overall rating. I still loved the book with my entire heart. Knowing there’s a sequel also helped quell my disappointment. Waiting until October is going to be torturous, but I’m so so so excited for the sequel!!!

Overall, I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book and HIGHLY recommend it for fans of Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera, as well as for fans of rom-coms and broadway musicals.

four-stars

Review: Guts by Raina Telgemeier

Oct2

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Guts by Raina TelgemeierGuts by Raina Telgemeier
Series: Smile #3
Published by Graphix on September 17, 2019
Pages: 213
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

A true story from Raina Telgemeier, the #1 New York Times bestselling, multiple Eisner Award-winning author of Smile, Sisters, Drama, and Ghosts!

Raina wakes up one night with a terrible upset stomach. Her mom has one, too, so it's probably just a bug. Raina eventually returns to school, where she's dealing with the usual highs and lows: friends, not-friends, and classmates who think the school year is just one long gross-out session. It soon becomes clear that Raina's tummy trouble isn't going away... and it coincides with her worries about food, school, and changing friendships. What's going on?

Raina Telgemeier once again brings us a thoughtful, charming, and funny true story about growing up and gathering the courage to face -- and conquer -- her fears.

As a bookseller, I’ve heard nothing but good things about Raina Telgemeier from the droves of kids who come in asking for her books. Guts was the first book of hers that I’ve read – and it certainly won’t be the last.

Guts was so ridiculously relatable, I just can’t even… Reading it was like an emotional rollercoaster. I swear, Raina was telling my story, not her own. I found myself nodding in agreement a lot… And also crying a lot. Very early in the beginning, Raina described herself as being a “Nervous kid. Self-conscious. Shy. Quiet… Most of the time” – the “most of the time” being the moments when she was talking about something she was excited for/obsessed with. This was 100% relatable.

Another really relatable thing? When Raina was being bullied by Michelle. The few times Raina lost her temper and lashed out at Michelle, RAINA got yelled at for being disruptive, but Michelle didn’t get yelled at for the bullying. I found this INFURIATING because it happened to me ALL THE TIME in elementary school.

When Raina goes to the therapist for the first time, there’s this great visual representation of what goes on in your head when you have depression and anxiety. Without giving away too many spoilers, the therapist asks Raina why she’s there, in her own words. The illustration shows ALL this stuff going through Rainas mind, but she just says “…I dunno.” This was suuuuuch a mood. Sometimes, it’s so hard to articulate what’s going on in your mind when you’re dealing with depression/anxiety/etc, so this was just SO SO relatable.

Also, I never realized fear of vomit was a thing until I read this, and it explains a lot!

So yeah.. As a reader, I highly recommend this to anyone who deals with mental health issues. It was just SO beautifully done, I can’t even put it into words. And as a children’s bookseller, I HIGHLY recommend this one to those who enjoyed Raina’s other books – you’ll DEFINITELY enjoy this one, too. It’s especially great for kids who are dealing with anxiety and other mental health issues. It can be difficult for kids to talk to adults about this kind of stuff for various reasons, and I think this book is the perfect gateway for kids to open this discussion. I think it will help them feel less alone.

~*~*~

Favorite Quotes:

“Can you be sick even if you’re not sick? Can you be healthy even if you hurt?”

“Thoughts can exist. Feelings can exist. But words do not exist.”

“It sounds like you have a lot of stressful things going on in your life!”

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

“You … only have control over yourself … “

five-stars

Review: The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner (Blog Tour)

Sep4

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner (Blog Tour)The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner
Published by Aladdin on September 3, 2019
Pages: 272
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

Sabrina the Teenage Witch meets Roller Girl in this hilarious, one-of-a-kind graphic novel about a half-witch who has just discovered the truth about herself, her family, and her town and is doing her best to survive middle school now that she knows everything!

Magic is harder than it looks.

Thirteen-year-old Moth Hush loves all things witchy. But she’s about to discover that witches aren’t just the stuff of movies, books, and spooky stories. When some eighth-grade bullies try to ruin her Halloween, something really strange happens. It turns out that Founder’s Bluff, Massachusetts, has a centuries-old history of witch drama. And, surprise: Moth’s family is at the center of it all! When Moth’s new powers show up, things get totally out-of-control. She meets a talking cat, falls into an enchanted diary, and unlocks a hidden witch world. Secrets surface from generations past as Moth unravels the complicated legacy at the heart of her town, her family, and herself.

