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.

Every Variable of Us by Charles A. Bush REVIEW

Every Variable of Us

by Charles A. Bush

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Synopsis:

After Philly teenager Alexis Duncan is injured in a gang shooting, her dreams of a college scholarship and pro basketball career vanish in an instant. To avoid becoming another Black teen trapped in her poverty-stricken neighborhood, she shifts her focus to the school's STEM team, a group of nerds seeking their own college scholarships. Academics have never been her thing, but Alexis is freshly motivated by Aamani Chakrabarti, the new Indian student who becomes her mentor (and crush?). Alexis begins to see herself as so much more than an athlete. But just as her future starts to reform, Alexis’s own doubts and old loyalties pull her back into harm’s way.

Expected Publication Date: March 1, 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.

All Alexis wants is to get out of her poverty-stricken neighborhood and she knows how she will do it, basketball. When she gets shot and ends up with a permanent injury preventing her from ever playing ball again her dreams of a scholarship are over. With the help of the new girl at school Alexis begins to shift her focus to academics in a final attempt to escape a future of fear and poverty.

This book was so heartbreaking. The author has a way of taking Alexis and really bringing her to life. She is a character you end up caring about and fearing for. So many times I was on edge just wishing that things would finally work out and she would be alright. Along with Alexis there was a whole cast of characters that were also wonderfully done. This story made me feel it all from laughter to fear. Every moment was like a loop on a roller coaster. I thought it was incredibly well written.

Two Nickels by Michael F. DeConzo REVIEW

Two Nickels

by Michael F. DeConzo

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Synopsis

Thirty-year-old Johnny Romano wants to be taken seriously, but the choices he makes—a one-man production of Waiting for Godot, a monumental sneeze in a cold syrup commercial, and a thirty-thousand-dollar gambling debt to Salvatore "Sally Toast" Tosterelli—have sabotaged his acting career. His bad decisions have, more importantly, put his four-and-a-half-year relationship with a woman he truly loves—soap opera star Laura Winters—on the edge of a cliff.

 
Through a botched car theft, Johnny meets Virgil Shepherd, street person and sometime porter for a bar on Hudson Street in Greenwich Village. Scribbling his poems on napkins from Dunkin Donuts, Virgil is convinced that he is the Roman poet who guided Dante through Hell. Johnny is convinced that he is crazy. But as their lives converge, Johnny begins to suspect that the mysterious Virgil may actually have an agenda of his own.

Set ten days before Christmas in 1997, Two Nickels follows this very unlikely pair through Manhattan (and a few choice spots on Staten Island) as they head toward the answer to a question that Johnny has done his best to avoid: What does it take for us to forgive ourselves and begin to heal?

Review

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

I really enjoyed reading Two Nickels. I really liked how New York was described in enough detail to create easy visualization without becoming dense and bogged down with information overload. The story itself was a lot of fun. It was refreshing yet cozy. The details of characters and events were well written with a great balance of action, drama and humor. The entire book is incredibly well written.

I would classify this book as easy reading. It is not going to give you thrills and chills, but if you're looking for something to give your mind a break while you simply relax and enjoy then this is what you're looking for. It's light and fun and a great book for a relaxed and casual reading experience.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea by Axie Oh REVIEW

The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea

by Axie Oh

Synopsis

Deadly storms have ravaged Mina’s homeland for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to serve as the Sea God’s bride, in the hopes that one day the “true bride” will be chosen and end the suffering.

Many believe that Shim Cheong, the most beautiful girl in the village—and the beloved of Mina’s older brother Joon—may be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is to be sacrificed, Joon follows Cheong out to sea, even knowing that to interfere is a death sentence. To save her brother, Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong’s stead.

Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep. With the help of a mysterious young man named Shin—as well as a motley crew of demons, gods and spirits—Mina sets out to wake the Sea God and bring an end to the killer storms once and for all.

But she doesn’t have much time: A human cannot live long in the land of the spirits. And there are those who would do anything to keep the Sea God from waking…

Expected Publication Date: February 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.

First, I want to take a minute to appreciate that absolutely beautiful cover! Wow, she is absolutely stunning!

