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  • Tag: ARC

    • Mini Reviews

      Posted at 10:59 am by Laura, on June 13, 2020

      Once again I’m several weeks behind on reviews…months, even. This post will contain mini reviews of historical fiction I read in March through May!

      ~

      The Other Windsor Girl by Georgie Blalock (★★★)

       

      For fans of royal drama, The Crown, and “beach read”-style historical fiction, this is right up your alley. The novel is about Princess Margaret through the eyes of her (fictional) lady-in-waiting, Vera. Vera is a lower peer whose dream is to become a respectable published author. Her romance novels under a pen name prove successful, as Princess Margaret is a fan. Swept up in royal drama and the whirlwind that is Margaret’s life and personality, Vera loses sight of authorhood to devote all her energies to the royal.

      The novel spans about 10 years or so, from just before Queen Elizabeth’s coronation to Princess Margaret’s marriage to Tony. The writing was engaging enough for a novel that seemed to lose direction (though to be fair, it would make sense as Vera’s life is put entirely on hold to serve the princess). Characters felt a little two-dimensional, so it made for a quick read. However, if you’re at all familiar with the royal family’s history, and understand protocol, addressing royals/peerage, and the nicknames for things, this novel will grate a bit. I had to stop reading the Her Majesties and Ladies and Your Graces (and “Buck Place”) because it was all oh-so-painfully wrong.

      But! If you love historical fiction and you’re seeking a light, escapist read, this is just the ticket! 

      This qualifies for my TBR & genre challenge!

      A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas (★★★)

      Big thanks to my library for their vast digital collection! I finished listening to A Study in Scarlet Women on Hoopla, and enjoyed it overall. I liked the twist on the Sherlock Holmes narrative—still Victorian London, but Holmes and Watson are women and shocking society with their gender assumptions—and found the writing to be engaging enough to see what’s in store next. Thomas really brought London to life, and all the expectations and social norms of society and women’s roles really made for clever cover-ups and murder motives. I have the other audiobooks saved in my Hoopla account now––interested in seeing where this goes.

      This qualifies for my library books & genre challenge!

      All the Ways We Said Goodbye by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White (★★★)

      I’d listened to the W Trio’s work before (Glass Ocean) and did not enjoy it. Though I was impressed I wasn’t able to tell the authors apart, it just didn’t have that forward momentum for me.

      Flash forward to this novel—where three narratives are connected via the Hotel Ritz in Paris—and it was a massive improvement. Though I’d figured out/guessed all the connections and twists halfway into the novel, I wanted to power through to the end to see how it would be revealed to the characters. Aurilie is determined to save her family estate in WWI but she’s fallen in love with a German officer; Daisy’s husband in WWII is a Nazi-sympathizer and she stumbles into the Resistance; and Babs is a young widow in 1960s, uncovering her husband’s war work secrets with a spy. The settings felt so tangible, the hotel glamorous and a character wholly its own. The dialogue was engaging and I felt the characters’ emotions deeply—hard to do with so many POVs!

      I’d hoped to see/feel more of the wars and spy work, but I also believe this was meant to be more of a historical romance (or trio of romances) more than anything else. And if that’s the case, it was very well done! I personally would love to see more of Daisy’s grandmother…she would make an excellent character study. 

      This qualifies for my library books & genre challenge!

      The Paper Girl of Paris by Jordyn Taylor (ARC) (★★★)

      Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this galley from HarperTeen for review!

      A lovely historical/contemporary parallel narrative about a teen who discovers her grandmother’s abandoned Paris apartment, and the secret sister she never knew Gram had.

      I enjoyed this for what it was: a sweet Anna and the French Kiss narrative in modern day (with a dash of seriousness with mental health that I wish was developed further to give the weight it deserved) and a French Resistance historical to excite any histfic reader. It had a blend of younger YA meeting older YA. The historical narrative felt almost adult to me—which seems fair, WWII generation had to grow up fast. I enjoyed the sense of adventure and research Alice (modern) put into discovering Adalyn’s (hist) past. What was meant to be a summer of cleaning out Gram’s secret Paris apartment turned into all sorts of deeper surprises into Gram’s past and ties with her family. What appears like sympathizing with the enemy is really spy work.

