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: ♥♥♥♥

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

 

Blurb from Goodreads: 

Everyone knows a couple like Jack and Grace.

He has looks and wealth, she has charm and elegance. You might not want to like them, but you do. Though, you’d like to get to know Grace better.

But it’s difficult, because you realize Jack and Grace are never apart.

Some might call this true love. Others might ask why Grace never answers the phone. Or how she can never meet for coffee, even though she doesn’t work. How she can cook such elaborate meals but remain so slim. And why there are bars on one of the bedroom windows.

Things I liked:

1) Grace- I really felt bad for her most of the time. I also felt like she was a strong character also. 

2) The writing of this story was amazing. It felt more like a movie then anything.  I really wanted to know what was going to happen.

3) Millie- My favorite character of this book. She was just so smart even though people didn't think she really was. 

Things I Was Not Fond Of:

1) The only thing I really didn't care for in this book was the ending. I felt like what happened in the first 3/4 of the book deserved a better ending. I felt like the ending was more of an after thought.

My rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

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

After Anna by Alex Lake

 

Goodreads Blurb:

 A girl is missing. Five years old, taken from outside her school. She has vanished, traceless. The police are at a loss; her parents are beyond grief. Their daughter is lost forever, perhaps dead, perhaps enslaved. But the biggest mystery is yet to come: one week after she was abducted, their daughter is returned. She has no memory of where she has been. And this, for her mother, is just the beginning of the nightmare.

Things I liked:

1) Julia- I really felt bad for her. She did make some mistakes but I really didn't think she deserved a lot of the things that happened to her.

2) The writing of this book was amazing. It was everything I want in a thriller; mysterious and fast paced

3) I liked the different points of views. You knew who was talking at which points. I always enjoy when you don't have to guess.

4) Brian- Another character I felt bad for. Julia was not the nicest to him that is for sure. He did things also but that was because he thought he was protecting him and his daughter.

Things I was not fond of:

1) Edna- I can't really say why but this woman was such a witch.

2) I am not sure if this book is suppose to have a sequel but the ending of this book kind of made it seem like there will be.


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

My Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥


 

Shiny Broken Peices(Tiny Pretty Things #2) by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton

 

Goodreads Blurb:
June, Bette, and Gigi have given their all to dance at Manhattan’s most elite ballet school. Now they are competing one final time for a spot at the prestigious American Ballet Company. With the stakes higher than ever, these girls have everything to lose…and no one is playing nice.

June is starting to finally see herself as a prima ballerina. However, getting what she wants might cost her everything—including the only boy she’s ever loved. Legacy dancer Bette is determined to clear her name after she was suspended and accused of hurting her rival, Gigi. Even if she returns, though, will she ever regain the spotlight she craves? And Gigi is not going to let Bette—or the other dancers who bullied her—go unpunished. But as revenge consumes her, Gigi may be the one who pays the price.

After years of grueling auditions, torn ribbons, and broken hearts, it all comes down to this last dance. Who will make the cut? And who will lose her dream forever?



Things I liked:
 1) The writing of this book was rather addicting. Once I got into it I could not put it down and had to know what was going on. 

2) June- One of my favorite characters. She does make some questionable decisions but not as bad as the other girls.

3) The drama- I'm sure that its not a good thing that I liked it but still think the way it is done is this story is so good and just makes it that much more enjoyable.

Things I was not fond of:

1) Gigi- I know that I was probably suppose to feel bad for her but I really couldn't. She is just so mean to everyone. 

2) The things these group of girls did to each other were horrible. I really did not feel like most of it was necessary

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

My rating:  ♥♥♥♥

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

 

Goodreads Blurb:

 Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Things I liked:

1) I thought this story was unique. It definately was a different spin to what Cinderella stories normally are.

2) Prince Kai- I get why alot of people liked him. I think he was my favorite in this story.

 3) The writing was done well. It got you into the world without giving fluff type information which I am not a fan of most of the time.

Things I Was Not Fond Of:

1) I felt like the plot was a bit weak. It may be just me but there really was not much going on most of the time and I found it boring.

2) Cinder- I liked that she was sarcastic but found her to be rather whiny at times. I also that she was rather annoying as well. 

My rating: ♥♥♥

The Hunt(The Cage # 2) by Megan Shepherd

Goodreads Blurb:

After their failed escape attempt, Cora, Lucky, and Mali have been demoted to the lowest level of human captives and placed in a safari-themed environment called the Hunt, along with wild animals and other human outcasts. They must serve new Kindred masters—Cora as a lounge singer, Lucky as an animal wrangler, and Mali as a safari guide—and follow new rules or face dangerous consequences. Meanwhile, Nok and Rolf have been moved into an enormous dollhouse, observed around the clock by Kindred scientists interested in Nok’s pregnancy. And Leon, the only one who successfully escaped, has teamed up with villainous Mosca black-market traders.

The former inhabitants of the Cage are threatened on all fronts—and maybe worst of all, one of the Hunt’s Kindred safari guests begins to play a twisted game of cat and mouse with Cora. Separated and constantly under watch, she and the others must struggle to stay alive, never mind find a way back to each other. When Cassian secretly offers to train Cora to develop her psychic abilities—to prove the worthiness of humanity in a series of tests called the Gauntlet—she’ll have to decide fast if she dares to trust the Kindred who betrayed her, or if she can forge her own way to freedom. 

Things I liked:

1) Cora- She is still my favorite character in this book. Definitely one of my favorite female characters in a book ever.

2) I really enjoyed how this book started where the first one left off. I always love that!

3) This book was a wild ride. It was really mysterious and you really had no idea who to trust.

4) Cassian- I was not so sure about him in the first book at all but in this one I really thought he brought something special to the story.

Things I was not fond of:

1) The one and only thing I did not like about this book was the ending and that is because it left in a cliff hanger. 

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

My rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Please Don't Tell By Laura Tims

Goodreads Blurb: 

Debut author Laura Tims writes an intense and utterly gripping contemporary YA tale perfect for fans of Pretty Little Liars. Joy has done everything to protect her twin sister...including murder.

Joy killed Adam Gordon for what he did to her sister, Grace. At least, that’s what she thinks happened. Now Adam can’t hurt anyone ever again, and her sister can be free from the boy who harmed her.

But someone else knows what Joy did, and they’re going to out her as a cold-blooded killer if she doesn’t expose the scandalous secrets bubbling just below the surface of her mundane town. As the demands escalate, and she finds herself falling for Adam’s half brother, Joy must figure out the blackmailer’s identity before everything spirals out of control

Things I liked:

1) Joy- Although she was kind of all over the place for me I still really think she was an essential part of this book.

2) The writing of this was rather addicting. I just really wanted to know what was going to happen and could not put it down.

3) The twists and turns of this book were amazing. You could predict some things  but not everything that happens.

Things I was not fond of:

1) For me there were a few things in the book that I really did not think were necessary and just took away from the main story.

2) The cussing I was not a big fan of at all. I felt it to be unnecessary most of the time. 

My rating: ♥♥♥♥

*I was given this by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*