As for the story, it's simply wonderful. The writing is beautiful and flows so wonderfully. Reading it felt like I was being carried through a magical dream with everything happening right in front of me. It was so easy to get lost in. The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea is the type of story that I had to savor because I didn't want it to end. I could have stayed in that world forever.

This is my first experience with Axie Oh and I can't wait to dive into another one of her worlds.

Just Right Jillian by Nicole D. Collier REVIEW

 Just Right Jillian

by Nicole D. Collier

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Synopsis

Fifth-grader Jillian will do just about anything to blend in, including staying quiet even when she has the right answer. After she loses a classroom competition because she won't speak up, she sets her mind on winning her school's biggest competition. But breaking out of her shell is easier said than done, and Jillian has only a month to keep her promise to her grandmother and prove to herself that she can speak up and show everyone her true self.

A warm and relatable middle-grade debut novel about family, friendship, and finding the confidence to break free from the crowd and be who you truly are.

Publication Day: Feb 1, 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.

Jillian promised her grandmother she would try to be a little less shy. When the perfect opportunity arises at school Jillian decides to do her absolute very best to come out of her shell and show everyone how smart she really is.

This book is one of the sweetest middle grade books I've read. The story just warms you from the inside out. What I really liked about this book is the issues the characters face (and no I'm not just talking about being shy) are addressed in a way that is suitable for the middle grade child while still being enjoyable and relatable for a slightly older audience. With an adorable cast and heartwarming relationships Just Right Jillian belongs on every middle graders bookshelf.

Observations Through Yellow Glasses: A Memoir Through Poems by Yong Takahashi REVIEW

 Observations Through Yellow Glasses: A Memoir Through Poems

by Yong Takahashi

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Synopsis

Yong Takahashi moved to The United States with her parents when she was three years old. She grew up in a traditional household where her Korean and American worlds pulled her in opposite directions. Shortlisted for The Sexton Prize for Poetry, OBSERVATIONS THROUGH YELLOW GLASSES invites you to follow her journey as she learns life’s bitter lessons, longs for love, and attempts to heal the wounds she collects along the way.

Review

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

In Yong Takahashi's new book Observations Through Yellow Glasses: A Memoir Through Poems we are taken on a journey through Yong's life growing up in America.

I loved being able to experience this journey through Yong's perspective. Her writing is so entrancing and expressive. This beautiful poetry collection will tangle your emotions as it satisfies your mind. This is one of those books I think many people will be able to relate to. If you're a poetry lover you need this book in your collection.

Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz REVIEW

Anatomy: A Love Story

by Dana Schwartz

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Synopsis

Edinburgh, 1817.

Hazel Sinnett is a lady who wants to be a surgeon more than she wants to marry.

Jack Currer is a resurrection man who’s just trying to survive in a city where it’s too easy to die.

When the two of them have a chance encounter outside the Edinburgh Anatomist’s Society, Hazel thinks nothing of it at first. But after she gets kicked out of renowned surgeon Dr. Beecham’s lectures for being the wrong gender, she realizes that her new acquaintance might be more helpful than she first thought. Because Hazel has made a deal with Dr. Beecham: if she can pass the medical examination on her own, the university will allow her to enroll. Without official lessons, though, Hazel will need more than just her books – she’ll need bodies to study, corpses to dissect.

Lucky that she’s made the acquaintance of someone who digs them up for a living, then.

But Jack has his own problems: strange men have been seen skulking around cemeteries, his friends are disappearing off the streets. Hazel and Jack work together to uncover the secrets buried not just in unmarked graves, but in the very heart of Edinburgh society.

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.

I am not a fan of romance at all, however every now and again a romance comes along with a little something special and makes me question myself. This is one of those books. I was actually ready to DNF this pretty early on. I ended up giving it one more chapter and that chapter was a complete game changer.

I don't really have a lot to say about this one. The story is really interesting and the main character is awesome. The story that's advertised is the story we get. It's a dark medical romance that takes you to a place and time all its own. It's got everything you could want all wrapped up in a pretty little package.

If you're looking for mystery, romance, with a badass female character who has a passion for Anatomy then pick this one up.