      If there are more hist/contemp parallel narratives in YA, I’m not familiar with them—this was my first experience within YA. I love parallel narratives in adult and seeing how it all ties together. Either because I’ve read so many, or maybe it was the new experience in YA itself, I’d guessed everything about halfway through. I would’ve appreciated a bit more secrecy and a more satisfying conclusion.

      However, this is meant for teens. I think a teen reader would appreciate the twists and turns, the parallels, the setting, the dip into historical fiction, the balance of upper and lower YA. (Plus, I was totally that teen who loved books about diaries and abandoned homes full of secrets!) I’d definitely recommend this.

      This qualifies for my genre challenge!

      Posted in books, Reviews 2020 | 1 Comment | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, genre: adult fiction, genre: historical fiction, genre: young adult, mini review
    • Book Review: “The Harp of Kings” by Juliet Marillier (ARC)

      Posted at 7:45 am by Laura, on October 24, 2019

      The Harp of Kings by Juliet Marillier

      Publisher: Ace
      Published: September 2019
      Genre: fantasy
      ISBN: 9780451492784
      Rating: 
      ★★★★

      Eighteen-year-old Liobhan is a powerful singer and an expert whistle player. Her brother has a voice to melt the hardest heart, and a rare talent on the harp. But Liobhan’s burning ambition is to join the elite warrior band on Swan Island. She and her brother train there to compete for places, and find themselves joining a mission while still candidates. Their unusual blend of skills makes them ideal for this particular job, which requires going undercover as traveling minstrels. For Swan Island trains both warriors and spies.

      Their mission: to find and retrieve a precious harp, an ancient symbol of kingship, which has gone mysteriously missing. If the instrument is not played at the upcoming coronation, the candidate will not be accepted and the people could revolt. Faced with plotting courtiers and tight-lipped druids, an insightful storyteller, and a boorish Crown Prince, Liobhan soon realizes an Otherworld power may be meddling in the affairs of the kingdom. When ambition clashes with conscience, Liobhan must make a bold decision and is faced with a heartbreaking choice. . .

      Thank you, Ace and EW+, for the digital galley for review!

      In this new fantasy—laced with the uncanny, the Fair Folk, music, and Marillier’s natural ability to dive into the complicated layers of characters’ psyches, history, and motivations—Liobhan is training to be a Swan Island warrior with her brother Brocc when they are sent on a mission: to find the missing Harp of Kings and restore it to the druids before Midsummer’s ceremony to crown the next king. They travel with their competitor Dau under disguise and infiltrate the prince’s household—but the prince is…not the best choice to lead these people. Trigger warnings for assault and animal cruelty.

      Each of our three warriors have their own story and motivations, and I identified most strongly with Dau and Liobhan. Brocc’s narrative reminded me so much of Shadowfell, and Liobhan felt like a warrior-version of Sorcha in Daughter of the Forest. They’re all strong-willed and determined to complete their mission, but because Prince Rodan is a threat to his people, they need the Fair Folk’s assistance to shine light on the true leader of the kingdom.

      Diving into a Marillier is a treat, and this felt both familiar and refreshingly new all at once. I thoroughly enjoyed the read, and I liked that the pacing was a bit faster than her usual style. That said, I do prefer her single POV, lush and beautiful writing narratives, too. Any one of her characters could’ve taken center stage — their voices and arcs were very distinct and well-developed.

      Music, action, druids, courtly intrigue, and Irish faeries as they should be—what more could you want from a Marillier novel?

      This qualifies as book 1 of my Gabaldon / Marillier challenge.

      Posted in books, Reviews 2019 | 0 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: fantasy, review
    • Book Review: “The Flatshare” by Beth O’Leary (ARC)

      Posted at 7:15 am by Laura, on May 30, 2019

      The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary

      Publisher: Flatiron
      Published: May 2019
      Genre: women’s fiction
      ISBN: 9781250295637
      Rating: 
      ★★★★★

      After a bad breakup, Tiffy Moore needs a place to live. Fast. And cheap. But the apartments in her budget have her wondering if astonishingly colored mold on the walls counts as art.

