The Therapist by B.A Paris

 

Goodreads Blurb:

When Alice and Leo move into a newly renovated house in The Circle, a gated community of exclusive houses, it is everything they’ve dreamed of. But appearances can be deceptive…

As Alice is getting to know her neighbours, she discovers a devastating secret about her new home, and begins to feel a strong connection with Nina, the therapist who lived there before.

Alice becomes obsessed with trying to piece together what happened two years before. But no one wants to talk about it. Her neighbors are keeping secrets and things are not as perfect as they seem…

Things I liked:

1) I think this is my second book by this author and I just love her writing style so much. I find her books to be rather addicting.

2) I know Alice is not the greatest character and at times I found her annoying. I think she really made the book for me. I found Leo to be rather dull.

3) The dual timelines was done very well. I loved getting to learn about each woman.

Things  I was not fond of:

1) I feel like it took a long time for us to get the twist. Although I pretty much guessed it I still felt as though it shouldn't have drug on as long as it did. 

2) Leo was just not great. He had a lot of traits that I didn't love. 

I would recommend this if you loved the authors other works. I think it fits right in with those.

My rating: ♡♡♡♡

The Nurse by J.A Corrigan

 

Goodreads  Blurb:

Rose Marlowe is a hard-working nurse, a loving wife, and a merciless killer. Or so she says. Despite her confession, it is hard to believe that this beautiful, kind woman could have killed her vulnerable patient in cold blood.

Down-on-his luck author and ex-journalist, Theo Hazel, is convinced that there’s more to what happened than Rose is telling, and so decides to visit her behind bars to write her story. His first surprise comes when Rose reveals that the victim was not a stranger to her.

As time goes on, it seems that Rose is letting Theo see behind her perfect mask. With each new visit, he learns terrible new things about her heart-breaking past. With each new visit, he becomes more and more convinced that she can’t be a killer. But is he trying to free an innocent victim, or falling prey to a calculating murderer?

Things I liked:

1) I absolutely loved the dual time lines

2) I loved Rose. She has been through a lot but still was a good person.

3)  I thought that the relationship in the book was done so well. Not one of those toxic relationships at all.

4) I think Theo really made this book. He was done so well and really cared about Rose.

Things I was not fond of:

1) Really the only thing I did not like was how the ending went. I don't think it was super twisty like I expect from a thriller to be. 

My rating: 💜💜💜💜

*I received this book from NetGalley on a read and review basis*

The Perfect Daughter by D.J. Palmer

 

Goodreads Blurb:

Grace never dreamt she’d visit her teenaged daughter Penny in the locked ward of a decaying state psychiatric hospital, charged with the murder of a stranger. There was not much question of her daughter’s guilt. Police had her fingerprints on the murder weapon and the victim’s blood on her body and clothes. But they didn’t have a motive.

Grace blames herself, because that’s what mothers do—they look at their choices and wonder, what if? But hindsight offers little more than the chance for regret.

None of this was conceivable the day Penny came into her life. Then, it seemed like a miracle. Penny was found abandoned, with a mysterious past, and it felt like fate brought Penny to her, and her husband Arthur. But as she grew, Penny's actions grew more disturbing, and different "personalities" emerged.

Things I liked:

1) The concept of this book was so unique and nothing I have read before. The DID aspect of it was super intriguing.  I think it really worked for this type of story. 

2) Grace was probably the best character I have read in some time. She loved Penny so much and really just wanted to find out the truth

3) I didn't think this book was super twisty but I still really loved the writing style. Not to say its boring because there was always something happening. 

4) That ending!! So I read a lot of thrillers so I tend to guess the twists most times but not this one.

Things I was not fond of:

1) The only thing I didn't love was one of the brothers. He brought conflict to the book so I get why he was put in it but dang that boy was so harsh.

My rating: ♡♡♡♡♡

The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose

 

Goodreads Blurb:

Sarah Morgan is a successful and powerful defense attorney in Washington D.C. As a named partner at her firm, life is going exactly how she planned. The same cannot be said for her husband, Adam. He's a struggling writer who has had little success in his career and he tires of his and Sarah’s relationship as she is constantly working. Out in the secluded woods, at the couple’s lakehouse, Adam engages in a passionate affair with Kelly Summers.