Such A Pretty Smile by Kristi DeMeester REVIEW

Such a Pretty Smile

by Kristi DeMeester

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Synopsis

A biting novel from an electrifying new voice, Such a Pretty Smile is a heart-stopping tour-de-force about powerful women, angry men, and all the ways in which girls fight against the forces that try to silence them.

There’s something out there that’s killing. Known only as The Cur, he leaves no traces, save for the torn bodies of girls, on the verge of becoming women, who are known as trouble-makers; those who refuse to conform, to know their place. Girls who don’t know when to shut up.

2019: Thirteen-year-old Lila Sawyer has secrets she can’t share with anyone. Not the school psychologist she’s seeing. Not her father, who has a new wife, and a new baby. And not her mother—the infamous Caroline Sawyer, a unique artist whose eerie sculptures, made from bent twigs and crimped leaves, have made her a local celebrity. But soon Lila feels haunted from within, terrorized by a delicious evil that shows her how to find her voice—until she is punished for using it.

2004: Caroline Sawyer hears dogs everywhere. Snarling, barking, teeth snapping that no one else seems to notice. At first, she blames the phantom sounds on her insomnia and her acute stress in caring for her ailing father. But then the delusions begin to take shape—both in her waking hours, and in the violent, visceral sculptures she creates while in a trance-like state. Her fiancé is convinced she needs help. Her new psychiatrist waves her “problem” away with pills. But Caroline’s past is a dark cellar, filled with repressed memories and a lurking horror that the men around her can’t understand.

As past demons become a present threat, both Caroline and Lila must chase the source of this unrelenting, oppressive power to its malignant core. Brilliantly paced, unsettling to the bone, and unapologetically fierce, Such a Pretty Smile is a powerful allegory for what it can mean to be a woman, and an untamed rallying cry for anyone ever told to sit down, shut up, and smile pretty.

Expected Publication Date: January 18, 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.

What I love about this novel is the way it takes the issues women face and turns them into a physical monster. The monster inside these pages is created from the issues of the patriarchy. It brings physical life to the detrimental effects of the internal struggle of being expected to shut up and behave and the "punishment" a lot of women face when they don't.

Such a pretty smile is told in dual timeline perspectives. It flips back and forth from 2019 Lila Sawyer and 2004 Caroline Sawyer. While I enjoyed Lila's sections from the beginning, it wasn't until just halfway through that Caroline's perspective caught my attention. The ending of the book was good enough that everything balanced out. While it wasn't the best feminist horror out there it's definitely still worth the read.

Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves by Meg Long REVIEW

 Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves

by Meg Long

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Synopsis

After angering a local gangster, seventeen-year-old Sena Korhosen must flee with her prize fighting wolf, Iska, in tow. A team of scientists offer to pay her way off her frozen planet on one condition: she gets them to the finish line of the planet’s infamous sled race. Though Sena always swore she’d never race after it claimed both her mothers’ lives, it’s now her only option.

But the tundra is a treacherous place, and as the race unfolds and their lives are threatened at every turn, Sena starts to question her own abilities. She must discover whether she's strong enough to survive the wild – whether she and Iska together are strong enough to get them all out alive.

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.

This was such an exciting story. It's a fast paced page turner that takes you on an exciting journey of survival. I ended up finishing it in two sittings. Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves keeps you on the edge of seat with your heart racing. It was simply spectacular!

I really liked Sensa as a main character. I thought she was fleshed out nicely and had good character growth. She is a well written, likeable character. Her relationship with Iska was just the sweetest thing. Watching them learn to trust each other and bond was so beautiful. They made a great pair of characters to follow and for me their relationship made the story what it was.

If you're looking for a survival story with a touch of fantasy and an animal sidekick you need to check this out.

Expected Publication: January 11, 2022

Lemon Drop Falls by Heather Clark REVIEW

 Lemon Drop Falls

Heather Clark

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Synopsis

Brave the sour to taste the sweet.

