They mythology was interesting and the concept of the inner snake (DNA) being how Jane shape-shifts is excellent. The characters themselves I2.5 stars
They mythology was interesting and the concept of the inner snake (DNA) being how Jane shape-shifts is excellent. The characters themselves I didn't really like. Jane was more annoying than sympathetic and Beast was just a stereotypical animal predator. I almost gave up on this one at 25%, but stuck it out because this book fits a prompt for a reading challenge I'm doing. Final verdict: I may eventually pick up the second in the series because the blurb sounds like the Beast character grows in interesting ways and I'm curious about Jane's friend Molly, the earth witch. But, I'm not in any big hurry to read it and, who knows? I might never get to it....more
This was a really uneven read for me. Parts of it were just beautifully written and parts of it were just so glossed over that it lost the fl2.5 stars
This was a really uneven read for me. Parts of it were just beautifully written and parts of it were just so glossed over that it lost the flow of the narrative. I felt like it was lacking any real tension, especially during the war scenes. I found myself setting it down and not being in any hurry to pick it back up. If you're a die hard Jane Eyre fan, you might enjoy this one more than I did, or if you're really into historical fiction. ...more
This installment of the series focuses on Leila Vernon. We learn more of her past and her Dad's past. Just as fun, just as fresh as the first one, I dThis installment of the series focuses on Leila Vernon. We learn more of her past and her Dad's past. Just as fun, just as fresh as the first one, I did guess the twist before the end (but I'm not the target audience!). This is a great middle grade book with lots of high jinks, adventure, and heart! Highly recommended!...more
This book started out with a bang, but I guessed a crucial twist, then all of a sudden came a new twist I didn't see coming. The characters were well-This book started out with a bang, but I guessed a crucial twist, then all of a sudden came a new twist I didn't see coming. The characters were well-developed and the flashbacks really helped to explain the whys behind their actions. This didn't blow me away and I'll probably never reread it, but it was entertaining and I look forward to watching the streaming adaptation. (I picked up this book to meet a reading challenge prompt of a book with a streaming adaptation coming out this year, 2023).
On the outside Aidan Thomas is a hard-working family man always willing to help out whenever and wherever help is needed. On the inside, he's a serialOn the outside Aidan Thomas is a hard-working family man always willing to help out whenever and wherever help is needed. On the inside, he's a serial killer who's been keeping victim number 9 in his shed for 5 years. When his wife passes away and he and his 13-year-old daughter are forced to move, he takes victim number 9 with them and moves her into the house under the guise of being a family friend down on her luck who needs a little help. Add to this a fragile young woman named Emily who owns a local restaurant and who becomes involved with Aidan and begins to fixate on him and you have the makings of a good thriller.
While I did enjoy this book, I can't give it more than three stars because there wasn't enough background on Aidan and why he did what he did, and Emily drove me batty. Ugh, she was such an unobservant doormat, I just wanted to pull her aside for a friendly chat about all the red flags she was ignoring. The parts from her POV were just cringe-worthy.
I did enjoy the multiple POVs and the use of 2nd person for some of it, that was an interesting twist you don't see often as a reader. I also enjoyed the chapters from Cecilia's POV (the daughter).
If you like thrillers and don't mind occasional cringe-worthy actions from inexperienced young women, give this debut novel a try!
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own....more
I picked this book up to fulfill a reading challenge prompt (a book with a season in the title) and because I had enjoyed Han's To All the Boys I've LI picked this book up to fulfill a reading challenge prompt (a book with a season in the title) and because I had enjoyed Han's To All the Boys I've Loved Before series. Sadly, this one is not nearly as good. Belly (seriously, who continues to let people call her that after about age 10??) is not nearly as likable as Laura Jean and I found being in her head to be annoying. The boys she's crushing on (yes, you read that right: boys plural) are also annoying.
Han absolutely understands teen girls! Unfortunately, not all teen girls are people I want to hang out with, let alone inside their heads. It was light and fluffy, just what I expect from Han, until the end and then the climax was predictable. Then, all of a sudden the book is just over, with no resolution, it just ends. I realize that there's more in the series, but I'm not interested in spending more time with Belly. So, I'll never find out what happens. But, I find that I'm okay with that. Yes, I'd like to know, but not enough to read two more books. 3 solid stars because I made it through quickly and wasn't too bored, but did not enjoy it enough to finish the series....more
This collection of essays on motherhood covers five broad topics: sleep, getting sick, friendship, writing, and losing weight. As with all anthologiesThis collection of essays on motherhood covers five broad topics: sleep, getting sick, friendship, writing, and losing weight. As with all anthologies, some essays were more relatable than others for me, but I enjoyed all of them. Motherhood is messy and complicated and mothering during the covid-19 pandemic adds a whole different layer to the whole thing. If you're looking for a quick read that will make you feel seen, definitely pick this one up! I look forward to checking out the editor's blog, which I'd never heard of before reading this book....more
Silly and fun, I read the entire book in about 10 minutes. I can see why this series is so popular at my library. If you're looking for an early chaptSilly and fun, I read the entire book in about 10 minutes. I can see why this series is so popular at my library. If you're looking for an early chapter book series that will make you laugh, definitely give this one a try!...more
4.5 stars Effortlessly beautiful world building, exciting plot, and complex characters combine to make this a fantastic middle grade novel. There's def4.5 stars Effortlessly beautiful world building, exciting plot, and complex characters combine to make this a fantastic middle grade novel. There's definitely some light social commentary, but deep mythology and adventure to keep kids reading. I bought into everything and look forward to the sequel. ...more
First, if you haven't read The Agathas, stop reading this review and go read that! This book is a sequel and has ALL the spoilers for the first book.