In this spellbinding graphic novel debut, Emma Steinkellner spins a story packed with humor and heart about the weird and wonderful adventures of a witch-in-progress.

Hey, everyone! I’m SO excited to be on the blog tour for The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner (September 3, 2019 – Aladdin)! Without further adieu, here’s my review!

~*~*~

As a kids bookseller, I’m a HUGE proponent of graphic novels, and love explaining to parents all the benefits of letting their kids read them. Yet, personally, I actually haven’t read that many. I always shrugged it off and said they just “weren’t for me.” But then the email for The Okay Witch slid into my inbox and the description had me hooked! And boy, am I glad I gave this one a shot! It was absolutely incredible! I read it in one sitting, could barely put it down, and now desperately want the sequel!

Moth was adorable and super relatable. I loved going on this journey with her. Mr. Laszlo, the talking Jewish cat, was definitely one of my favorite characters. He was hilarious and snarky and I love him! Move over, Salem, you’ve been replaced – Mr. Laszlo knocked you out of the number one spot in my “Favorite Talking Cats” list, hehe :) I also adored Charlie. He had a great character arc! I didn’t trust him for awhile in the middle, but I like how his story ended. I can’t say much more about him without spoilers, though.

The town name “Founder’s Bluff” reminded me of Mystic Falls for some reason, so I got some Vampire Diaries vibes thanks to that. I had some Hocus Pocus vibes, mostly because witches, I think. I also had MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR Halloweentown vibes!! Moth reminded me so much of Marnie – the part human/part witch whose mother hid her magic from her, and who is now eager to learn about magic and her powers.

I LOVED LOVED LOVED the illustrations in this. Since it was an ARC, only the first few chapters were in color and then the rest of it was black and white, so it goes without saying that I’m super anxious to get my hands on a finished copy and re-read it in all it’s colorful glory.

Overall, I REALLY adored this book – if you couldn’t tell from my excited, ramble-filled review. I can officially see why people love graphic novels, and why they sometimes use graphic novels to break reading slumps. It was so nice finishing this in one sitting and enjoying it as much as I did. That hasn’t happened in a LONG time. I also feel more confident about recommending graphic novels at work, now that I’ve read one! And I definitely plan on reading more in the future!

I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves graphic novels, witches, and awesome coming-of-age novels/movies.etc. Sabrina fans will definitely enjoy this, as well!

five-stars

Review: Wilder Girls by Rory Power

Aug9

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Wilder Girls by Rory PowerWilder Girls by Rory Power
Published by Delacorte Press on July 9, 2019
Pages: 353
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
three-stars

It's been eighteen months since the Raxter School for Girls was put under quarantine. Since the Tox hit and pulled Hetty's life out from under her.

It started slow. First the teachers died one by one. Then it began to infect the students, turning their bodies strange and foreign. Now, cut off from the rest of the world and left to fend for themselves on their island home, the girls don't dare wander outside the school's fence, where the Tox has made the woods wild and dangerous. They wait for the cure they were promised as the Tox seeps into everything.

But when Byatt goes missing, Hetty will do anything to find her, even if it means breaking quarantine and braving the horrors that lie beyond the fence. And when she does, Hetty learns that there's more to their story, to their life at Raxter, than she could have ever thought true.

This book was such a wild ride. I honestly still don’t really know how I feel about it. I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it but it was weird but it was intriguing but but but… I really don’t even know. I think this is the most conflicted my feeling have been over a book in a VERY long time, if ever. The writing was very choppy and hard to follow in the beginning, but I got used to it after awhile. I was kind of meh on the characters, but started really enjoying it when we got Byatt’s POV.

I really loved the idea of the Tox and wanted more. I wanted to know what it was, how it came to be, why it effected everyone so differently, etc. When it came to the Tox, I was suspicious of literally everyone and everything. I kept thinking there was going to be some kind of huge reveal about it, like that the government had released it by accident (re: The Crazies), or maybe even on purpose. I was truly intrigued by it, and I’m still not sure if I was satisfied or not with the final reveal of what it was. Plus, I was a bit thrown off by some of the science and logistics because some of it really didn’t make sense. I can do the whole “suspension of disbelief” to a certain extent, but there were too many questions with this one.