Morgan is devastated by her mother’s sudden death. Before, Mom’s amazing organizational skills kept the family on track, and her bowl of lemon drops was always on hand to make difficult conversations easy, turning life’s sour into sweet. After, there’s no one to help Morgan navigate her new role caring for her younger siblings, her worries about starting junior high, and her increasingly confusing friendships. All she can do is try to fulfill her mother’s final request: Keep them safe, Morgan. Be brave for them. Help them be happy.

When Dad insists on taking the family on their regular summer camping trip, and Morgan’s efforts to keep her promise to Mom seem doomed to fail, Morgan’s anxiety spirals into a panic attack, and Dad treats her like she’s impossibly broken. Unable to share her fears and needs with Dad, and desperate to prove she’s got the strength to hold the family together, Morgan sets off alone to hike a flooding canyon trail. But somewhere on that lonely and dangerous journey, Morgan will encounter the truth about the final words her mother left her, the power in finding her own voice, and the possibility of new beginnings.

Expected Publication: February 15, 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.

Lemon Drop Falls is such a wonderful read. With dual timelines we flash back and forth between before and after the death of Morgan's mom. We experience the days leading up to her death which really give us a sense of who Mama Bell, as she is called in the story, was. We get to know her just enough to love her. Then simultaneously she is gone and we are watching Morgan deal with her grief and pain which is another heartache all on its own. Morgan really struggles with her mom's death as her and her family learn to cope without Mama Bell.

Ya'll this book had me up sobbing at 1 AM. My heart was broke, I just wanted some healing for the main character. Clark did an awesome job at making you feel the characters pain. My heart was totally shattered for her.

There are a few messages in here about grief and healing from grief.

If you have a middle grade or even a bit older child who is dealing with grief I feel like this could be something they could connect with. I feel like this book addresses loss and grief in a way that could really help a child who has lost a loved one.

2021 Wrap-Up & 2022 Reading Goals

2021 Wrap-Up & 2022 Reading Goals

Hi everyone! Today I want to do a quick recap of my goals for 2021 and how well I did with them as well as go over some of my reading goals for 2022. Let's just jump on in shall we?

 Books

Under The Dome & The Long Walk & Misery by Stephen King - Under The Dome I did read and loved. The Long Walk & Misery are still on my TBR.

Neverday & I Knocked Up Satan's Daughter by Carlton Mellick III - Yes! I read and enjoyed both of these.

We Were Beautiful by Heather Hepler - I didn't get to this one but it is still on my TBR

All The Stars and Teeth & All The Tides of Fate by Adalyn Grace - Yes! Read and enjoyed both of these!

Amelia Unabridged by Ashley Schumacher - Read and enjoyed!

Sea Witch Rising by Sarah Henning - I just read this in December and unfortunately I did not enjoy it.

Project Nemesis Trilogy by Brendan Reichs - So I didn't end up reading these yet but they are on my TBR for 2022

Elites of Eden & Rebels of Eden by Joey Graceffa - I did read these. Elites of Eden was my favorite book in the trilogy.

Goals

1. Read 100 books: I'd like to try and read at least 100 books again this year. I Smashed this one and ended up reading over 200 books.

2. Prioritize my Physical TBR: I started 2021 with 301 physical books on my TBR, I want to cut that down as much as possible. I don't think I did a horrible job of this, but it could have been a lot better. I'm going into 2022 with 250 books.

3. Classics: I would like to continue to read more classics. I think 6 books is a great goal to reach for. I read more than 6 and actually enjoyed most of the ones I read.

4. Popsugar Reading Challenge: I love a challenge and hopefully I'll finish the Popsugar Reading Challenge for the third year in a row. Did it!

5. Translated Works: This year I'd like to read at least 4 translated books. I'm pretty sure I completed this.

6. Series: I want to finish off as many of the series I have started as possible. I did finish a few series that I started. I still have a few to finish but I'm happy with the ones I did complete.

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And now for my 2022 Goals!!

Books

Project Nemesis Trilogy by Brendan Reichs - I've been excited about this trilogy ever since I got it in 2020. It's time to just read them already!

The Long Walk & Misery by Stephen King - The Long Walk has been on my goals list since 2020, that is one I really want to get done at this point. Misery I want to read so I can watch the movie.

Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron - I'm so excited for this one!

