Book Review: 45 Pounds (More or less) {K.A. Barson}
You might remember that I bought this book while on my Half Price Books Outlet excursion a few months ago. I randomly saw it on the shelf, read the synopsis, and knew that I wanted to read it. I immediately thought of THIS BOOK which I absolutely LOVED (if you haven’t read that book yet…READ IT TODAY). I prayed that 45 Pounds (More or less) {K.A. Barson} would leave me with all the feels just as that book did.
Goodreads Synopsis of 45 Pounds (More or Less) {K.A. Barson}:
Here are the numbers of Ann Galardi’s life:
She is 16. And a size 17. Her perfect mother is a size 6. Her Aunt Jackie is getting married in 10 weeks, and wants Ann to be her bridesmaid. So Ann makes up her mind: Time to lose 45 pounds (more or less) in 2 1/2 months.
Welcome to the world of infomercial diet plans, wedding dance lessons, embarrassing run-ins with the cutest guy Ann’s ever seen—-and some surprises about her NOT-so-perfect mother.
And there’s one more thing. It’s all about feeling comfortable in your own skin-—no matter how you add it up!
My Review of 45 Pounds (More or Less) {K.A. Barson}:
I really loved this book.
It was so wonderfully written and the characters were so descriptive. I was completely invested in this story! It’s such a short book with very short chapters (the BEST). I flew through this book and read it over the course of just a few days. I could EASILY have read it all in one sitting!
This topic is such as important one, and this YA book does such a great job discussing something that isn’t normally discussed so candidly. There were so many lessons within the pages of this book, lessons for teenagers AND adults.
**As much as I did love this book I will say that I did love THIS BOOK about the same topic even more**
Bottom Line:
Loved it.
Have you read this book? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Xo,
Jenny
Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link. When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo
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I HATE to start reading a book and end up not finishing it. Hate. However, I REALLY hate reading a book and not being 100 percent into it…what’s the point? If I’m reading a book and not feeling it, I put it down and move on. My thoughts on this have changed so much since I wrote THIS POST. I no longer give myself a page limit to read to…now, it doesn’t matter how far into it I am! If I’m not feeling it, I’m out.
And I definitely wasn’t feeling this book.
A Book I Started Reading and Couldn’t Finish:
Goodreads Synopsis of Followers {Raziel Reid}:
After a disastrous date results in her arrest, sixteen-year-old Lily Rhode is horrified to discover her mugshot is leaked on a gossip website. Lily is the niece of Whitney Paley, a Hollywood housewife and star of reality show Platinum Triangle, a soap-opera-style docu-series in the vein of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and The Hills, revolving around several glamorous families living in the Beverly Hills, Bel Air and Holmby Hills neighborhoods of Los Angeles.
When Lily’s mom kicks her out of their trailer home in the Valley, Whitney (Lily’s mom’s estranged sister) invites her to live with her, her movie-star husband, Patrick, and their daughter, Hailey. Lily is set up in the pool house and thrust into the company of reality-star offspring — kids who are born with silver spoon emojis on their feed. Lily’s cousin Hailey and the other teens have lived their entire lives on camera and are masters of deception, with Hailey leading the pack.
As Lily learns from the Paleys how to navigate her newfound fame, she finds herself ensnared in the unfolding storylines. What Lily doesn’t know is that she’s just a pawn being used on the show to make the Paleys look sympathetic to viewers while distracting from on-set sexual misconduct rumors surrounding super hero dad Patrick Paley . . .
Is Lily safe under Patrick’s roof? Or will Lily be Patrick’s downfall? If she isn’t destroyed by Hailey first. When Lily catches the eye of Hailey’s designated leading man Joel Strom — it’s war!
My Review of Followers {Raziel Reid}:
Eh.
I read about 50 pages before I called it quits. It was actually pretty good and had some interesting story lines…I think maybe I’m just too old for this book, lol.
Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love the Real Housewives and I can’t get enough of Kardashian anything…but… I do think there is a really big difference between WATCHING reality TV and READING about reality TV.
Combine that theory with the fact that this book is about a bunch of teenagers and I just couldn’t get into it. The writing was good…the story just wasn’t for me although the synopsis sounds SO GREAT. I found myself not excited to pick it up to read which is always my #1 clue that it’s time to put it down for good.