      Desperation makes her open minded, so she answers an ad for a flatshare. Leon, a night shift worker, will take the apartment during the day, and Tiffy can have it nights and weekends. He’ll only ever be there when she’s at the office. In fact, they’ll never even have to meet.

      Tiffy and Leon start writing each other notes – first about what day is garbage day, and politely establishing what leftovers are up for grabs, and the evergreen question of whether the toilet seat should stay up or down. Even though they are opposites, they soon become friends. And then maybe more.

      But falling in love with your roommate is probably a terrible idea…especially if you’ve never met.

      Tiffy needs to move into a cheap flat fast. Leon needs a little extra cash to pay his rent. Their arrangement is perfect for their needs — Tiffy works during the day and will sleep at the flat at night and on weekends; Leon works overnight and will sleep at the flat during the day and spend weekends with his girlfriend. Though they’ve never met, they begin to learn one another’s habits, get to know the triumphs and woes through culinary experiments and leftovers, and soon the post-it notes of quick information decorate the flat with full out conversations. As the weeks pass and feelings deepen, Tiffy and Leon must decide if falling for your flatmate is the right step for them.

      The premise for the novel is a standard, run-of-the-mill, surface-level romcom of meet cutes and bizarre situations. But this surprised me in the best way: the depth, the level of care, and the attention to Tiffy’s gaslighting ex-boyfriend was phenomenal. I cannot recommend this book enough to anyone who has been emotionally abused, or someone who is friends with a person recovering from gaslighting, or someone who loves a person who was emotionally abused or gaslit. Every situation experienced, or Leon witnessed, is exactly the kind of scenario a person experiences when recovering from abusive situations. O’Leary did an absolutely fantastic job portraying this from all perspectives — from Tiffy’s waffling (abused) to Leon’s instinctual need to care or defend (lover), and Gerty’s aggressive tough love (angry friend) to Mo’s patience and understanding (therapist friend).

      That’s not to say this isn’t a lighthearted book, because it absolutely is! I laughed out loud so many times. I really loved Leon’s dry humor and big heart, and Tiffy’s quirky job as an editor at a niche hobby publisher. Some of the best moments between Tiffy and Leon are in their post-it note exchanges — with Tiffy’s long stories and Leon’s short and to-the-point commentary. His calm and relaxed demeanor compliments Tiffy’s outgoing and fun personality. Plus the secondary characters felt just as fully-developed and genuine as Tiffy and Leon. In many ways I think I’m a Gerty striving to be a Mo!

      A refreshing read wherein I felt so seen. A million thank yous to O’Leary for writing this. It’s gold.

      Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from Macmillan for review!

      Posted in books, Reviews 2019 | 1 Comment | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, review
    • Book Review: “The Kingdom of Copper” by SA Chakraborty (ARC)

      Posted at 7:30 am by Laura, on January 8, 2019

      The Kingdom of Copper by SA Chakraborty

      Publisher: Harper Voyager
      Publishing Date: January 22
      Genre: fantasy
      ISBN: 9780062678133
      Rating: 
      ★★★★★

      With Daevabad entrenched in the dark aftermath of a devastating battle, Nahri must forge a new path for herself. But even as she embraces her heritage and the power it holds, she knows she’s been trapped in a gilded cage, watched by a king who rules from the throne that once belonged to her family—and one misstep will doom her tribe..

      Meanwhile, Ali has been exiled for daring to defy his father. Hunted by assassins, adrift on the unforgiving copper sands of his ancestral land, he is forced to rely on the frightening abilities the marid—the unpredictable water spirits—have gifted him. But in doing so, he threatens to unearth a terrible secret his family has long kept buried.

      And as a new century approaches and the djinn gather within Daevabad’s towering brass walls for celebrations, a threat brews unseen in the desolate north. It’s a force that would bring a storm of fire straight to the city’s gates . . . and one that seeks the aid of a warrior trapped between worlds, torn between a violent duty he can never escape and a peace he fears he will never deserve.