But one morning everything changes. Kelly is found brutally stabbed to death and now, Sarah must take on her hardest case yet, defending her own husband, a man accused of murdering his mistress.

Things I liked:

1) Although I didn't agree with the choices Sarah made throughout this book I still loved her as a character. She tried so hard to do the right thing despite the situation she was in. She pretty much had to keep herself and her husband together while everyone was judging her.

2) I found this book to be really addicting. I was intrigued from the beginning. I liked how it took no time to start. 

3) The ending as a whole really shocked me. I read a lot of thrillers so I feel like i guess what happens most times but not this one.

Things I was not fond of:

1) Adam was such an unlikeable character. Throughout this whole book I was rather confused why Sarah would even defend him.

2) The mother in law was horrible. She was just annoying in so many ways. 

This was another home run for me. I heard so much about it and was so glad I enjoyed it. By no means do I think that this book was perfect. I based my rating on the fact that I could not put this book down and wanted to know what was happening. Also the twist at the end was not what I was expecting. 

My rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon

 

Goodreads Blurb:

When social worker Jax receives nine missed calls from her older sister, Lexie, she assumes that it’s just another one of her sister’s episodes. Manic and increasingly out of touch with reality, Lexie has pushed Jax away for over a year. But the next day, Lexie is dead: drowned in the pool at their grandmother’s estate. When Jax arrives at the house to go through her sister’s things, she learns that Lexie was researching the history of their family and the property. And as she dives deeper into the research herself, she discovers that the land holds a far darker past than she could have ever imagined.

In 1929, thirty-seven-year-old newlywed Ethel Monroe hopes desperately for a baby. In an effort to distract her, her husband whisks her away on a trip to Vermont, where a natural spring is showcased by the newest and most modern hotel in the Northeast. Once there, Ethel learns that the water is rumored to grant wishes, never suspecting that the spring takes in equal measure to what it gives

Things I liked:

1) The dual timelines. This was done in a unique way. I don't think I have read anything like this.

2) I normally don't love anything to do with history but I was invested in both timelines equally.

3) I went into this book pretty blind. I think its a book you really need to do that with

4) This was my first book by this author and I don't think it will be my last.

Things I was not fond of:

1) I wasn't a fan of how Jax and Lexie were compared to each other a lot by family and friends. You can tell that it affected Jax a lot in adulthood.

2) Some of the family members are pretty sketchy people. For the most part a pretty normal family but those few weren't my favorite.

Overall I think this book had a lot of great things and the writing was rather addicting. Would recommend to pick it if you like this author.

My rating: ♥♥♥♥

*I received this book from Edelweiss and Netgalley for an honest review*

Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi

 

Goodreads Blurb: 

Jayne Baek is barely getting by. She shuffles through fashion school, saddled with a deadbeat boyfriend, clout-chasing friends, and a wretched eating disorder that she’s not fully ready to confront. But that’s New York City, right? At least she isn’t in Texas anymore, and is finally living in a city that feels right for her.

On the other hand, her sister June is dazzlingly rich with a high-flying finance job and a massive apartment. Unlike Jayne, June has never struggled a day in her life. Until she’s diagnosed with uterine cancer.

Suddenly, these estranged sisters who have nothing in common are living together. Because sisterly obligations are kind of important when one of you is dying.

Things I liked: 

1) Jayne- I did think she was pretty hard on herself. She kept comparing herself to other people. By the end of the book for me she got her stuff together. She really grew as a character.

2)  I really loved the relationship between the sisters. They are living such different lives but when it comes down to it they are always supportive of each other.

3) The Texas references-  I live in Texas and I absolutely could relate to all the things that were mentioned. 

4) The Korean representation- I have always been fascinated with Asian culture. It was crazy to see how many things I new in this book. Especially food wise!

Things I was not a fan of:

1) Jeremy- I don't know why this guy was in this book. Worst character in so many ways.