Ironically, the other book that I also just couldn’t get into with a similar feel was titled the same thing: Followers {Megan Angelo}. I started that book and couldn’t finish it…just like this one! I searched my blog to link my post about it but couldn’t find it. Eh…that’s fine. Clearly I don’t recommend it, lol.
I am absolutely reality tv obsessed but for some reason there has only been one book that I have read about this topic which I absolutely LOVED! If you were a fan of the bachelor, you must read THIS BOOK!
Bottom Line:
Eh.
Have any of you read Followers by Raziel Reid? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Happy Friday! I hope your weekend is filled with love and BOOKS!
Xo,
Jenny
This book wasn’t for me…but you might love it! Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link. When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo
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The Latest Book I Read in Less than 24 Hours, Giveaway (3 Copies!) Local Woman Missing {Mary Kubica}, Reading With My Family
My husband bought me the most amazing looking candle from one of my favorite tv shows! I just wish it smelled as amazing as it looks….🤪
The Latest Book I Read in Less than 24 Hours:
I read Starfish by Lisa Fipps cover to cover in less than 24 hours over this past weekend! I’ll have a full review posted soon!
Goodreads Synopsis of Starfish {Lisa Fipps}:
Ever since Ellie wore a whale swimsuit and made a big splash at her fifth birthday party, she’s been bullied about her weight. To cope, she tries to live by the Fat Girl Rules–like “no making waves,” “avoid eating in public,” and “don’t move so fast that your body jiggles.” And she’s found her safe space–her swimming pool–where she feels weightless in a fat-obsessed world. In the water, she can stretch herself out like a starfish and take up all the room she wants. It’s also where she can get away from her pushy mom, who thinks criticizing Ellie’s weight will motivate her to diet. Fortunately, Ellie has allies in her dad, her therapist, and her new neighbor, Catalina, who loves Ellie for who she is. With this support buoying her, Ellie might finally be able to cast aside the Fat Girl Rules and starfish in real life–by unapologetically being her own fabulous self.
Local Woman Missing GIVEAWAY (3 Copies):
If you love psychological thrillers as much I do….oh BOY do I have a great giveaway for you to enter!
I’m so excited to be guest blogging today over on Chick Lit Central which includes my review, Melissa Amster’s review, AND an amazing giveaway of 3 copies of this amazing brand new book.
YOU WANT TO ENTER THIS ONE…we are giving away 3 copies!
Head on over to Chick Lit Central to enter for your chance to win. Thanks so much for collaborating on this with me, Melissa! I loved working with you as always!
Family Reading:
On Mother’s Day, my kids planned an ENTIRE day filled with all of my favorite things which included…
Drum roll, please…
AN HOUR OF SILENT FAMILY READING.
All 4 of us in bed reading silently. Books for my husband, daughter, and I. Electronic book for my son. It was GLORIOUS. I once wrote a post (you can read it HERE) all about how I believe reading next to those you love just enhances the reading experience and that is absolutely what happened yesterday. I loved it so, so much.
My view. Perfection.
I hope you are all having a nice Monday. Happy Mother’s Day to all of the Mommys out there, I hope yesterday included a bit of quiest and peaceful reading time for you!
I’ll be back here on Wednesday with a review of an adorable and important children’s book, can’t wait to share 🙂
Xo,
Jenny
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Kelly Yang’s Parachutes had been on my radar for months ever since it’s release in May. I was excited when my copy arrived at my library and I started reading immediately (after first Clorox wiping it down and then letting it dry. Pandemics are weird).
Goodreads Synopsis of Parachutes {Kelly Yang}:
Speak enters the world of Gossip Girl in this modern immigrant story from New York Times bestselling author Kelly Yang about two girls navigating wealth, power, friendship, and trauma.
They’re called parachutes: teenagers dropped off to live in private homes and study in the US while their wealthy parents remain in Asia. Claire Wang never thought she’d be one of them, until her parents pluck her from her privileged life in Shanghai and enroll her at a high school in California. Suddenly she finds herself living in a stranger’s house, with no one to tell her what to do for the first time in her life. She soon embraces her newfound freedom, especially when the hottest and most eligible parachute, Jay, asks her out.
Dani De La Cruz, Claire’s new host sister, couldn’t be less thrilled that her mom rented out a room to Claire. An academic and debate-team star, Dani is determined to earn her way into Yale, even if it means competing with privileged kids who are buying their way to the top. When her debate coach starts working with her privately, Dani’s game plan veers unexpectedly off course.
