Tag: ARC

• Book Review: “When Dimple Met Rishi” by Sandhya Menon (ARC)

  Posted at 3:15 am by Laura, on May 17, 2017

  When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

  Publisher: Simon Pulse
  Publishing Date: May 30
  Genre: young adult, contemporary, romance
  ISBN: 9781481478687
  Rating: ★★★★

  Dimple Shah has it all figured out. With graduation behind her, she’s more than ready for a break from her family, from Mamma’s inexplicable obsession with her finding the “Ideal Indian Husband.” Ugh. Dimple knows they must respect her principles on some level, though. If they truly believed she needed a husband right now, they wouldn’t have paid for her to attend a summer program for aspiring web developers…right?

  Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic. So when his parents tell him that his future wife will be attending the same summer program as him—wherein he’ll have to woo her—he’s totally on board. Because as silly as it sounds to most people in his life, Rishi wants to be arranged, believes in the power of tradition, stability, and being a part of something much bigger than himself.

  The Shahs and Patels didn’t mean to start turning the wheels on this “suggested arrangement” so early in their children’s lives, but when they noticed them both gravitate toward the same summer program, they figured, Why not?

  Dimple wants nothing more than to be away from her family, immersing herself in college life and web development and all things coding. Rishi wants nothing more than to continue honoring his cultural roots, experiencing that big sweeping romance his parents had when they were arranged to be married. Little do they know, once their parents got wind both teens were interested in the same summer program, the arranged marriage between them would start taking flight earlier than expected.

  I thoroughly enjoyed this romantic comedy. Everything about it screamed nerdy cute fun flails, and I especially loved the cultural elements in here. Though the novel did fall into some stereotypical YA tropes, I let it slide in favor of the great story beneath it all.

  First, Dimple is such a fierce, determined, energetic young woman eager to embark on her own adventures and govern her own life by her own rules. I wanted to squeeze her in a hug every time she spoke up about feminism, females in the tech industry, and combining two cultures (being American and being Indian) instead of ignoring one and embracing another. I understood where she came from…but I also understood where Rishi came from! He’s such an artistic, romantic soul, who has to live up to his parents’ expectations. The difference is that he doesn’t find it to be a burden, at least not at first. As their romance blossoms, they both learn from one another — Dimple the importance of tradition and respect, Rishi the importance of independence and openness.

  Second, the diversity in this novel isn’t a problem that needs fixing. There’s no agenda here. It’s open and honest and a character of the story. It’s not an issue, it’s just another life we have the privilege to experience and learn about. First generation Americans have that tough in-between role to play: living up to parents’ expectations within the “old” culture and traditions, and living up to friends’/society’s expectations within the “new” culture. Too often first generation Americans are asked, “Where are you from?” And in many ways, that’s shared in this novel too. I highly recommend reading this if you want to add more diversity to your TBR. Experience America through another’s eyes, and experience another culture’s expectations within America through two different perspectives. It’s bound to start conversations!

  Though some major YA tropes do occur in this novel (all possible relationship milestones occur within six weeks, to give you an idea without blatantly spoiling), it didn’t take away from the entertainment and enjoyment of a feel-good contemporary romcom on a sunny California campus with a bunch of app-development nerds.

  When Dimple Met Rishi is perfect for fans of Anna and the French Kiss. Get your hands on this book ASAP!

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

  Posted in books, Reviews 2017 | 6 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: contemporary, genre: romance, genre: young adult, review

• Book Review: “Windfall” by Jennifer E. Smith (ARC)

  Posted at 3:45 am by Laura, on May 12, 2017

  Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith

  Publisher: Delacorte
  Published: May 2017
  Genre: young adult, contemporary
  ISBN: 9780399559372
  Rating: ★★★.75

  Alice doesn’t believe in luck—at least, not the good kind. But she does believe in love, and for some time now, she’s been pining for her best friend, Teddy. On his eighteenth birthday—just when it seems they might be on the brink of something—she buys him a lottery ticket on a lark. To their astonishment, he wins $140 million, and in an instant, everything changes.

  At first, it seems like a dream come true, especially since the two of them are no strangers to misfortune. As a kid, Alice won the worst kind of lottery possible when her parents died just over a year apart from each other. And Teddy’s father abandoned his family not long after that, leaving them to grapple with his gambling debts. Through it all, Teddy and Alice have leaned on each other. But now, as they negotiate the ripple effects of Teddy’s newfound wealth, a gulf opens between them. And soon, the money starts to feel like more of a curse than a windfall.