The last 80-100 pages were the most thrilling/intriguing. A lot happened, a lot was revealed, and a lot was left unanswered. I don’t think it’s too much of a spoiler to say the ending was left pretty open-ended. It almost reminded me of a horror/thriller movie where they do the same thing, and you’re left with more questions than answers.

So, overall, I think I liked this book more than I expected to, but it still had some meh moments. I think it would make an excellent movie. It’s very visual and I’d like to SEE some of that visual. I also want more stories from this world, but I want DIFFERENT stories from DIFFERENT characters. Even different time periods, like before the Tox (but like BEFORE Hetty, Byatt and Reese were on the island.. Maybe we’ll find out this has happened before). I’d also like to see a story that’s set after the events of the book but with different characters. My favorite would be if there was a sequel set maybe 50 years later, and the island is abandoned and then some teens decide to spend the night partying there and share ghost stories of what happened, and then they all suddenly get infected or get haunted by the spirits of the dead, or the wildlife and animals attack them, or the girls who went “feral” are there and attack them or or or… *Clears throat* Can you tell I watch too many made-for-TV horror movies? Hehe. But in my defense, this really would all make an EXCELLENT horror movie.

Anyway.. So, yes.. I think I can safely say I recommend this to anyone who loves creepy thriller horror dark books and movies. This one will def leave you with lots of thoughts and questions. I don’t recommend it if you don’t like cliffhanger endings in stand-alone books, though. Because it definitely leaves you guessing.

three-stars

Review: There’s Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon

Jun17

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: There’s Something About Sweetie by Sandhya MenonThere's Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon
Series: Dimple and Rishi #2
Published by Simon Pulse on May 14, 2019
Pages: 384
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

The irresistible companion novel to the New York Times bestseller When Dimple Met Rishi, which follows Rishi’s brother, Ashish, and a confident fat athlete named Sweetie as they both discover what love means to them.

Ashish Patel didn’t know love could be so…sucky. After being dumped by his ex-girlfriend, his mojo goes AWOL. Even worse, his parents are annoyingly, smugly confident they could find him a better match. So, in a moment of weakness, Ash challenges them to set him up.

The Patels insist that Ashish date an Indian-American girl—under contract. Per subclause 1(a), he’ll be taking his date on “fun” excursions like visiting the Hindu temple and his eccentric Gita Auntie. Kill him now. How is this ever going to work?

Sweetie Nair is many things: a formidable track athlete who can outrun most people in California, a loyal friend, a shower-singing champion. Oh, and she’s also fat. To Sweetie’s traditional parents, this last detail is the kiss of death.

Sweetie loves her parents, but she’s so tired of being told she’s lacking because she’s fat. She decides it’s time to kick off the Sassy Sweetie Project, where she’ll show the world (and herself) what she’s really made of.

Ashish and Sweetie both have something to prove. But with each date they realize there’s an unexpected magic growing between them. Can they find their true selves without losing each other?

I finished this awhile ago, but I’ve put off reviewing it because I’ve been in a review slump and I feel like my reviews are just all babble and crap lately. However, I really loved this book and really wanted to get this review posted already. So.. Here goes nothing!

This book was beyond incredible. I really enjoyed When Dimple Met Rishi, but I loved this book even more. Sweetie, as a fat girl, was so incredibly relatable. Many times while reading, I found myself nodding or crying – or both – to the things Sweetie said/felt, or the things other people said to her. ESPECIALLY HER MOTHER. Amma just… ARRGGHHH. OMG don’t even get me started.. I can’t even discuss this.. Not because of spoilers, but because I’ll get angry all over again and start crying.

I ADORED Ashish. And felt so bad for him. As much as I liked Rishi, I could tell right from the moment Ashish stepped onto the page (in When Dimple Met Rishi) that Rishi was too hard on him and too judgmental of his actions. But now, seeing Ashish’s cool, aloof self so broken up about Celia, it makes my heart break for him even more. He tries SO hard to act tough, but everyone has their limits.

Elijah and Oliver were BEYOND adorable. And I totally predicted Samir and Pinky would get a book before it was even announced – SO PUMPED FOR IT!!!!

The ending of this book was absolute, utter perfection. I loved it so much, I can’t even put it into words. Like… There’s so much more I want to say about this book, but… review slump. And babble. I want to avoid babbling like an idiot. I want to do this book justice. So I’m going to leave it here and just recommend the CRAP out of this book. Like, please please please read it. It was SO AMAZING!!!!

five-stars