Desperately trying to avoid each other under the same roof, Dani and Claire find themselves on a collision course, intertwining in deeper and more complicated ways, as they grapple with life-altering experiences. Award-winning author Kelly Yang weaves together an unforgettable modern immigrant story about love, trauma, family, corruption, and the power of speaking out.
My Book Review of Parachutes {Kelly Yang}:
I really, really loved this book.
This is the kind of book where if I had an entire day to myself I could have EASILY read this entire book in 1 sitting.
476 pages absolutely flew by! The interesting and extremely complex story lines, the characters, all of it.
Short chapters are my absolute FAVORITE…whyyyyy do authors write long chapters???? This book had 85 (!) chapters, each just a few pages long. I absolutely LOVE this and wish every book could be written like this! The BEST!
After I closed the back cover, I sat in silence to reflect upon this book. So much to think about and so many viewpoints to consider.
What a special book! It explores SO many relative and important topics and issues….the specifics of which I will not be discussing (see THIS POST for details as to why).
Highly recommend!
This book should absolutely be required reading for all high schoolers. So much that teenagers (and adults) would learn from reading this wonderful book.
Bottom Line:
If you are a fan of YA, this book should absolutely be on your to read list.
Have you read this book? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Xo,
Jenny
Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link. When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo
This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support! Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:
*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*
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One of the interesting aspects of being a book blogger is when you have feelings on a book you’ve read, you read another blogger’s thoughts on the same book…and you discover that they had a completely different takeaway than you did. I actually love when this happens because I find it so interesting to see others’ viewpoints which are so different than my own. Clearly this was the case when Melissa Amster and I both read Kacen Callender’s Felix Ever After. One of us has a very positive review while the other one of us…unfortunately has a negative review.
Like everything else in life, people will always form opinions on books they’ve read. What may positively resonate with one reader may have the opposite effect on another reader. I love discussing books, and I REALLY love discussing opposing views on books. How boring would life be if everyone shared the same opinions all the time? Our opinions, thoughts, and viewpoints are makes make us unique.
I’m so happy to welcome back Melissa Amster from Chick Lit Central to do a guest book review with me today! This is the 3rd book that Melissa and I have collaborated on reviewing but the first where our reviews are on opposite sides of the review spectrum.
Goodreads Synopsis of Felix Ever After {Kacen Callender}:
Felix Love has never been in love—and, yes, he’s painfully aware of the irony. He desperately wants to know what it’s like and why it seems so easy for everyone but him to find someone. What’s worse is that, even though he is proud of his identity, Felix also secretly fears that he’s one marginalization too many—Black, queer, and transgender—to ever get his own happily-ever-after.
When an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages—after publicly posting Felix’s deadname alongside images of him before he transitioned—Felix comes up with a plan for revenge. What he didn’t count on: his catfish scenario landing him in a quasi–love triangle….
But as he navigates his complicated feelings, Felix begins a journey of questioning and self-discovery that helps redefine his most important relationship: how he feels about himself.
Jenny Share’s Review of Felix Ever After {Kacen Callender}:
I really, really, REALLY wanted to love this book. Sadly…I did not.
It starts off SLOOOOOWLY, like, 200 pages slowly. Around page 200 was when I felt it start to pick up and then I enjoyed the last 150ish pages significantly more than the previous 200.
The biggest issue that I had with this book was its dialogue. I felt that most of what was said between characters was so unrealistic and WORDY. Not every dialogue needs to include a lengthy monologue! I hate when authors do this, it’s so completely unrealistic and takes away from the actual story.
This whole book felt like I was reading one long therapy session. I’m all for being interspective but these characters literally spent what felt like each second analyzing and reflecting on EVERYTHING. Yes, the main theme of this book is looking within and living your authentic self but it was all just too interspective for me.
Did you ever watch Dawson’s Creek? I kept thinking of comparisons to that show while reading. Great characters, great storylines, but HORRIBLE delivery! Every conversation on Dawson’s Creek included long monologues, insane dialogues, ridiculous words that real life teenagers would never use, SO much interspection, and certain situations that would be unrealistic for teenagers to be in. Exactly how this book is! The only difference being that despite all of that, I loved Dawson’s Creek and I did not love Felix Ever After.
Let me clarify that statement. While I did NOT love this book, I DID love the idea behind the story of Felix Ever After. Knowing and accepting your authentic self is a beautiful and complicated thing. I DO have a few positive things that I will say about this book.