Kings of Wyld by Nicholas Eames - Over Christmas my fiancé sent me to the bookstore and told me to get a book. I asked the lady who worked there for recommendations on a horror or sci-fi under 300 pages. She wasn't a horror reader so she ended up picking out a 500 page fantasy book for me instead. Side note, she did ask if I was okay with fantasy and had a back up sci-fi recommendation but she recommended this book the most.

China Dolls & The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See - In 2020 I binged 5 books by Lisa See and then never read anything by her after. The 5 books I read were all 4 and 5 stars so I have no explanation for this.

Goals

1. Read 100 books. I read a lot in 2021 and while I like reading a lot I probably will not read that many books this year.

2. Focus on my bookshelves (currently at 250 unread books). I am putting myself on a book buying ban with one exception. I just started a book club where we read backlist titles, if I need a book for that which I can not find at the library I am going to buy it. 

3. This year I created a reading challenge to help me get through the books on my physical TBR. The prompts are not strict, it's literally just a fun way to help me decide what to read next. I tried to make the prompts so they would be easy to fill without much, if any, searching.

4. Something book related I want to do this year is a Cross Stitch Book Journal. I originally got the idea when I saw a post by @bookstitchlong. When I looked more into it, people actually embroider a journal by stitching an icon a day, I won't be doing one daily but instead I'll be doing one per book read. I don't know how to embroider so I'm going to cross stitch mine. Hopefully it'll turn out nice and I won't run out of room.

That's basically all of my challenges for this year. I want to keep it simple and give myself room to just read whatever I feel like at that time. It's going to be a pretty chill reading year for me and I'm looking forward to that.

If you've read this far, thank you so much! I appreciate every read I get on these posts. Please remember to check me out on Instagram and Twitter for updates on my 2022 Reading Challenge and Bookish Stitchalong.

See you on the moon! XO

Helpful Links:

Four Moon Reading Challenge:

Prompts Blog Post: https://fourmoonreviews.blogspot.com/2021/11/four-moon-2022-reading-challenge.html

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1176262-four-moon-reading-challenge

Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/838ac83b-ee6f-400e-9e19-06d7c7955fe8

Socials:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/fourmoonreviews

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fourmoonreviews/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9197859-samantha

Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/samanthapearl

The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain

 The Last House on the Street

by Diane Chamberlain

Synopsis

When Kayla Carter's husband dies in an accident while building their dream house, she knows she has to stay strong for their four-year-old daughter. But the trophy home in Shadow Ridge Estates, a new development in sleepy Round Hill, North Carolina, will always hold tragic memories. But when she is confronted by an odd, older woman telling her not to move in, she almost agrees. It's clear this woman has some kind of connection to the area...and a connection to Kayla herself. Kayla's elderly new neighbor, Ellie Hockley, is more welcoming, but it's clear she, too, has secrets that stretch back almost fifty years. Is Ellie on a quest to right the wrongs of the past? And does the house at the end of the street hold the key? Told in dual time periods, The Last House on the Street is a novel of shocking prejudice and violence, forbidden love, the search for justice, and the tangled vines of two families.

Expected Publication Date: January 11, 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.

The Last House on the Street is a wonderfully written story about love and loss. With dual timelines each told from a different person's perspective, we are thrown into two separate worlds that are connected, yet worlds apart.

In one perspective we follow Kayla in 2010. She and her daughter move into a house that her husband died in while building it. In the other we have Ellie in 1965 as a young girl who is trying to make a difference in the world by volunteering with the SCOPE project. Throughout the story we experience a piece of each woman's life as she navigates through her own trials and tribulations until finally their two worlds collide.

This book is wonderfully written. The story captivates you as it breaks your heart and teaches you about true healing.

My favorite point of view was Ellie's. While both were good, I found Ellie's brought out the heartbreak and emotion in me much stronger than Kayla's did.

This is my first Diane Chamberlain novel and I can't wait to read more.