NFirst, if you haven't read The Agathas, stop reading this review and go read that! This book is a sequel and has ALL the spoilers for the first book.
Now, if you have read the first book, then you don't need me to tell you how fabulous it was or encourage you to go read this one, but I will anyway. :)
It's been a few months since the events of The Agathas and Alice and Iris now have a solid friendship and include the "Zoners" in many of their activities. When they attend a school dance at Castle Levy, they are excited to maybe have the chance to poke around upstairs looking for clues about the suicide of Mona Moody, a famous actress who died there in the 1950s. Instead, when Alice finds a secret passageway to the second floor, she emerges in a room to see Helen Park holding a weapon and standing over the bleeding body of Rebecca Kennedy. When Helen sees Alice, she runs.
Alice, of course, has to tell Detective Thompson what she saw and immediately Park is being railroaded by the cops who don't bother to look for any other suspects. Alice and Iris don't think Park is capable of cold-blooded murder and begin to investigate.
Danger, intrigue, long-buried secrets, inept cops, concerned (and absent) parents, school assignments, and love for Agatha Christie and mysteries in general abound. It's a twisty, turny kind of novel told from alternating points-of-view (Alice and Iris) with interspersed text chains or press conferences here and there. While I did guess the motive this time around, I did not guess the actual culprit.
This was a fun ride and I definitely recommend it! 4 stars
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own....more
Karin Slaughter can create drama and twists you don't see coming. This was an engaging, quick read with a twist. I look forward to reading The Good DaKarin Slaughter can create drama and twists you don't see coming. This was an engaging, quick read with a twist. I look forward to reading The Good Daughter now....more
This book is advertised as being a primer for preteens and teens about intersectional feminism. As far as a preteen audience goes, I think that's accuThis book is advertised as being a primer for preteens and teens about intersectional feminism. As far as a preteen audience goes, I think that's accurate, however I believe it falls far short of what a teen reader would want.
This book is more auto-biographical than anything. I really enjoyed all the quotes from famous activists at the beginning of each chapter and wish we could have gotten more stories and examples from their lives and the lives of other women besides the author. Also, the notes section really needed to be far more robust to back up all the assertions the author made. I'd like to know where the quotes she used came from and I'd like to be able to read the actual research from which she quoted statistics. Yes, I realize this is just a "primer" meant for ages 9-17, but let's not shortchange those readers! They are capable of research and critical thinking and evaluating to come to their own conclusions.
What I did really like was the broad range of subjects that the author covered, everything from education and power, to media, wellness, and innovation.
Also, the illustrations were engaging and wonderful. Overall, I'd say this is a nice intro for readers ages 9-12 who are barely getting started understanding feminism and civil rights and activism. However, readers will definitely want to continue to read and learn, this book has very little depth, it's a very broad introduction to the subject.
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own....more
In a word: boring. Nothing happened for chapter after chapter and when something finally did, it was nonsensical and immediately over. The story made In a word: boring. Nothing happened for chapter after chapter and when something finally did, it was nonsensical and immediately over. The story made little to no sense and then just ended.
This story could have been told in about 6 pages and the book dragged on and on and on. I only finished it because 1) I kept expecting it to get better based on the author's reputation and 2) I was reading it for a reading challenge prompt that needed to be completed asap. Ugh, unless you're a die hard Maguire fan or a die hard fairy tale retelling fan, I suggest steering clear of this one....more
I'm not usually a romance fan, but I've read a few this year to fit reading challenge prompts. Both of Emily Henry's books have had more depth and beeI'm not usually a romance fan, but I've read a few this year to fit reading challenge prompts. Both of Emily Henry's books have had more depth and been more entertaining than I expected. This one had some seriously hilarious moments. Definitely recommended for readers looking to smile....more
Short and sweet, some scenes were word-for-word from the movie. After having seen the movie over and over and over, I found this rendition a bit borinShort and sweet, some scenes were word-for-word from the movie. After having seen the movie over and over and over, I found this rendition a bit boring. I did enjoy the underground zoo, but other than that, the movie is better. (I never say that! But, this is an abridgment of Goldman's original abridgment so it's not really that surprising)....more
This book was recommended by a friend, it isn't the kind of book that I normally read. Often, when I read nonfiction I read a chapter or so at a time This book was recommended by a friend, it isn't the kind of book that I normally read. Often, when I read nonfiction I read a chapter or so at a time and mix it in with some fiction that holds my interest a little better. The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter, however, grabbed me just like good fiction does. I didn't want to put it down after just one chapter, but instead just kept on going.
Lots of good research and information on the importance of spending real time in nature, the benefits of boredom now and evolutionarily, hunger, recognizing impermanence and acknowledging the reality of death, evolutionary biology and how the way humans evolved still effects us, and the benefits of exercise and what kind of exercise is best. Overarching all of this is the idea that humans evolved to live in discomfort and how the comfort that we experience in our modern society is making us sick.
I found the whole thing fascinating and will be turning in my library copy of this book and ordering a hardcopy for myself so I can reread it and make notes. Thought-provoking and informative, while still being entertaining. 5 solid stars...more
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