  As they try to find their way back to each other, Alice learns more about herself than she ever could have imagined…and about the unexpected ways in which luck and love sometimes intersect.

  Alice, Teddy, and Leo are attached to one another, united by hardships and varying perceptions of luck. When Alice, who has crushed on Teddy for ages, purchases a lottery ticket for Teddy’s birthday, and Teddy wins, she immediately worries about all that would change in the dynamics of their group. Teddy’s newfound wealth touches everyone in ways Alice didn’t think was possible, and soon she and Leo are grappling to bring Teddy back to reality.

  It’s been some time since I enjoyed a Smith book, and it’s clear she poured her heart and soul into this one. The writing is beautiful, and Alice’s internal monologues are deeply felt. She lost both of her parents before she was ten, moved in with her cousin Leo, and has tried to live up to the image she believes her parents would be proud of: giving back to others, doing good in the community, making the world a better place. But is she doing this for the idea of them, for herself, or for others?

  Toss in the struggles every teenager faces in high school — college applications, choosing the right school, seeking approval from your peers, experiencing first love and heartbreak — and Alice has a full plate. Teddy has always been the athlete, utilizing the use-them-and-drop-them method with girlfriends, not the best in school but not terrible, just an all-around gregarious sort of guy. Alice lets his behavior slide (before, during, and after the lottery win) because she knows a lot of it stems from his father leaving the family and wracking up debt.

  But this doesn’t excuse the romance. I was not pleased with it whatsoever, and I’m not sure if it’s because I felt a personal connection to it and know that in hindsight this is terrible for Alice, or if I’m an adult reader and can see 20/20. I’ll come out and say it: it was frustrating and agonizing to watch. The ending for these two upset me, as I felt Alice could really grow (and grow apart) and be given wings separate from Teddy.

  The message of this novel was poignant and clear and something I could root for. What would you do if you won the lottery? What would you do if you won millions and millions of dollars overnight? Some people know exactly what they’d do with money, others freeze at the thought. There’s no right or wrong way about it. It’s a lot of responsibility, and can come as a burden, too. I especially enjoyed how Alice grappled with change — good and bad, pertaining to the lottery or just to choosing a college — struggling to make decisions best for her rather than what others thought. She had a lot of internal wrestling going on, and working that out with her was a pleasure. Smith executed this really well.

  Though the romance thread wasn’t for me, the writing, heart, concept, and execution of this novel blew me away. The importance of family and growing up — and growing into one’s identity — was beautiful. What a unique and compelling read!

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

  Posted in books, Reviews 2017 | 5 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: contemporary, genre: young adult, review

• Book Review: “Caraval” by Stephanie Garber (ARC)

  Posted at 5:15 am by Laura, on February 6, 2017

  Caraval by Stephanie Garber

  Publisher: Flatiron Books
  Published: January 31
  Genre: young adult, fantasy
  ISBN: 9781250095251
  Rating: ★★★

  Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.

  But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

  Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.

  Scarlett and Tella have wanted to see Caraval, a once-a-year circus-like show with audience participation, ever since they were little girls. But their cruel father has viciously prevented them from ever leaving their home. When Scarlett is betrothed to a man she’s never met, she mysteriously receives three tickets to Caraval from the mastermind himself, Legend. The sisters attend the game, but Tella is kidnapped. Finding her means the participant won. Racing against the clock, Scarlett plays the mind-bending, elaborate game with other participants and actors, and everything that seems real is not. After all, nothing at Caraval is as it seems.

  This was such a tough read! I wanted to love this book. I heard wonderful things from the editor (I adore her to pieces) and I’ve been looking forward to it since BEA last May. While I do ultimately believe this is a good book and certainly one worth reading, I also have some personal qualms with it.

  Let’s do some compare and contrast. The atmosphere was divine! While the writing was hard to get into in the opening chapters, it ultimately helped develop the surreal and magical elements of the game Caraval itself. Somewhere between Oz and Narnia, with some twisted elements like in the Harry Potter maze, Caraval is a place I’d love to participate for fun (and not forced into like the sisters. Whoooooo boy). I can see why this was pitched as the YA version of Night Circus, as it seems there are no rules that govern the game and the twists and turns really kept me on my toes.