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins REVIEW

Reckless Girls

by Rachel Hawkins

🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑

Synopsis

When Lux McAllister and her boyfriend, Nico, are hired to sail two women to a remote island in the South Pacific, it seems like the opportunity of a lifetime. Stuck in a dead-end job in Hawaii, and longing to travel the world after a family tragedy, Lux is eager to climb on board The Susannah and set out on an adventure. She’s also quick to bond with their passengers, college best friends Brittany and Amma. The two women say they want to travel off the beaten path. But like Lux, they may have other reasons to be seeking an escape.

Shimmering on the horizon after days at sea, Meroe Island is every bit the paradise the foursome expects, despite a mysterious history of shipwrecks, cannibalism, and even rumors of murder. But what they don’t expect is to discover another boat already anchored off Meroe’s sandy beaches. The owners of the Azure Sky, Jake and Eliza, are a true golden couple: gorgeous, laidback, and if their sleek catamaran and well-stocked bar are any indication, rich. Now a party of six, the new friends settle in to experience life on an exotic island, and the serenity of being completely off the grid. Lux hasn’t felt like she truly belonged anywhere in years, yet here on Meroe, with these fellow free spirits, she finally has a sense of peace.

But with the arrival of a skeevy stranger sailing alone in pursuit of a darker kind of good time, the balance of the group is disrupted. Soon, cracks begin to emerge: it seems that Brittany and Amma haven’t been completely honest with Lux about their pasts––and perhaps not even with each other. And though Jake and Eliza seem like the perfect pair, the rocky history of their relationship begins to resurface, and their reasons for sailing to Meroe might not be as innocent as they first appeared.

When it becomes clear that the group is even more cut off from civilization than they initially thought, it starts to feel like the island itself is closing in on them. And when one person goes missing, and another turns up dead, Lux begins to wonder if any of them are going to make it off the island alive.

Expected Publication Date: January 4, 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.

Reckless Girls takes us on a thrilling island adventure where fun is a must and secrets are buried deep.

This was such a fun thriller. It did start off a little slow but once I hit the halfway point I was hooked. I really enjoyed the characters having an entire island to themselves. It helped create the eerie feeling that you would get from being stranded on an island away from civilization with total strangers. There was some back and forth between timelines which I thought was pretty good. I found the back stories of the characters to be interesting. I liked what they added to the story.

The characters were just fine for me. There wasn't anyone who I particularly gravitated towards. They all played their roles well and it was just fine.

If you're looking for a beach thriller I'd absolutely give this one a shot.

When You Get The Chance by Emma Lord REVIEW

When You Get The Chance

by Emma Lord

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

Synopsis

Nothing will get in the way of Millie Price’s dream to become a Broadway star. Not her lovable but super-introverted dad, who after raising Millie alone, doesn’t want to watch her leave home to pursue her dream. Not her pesky and ongoing drama club rival, Oliver, who is the very definition of Simmering Romantic Tension. And not the “Millie Moods,” the feelings of intense emotion that threaten to overwhelm, always at maddeningly inconvenient times. Millie needs an ally. And when a left-open browser brings Millie to her dad’s embarrassingly moody LiveJournal from 2003, Millie knows just what to do. She’s going to find her mom.

There’s Steph, a still-aspiring stage actress and receptionist at a talent agency. There’s Farrah, ethereal dance teacher who clearly doesn’t have the two left feet Millie has. And Beth, the chipper and sweet stage enthusiast with an equally exuberant fifteen-year-old daughter (A possible sister?! This is getting out of hand). But how can you find a new part of your life and expect it to fit into your old one, without leaving any marks? And why is it that when you go looking for the past, it somehow keeps bringing you back to what you’ve had all along?

Review

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an advanced review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

As a baby Millie was given to her father to raise by himself. She has never met her mother nor does she know who she is. After a disagreement with her dad, Millie decides to find her mom as a way to get what she wants. When things don't go exactly as planned Millie is taken on a journey to understanding herself, her parents and the parts of love that sometimes mean letting go.

What a truly wonderful story! It wasn't long before I was drawn into the dramatic life of Millie Price. She is incredibly charming with a heart full of sass. Her story is as heartwarming as it is entertaining.

While I personally wouldn't consider this a romance, even though it does have a romance in it, I would recommend it to those who enjoy their romance as a side (but totally fitting) story rather than the main plot point. Combining musical theatre, family drama, enemies to lovers romance, and adorable friendships this book has something for everyone.