2) What was that ending? I'm literally still thinking about it!

My rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️

* I did receive this book for free from Netgalley, in exchange for a review*

Nightbooks by J.A. White

 

Goodreads Blurb:

A boy is imprisoned by a witch and must tell her a new scary story each night to stay alive. This thrilling contemporary fantasy from J. A. White, the acclaimed author of the Thickety series, brings to life the magic and craft of storytelling.

Alex’s original hair-raising tales are the only thing keeping the witch Natacha happy, but soon he’ll run out of pages to read from and be trapped forever. He’s loved scary stories his whole life, and he knows most don’t have a happily ever after. Now that Alex is trapped in a true terrifying tale, he’s desperate for a different ending—and a way out of this twisted place.

Things I liked:

1)  Alex was probably the smartest kid ever. In the beginning not so much though. His stories were actually good. 

2) Yasmin- I absolutely fell in love with this character the moment we met her. 

3) The witch- I know she's someone that were suppose to hate but I loved her story and just her in general.

Things I wasn't fond of:

1) The only thing about this book is the fact that we don't have another one yet! I need more of these characters and world!

My rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake

 

Goodreads Blurb:

When a tornado rips through town, twelve-year-old Ivy Aberdeen's house is destroyed and her family of five is displaced. Ivy feels invisible and ignored in the aftermath of the storm--and what's worse, her notebook filled with secret drawings of girls holding hands has gone missing.

Mysteriously, Ivy's drawings begin to reappear in her locker with notes from someone telling her to open up about her identity. Ivy thinks--and hopes--that this someone might be her classmate, another girl for whom Ivy has begun to develop a crush. Will Ivy find the strength and courage to follow her true feelings?

Things I liked:

1) I honestly do not read many books that have lgbtq representation in them. This was for the middle grade prompt and I am so glad I read this.

2) Ivy- Honestly some of the things Ivy did were kind of questionable but by the end of this book I really loved her character.

3) The friend group of this book was just awesome. Yes they had issues as most do but it wasn't the catty girls as I'm used to.

Things I wasn't fond of:

1) My one complaint about this book were the parents. These probably weren't the worst ones ever but dang they made some interesting decisions.

My rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser

 

Goodreads Blurb: The Vanderbeekers have always lived in the brownstone on 141st Street. It's practically another member of the family. So when their reclusive, curmudgeonly landlord decides not to renew their lease, the five siblings have eleven days to do whatever it takes to stay in their beloved home and convince the dreaded Beiderman just how wonderful they are. And all is fair in love and war when it comes to keeping their home. 

Things I liked: 

1) This book really didn't feel like a middle grade read to me. As an adult I felt like this book was so entertaining.

2) The relationship between the kids was so cute. The kids genuinely liked each other and wanted the best for one another.

3) The parents in this book were honestly amazing. I think normal parents are hard to find in middle grade books. I liked how the parents didn't shy away from hard topics with the kids and explained everything to them

Things I was not fond of:

If i'm being completely honestly I really have nothing bad to say about this book. 

My rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️

The Cheerleaders By Kara Thomas

Goodreads Blurb:

There are no more cheerleaders in the town of Sunnybrook.

First there was the car accident—two girls gone after hitting a tree on a rainy night. Not long after, the murders happened. Those two girls were killed by the man next door. The police shot him, so no one will ever know why he did it. Monica’s sister was the last cheerleader to die. After her suicide, Sunnybrook High disbanded the cheer squad. No one wanted to be reminded of the girls they lost.

That was five years ago. Now the faculty and students at Sunnybrook High want to remember the lost cheerleaders. But for Monica, it’s not that easy. She just wants to forget. Only, Monica’s world is starting to unravel. There are the letters in her stepdad’s desk, an unearthed, years-old cell phone, a strange new friend at school. . . . Whatever happened five years ago isn’t over. Some people in town know more than they’re saying. And somehow Monica is at the center of it all.

Things  I Liked: 

1) The writing of this book was so addicting! I was thinking about the book even when I wasn't reading it because I wanted to know what was happening. 

