The Summer I Turned Pretty

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I know this is YA, but it is written as juvenile. The story fell flat and the characters felt one-dimensional. I think things may have been better if so much of the rambling had been taken out. The book was unnecessarily long. Nothing happened for most of it.

I found Belly annoying. She spends so much of the book complaining and fighting with everyone. For being the main character, there doesn't seem to be much about her to like. Of course, there doesn't seem to be much to like about any of the characters. How are all of these relationships happening with these personalities?

I don't see the allure of this book. How is it so popular? There is no way I would be able to stand watching the show. This has been enough of The Summer I Turned Pretty for me.

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Last Stand of Dead Men

Last Stand of Dead Men by Derek Landy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

As a note, this series gets darker the farther you get, so if you are reading along and find that a book is a little too much, you should probably stop. It has nothing to do with the quality of the series, but it does not go from dark back to light hearted.

The war between sanctuaries really gets me every time. It had been awhile since the first time I read the series, and I had forgotten that the lines between sides is blurred. It's hard to know who the Irish sanctuary can trust outside and inside of itself.

Darquesse of course comes out, because what would these later books be without this lovely character. I know some readers dislike her, but I love her quippy lines and internal monologue, especially when she is discovering some new skill she didn't know she possessed. Maybe, I'm just a sucker for the villain, although, not all the villains in this book are as great as she is. In fact, it's just her, so nevermind. Forget that last thought.

Author: Derek Landy
Content warning: Death, language, war
Age appropriate: Yes

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Death Bringer

Death Bringer by Derek Landy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A little note at the beginning of this review. I feel that Melancholia St. Clair has one of the most interesting character arcs I've ever read. That arc goes past this book, so I wouldn't necessarily call it a spoiler. She is a semi-side character (I guess that's what you would call her), but she is not flat, which is what tends to happen in other books. I appreciate that characters in this series are given a chance to grow for the most part. Definitely in this book, it's not just the main characters that have change in their lives.

I am convinced, the Necromancers are basically high school mean girls that are in a giant popularity contest with the each other and everyone else. They don't care about what is actually going on in the world, just who is going to be the Death Bringer, and there are two different options, Melancholia and Valkyrie. Each side is doing what they can to convince everyone to join them and be on the "cool" side. It's all very dramatic in a weird emo way.

Valkyrie's internal dialogue is disturbing and yet at the same time hilarious. I have a feeling that I really shouldn't laugh at those little conversations, but gosh dang it, I just can't help it. It's always satisfying every time someone learns who Darquesse is, or even Lord Vile. It doesn't matter what side the characters are on, no one expects the truth, and everyone is thrown when they learn the true identities.

One downside for me was the romance. I'm not a romance person anyway, and Valkyrie's issues are just too much for me. Personally, if I'm going to see one of her boyfriends (I guess Caelan would be called that) interact with someone, I want Fletcher and Valkyrie's dad. On second thought, let's just get a full book of the dad. I would not be mad.

Author: Derek Landy
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's

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The Red Scrolls of Magic

The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I think I know where this book fits in with the rest of the Shadowhunter books, but there are so many of them, that I could be totally off.

I feel like this book was chaotic. There was so much going on and so many random characters introduced for little to no reason. I have to say, I think I have a problem. I'm not really a huge fan of the Shadowhunter universe, but I keep reading the books, so take that for what you will.

Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's UK

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Queen of Nod

Queen of Nod by C.W. Snyder
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm not going to lie, there is a ton going on in this book. If you have never read the first book, STOP, go back, read the first book. This is not one of those series where you may be able to figure out what is going on by starting in the middle of the series. If you're like me and read the first one, but it's been a while, I would recommend going back and reading the first one before starting this one. I didn't do that, and there were times when I was confused just because I couldn't remember all the details of something that was now playing a much greater role.

If you want a series that you can just casually read that takes little to no effort on your part to understand, this is not for you. This series requires you to think and remember the details that were mentioned before. Like I said, there is a ton going on. If you want something that takes a story that everyone, well most people anyway, already know really well and turns it into something that has a deeper more thought provoking meaning, give this series a try.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Author: C.W. Snyder
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Publication Date: November 20th 2018

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Balance of Mayhem

Balance of Mayhem by Edward Aubry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

After my review of the last book in this series, the author, Edward Aubry, sent me a message to let me know that the fourth book would have more of a focus on a character I wanted more of. Boy did he ever deliver. So, thanks Edward Aubry for not only giving us more Dorothy, but giving her an entire book where she wasn't just a secondary character.

It's really hard to think of what to say about this book that will not give any spoilers. Ummm...let's just say that Dorothy teams up with Felicia to try and get Strontium out of her mind. Along the way, people start to question why Dorothy is doing what she is doing, while Dorothy herself is wondering if she can truly trust Felicia. Really, in my mind, you'd think you would figure out if you could trust someone before you go on this magical quest with only them as company, but I guess Dorothy really just wants her mind back by this point, which is a semi-valid reason to trust a traitor. I guess.

I really like the fact that the characters in this series have been developed to the point that it makes complete sense for them to realize quickly when someone is acting strange. Both Harrison and Claudia choose to do things that may seem to have little to no affect on the outcome of the situation, but in reality, they both know Dorothy enough to know what she will need even when she does not want to let them know what is going on.