  That said, the lack of rules started to get to me. This was very much an anything-goes world, full of lies and trickery and bizarre, mind-boggling situations. Unlike the Night Circus (which does have grounding rules in the magical elements and capabilities), Caraval lacked any sense of reality. Yes, I know it’s part of the game, but when the “rules” are contradictory, and the “reality” is twisted constantly, it makes it hard to follow the plot and sympathize or trust the characters.

  The characters were vast and varied. I felt for them, to some extent, especially the sisters under their abusive father (TRIGGER WARNING for anyone who has experienced emotional or physical abuse). It’s hard to read abuse books, even though it’s true to life. That said, the father was almost too Disney-villain, not quite executed the way he should have been in order to frighten me. The sisterly bond, while admirable, lacked the intensity I was promised. The reader is told several times the girls are close, but it felt like a one-way street, with Scarlett ready to die for Tella and Tella just messing with Scarlett’s head. (I loathed that. I cannot stand when characters use one another like this, and it made it very hard for me to care what happened to Tella. (For a good sisterly bond story, read the Lara Jean series by Jenny Han.))

  Now, again, the main characters left something to be desired, but the secondary characters were shining in here! I still don’t know what to think of Julian or Dante (though I won’t go into my thoughts on their relationship with Scarlett), or even Aiko and Jo, but I do want to know more! And I would love to dive back into Caraval with a different set of characters — maybe ones who genuinely wanted to be there and play the game. How about the girl who was turned to stone outside the dress shop? Tell me more about her!

  I’m torn. The plot and setting was there, but the characters and last little bit of world-building needed a bit more development. With some tightening of the prose, this could’ve been something truly astounding. I enjoyed the atmosphere, the game, the premise, and I’ve no doubt this book will stay in my mind for months.

  Thank you, Flatiron Books, for providing this book at BEA for review. 

  .

  This qualifies as book 1 of 12 in the Rock My TBR challenge.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2017, Rock My TBR | 8 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: fantasy, genre: young adult, review, rock my TBR

• Book Review: “The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir” by Jennifer Ryan (ARC)

  Posted at 4:15 am by Laura, on February 1, 2017

  The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir by Jennifer Ryan

  Publisher: Crown
  Publishing Date: February 14
  Genre: historical fiction
  ISBN: 9781101906750
  Rating: ★★★★

  As England enters World War II’s dark early days, spirited music professor Primrose Trent, recently arrived to the village of Chilbury, emboldens the women of the town to defy the Vicar’s stuffy edict to shutter the church’s choir in the absence of men and instead ‘carry on singing’. Resurrecting themselves as “The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir”, the women of this small village soon use their joint song to lift up themselves, and the community, as the war tears through their lives.

  Told through letters and journals, The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir moves seamlessly from budding romances to village intrigues to heartbreaking matters of life and death. As we come to know the struggles of the charismatic members of this unforgettable outfit — a timid widow worried over her son at the front; the town beauty drawn to a rakish artist; her younger sister nursing an impossible crush and dabbling in politics she doesn’t understand; a young Jewish refugee hiding secrets about her family, and a conniving midwife plotting to outrun her seedy past — we come to see how the strength each finds in the choir’s collective voice reverberates in her individual life.

  In turns funny, charming and heart-wrenching, this lovingly executed ensemble novel will charm and inspire, illuminating the true spirit of the women on the home front, in a village of indomitable spirit, at the dawn of a most terrible conflict.

  The women of Chilbury are saddened to hear their church choir’s been shut down by the Vicar, due to the lack of men. But when Primrose Trent, a music professor at the nearby university, comes to town, she forms the Chilbury Ladies’ Choir and enlists them in a singing competition. Equally flustered and flattered, the women of Chilbury stand together as the war hits home, using music as a base and each other for comfort.

  But with a cautious smile, I realized that there are laws against singing, and I found my voice becoming louder, in defiance of this war.
  In defiance of my right to be heard.*

  Anyone who is a member of a church choir — or any organization that tends to involve just one sex with a variety of ages — would thoroughly enjoy this book. The dynamics of the choir mirrored so many of my own experiences with my church choir, I could not stop laughing. (One particular character, Mrs. B, is so contrary about everything, and then tells people she knew Y would happen because X, which she previously wholeheartedly disliked, was just so amazing.) The women support one another, encourage one another, and sometimes butt heads with one another, but it’s the music, and the emotion behind it, that brings them together every week. It empowers them. It gives them a voice — a voice in a time when women didn’t really have one.

