How To Money by Jean Chatzky and Kathryn Tuggle REVIEW

 How to Money

by Jean Chatzky & Kathryn Tuggle

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Synopsis

There’s no getting around it. You need to know how to manage money to know how to manage life — but most of us don’t! This illustrated guidebook from New York Times bestselling author and financial expert Jean Chatzky, Kathryn Tuggle, and their team at HerMoney breaks down the basics of money—how to earn it, manage it, and use it—giving you all the tools you need to take charge and be fearless with personal finance.

How to Money will teach you the ins and outs of:
-creating a budget (and sticking to it)
-scoring that first job (and what that paycheck means)
-navigating student loans (and avoiding student debt)
-getting that first credit card (and what “credit” is)
-investing like a pro (and why it’s important!)

All so you can earn more, save smart, invest wisely, borrow only when you have to, and enjoy everything you've got!

Expected Publication Date: May 10, 2022

Review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

How to Money is a great little book to educate and encourage smart habits when dealing with money. It is mainly geared towards young adults however I think this would be a good reference book for anyone who would like to learn the basics of finances. This book covers so many different aspects of finances from how to write checks to conversations with potential bosses at job interviews.

There is so much useful information in this book. I think this easy to follow how to guide should be in the hands of teens and young adults alike. If you are entering the work force or feel like you could use some more help with basic finances then this is the book you need.

The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth REVIEW

 The Younger Wife

by Sally Hepworth

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Synopsis

THE HUSBAND
A heart surgeon at the top of his field, Stephen Aston is getting married again. But first he must divorce his current wife, even though she can no longer speak for herself.

THE DAUGHTERS
Tully and Rachel Aston look upon their father’s fiancée, Heather, as nothing but an interloper. Heather is younger than both of them. Clearly, she’s after their father’s money.

THE FORMER WIFE
With their mother in a precarious position, Tully and Rachel are determined to get to the truth about their family’s secrets, the new wife closing in, and who their father really is.

THE YOUNGER WIFE
Heather has secrets of her own. Will getting to the truth unleash the most dangerous impulses in all of them?

Expected Publication Date: April 5, 2022

Review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Have you ever read a book that just messed with your mind so much that you're not sure how to accurately describe what just happened? That's exactly how I feel right now.

This turned out to be a truly fascinating book. You don't know who to trust, you second guess things that happened and in the end you're still left asking what the f**k just happened! I can't wait to read something else by this author. I've heard of her before but this is my first experience reading her books and I'm in shock and awe.

Read this book if you're a fan of (1) family dramas, (2) multiple POV and (3) books that make you second guess everything you think you know.

Before I Let You Go by Kelly Rimmer REVIEW

 Before I Let You Go

by Kelly Rimmer

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Synopsis

The 2:00 a.m. call is the first time Lexie Vidler has heard her sister’s voice in years. Annie is a drug addict, a thief, a liar—and in trouble, again. Lexie has always bailed Annie out, given her money, a place to sleep, sent her to every kind of rehab. But this time, she’s not just strung out—she’s pregnant and in premature labor. If she goes to the hospital, she’ll lose custody of her baby—maybe even go to prison. But the alternative is unthinkable.

As weeks unfold, Lexie finds herself caring for her fragile newborn niece while her carefully ordered life is collapsing around her. She’s in danger of losing her job, and her fiancé only has so much patience for Annie’s drama. In court-ordered rehab, Annie attempts to halt her downward spiral by confronting long-buried secrets from the sisters’ childhood, ghosts that Lexie doesn’t want to face. But will the journey heal Annie, or lead her down a darker path?

Both candid and compassionate, Before I Let You Go explores a hotly divisive topic and asks how far the ties of family love can be stretched before they finally break.

Review

In full transparency, I went into this book completely blind. I didn't know anything about it and actually thought it was a thriller. One day I just grabbed it off the shelf and read it on a whim. After finishing the book I did read the synopsis. After reading it I don't think this book would have impacted me as much if I had of read the synopsis first. For that reason I do recommend going in blind, however if you are someone who requires trigger warnings I do recommend checking those out as there are a few of them.

Before I Let You Go is an exquisitely written family drama about two sisters, their past and their future. Lexie, who has a great job and an amazing fiancé, and Annie, who is pregnant and has a severe drug addiction that she's never quite been able to conquer. After not speaking for two years Lexie receives a 2 AM phone call from Annie saying she pregnant, something is wrong and the hospital is not an option. From there the two girls lives will intwine in ways that will test their love and trust in each other.