While most of this book was pretty serious and intense, there is just no way you can take what happens to Strontium without finding it really funny. Since I got Edward Aubry to respond to one of my reviews before, I'm going to ask a very important question. What was going on in your head when you came up with the whole Strontium situation in this book? The whole book is going on, serious, dangerous, a little humor, serious, and then BAM, Strontium. I'm not complaining, it was great, but how does a mind come up with such things?

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Author: Edward Aubry
Publisher: Curiosity Quills
Publication Date: November 6th 2018

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Belly Up

Belly Up by Eva Darrows
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I was really hoping for a great story, but there was such a focus on gender, that the actual story was lost. If it is really important, mention it once, maybe twice. This wasn't really a novel, more of a soap box for the author to state her thoughts on gender. There really just wasn't a whole lot of actual story to review.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Author: Eva Darrows
Publisher: Harlequin TEEN (US & Canada) and Inkyard Press
Publication Date: 30 Apr 2019

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Expelled

Expelled by James Patterson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book really held my attention, possibly because I really get into mysteries, I have to know what happened. The other reason the book held my attention was the teaser on the cover. It talks about how being expelled affected Sasha, but for most of the book, it is not clear why. That little teaser was just sitting there as I read the book, waiting to reveal itself. I have to admit, once everything was revealed, I did not see any of it coming.

This is a good read that is not just another light-hearted YA book.

Author: James Patterson and Emily Raymond
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Publication Date: October 23rd 2017

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It Wasn't Me

It Wasn't Me by Dana Alison Levy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Mysteries tend to capture my attention, and this book was no different, especially since everyone seemed guilty.

The book is about Theo, who's photos were vandalized twice at school. The principal agrees to let a teacher try a Justice Circle over a week-long school break to find out what happened instead of automatically suspending everyone who may have been involved. The book takes place during the time spent in the Justice Circle. Each day of the week little pieces of information are given about each of the characters, making it difficult to figure out what really happen.

I liked that the characters had some depth to them. None of them were as clear cut as they seemed on the surface. They all had things in their personal lives that they didn't want the others to know about. These secrets created some distrust and confusion as to what really happened.

The ending was slightly predictable, but at the same time, I was surprised. There were mixed emotions when I finished the book. All in all, it was a good YA read.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Author: Dana Alison Levy
Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: 13 Nov 2018


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Homeroom Diaries

Homeroom Diaries by James Patterson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book was a pretty deep read for something that had illustrations. Those types of books come around every now and then. For me, this is a book that is great for teens, and may even be something that will help them get through hard times, but was something that I think I will only read once. I would still highly recommend it.

I think my biggest issue with this book was the fact that most of the adults were just jerks. I kept wanting to scream at them for the way they were treating Margaret.

I don't know what to say about this book. There is a lot going on, and it is good at evoking emotions. I think it is just one of those books that would be good for everyone to read at least once. There is really something for everyone to get out of it.

Author: James Patterson
Publisher: Arrow (Young)
Publication Date: July 17th 2014

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Royce Rolls

Royce Rolls by Margaret Stohl
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was an entertaining read that made me think about what is really going on behind the cameras on all of the reality tv shows that are out there these days. If this book were to have come out before reality tv was pretty much everywhere, I don't think it would have had the impression it did.

Royce Rolls is about a family like the Kardashians that lives their lives in front of a camera. Behind the scenes, things are not what they appear, and getting that look into what was really going on once the cameras turned off was what made the book a good read.

The book is filled with drama and moments when the reader is left wondering what happened. I appreciate that the readers are not given all of the information from the start. Sometimes it's great to read a book and be all-knowing, but this is one of those times when it worked better for the reader to find things out as the story progressed.

I did listen to the audio book version, and I will admit, the thing that made me crack up multiple times was the mispronunciation of the county Sevier. It didn't change the story at all, but coming from someone who grew up in that area, the reader made it sound a lot fancier than it actually is.

Author: Margaret Stohl
Publisher: Freeform
Publication Date: April 4th 2017

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Princess Decomposia and Count Spatula

Princess Decomposia and Count Spatula by Andi Watson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, but it was pretty cute. Princess Decomposia and Count Spatual is a graphic novel about an overworked princess and the new cook. The illustrations really helped to move the story along and bring a new level to it. Princess Decomposia's father was written in such a way that, as a reader, I could sympathize with the struggles Decomposia and Count Spatula had to deal with.

Author: Andi Watson
Publisher: First Second
Publication Date: February 24th 2015

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Everything, Everything

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I decided to read this book because the movie came out and caught my attention. As of right now, I have not actually watched the movie, so my view of the story is based solely on the book.

I have to admit, I wasn't sure what to expect. Having seen the previews for the movie, I thought I knew the premise of the story, but once I hit the ending, I was surprised. I'm really glad that the story wasn't predictable. There was character growth that helped push the story line forward.

I did have an issue with the ending, just because it brought up questions for me. The ending was a shock, but then I sat there and wondered why no one ever thought to question what was going on. Once the hole was poked in the story, it seemed clear to me that the life the mother had created should have fallen apart long before then. I don't know, that might just be my thought.

All-in-all, a good YA book.

Author: Nicola Yoon
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: 2015

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