  (Also, if you really love Doc Martin and village dynamics, you’ll find this to be a riot.)

  What makes this unique is the way the story is told, and how much time it covers. It’s a WWII novel set in England focusing on a group of women (like Guernsey Literary), but it’s primarily focused on a village outside of Dover during the spring and summer months of 1940 (history buffs, you know that’s when Dover was attacked and Nazis began bombing England). It’s epistolary, though not entirely through letters (like Letters from Skye). There are primarily five perspectives, with up to eight occasionally, with three journal writers and two letter writers. You experience the war through five very different women of varying ages, who are themselves experiencing the war five different ways.

  Two women in particular, Mrs Tilling and Venetia, had the most growth as characters, and I thoroughly enjoyed their stories. Mrs Tilling is a middle-aged woman whose husband died a few years previous and whose son heads off to war at the start of the novel. She feels voiceless, purposeless, and alone, even though she’s constantly providing medical aid as a nurse and midwife to the village and nearby city. Venetia is a spoiled aristocrat who just wants to have fun with men, and she can be quite a pill and very shallow at the beginning. But stick with her. She has quite the arc!

  An enjoyable, refreshing read on an “old hat” topic in historical fiction. I loved how the author was able to fictionalize a particular aspect of that war (outside of women societies and music): the encouragement of the government for people to write letters and write in journals to document their everyday lives. Sometimes these were published in the papers so there was more than the war news covering the pages!

  Sit back, relax, and laugh and cry and enjoy this good read.

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

  *quote taken from uncorrected proof

  Posted in books, Reviews 2017 | 2 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: historical fiction, review

• Book Review: “Whenever I’m With You” by Lydia Sharp (ARC)

  Posted at 3:15 am by Laura, on January 30, 2017

  Whenever I’m With You by Lydia Sharp

  Publisher: Scholastic Press
  Published: January 3
  Genre: young adult, contemporary
  ISBN: 9781338047493
  Rating: ★★★

  After Gabi’s parents’ divorce, she moves from California to Alaska with her dad. At first, it feels like banishment—until she meets Kai. He welcomes her into his life, sharing his family, his friends, and his warmth. But as winter approaches, Kai pulls away for seemingly no reason at all. He’s quiet, withdrawn. Then one day, he disappears.

  Kai’s twin brother, Hunter, believes Kai is retracing their missing father’s steps in the wilderness north of Anchorage. There’s a blizzard on the way, and Kai is alone out there. Gabi’s frustration over his emotional distance quickly turns to serious concern. This is the boy who saved her from the dark. She can’t lose him to it.

  So Gabi and Hunter agree to head out together on a wild journey north—a trip that will challenge them physically and emotionally, as they try to convince the boy they love to return home.

  Gabi still feels so new to Alaskan lifestyle, even with boyfriend Kai by her side, explaining fun traditions the other teens do at the start of winter, how to fend for oneself during the winter months, and neat ways to banish the darkness. But Kai starts to act a bit odd, and disappears just before a large snowstorm hits Anchorage. With his concerned twin Hunter’s help, Gabi heads straight into the storm to find Kai, and survive the wildness of America’s last frontier.

  I was drawn to this contemporary YA based on the romantic relationship style (the two teens are already together, strong, and established) and the setting (ALASKAAAA). While I found some of the storytelling to be a bit underdeveloped, this is definitely a good, clean YA that reminded me a bit of Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han.

  How easily your whole world can change with just
  two simple words, spoken from the heart:
  I’m sorry. *

  There’s also a lot of discussion on grief and the various forms it takes. Not everyone grieves the same way, either in a death or in a broken relationship. Gabi has many issues with her mother (valid ones, too), and is battling coming to terms with her parents’ divorce. Kai and Hunter grieve the loss of their father in different ways — denial and acceptance, in short — and that changes how they interact with their friends, family, and environment.

  Two sides to every story: another theme within the novel especially between the twin brothers. Each perspective is important and a major key to the puzzle of Kai’s disappearance. Family dynamics, friendship, and determination were some underlying themes of the book that really struck a chord with me.