      Five years after the traumatizing attack on those Nahri held most dear, Nahri is married to the emir, trying to establish a home for herself in a kingdom run by a controlling madman, and searching for that spark of inspiration and hope for Daevabad’s inhabitants. Ali, meanwhile, has been exiled to the sands, and is struggling to control his new water magic, twisting it to be useful for the people of the desert rather than something to cause destruction. As a generation celebration draws near, Ali is summoned home and Nahri must work alongside him to restore a ruined hospital, a symbol of peace and hope for the city. Little do they know that a warrior is in their midst, and every fine thread they’ve grappled to hold onto will snap in the blink of an eye.

      The Kingdom of Copper was one of my most anticipated reads for 2019. I adored the first of the trilogy, and this book held up to my expectations. It’s just as heart-pounding, adventurous, political, humorous, and heart-breaking! Nahri is fully immersed in court culture, trapped in a golden cage and struggling to find a way to express herself without fear of Ghassan’s wrath and tyrannical power. She’s also grown in her magic as well, and I thoroughly loved the way the palace speaks to her and answers her call. While The City of Brass introduced us to the politics and magic of this world, Kingdom of Copper immerses us further into its history, the way prejudices run deep, and introduces us to the vast array of creatures and their abilities. From beginning to end, I was immersed in the magic of these pages. The fate of Daevabad lies in the family drama at the heart of the city.

      Thank you, Harper Voyager, for providing the galley for review!

      The rest of the review will contain spoilers. If you have not read The City of Brass yet and would like to remain unspoiled, please do not read below the break.


      Continue reading →

      Posted in books, Reviews 2019 | 1 Comment | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, genre: adult fiction, genre: fantasy, review, rock my TBR
    • Book Review: “Once Upon a River” by Diane Setterfield (ARC)

      Posted at 6:45 am by Laura, on December 5, 2018

      Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield

      Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
      Publishing Date: December 4
      Genre: historical fiction, gothic
      ISBN: 9780743298070
      Rating: 
      ★★★.5

      A dark midwinter’s night in an ancient inn on the Thames. The regulars are entertaining themselves by telling stories when the door bursts open on an injured stranger. In his arms is the drowned corpse of a little child.

      Hours later the dead girl stirs, takes a breath and returns to life.

      Is it a miracle?

      Is it magic?

      Or can it be explained by science?

      Replete with folklore, suspense and romance, as well as with the urgent scientific curiosity of the Darwinian age, Once Upon a River is as richly atmospheric as Setterfield’s bestseller The Thirteenth Tale.

      In a pub known for its storytellers, nestled along the Thames, an injured and soaked man stumbles across the threshold, carrying what looks to be a drowned girl. But as the evening bustles to care for the strangers, a nurse and the innkeeper’s son both realize the girl is neither dead nor alive. And yet, she awakens. Three different people claim her as their lost daughter or sister, but the girl refuses to speak. Is she really who the others claim, does she belong to someone else, and how is it she managed to be neither alive nor dead when she appeared at The Swan?

      Setterfield’s The Thirteenth Tale is one of my all-time favorite novels. Though Bellman & Black hasn’t quite captured my attention, I knew from the jacket of this book that Setterfield was back in her game with Once Upon a River — atmospheric, absorbing, and full of wonder.

      The little girl’s arrival sparks an interesting scientific and fantastical discussion on life, death, and the in-between. The inn’s patrons are natural storytellers, and as they watch and soak up every minute detail of her appearance and life following the inn, you begin to wonder yourself, as the reader, how she came to be and what exactly happened. Rita, the nurse (and probably my favorite character!), relies on science to find the answers to the little girl’s situation, but nothing scientific comes to light. This sparks a philosophical discussion about God, about myths and legends and fantasies, and how to grapple with the unknown.

      Setterfield writes the narrative like the tributaries leading to the Thames — little, seemingly insignificant stories and characters grow and develop into a powerful flood of emotion, drama, and enlightenment by the story’s end. This is a novel that begs to be read slowly, savored, and not rushed or skimmed. Like the storytellers at The Swan, this too feels like a fairytale, to be read by a warm fire, in a cozy chair, with hot tea in hand.