Expected Publication Date: January 4th 2022

2022 Four Moon Reading Challenge

 2022 Four Moon Reading Challenge

Hi everyone, thank you so much for visiting my blog! Today I am beyond excited to be introducing the very first Four Moon Reading Challenge. This is the first reading challenge I've ever created so even if you don't participate I appreciate you even taking the time to visit this post. If you choose to participate and/or post any content on social media please use the hashtag #fourmoonreadingchallenge so I can send some love your way.

Below are a list of the prompts for the challenge. Feel free to do as many or as few of the prompts as you like. Any format of book is perfectly fine. I'm not going to police your reading so if you feel it counts then it counts.

The Challenge will run from January 1 2022 until December 31 2022. If you start a book in 2021 and finish it in 2022 and want to count it that's totally fine. Just have fun!

Without further waiting, here is the prompt list (with explanations where necessary):

1. A book about or involving a lie

2. A book with a moon or stars on the cover

3. A book chosen by a child (this could be literally any book. Children's books, comic books etc.)

4. A book out of season (literally any book that takes place in a season you aren't in when you read it)

5. A book with less than 1000 ratings on GoodReads

6. A book with a beautiful cover

7. A book with an insect on the cover

8. A book that looks like another book you've read (just a book that has a visual similarity to another book you've read at some point in time)

9. Read the first book in a trilogy (does not have to be the same trilogy as prompts 10 & 11)

10. Read the second book in a trilogy (does not have to be the same trilogy as prompts 9 & 11)

11. Read the third book in a trilogy ((does not have to be the same trilogy as prompts 9 & 10)

12. Has less than 3 colors on the cover

13. Newest book on your TBR shelf (the newest book you acquired as a gift  bought yourself or borrowed from the library)

14. On your bookshelf or TBR for 2+ years

15. A book involving a family (could involve any family dynamic)

16. Written by an author you love

17. Written by an author you've never read before

18. A book with a textured cover (where the cover has parts on it that are raised so you can feel them)

19. Flip A Coin (choose two books then flip a coin to see which one to read)

20. Has a number in the title

21. Has your favorite fictitious character in it (could be anything nonhuman that doesn't actually exist in the real world)

22. Read a book about adoption

23. Has your favorite color on the cover

24. Has an interesting title (any book where the title intrigues you)

25. Read a book then leave a review (literally any book where you leave a review, the review can be as long or as short as you want)

26. A book that fits a prompt for another reading challenge

27. A book featuring music

28. A book on a sensitive subject (this is any topic you believe is a sensitive subject, do not read something that is going to trigger you, this is just a reading challenge to try and help broaden your reading)

29. A book that has won the GoodReads Choice Awards (any year, any topic)

30. A retelling

31. A book released 5+ years ago

32. Read a middle grade book

33. A book with an even number of pages

34. A book you bought because of social media

35. A book about or involving cooking 

36. A book with all the colors of the rainbow on the cover (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple)

37. A book with a 40+ year old main character

38. A book that has pictures

39. Has one of the four elements on the cover (earth, air, water, fire, the sky would work for the air element)

40. A nonfiction book on a person or subject you know nothing about.

I'm sure you noticed there are no queer, poc, indigenous or disability rep as one of the prompts. I didn't add them because you can find representation for all the above groups to fit all of these prompts and I encourage you to do so.

If you've made it to the end, thank you so much for reading. If you decide to participate let me know. I'd love to know what books you're choosing or would recommend for each prompt.

See you on the moon! XO

Links:

Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/838ac83b-ee6f-400e-9e19-06d7c7955fe8

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1176262-four-moon-reading-challenge

Printable PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zRfBWp4IXJRsdTc66rQ_-LHy4WlL1PDJ/view?usp=sharing

The Custard Corpses by M.J. Porter REVIEW

The Custard Corpses

by M.J. Porter

🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑

Synopsis

The Custard Corpses, a delicious 1940s mystery.

Birmingham, England, 1943.