  Whenever I’m With You is a plot-driven adventure of survival and love in the middle of an Alaskan snowstorm, completely disconnected from the comforts of modern technology and civilization. If you’re itching for a good, quick contemporary read on love and friendship, I’d suggest Sharp’s novel.

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

  *quote taken from uncorrected proof

  Posted in books, Reviews 2017 | 0 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: action/adventure, genre: contemporary, genre: young adult, review

• Book Review: “My Not So Perfect Life” by Sophie Kinsella (ARC)

  Posted at 3:15 am by Laura, on January 24, 2017

  My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella

  Publisher: Dial
  Publishing Date: February 7
  Genre: women’s fiction, contemporary, chick lit
  ISBN: 9780812998269
  Rating: ★★★★★

  Everywhere Katie Brenner looks, someone else is living the life she longs for, particularly her boss, Demeter Farlowe. Demeter is brilliant and creative, lives with her perfect family in a posh townhouse, and wears the coolest clothes. Katie’s life, meanwhile, is a daily struggle—from her dismal rental to her oddball flatmates to the tense office politics she’s trying to negotiate. The final, demeaning straw comes when Demeter makes Katie dye her roots in the office. No wonder Katie takes refuge in not-quite-true Instagram posts, especially as she’s desperate to make her dad proud.

  Then, just as she’s finding her feet—not to mention a possible new romance—the worst happens. Demeter fires Katie. Shattered but determined to stay positive, Katie retreats to her family’s farm in Somerset to help them set up a vacation business. London has never seemed so far away—until Demeter unexpectedly turns up as a guest. Secrets are spilled and relationships rejiggered, and as the stakes for Katie’s future get higher, she must question her own assumptions about what makes for a truly meaningful life.

  Katie wants nothing more than to be successful just like her boss Demeter. She wants that perfect life: career, friends, flat, dinners and parties, clothes. Demeter seems to have it all, and Katie both admires and resents her boss. She needs an opportunity to prove to Demeter she can do more for the branding company than plugging in survey responses. But when Katie’s suddenly let go, she heads back to her father’s farm, and tries to piece together a new life. Little does she know, London comes calling in the summer when Demeter and her family decide to vacation in her father’s new glamping resort. After several muddy fiascos and revealed disguises, Katie and Demeter piece together vendettas within the London company, and do their very best to make things right again.

  I went through a massive Kinsella binge early last year (here, here, and here) and was thrilled to read an advance copy of her latest novel. Even if I hadn’t read Kinsella before, this book caught my attention immediately.

  Katie (or Cat, as she wants to be called for her London Persona) is instantly likeable. I wanted to be her friend and commiserate with her in her tiny bedroom with a hammock for a closet, or with her at work beside her tiny desk plugging in survey after survey into spreadsheets. I wanted to go on adventures with her around London and do our very best to not spend a single pound, because money is precious and we have very little of it. Heck, I’d even dig in the trash to get the wrapped sandwich back (THAT SCENE!).

  She tries so hard to fit into the ideal London image that she forgets who she really is and where she comes from. Her transformation back in Somerset with her father’s glamping business isn’t a drastic one, but certainly eye-opening for her. She finds her talent in branding blossoming, her customer service skills flourishing, and her ability to run the business smoothly is something of a gift. Is this where she truly belongs?

  The entire novel focuses on perception, both in real life and online. Take the settings, for example. Katie perceives London to be this glamorous place, the ideal city in which to live and work — but her father thinks London is scary and dirty and cruel. Katie also finds comfort in the country, and is more than aware of farm life hardships — but the glampers, such as Demeter, idealize it to be rustic and quaint and “back to the roots” of civilization. Now, take the people! Katie perceives Demeter to have an absolutely perfect life, but Demeter’s life is falling to pieces. Katie also works hard to maintain an Instagram account of her false London life with images of nice cafes and expensive restaurants, gorgeous clothes and party venues. It’s all a lie, but it convinces her friends that everything is bright and cheerful. Not everything is as it seems, and it takes some investigation and proper observation to find the truth.

  There is so much more I want to talk about — Katie’s coworkers, Dad and Biddy (BIDDY!!), Alex the Love Interest, Coco and Hal, the glampers — but if I say anything more, I may spoil the book!