      Posted in books, Reviews 2018 | 8 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, genre: adult fiction, genre: gothic, genre: historical fiction, review
    • Book Review: “The Clockmaker’s Daughter” by Kate Morton (ARC)

      Posted at 6:15 am by Laura, on September 24, 2018

      The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton

      Publisher: Atria Books
      Publishing: October 9
      Genre: historical, contemporary
      ISBN: 9781451649390
      Rating: 
      ★★★★★

      “My real name, no one remembers. The truth about that summer, no one else knows.”

      In the summer of 1862, a group of young artists led by the passionate and talented Edward Radcliffe descends upon Birchwood Manor on the banks of the Upper Thames. Their plan: to spend a secluded summer month in a haze of inspiration and creativity. But by the time their stay is over, one woman has been shot dead while another has disappeared; a priceless heirloom is missing; and Edward Radcliffe’s life is in ruins.

      Over one hundred and fifty years later, Elodie Winslow, a young archivist in London, uncovers a leather satchel containing two seemingly unrelated items: a sepia photograph of an arresting-looking woman in Victorian clothing, and an artist’s sketchbook containing the drawing of a twin-gabled house on the bend of a river.

      Why does Birchwood Manor feel so familiar to Elodie? And who is the beautiful woman in the photograph? Will she ever give up her secrets?

      It has taken me forever to write this review (at the time of writing this, I’ve since read ten novels), in large part because it’s now my favorite Morton (knocking The House at Riverton to second) and because I have difficulty putting favorite novels by long-standing favorite authors into reviewing words. Morton’s novels are like Rowling’s Harry Potter to me. Rowling was there for my childhood and teen years, and my love affair with the series continues on; Morton was there in my young and early adulthood, showing me that romantic Gothic fiction is still around and accessible and full of wonder, like being with an old friend and picking up where things left off. I adore Morton’s work.

      The Clockmaker’s Daughter is not about clocks, or about a daughter assisting her father making clocks, or anything that title and cover image may suggest. It is very much about time, family secrets, loss, and everything that can happen within one beautiful manor house. It’s classic Morton, and this time — thanks to the clockmaker’s daughter’s narrative voice — the Birchwood Manor is a character in itself. Birchwood links all of the narrative threads together, a touchstone within this gorgeous novel that you love to come back home to.

      First there’s Elodie. She’s a quiet sort, intelligent, observant, a bit of a wallflower, and my kindred spirit. I fell for her instantly. She’s an archivist in London for a private art collection. When a package is discovered in a back room containing a leather satchel with a photograph of a beautiful woman and a sketchbook, Elodie sets out to link the two together and uncover the mystery of why the package was there, why it wasn’t archived, and how these were related to the man whose collection she works for.

      But this isn’t her story. It’s Birdie’s. It’s Juliet’s. It’s Edward’s. It’s Ada’s. It’s Leonard’s and Tip’s and Lucy’s. This is probably the most perspectives Morton’s had in a novel, and at first it’s a little jarring, I’ll admit — but hang on. Birdie and Birchwood Manor will bring you back, and soon you’ll be making the surprisingly and thrilling connections that all these people have with one another and with Birchwood Manor.

      Birchwood began as a magical summer home, later bequeathed to Edward and his friends. After a terrible accident and misunderstanding, it falls to ruin. Edward’s sister Lucy spruces up the manor and turns it into a girl’s school, where Ada attends and learns all about geology and archaeology and independence with Lucy. But war hits, and Birchwood is left once more. Leonard, seeking solace, finds it to be a place of refuge, and Juliet a lovely home for her children, including Tip, in the country.

      But most of all, it’s the way Birdie connects these people to this manor, and her tragedy. It broke my heart, gently, softly, the only way Morton can and does every time. I had Secret Garden and Little Princess vibes throughout the novel, and Tip’s curiosity reminded me so much of Uncle Desmond in “About Time.” I loved this book to pieces. I don’t know what I was expecting — definitely something more with clocks! — but this was infinitely better.

      The Clockmaker’s Daughter is a quietly vibrant novel about love, murder, mystery, loss, art, and the constant flowing river of time. Fans of Morton’s earlier work will not be disappointed.

      Thank you, Atria Books, for providing the galley on Edelweiss for review!

