3 stars
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The Diviners by Libba Bray
The Diviners by Libba Bray is a young adult paranormal novel. Set in 1926 New York, we’re following Evie O’Neill who’s recently been sent off to live with her strange Uncle after misbehaving. Uncle Will is a professor, who runs a creepy museum, and is obsessed with the occult. Evie has been hiding an enormous secret, her supernatural abilities that only ever get her into more trouble. However, after strange crimes begin occurring across New York, Evie uses her powers to help solve them. This book is very character driven (aka slow paced…) with a super interesting underlying plot involving supernatural powers, ghosts, and crime which made me keep reading,…
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Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff is the second book in the Illuminae Files series. I have done a post about the first in the series, Illuminae, and recommend reading that post first so you are not spoiled in anyway for the series if you haven’t read the first book yet. This fast-paced, science fiction (with a hint of horror vibes if you’re a scared-y cat like me) series that began with Illuminae, now continues aboard the Heimdall, where our two new main characters prepare for BeiTech’s next attack. Hanna is the spoiled daughter of the station’s captain, with a surprising amount of war and combat training. Nik is…
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Up To I Do by Samantha March
Up To I Do by Samantha March is the light hearted chick lit, chock full of wedding planning, that I needed to ease my stress while planning my own wedding. Emerson Sinclair is a wealthy hotel heiress, who thinks of herself as a sort of celebrity, despite living in a small New Hampshire town. A besides, she’s about to marry a Worthington don’t you know? She expects her wedding to air on television, to be made a priority in every one’s lives for the entire year leading up to the wedding. No expense is too great for the wedding of the century. Emerson begins to lose herself in the stress…
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The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee is a young adult historical fiction novel. Henry “Monty” Montague is a selfish, troubled teen struggling with the expectations of being a Lord’s son, as well as with his sexuality. Monty is in love with his best friend Percy, who is a POC. Percy, Monty, and Felicity, Monty’s younger sister, go on a Grand Tour across Europe to have their final hurrah before settling down into their duties at home. Monty plans to use this year abroad to find out if there really is anything romantic between him and Percy. However, his forever reckless behavior puts all three of them…
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To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han is about Lara Jean, a teenage girl who’s been in love many times before. To each of her loves, she writes a letter; signed, sealed, stamped, but never to be delivered. It’s her way of saying goodbye; of letting go of her crush. One day, Lara Jean discovers that her box of letters have been mailed out ‘to all the boys [she’s] loved before.’ I was committed to finishing this book! It was due back to the library when I had 40 pages left so I took pictures of the rest since the wait list for it, now that the…
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Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Cinder by Marissa Meyer is a sci-fi retelling of the classic Cinderella. Cinder is a mechanic in New Beijing. She is also a cyborg. Hated by her step-mother, and soon blamed for the sickness killing her step-sister, Cinder becomes entwined with Prince Kai and messy intergalactic politics with the Moon. While I did enjoy this, it didn’t blow my socks off. As with most retellings, the plot is quite predictable. I loved the characters and the world building. Being set after World War IV in a rebuilt China? Super fascinating! I’m excited to continue the series. I give this 3.5 stars. ★★★☆☆
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We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart is a YA Suspense novel following a group of four friends on a private island with their distinguished family throughout the summer. Our main character cannot seem to remember what her and her friends got up to the summer before. She knows her mother is keeping secrets from her. She’s hoping to figure it out this summer when they meet at the family island again. At times, this was hard to follow. You can’t tell what’s the truth, and what’s I lie That ending!! This was a 2 star read for me until the ending, which bumped it up to a 3 stars! I…