2) Monica-When I first started reading this book I honestly thought she would be my least favorite character but she ended up being my favorite. She is such a smart girl and not at all the stereotypical main character that I see a lot.

3) The Flashbacks: I'm always I fan of these in books. Sometimes I feel like they are unnecessary but in this one I feel like they are crucial to the story. 

4) The family dynamics: There are a lot in this book and honestly most of them were amazing!

Things I Was Not Fond Of:

1) The only thing about this book that I was not a fan of was the ending. If I'm being completely honest I feel like that with a lot of books I read. In this ending  I didn't feel like it was summed up at great. It left a lot to the imagination. 

Overall I enjoyed this book and was so glad that I received it. 

My rating: ♥♥♥♥

*I received this book from NetGalley for free on a read and review basis*

The Sun Is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon

Goodreads Blurb:

Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story.

Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.

The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?


*Let me start off by saying I loved Everything, Everything and had major high hopes for this book* 

Things I liked:


1) I love Nicola Yoon's writing style. The way she tells a story is beautiful. 

2) Daniel: His personality was great. I didn't see what he saw in Natasha at all.

Things  I Was Not Fond Of:

1) Natasha-She was a boring character. She was rather selfish as well. By the end of the book I didn't really care what happened to her. 

2) I'm not the biggest fan of teenage love. This book had a lot of that in it. To me its rather cheesy and most of the time unnecessary. 

3) The ending-The main reason why this book got the rating that it did. I feel like I wasted all this time reading the book and literally got nothing at the end. 

Overall I was rather disappointed at this book

My rating: ♥♥♥

The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich

Goodreads Blurb: 

Twenty-five years ago, Elmbridge High burned down. Three people were killed and one pupil, Carly Johnson, disappeared. Now a diary has been found in the ruins of the school. The diary belongs to Kaitlyn Johnson, Carly’s identical twin sister. But Carly didn’t have a twin . . . 

Re-opened police records, psychiatric reports, transcripts of video footage and fragments of diary reveal a web of deceit and intrigue, violence and murder, raising a whole lot more questions than it answers.

Who was Kaitlyn and why did she only appear at night? Did she really exist or was she a figment of a disturbed mind? What were the illicit rituals taking place at the school? And just what did happen at Elmbridge in the events leading up to ‘the Johnson Incident’?

Things I liked: 

1) This book had me hooked from the first page to the last. I was completely invested in all the characters. Had it not been for the 13 Reasons Why premiere I would have flown right through this book.

2) The concept of the book was done so well and not something I have read before. It had you guessing the whole book.

Things I was not fond of:

1) The ending was not bad at all. At the same time I feel like it left a lot to the imagination. I'm hoping for a sequel. 

My rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

The Memory Book by Lara Avery

Goodreads Blurb: 

Sammie was always a girl with a plan: graduate at the top of her class and get out of her small town as soon as humanly possible. Nothing will stand in her way--not even a rare genetic disorder the doctors say will slowly start to steal her memories and then her health. What she needs is a new plan.

So the Memory Book is born: Sammie's notes to her future self, a document of moments great and small. It's where she'll record every perfect detail of her first date with longtime crush, Stuart--a brilliant young writer who is home for the summer. And where she'll admit how much she's missed her childhood best friend, Cooper, and even take some of the blame for the fight that ended their friendship.

Through a mix of heartfelt journal entries, mementos, and guest posts from friends and family, readers will fall in love with Sammie, a brave and remarkable girl who learns to live and love life fully, even though it's not the life she planned.

Things  I  Liked:

1) I really enjoyed the writing. It was actually pretty funny which I always enjoy.

2) I enjoyed the memory portion in the book. It was not done the way I thought it would have been though. 

Things I Was Not Fond Of:

1) Sammie wanted a lot of validation from guys and I just didn't agree with it. 

2) The whole love aspect of the book was lame to me. It was very predictable and a copout at the end.

3) The ending-Although it was hinted at in the beginning was the shortest thing ever with no explanation what so ever.

My rating: ♥♥♥♥