Holy crap on a cracker did this book ever get to me! My heart was totally and completely shattered. This beautifully written tragedy is written in a way that is raw and honest. In alternating view points, Lexie in the present and Annie in the past, we are taken through the journey of their lives from childhood to where they are now. Before I Let You Go is a heartbreaking story of addiction, family, pain and the ties that connect them together.

I recommend this to anyone who is looking for something honest and raw about real life issues. Before you read it, I strongly recommend grabbing some tissues.

You Should Have Seen This Coming by Shani Michelle REVIEW

 You Should Have Seen This Coming

by Shani Michelle

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Synopsis

Hayden sees the past. Just touching an object will occasionally give her flashes of the previous owner's memories. And if that memory happens to be a deeply hidden secret, then she has no problem making you pay for your crime, in cash.

Cassie sees the future, and it sucks. She will randomly wake up from dreams filled with disasters that she feels compelled to stop, and she would really like to stop watching her boyfriend fall in love with someone else!

But when Cassie tries to warn Hayden that her latest blackmailing scheme is a trap, she knows she's really in trouble. All her visions warn her of the upcoming kidnapping, nothing she does stops it. And it's all Hayden's fault!

Can Hayden's gift help her find Cassie before it's too late?

Expected Publication Date: April 12, 2022

Review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Hayden and Cassie are not friends. Hayden sees the past and uses her visions to blackmail her classmates. Cassie sees the future and uses her visions to help when she can. When helping Hayden gets Cassie kidnapped, Hayden must use her abilities to try and find Cassie before it's too late.

This was so much fun! This delicious fast-paced story hooked me from the first couple chapters. I devoured it! The POVs were easy to distinguish between which girl was narratoring which chapters. The transition between each girl was smooth. As a reader I found it easy to jump back and forth between girls.

I was completely hooked throughout most of the story. It wasn't until around the ending I started to lose interest. The entire story was interesting and a bit different, then it just flipped into the usual YA theatrics. I found near the ending to be just a bit too dramatic to for the story.

Overall, I recommend this one if you're interested in YA Mysteries. I would describe this one as a dark, psychic Nancy Drew.

The Whispers by Heidi Perks REVIEW

 The Whispers

by Heidi Perks

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Synopsis

Anna loves Girls’ Night with her friends. With the kids safely in bed, it’s a chance for the women to let loose, enjoy some wine, and just laugh. But after one lively evening, Anna doesn’t arrive for school drop-off the next morning—or the next, or the next.

Everyone, especially her husband and young son, are frantic with worry but none more so than Grace, her childhood best friend. Grace is certain that someone is hiding the truth about Anna’s unexplained disappearance. As rumors fly and accusations are whispered among neighbors, Grace decides to take matters into her own hands and find out what happened to Anna…or die trying.

Review

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Grace and Anna were closer than sisters, until they were 17 years old and Grace moved away with her family. Now 19 years later Grace has moved home and would love nothing more than to rekindle her friendship with Anna. However, Anna is standoffish and seems to prefer the company of her current friends than getting back their old friendship. One night Grace is invited out for drinks with Anna and her friends, that is the last night Anna has been seen by anybody. Now Grace must dig up all the clues she can find to figure out if something was done to her, if she had an accident or if she left on her own accord.

This was a very slow burn which isn't something I tend to enjoy. I have enjoyed it in certain books, however in this case I feel like it could have been sped up significantly. It reminded me of a soap opera where little twists are slotted to keep the interest of the consumer without disturbing the slow progression.

The story itself, was actually really good. I really enjoyed the unreliable narrator. I kept going back and forth from "oh this was predictable" to "no wait I was wrong" to "no I was right" and back again. I didn't like any of the characters and I didn't trust any of them. They were perfectly written for this story. Making them so unlikable increased the confusion on who could really be trusted and who has secrets they want to stay buried.

You should read this book if you're interested in:

- unreliable narrators
- toxic female friendships
- slow burns that unravel just enough to keep you reading

A Million Quiet Revolutions by Robin Gow REVIEW

 A Million Quiet Revolutions

by Robin Gow

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Synopsis

For as long as they can remember, Aaron and Oliver have only ever had each other. In a small town with few queer teenagers, let alone young trans men, they've shared milestones like coming out as trans, buying the right binders--and falling for each other.

But just as their relationship has started to blossom, Aaron moves away. Feeling adrift, separated from the one person who understands them, they seek solace in digging deep into the annals of America's past. When they discover the story of two Revolutionary War soldiers who they believe to have been trans man in love, they're inspired to pay tribute to these soldiers by adopting their names--Aaron and Oliver. As they learn, they delve further into unwritten queer stories, and they discover the transformative power of reclaiming one's place in history.