First and foremost, I will always support ANY book which brings awareness to topics that may otherwise not receive the attention they deserve. This book is a perfect example. It’s such an important book with such beautiful messages of acceptance of complicated topics. Also, I love that it has the ability to reach such a broad audience in terms of age range. Finally, many (not all) of the storylines were wonderful and can absolutely educate people on so many different levels. I can definitely see how somebody going through the same emotions as Felix would feel such a powerful connection and understanding to this book.
However even with these few positive aspects, I just can’t recommend the actual writing or it’s delivery in this book. Nope.
Melissa Amster’s Review of Felix Ever After {Kacen Callender}:
I had bought Felix Ever After on Amazon a while back because it looked interesting to me. Then I shelved it on my Kindle for a while. When Jenny said she was reading it, I decided to give it a try, since it was something we could easily review together at her blog.
I liked this story a lot. It was edgier than most LGBTQ novels I’ve read. There was more grit and intensity to it. It hurt me to read the transphobic messages that Felix was receiving. I know some people who are transgender and it sucks that someone would say such horrible things about anyone like that. I appreciated Felix questioning their identity throughout the story; that gender is a construct in this day and age and not everything is black and white. The story made me think of a friend who just came out as male-to-female transgender and how I had no idea they felt that way about their gender identity when they were younger. I’m glad books like these are available for teenagers (and adults), as you never know who might pick it up one day and be able to relate.
Kacen Callender’s use of description and details to bring the story to life made me feel like I was watching everything happen right in front of me. The emotional levels were really strong too.
I have been watching Degrassi the Next Generation and was impressed by how they handled the topic of transgender on that show. So I was pleasantly surprised to see it referenced in the author’s note at the end of the book. I even got emotional from reading that part. Some character names made me think of the show (Declan–Keane and Coyne sound similar–and Marisol, basically), so it was on my mind while reading it.
I look forward to reading more of Kacen’s novels and recommend this to anyone looking for a thoughtful story.
Book Coffee Happy Bottom Line :
Sooooo clearly some people love this book while others clearly do not (worst bottom line on a book review blog that’s ever been written, lol).
So…there you have it. 1 book, 2 bloggers, 2 completely different book reviews.
Thanks for stopping by my blog today, Melissa! I loved working with you, can’t wait to work with you again soon.
Have you read Felix Ever After? Do you agree with Melissa or myself? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
You can read the other collaborations that Melissa and I have worked on together HERE and HERE.
*If you are a blogger interested in a possible future collaboration with Book Coffee Happy, I’d love to talk! Send me an email to bookcoffeehappy@gmail.com*
Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link. When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo
This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support! Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:
*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*
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I love when Book Coffee Happy can participate in WWW! The Three Ws: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you’ll read next?
Synopsis from Goodreads of Woman on the Edge {Samantha M. Bailey}:
A total stranger on the subway platform whispers, “Take my baby.”
She places her child in your arms. She says your name.
Then she jumps…
In a split second, Morgan Kincaid’s life changes forever. She’s on her way home from work when a mother begs her to take her baby, then places the infant in her arms. Before Morgan can stop her, the distraught mother jumps in front of an oncoming train.
Morgan has never seen this woman before, and she can’t understand what would cause a person to give away her child and take her own life. She also can’t understand how this woman knew her name.
The police take Morgan in for questioning. She soon learns that the woman who jumped was Nicole Markham, prominent CEO of the athletic brand Breathe. She also learns that no witness can corroborate her version of events, which means she’s just become a murder suspect.
To prove her innocence, Morgan frantically retraces the last days of Nicole’s life. Was Nicole a new mother struggling with paranoia or was she in danger? When strange things start happening to Morgan, she suddenly realizes she might be in danger, too.
Woman on the Edge is a pulse-pounding, propulsive thriller about the lengths to which a woman will go to protect her baby—even if that means sacrificing her own life.
I started reading this book 2 days ago night and I’m already over 100 pages in! I’m LOVING it so far, I can’t put it down. I’ll post a full review once I finish reading! Stay tuned…
What Did You Recently Finish Reading?
Synopsis from Goodreads of The Wife Stalker {Liv Constantine}:
Breezing into the tony seaside paradise of Westport, Connecticut, gorgeous thirtysomething Piper Reynard sets down roots, opening a rehab and wellness space and joining a local yacht club. When she meets Leo Drakos, a handsome, successful lawyer, the wedding ring on his finger is the only thing she doesn’t like about him. Yet as Piper well knows, no marriage is permanent.