While the whine of the air raid sirens might no longer be rousing him from bed every night, a two-decade-old unsolved murder case will ensure that Chief Inspector Mason of Erdington Police Station is about to suffer more sleepless nights.

Young Robert McFarlane’s body was found outside the local church hall on 30th September 1923. But, his cause of death was drowning, and he’d been missing for three days before his body was found. No one was ever arrested for the crime. No answers could ever be given to the grieving family. The unsolved case has haunted Mason ever since.

But, the chance discovery of another victim, with worrying parallels, sets Mason, and his constable, O’Rourke, on a journey that will take them back over twenty-five years, the chance to finally solve the case, while all around them the uncertainty of war continues, impossible to ignore.

Purchase Link: mybook.to/TheCustardCorpses

Review

Thank you to the author and Rachel's Random Resources for having me on this blog tour. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

In The Custard Corpses, Chief Inspector Mason investigates an old homicide case that was never solved. While investigating this case one thing leads to another and soon more cold cases are being connected to this one. Things continue to get stranger until certain connections are made that take these cases to a whole new level.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. The concept is interesting. The twists and reveals were clever. The writing is well done. It's wrapped up very nicely. It really was a juicy mystery just waiting to tickle your tastebuds.

If you're looking for a historical mystery dripped in dessert than this may be the book you're looking for.

As a warning I will say the victims in this book are children however nothing violent happens in the book. When the story opens the victims are already deceased and the case has been marked cold for years.

Author Bio

I'm an author of historical fiction (Early English, Vikings and the British Isles as a whole before the Norman Conquest) and fantasy (Viking age/dragon-themed). I’ve recently written a relatively modern mystery novel set in 1943. I was born in the old Mercian kingdom at some point since 1066. Raised in the shadow of a strange little building, told from a very young age that it housed the bones of long-dead Kings of Mercia and that our garden was littered with old pieces of pottery from a long-ago battle, it's little wonder that my curiosity in Early England ran riot. I can only blame my parents!

I write A LOT. You've been warned!

Find me at www.mjporterauthor.com and @coloursofunison on twitter.


Social Media Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/coloursofunison

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/m_j_porter/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7163404.M_J_Porter

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/coloursofunison/_saved/


Giveaway to Win 2 x copies of The Custard Corpses (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.


http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494455/

Erma Does The Math by Ann Strawn REVIEW

Erma Does The Math

by Ann Strawn

Synopsis

When Tameka visits her elderly aunt, birthday gift in hand, quirky Aunt Erma puts her to work. As she hangs an old photo Tameka discovers that the women in the picture are 1940’s-era human computers at Langley Jet Propulsion Lab and that her auntie was one of them! She has lots of questions, but Aunt Erma’s price for answers is one math problem each. Tameka keeps up, but the problems get more complex with each question. Remembering the gift, Tameka convinces her auntie to open it. The contents make them both laugh and realize that they’ve learned something about each other.

Purchase Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Erma-Does-Math-Ann-Strawn/dp/0578742691

US - https://www.amazon.com/Erma-Does-Math-Ann-Strawn/dp/0578742691

CA - https://www.amazon.ca/Erma-Does-Math-Ann-Strawn/dp/0578742691

Review

Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources and the author for having me on this blog tour. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Erma Does The Math is an adorable story about Erma Tynes Walker who was a human computer at Langley Airforce Base. This truly interesting story is told in a way that children will be able to understand and enjoy. The bright illustrations and adorable characters grab your attention and bring life into the story. As we read along we do some math problems and learn about what it was like to be a human computer.

There are a lot of things you and your child can enjoy about this book. It's a great choice for the math lovers, the history lovers, the books lovers.. heck, this book is a great choice for everybody!

 

Author Bio

Ann Strawn lives in Renton Washington with her husband of 34 years, daughter and family dog. She makes her living as a middle school science teacher and truly enjoys the company of kids and teens. She considers her job total immersion training for writing her middle grade novels, THE DOWNLOAD and THE UPDATE.

Ann’s most current project is a picture book about her great aunt Erma Tynes Walker who was a human computer at Langley Airforce Base. Besides writing Ann also enjoys crochet and just hanging out with her family.