Expected Publication Date: March 22, 2022

Review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A Million Quiet Revolutions is beautifully written. It's an absolutely gorgeous story about two trans boys who are finding themselves and growing in both life and love. It brings together the past and present to help paint the picture of the boys love for each other. The characters are multi-dimensional with flaws and imperfections showing them as whole and complex beings. The story, the writing, the imagery.. it's all stunning. What an incredibly written book.

Throughout the whole book we see the contrast between Oliver and Aaron's lives. One boy is accepted and supported by his friends and family, while the other boy is part of a family who refuses to acknowledge him as who he really is. The relationship between Oliver and his mom is so adorable. I was so thankful Oliver had a family who supported him even if they didn't understand what he was going through.

Written entirely in verse, A Million Quiet Revolutions is exactly the story you want when looking for a fresh taste of love and hope.

Daughter by Kate McLaughlin REVIEW

 Daughter

by Kate McLaughlin

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Synopsis

Scarlet’s life is pretty average. Overly protective mom. Great friends. Cute boy she’s interested in. And a father she’s never known – until she does.

When the FBI show up at Scarlet’s door, she is shocked to learn her father is infamous serial killer Jeffrey Robert Lake. And now, he’s dying and will only give the names and locations of his remaining victims to the one person, the daughter he hasn’t seen since she was a baby.

Scarlet’s mother has tried to protect her from Lake’s horrifying legacy, but there’s no way they can escape the media firestorm that erupts when they come out of hiding. Or the people who blame Scarlet for her father’s choices. When trying to do the right thing puts her life in danger, Scarlet is faced with a choice – go back into hiding or make the world see her as more than a monster’s daughter.

Kate McLaughlin’s Daughter is a novel about trying right deadly choices that were never yours to begin with.

Expected Publication Date: March 8, 2022
 

Review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Daughter is a deliciously disturbing novel about a girl who finds out her father is a psychopathic killer who will only give the names of his victims to her. He isn't just going to hand them over though, and what happens will leave you chilled and disturbed.

This was so good! It is well paced and packed with tension. I couldn't help but devour it as quickly as I possibly could. I was so invested in the communication between Scarlet and her father. The atmosphere is so creepy and unsettling it just puts you in a chokehold where you need the rest of the story.

Where this book lost a bit of momentum for me was at the end. Things went on a little long for me but that is just a personal preference. I prefer more of an abrupt ending with a couple lose ends rather than a clean, well explained ending.

Overall, I enjoyed this so much. Try this one if you're looking for a psychological thriller with a creepy psychopathic killer who also has a God complex.

Head Over Heels by Hannah Orenstein REVIEW

 Head Over Heels

by Hannah Orenstein

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Synopsis

The past seven years have been hard on Avery Abrams: After training her entire life to make the Olympic gymnastics team, a disastrous performance ended her athletic career for good. Her best friend and teammate, Jasmine, went on to become an Olympic champion, then committed the ultimate betrayal by marrying their emotionally abusive coach, Dimitri.

Now, reeling from a breakup with her football star boyfriend, Avery returns to her Massachusetts hometown, where new coach Ryan asks her to help him train a promising young gymnast with Olympic aspirations. Despite her misgivings and worries about the memories it will evoke, Avery agrees. Back in the gym, she’s surprised to find sparks flying with Ryan. But when a shocking scandal in the gymnastics world breaks, it has shattering effects not only for the sport but also for Avery and her old friend Jasmine.

Review

I enjoyed this book so much! I wasn't looking forward to reading it because I'd read it was a rom-com but I don't feel like that's accurate. Yes it did have romance, but I found it to be very understated and more of a subplot than a main focus.

The main focus was on the gymnastics. We get a glimpse into the lives of a gymnast training for Olympic tryouts. We get to see the hardwork and dedication required to pursue such a huge dream.

I really appreciate how this book also brought attention to sexual assault in gymnasts. However, I don't think this part of the book would be limiting to gymnasts. I feel like it spotlighted a different type of sexual assault that isn't talked about as much as it should be, the kind that is subtle and makes the assaulted actually question themselves if that really did happen.

There was only one part I thought could have been done a little better however, that is hard to get into without spoilers. It wasn't perfect, but it was pretty close.

I'd recommend this book to someone who is looking for a quick read with a good story and flawed characters.