  Part office dramedy, part love story, I could not put down this witty new novel. The little romance is second (even third!) to the primary plot of Katie’s life and growth, navigating adulthood with as much professionalism and gumption as she can muster. Toss in the hilarious scenes with Demeter in the office and on the glamping farm, and you’re in for a treat!

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

  Posted in books, Reviews 2017 | 5 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, review

• Book Review: “Ghostly Echoes” by William Ritter (ARC)

  Posted at 5:20 am by Laura, on August 19, 2016

  Ghostly Echoes by William Ritter 

  Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
  Publishing Date: August 23
  Genre: young adult, fantasy, historical fiction, gothic
  ISBN: 9781616205799
  Rating: ★★★★

  Jenny Cavanaugh, the ghostly lady of 926 Augur Lane, has enlisted the investigative services of her fellow residents to solve a decade-old murder—her own. Abigail Rook and her eccentric employer, Detective R. F. Jackaby, dive into the cold case, starting with a search for Jenny’s fiancé, who went missing the night she died. But when a new, gruesome murder closely mirrors the events of ten years prior, Abigail and Jackaby realize that Jenny’s case isn’t so cold after all, and her killer may be far more dangerous than they suspected.

  Fantasy and folklore mix with mad science as Abigail’s race to unravel the mystery leads her across the cold cobblestones of nineteenth-century New England, down to the mythical underworld, and deep into her colleagues’ grim histories to battle the most deadly foe she has ever faced.

  Jenny and Abigail are working on a decade-old murder case that, after recent events, is more urgent than ever to solve. The hitch? It’s Jenny’s case on her death, and she is having trouble accessing her memories. Just as Jackaby is about to call off their efforts, another gruesome, eerily familiar murder hits New Fiddleham. Abigail, Jenny, and Jackaby race against time, science, and mythology to solve the two seemingly-intertwined cases before it’s too late.

  This is quite possibly the most heart-pounding book in the series yet. Jenny takes the center stage in this novel, just as Abigail did the last. Her case connects to multiple murders thanks to the Moriarty figure from the previous books. And, since she’s ghost and has not passed on to the other side, the characters are thrust into a different kind of mythology: the after life (complete with Charon and everything!).

  My favorite part about this book is that it also relies heavily on science, revolution, and the industrial age. When Jenny was alive, her fiance was an inventor, a creator, a fascinated scientist eager to thrust New Fiddleham into the new age. He was recruited and befriended by like-minded individuals, all who met their untimely deaths as well. Fantasy and science collide, and a touch of insanity drives Abigail, Jackaby, and Jenny to the brink.

  I’m eager for the fourth book, which will no doubt cover Jackaby’s personal and mysterious history. Once again, Ritter delivers an excellent installment to a series, one that links the previous mysteries to the current one, with the current mystery adding a whole new layer to what will be a promising and explosive conclusion. I am so happy I fell in love with this Whovian, Sherlockian, genre-bending series! It’s so unique and thrilling to read.

  Thank you, Algonquin, for providing this book at BEA for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2016 | 0 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: fantasy, genre: gothic, genre: historical fiction, genre: mystery, genre: young adult, review

• Book Review: “Traitor Angels” by Anne Blankman (ARC)

  Posted at 5:15 am by Laura, on May 2, 2016

  Traitor Angels by Anne Blankman

  Publisher: Balzer + Bray
  Publishing Date: May 3
  Genre: young adult, historical fiction, adventure
  ISBN: 9780062278876
  Rating: ★★★★★

  The daughter of notorious poet John Milton, Elizabeth has never known her place in this shifting world—except by her father’s side. By day she helps transcribe his latest masterpiece, the epic poem Paradise Lost, and by night she learns languages and sword fighting. Although she does not dare object, she suspects that he’s training her for a mission whose purpose she cannot fathom…until the king’s men arrive at her family’s country home to arrest her father.

  Determined to save him, Elizabeth follows his one cryptic clue and journeys to Oxford, accompanied by her father’s mysterious young houseguest, Antonio Vivani, an Italian scientist who surprises her at every turn. Funny, brilliant, and passionate, Antonio seems just as determined to protect her father as she is—but can she trust him?