      Posted in books, Reviews 2018 | 6 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, genre: historical fiction, review
    • Book Review: “Spinning Silver” by Naomi Novik (ARC)

      Posted at 6:20 am by Laura, on June 26, 2018

      37168303Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

      Publisher: Del Rey
      Publishing Date: July 10
      Genre: fantasy
      ISBN: 9780399180989
      Rating: 
      ★★★★

      Miryem is the daughter and granddaughter of moneylenders… but her father isn’t a very good one. Free to lend and reluctant to collect, he has loaned out most of his wife’s dowry and left the family on the edge of poverty–until Miryem steps in. Hardening her heart against her fellow villagers’ pleas, she sets out to collect what is owed–and finds herself more than up to the task. When her grandfather loans her a pouch of silver pennies, she brings it back full of gold.

      But having the reputation of being able to change silver to gold can be more trouble than it’s worth–especially when her fate becomes tangled with the cold creatures that haunt the wood, and whose king has learned of her reputation and wants to exploit it for reasons Miryem cannot understand.

      Miryem’s family is falling further into poverty as winter continues to wage battle on her village. She takes it upon herself to collect the debts owed her father the night it seems her mother may die. As she brings in wealth for her family, the Staryk — the creatures of bitter cold, snow, and ice — take notice of her abilities to turn silver to gold, and bargain with her. One bargain turns into another, and soon enough Miryem has trapped herself and others in the kingdom in a vicious battle between humanity and demons.

      This was immensely darker, far more rooted in Eastern European lore, and heavy with Jewish custom and atmosphere, than Uprooted ever was (and you know how much I loved the idea of a forest as the enemy). And though a part of me wondered if anything good would ever happen for these characters, any ounce of hope, I have to say it: this was even better than Uprooted. If that was even possible.

      The women in this novel were so varied, so strong, and so kickass! Miryem takes up the family business out of survival and necessity. Soon Miryem’s family hires Wanda, a young woman who needs to be away from her father and save her brothers from his wrath. Miryem and a family friend design Staryk silver jewelry to sell to the duke’s daughter Irina, to help her become tsarina. Irina’s servant and motherly figure watches with pride and anticipation as Irina battles the demon inside the tsar.

      There are other voices in this novel, and it was so neat to see the way Novik weaves them together throughout the chapters. Each person truly had a different voice, without chapter name indicators as is so often done in multi-POV, depending on their socioeconomic status, age, and level of education. These context clues (up until their name is addressed by another character) add so many layers to the story. It was a beautiful and enchanting read.

      At its core, it’s more than an Eastern European spin on “Rumpelstiltskin.” It also has the beating heart of Jewish history and culture. The novel has this pulsing ache of despair coupled with the determined urgency to find hope. The characters, most especially Miryem, will do whatever it takes to save family, friends, and loved ones, and to find that sense of peace, hope, and joy at the end of this long tunnel of desperation and doubt. To see it played out like this — and how the consequences of one character’s actions impact a whole country, an entire kingdom — was an adventure in and of itself.

      Those final sentences? Slay me. I die.

      Spinning Silver will capture your heart and hold fast from beginning to end.

      Thank you, Del Rey, for providing this book at PLA for review!

      Posted in books, Reviews 2018 | 2 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: fantasy, review
    • Book Review: “From Twinkle, With Love” by Sandhya Menon (ARC)

      Posted at 6:15 am by Laura, on May 8, 2018

      36373464From Twinkle, With Love by Sandhya Menon

      Publisher: Simon Pulse
      Publishing Date: May 22
      Genre: young adult, contemporary
      ISBN: 9781481495400
      Rating: 
      ★★★.5

      Aspiring filmmaker and wallflower Twinkle Mehra has stories she wants to tell and universes she wants to explore, if only the world would listen. So when fellow film geek Sahil Roy approaches her to direct a movie for the upcoming Summer Festival, Twinkle is all over it. The chance to publicly showcase her voice as a director? Dream come true. The fact that it gets her closer to her longtime crush, Neil Roy—a.k.a. Sahil’s twin brother? Dream come true x 2.

      When mystery man “N” begins emailing her, Twinkle is sure it’s Neil, finally ready to begin their happily-ever-after. The only slightly inconvenient problem is that, in the course of movie-making, she’s fallen madly in love with the irresistibly adorkable Sahil.