  When the two discover that Milton has planted an explosive secret in the half-finished Paradise Lost—a secret the king and his aristocratic supporters are desperate to conceal—Elizabeth is faced with a devastating choice: cling to the shelter of her old life or risk cracking the code, unleashing a secret that could save her father…and tear apart the very fabric of society.

  It’s 1666: six years since King Charles II returned from exile and reclaimed the throne, and a year with very little (if any) rain for England. John Milton is an exiled regicide, living as quietly as possible in a small country home outside London. Elizabeth is aware she’s had an unusual upbringing, but everything comes to light when her father is arrested and he whispers a mysterious, poetic line in her ear. Using clues sprinkled throughout Paradise Lost, Elizabeth flees in the night with an Italian scientist to Oxford on horseback, and races against the clock to discover and safeguard her father’s secret. But when the clues trace back to London’s St Paul’s, and indeed the very heart of Charles II’s court, Elizabeth must make a bold decision before the entire city erupts in flames.

  Damn.

  This is a book for nerds and bookworms and history buffs and adventure seekers. This is like Da Vinci Code meets Possession meets YA (heck, I’d even toss YA out the window — this is that lovely in-between of classic adult and engrossing YA, a pure crossover). A mission hidden within a great literary work. A mystery that could unravel all society holds dear.

  It has everything. Galileo, astronomy, natural philosophy. John Milton, poetry, Paradise Lost. The Civil War, Oliver Cromwell, Charles I and II. Royalists and Puritans. Science and religion. Oxford, Bodleian, Whitehall, the Tower. The Great Fire of London.

  Are you drooling?

  While I could go on about Elizabeth’s character development, the delicate way Blankman handled fact and fiction, Antonio and Robert, the political turmoil of the era, the heart-pounding discoveries and captures — I won’t. You need to discover this for yourself. This book is dynamic and brilliant and quite possibly Blankman’s best yet.

  I am astonished, and I want nothing more than to roam Oxford again and picnic by the river and revisit my studies on the English Civil War, with a copy of Milton by my side and Renaissance historians gushing about the Italian progress. When an author can make me miss academia at this level, I promise you the book they wrote is excellent. And Blankman’s is exactly that.

  Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from Balzer + Bray for review!

  See my other reviews for Anne Blankman’s books: Prisoner of Night and Fog, Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke

  Posted in books, Reviews 2016 | 6 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: action/adventure, genre: historical fiction, genre: young adult, review

• Book Review: “When We Collided” by Emery Lord (ARC)

  Posted at 5:15 am by Laura, on April 5, 2016

  When We Collided by Emery Lord

  Publisher: Bloomsbury
  Publishing Date: April 5
  Genre: young adult, contemporary
  ISBN: 9781619638457
  Rating: ★★★★.5

  Vivi and Jonah couldn’t be more different. Vivi craves anything joyful or beautiful that life can offer. Jonah has been burdened by responsibility for his family ever since his father died. As summer begins, Jonah resigns himself to another season of getting by. Then Vivi arrives, and suddenly life seems brighter and better. Jonah is the perfect project for Vivi, and things finally feel right for Jonah. Their love is the answer to everything. But soon Vivi’s zest for life falters, as her adventurousness becomes true danger-seeking. Jonah tries to keep her safe, but there’s something important Vivi hasn’t told him.

  Meet Vivi: bubbly, energetic, artistic. Meet Jonah: reserved, responsible, quite the talent in the kitchen. When Vivi and her mother move to quaint Verona Cove for the summer, she wants nothing more than to feel free and impulsive, her true self. It’s a chance meeting at the pottery shop that brings her to Jonah, a boy overburdened with adult responsibilities due to his father’s death and mother’s shut-in mourning habits. They cling to one another — Vivi to Jonah because he’s good, kind, relaxed, and easy-going; Jonah to Vivi because she shows him how to feel free and find beauty in the small things — but by the end of the summer, Vivi’s zest for life almost becomes too much.

  The book is told in dual POV, and that alone makes Vivi and Jonah’s personalities that much more interesting and contrasting. Vivi is free-spirited and artistic, so naturally her narrative tends to be a wordy, head-in-the-clouds, stream-of-consciousness thought process. Jonah’s dealing with grief and responsibility, burdens on his shoulders he’s too young to carry, and while it weighs him down he still finds reasons to carry on each day. But if you were to look at their narratives separately — all the Vivi chapters together, all the Jonah chapters together — the growth and development is astounding. You can see, bit by bit, Vivi’s mania going into overdrive. You can see Jonah begin to crack and grieve properly, allowing him to move on. And at the turning point, when everything collides, then stabilizes…it leaves you breathless.

  Lord is known for her friendship stories. There would always be a romance involved, but it was the friendship that made her work stand out. While this new book is primarily a romance, friendship continues to pervade the pages. Vivi befriends everyone in town, and falls in sync with Jonah’s family. Jonah relies on his friends and practically-family in the restaurant. The support network for these two, separate and together, is beautiful and authentic and so true to life. You could know someone inside and out and still not know them. The deepest, darkest secrets.

  Another thing I loved about this book is how Lord handles feminism and mental illness. She’s a huge advocate online for both, and for that I think of her as one of the strongest women in our generation. She’s forward and upfront about everything, no ounce of “airing dirty laundry.” This book sounds like her, and it’s a comfort to see how she manages to weave everything together. It’s a progressive book, a book for men and women, adults and teens, friends witnessing friends with mental illness, individuals suffering from mental illness themselves, girls of all kinds expressing themselves in all ways without shame, boys doing the same and respecting girls as human beings. It’s all so beautiful.

  Can I please just have lunch with Emery Lord now? Please?

  Thank you, Lindsey, for providing this book received from Bloomsbury for review! 

  Posted in books, Reviews 2016 | 4 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: contemporary, genre: young adult, review

• Book Review: “Lady Renegades” by Rachel Hawkins (ARC)

  Posted at 4:45 am by Laura, on March 19, 2016

  Lady Renegades by Rachel Hawkins

  Publisher: Putnam
  Publishing Date: April 5
  Genre: young adult, contemporary, fantasy
  ISBN: 9780399256950
  Rating: ★★★

  Read my reviews for Rebel Belle (book 1) and Miss Mayhem (book 2) before continuing with this review!

  Overwhelmed by his Oracle powers, David flees Pine Grove and starts turning teenaged girls into Paladins—and these young ladies seem to think that Harper is the enemy David needs protecting from.  Ordinarily, Harper would be able to fight off any Paladin who comes her way, but her powers have been dwindling since David left town, which means her life is on the line yet again.

  Now, it’s a desperate race for Harper to find and rescue David before she backslides from superhero to your garden-variety type-A belle.

  After several weeks of what proves to be a boring, average summer, Harper and Bee begin to wonder just how immediate and threatening David’s powers actually are. They don’t need to wonder for long, because Paladins begin attacking Harper one after another, all claiming David sent them to kill her. Harper and Bee need Blythe’s help to find David before his powers get out of control and Harper’s dwindle away.

  The comedic elements in the trilogy were a bit lost in this final installment (bummer!) and replaced with a quest (road trip) and more magic (thanks, Blythe). Harper’s so caught up in her anxiety — losing her powers, losing David — that a lot of her more humorous one-liners and observations took a backseat. Secondary characters took on the funny lines, so it’s not all doom-and-gloom suddenly in this energetic, Buffy-esque trilogy.

  I’m not quite sure what I expected from Lady Renegades, except that it wasn’t this…and yet it was. I could guess the ending off the bat, but I’m here for the journey. The journey part is what deviated from my expectations. Getting from A to B took some random pit-stops in bizarre places with strange people, with surprises here and there to the plot and general story arc. And while it was odd…it worked. For that, I’m pleased. What is absolutely guaranteed, in this book and the others, is Ladies Kicking Butt. *applause*

  These three girls pile into a car for two weeks and travel across the south to little podunk towns, bars, flee-markets, and motels in their quest to find David. Each stop reveals more clues, which all point in the direction Harper hopes it wouldn’t. Time is ticking before the start of senior year — if Harper actually gets to experience senior year with rogue David on the loose — and Harper’s not sure what the future has in store for her or Pine Grove.

  Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from GP Putnam’s Sons BFYR for review!

  .

  This qualifies as book 2 of 5 of the “Flights of Fantasy” Challenge, hosted by Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books and Rachel @ Hello, Chelly.

  Posted in books, Flights of Fantasy, Reviews 2016 | 1 Comment | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, flights of fantasy, genre: contemporary, genre: fantasy, 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 travel, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm always down for chips-and-queso nights. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!

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