      Twinkle soon realizes that resistance is futile: The romance she’s got is not the one she’s scripted. But will it be enough?

      Twinkle has so many stories she wants to tell to inspire and empower, but she sees herself as a lowly “groundling,” someone too low to aspire to new heights. Especially since it feels like her BFF, Maddie, is already up there with the rich and popular crowd, leaving Twinkle behind. But when Sahil, twin brother to Twinkle’s crush Neil, offers to be a producer for one of her directed films for the local film festival, Twinkle sees this as her chance: to get closer to Neil, to win Maddie back, and to shine in the light. But as she works closely with Sahil and interacts more with the catty crowd Maddie’s around, she starts to wonder if what she wants is really worth the price to pay for fame.

      This was a good, fun, clean YA that fans of When Dimple Met Rishi and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before will enjoy. Secretive emails, misunderstood romantic gestures, losing oneself in the midst of a big project, and finding ways to repair friendships and their growing pains are all packed into this novel. I enjoyed the way we read Twinkle’s thoughts in her diary, interspersed with Sahil’s texts with his friends and his infrequent blog posts. This is primarily Twinkle’s story though, with her fully understanding first love versus first crush, and her spiral as she wants to misguidedly rescue her best friend.

      Though I didn’t enjoy it as much as Menon’s debut, I still enjoyed and appreciated the representation in here. The dynamics of friendship are always important to explore, and the ways in which we change and grow and adapt. Most of all, I liked the poverty rep in here. As someone who grew up in a thrifty family in the middle of an immensely wealthy community, I can understand Twinkle’s dilemmas. In fact, many of her interactions with classmates and their commentary on her poverty felt like exact conversations I experienced too — and my family was not as poor as Twinkle’s. This was refreshing to see, and I loved watching how Twinkle navigated “the system” with her head held high.

      Sahil, though. I shall call him Squishy, and he shall be mine, and he shall be my Squishy. Ugh, what an adorkable ball of witty and intuitive fluff. 12/10 would’ve totally crushed on this kid in high school.

      For anyone looking for a clean read, with adorable romantic bumbles and great commentary on maintaining friendship and the pains of social hierarchy, pick up this book!

      Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from Simon Pulse for review! 

      Posted in books, Reviews 2018 | 2 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: contemporary, genre: young adult, review
    • Book Review: “The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City” by Jodi Kendall

      Posted at 6:25 am by Laura, on November 15, 2017

      The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City by Jodi Kendall

      Publisher: HarperCollins Childrens
      Published: October 2017
      Genre: middle grade, contemporary
      ISBN: 9780062484536
      Rating: 
      ★★★★

      Josie Shilling’s family is too big, their cramped city house is too small, and she feels like no one’s ever on her side. Then, on Thanksgiving Day, her older brother, Tom, brings home a pink, squirmy bundle wrapped in an old football jersey—a piglet he rescued from a nearby farm. Her name is Hamlet.

      The minute Josie holds Hamlet, she feels an instant connection. But there’s no room for Hamlet in the crowded Shilling household. And whoever heard of keeping a pig in the city? So it’s up to Josie to find her a forever home.

      Josie’s brother brings home a runt piglet at Thanksgiving. This would’ve been okay if her family wasn’t so large, cramped in a fairly small townhouse in a big city with very little yard space and money to stretch. Josie doesn’t want her family to send the piglet back to the farm, and promises to find a home for little Hamlet before New Year’s Day. She wants to keep Hamlet, and does her very best to juggle all her usual responsibilities with chores, homework, and gymnastics practice. But as New Year’s Day draws near, and Hamlet grows larger, and the family faces big changes, Josie begins to wonder if she’ll ever find a nice home for Hamlet.

      This modern-day homage to Charlotte’s Web is absolutely perfect. It can stand completely on it’s own, or be read alongside the classic. The heart of the story is about love, family, sacrifice, and friendship. It rings true to any reader — a middle grade reader juggling school and extracurricular activities, the middle child who just wants to be noticed and appreciated, the teenager who wants to do right for all parties involved, and the adult continuing to experience all these things and recalling the big responsibilities, wishes, and dreams from childhood. It’s great for the whole family, especially during the holiday season.

      Kendall portrayed the big family lifestyle in a cramped home in the city so well. At times it felt claustrophobic, and others it felt warm and cozy. The family has their ups and downs, bickers and mishaps mixed with support and love. Nothing is picture perfect, but it takes little moments for Josie to realize her family does see her and her accomplishments, that she’s not lost in the noise. She has her insecurities and dreams, and it’s so neat seeing how they grow and change during her gymnastics season and taking care of little Hamlet.

      A heartwarming middle grade perfect for the whole family this holiday season.

      Thank you, HC Children’s editorial, for providing this ARC.

      Posted in books, Reviews 2017 | 1 Comment | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: contemporary, genre: middle grade, review
    • Book Review: “What to Say Next” by Julie Buxbaum (ARC)

      Posted at 5:25 am by Laura, on July 5, 2017

      What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum

      Publisher: Delacorte
      Publishing Date: July 11
      Genre: young adult, contemporary
      ISBN: 9780553535686
      Rating: 
      ★★★★.5

      Sometimes a new perspective is all that is needed to make sense of the world.

      KIT:I don’t know why I decide not to sit with Annie and Violet at lunch. It feels like no one here gets what I’m going through. How could they? I don’t even understand.

      DAVID:In the 622 days I’ve attended Mapleview High, Kit Lowell is the first person to sit at my lunch table. I mean, I’ve never once sat with someone until now. “So your dad is dead,” I say to Kit, because this is a fact I’ve recently learned about her.

      When an unlikely friendship is sparked between relatively popular Kit Lowell and socially isolated David Drucker, everyone is surprised, most of all Kit and David. Kit appreciates David’s blunt honesty—in fact, she finds it bizarrely refreshing. David welcomes Kit’s attention and her inquisitive nature. When she asks for his help figuring out the how and why of her dad’s tragic car accident, David is all in. But neither of them can predict what they’ll find. Can their friendship survive the truth?

      Kit’s father recently died in a car accident and she’s not ready to handle everyday life just yet. She knows David will be quiet and give her space and peace, so she sits down at his lunch table. David knows Kit’s dad just died, but he doesn’t quite understand why she of all people sat down at his lunch table of all places. The two form an unlikely friendship, with his very literal and honest view of the world and her need for straightforward conversation and understanding. When Kit asks David to help her solve the unsolvable (the hows of the accident), in a semi-rhetorical question for assistance, David will stop at nothing to find the answer. But will their friendship survive the truth?

      I laughed, I cried, I hugged my ereader. There are no words to describe the emotional rollercoaster this put me through. Kit’s situation could’ve easily dived into woe-is-me territory, but her grief was handled so well. Meanwhile David, the one who put me through the rollercoaster, is just trying to understand life and not let his autism get in the way.

      This has so much in it that’s so good and crucial for people to read. The switched perspectives — the “normal” one in grief and finding solace in another, the autistic one learning how to be a friend and finding joy in social interactions — really lent itself to the story. You see the social hierarchy in schools and how easily one can rise and fall. You see teenagers from different families putting loved ones on pedestals and watching parents or siblings not live up to that image, realizing we’re all human. You see the extent of bullying someone for being different, and on the flip-side you see the love and devotion to someone for their unique abilities and brilliant mind.

      I’m in awe. I could go on for ages about how much I wanted to work with autistic children back when I studied psychology (I believe autistic people are brilliant and wonderful and see the world in such beautiful, unique ways), but I’ll not do that. I’ll instead insist that you read this book when it comes out. It’s important that you do. You, too, will be speechless.

      Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from Delacorte for review.

      Posted in books, Reviews 2017 | 0 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: contemporary, genre: young adult, review
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    • Hello, I’m Laura!

      I'm a bookish bookworm and book hoarder. By day I'm a literary agent, and by night I'm forever rearranging my bookshelves. I could talk your ear off about Gothic literature, and in my past life people thought I'd become a professional musician. I have a fluffy black cat named Rossetti, I love to knit, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm obsessed with popcorn. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!
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