Meanwhile, Joanna has been waiting patiently for Leo, the charismatic man she fell in love with all those years ago, to re-emerge from the severe depression that has engulfed him. Though she’s thankful when Leo returns to his charming, energetic self, paying attention again to Evie and Stelli, the children they both love beyond measure, Joanna is shocked to discover that it’s not her loving support that’s sparked his renewed happiness—it’s something else.
Piper. Leo has fallen head over heels for the flaky, New Age-y newcomer, and unrepentant and resolute, he’s more than willing to leave Joanna behind, along with everything they’ve built. Of course, he assures her, she can still see the children.
Joanna is devastated—and determined to find something, anything, to use against this woman who has stolen her life and her true love. As she digs deeper into Piper’s past, Joanna begins to unearth disturbing secrets . . . but when she confides to her therapist that she fears for the lives of her ex-husband and children, her concerns are dismissed as paranoia. Can she find the proof she needs in time to save them?
I finished reading this book 2 days ago and am working on my review. I’ll have it posted soon!
What Do You Think You’ll Read Next?
Synopsis from Goodreads of You Should See Me In A Crown {Leah Johnson}:
Liz Lighty has always believed she’s too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town. But it’s okay — Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, forever: attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor.
But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz’s plans come crashing down . . . until she’s reminded of her school’s scholarship for prom king and queen. There’s nothing Liz wants to do less than endure a gauntlet of social media trolls, catty competitors, and humiliating public events, but despite her devastating fear of the spotlight she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get to Pennington.
The only thing that makes it halfway bearable is the new girl in school, Mack. She’s smart, funny, and just as much of an outsider as Liz. But Mack is also in the running for queen. Will falling for the competition keep Liz from her dreams . . . or make them come true?
I’ve been excited to read this one and was so happy when my copy arrived at my library! I’ve heard it’s wonderful. I’m REALLY hoping it is as good as I was wanting THIS BOOK to be (I was so disappointed in that book than I returned it’s squeal to the library without even opening the cover). Fingers crossed this book will be better!
Have you read any of these 3 books? What did you think (no spoilers)? What are you currently reading? I’d love to hear in the comments below!
Be sure to check back as I’ve got some AWESOME blog posts coming up! Spoiler: I’m hosting a giveaway on Monday for a WONDERFUL book…can’t wait to share it with all of you 🙂
Xo,
Jenny
Click on the images below to order through my Amazon link. When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo
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My cousin texted me asking if I had yet read If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo because she LOVED it (side note…follow my cousin on Instagram HERE! She’s beautiful and wonderful and awesome). After reading the book synopsis, I immediately went to put it on hold at my library and was pleasantly surprised that they had a copy in stock! Perfect.
Goodreads Synopsis ofIf I Was Your Girl {Meredith Russo}:
Amanda Hardy is the new girl in school. Like anyone else, all she wants is to make friends and fit in. But Amanda is keeping a secret, and she’s determined not to get too close to anyone.
But when she meets sweet, easygoing Grant, Amanda can’t help but start to let him into her life. As they spend more time together, she realizes just how much she is losing by guarding her heart. She finds herself yearning to share with Grant everything about herself, including her past. But Amanda’s terrified that once she tells him the truth, he won’t be able to see past it.
Because the secret that Amanda’s been keeping? It’s that at her old school, she used to be Andrew. Will the truth cost Amanda her new life, and her new love?
My Review ofIf I Was Your Girl {Meredith Russo}:
I absolutely love the plot idea of this YA book. Such an important topic and as I’ve mentioned before, I’m automatically a fan of ANY book which brings awareness to important topics.
(Throwback to the beautiful weather when I was reading this book a few weeks ago. Today it’s cold, raining, and I had the heat running in my car.)
However, as much as I loved the IDEA of this book, I didn’t love it’s execution…
This story goes back and forth between the present and the past which I normally love but this time it just made the story feel so disjointed. I understand that it wasn’t supposed to follow a sequential order but it was a bit too “bouncy” for me. Present day to 11 years ago to 3 years ago to 5 years ago, etc.
I also wish there was more character development. Other than Grant, I felt that each character was given such a small amount of any kind of development and as a result I kept interchanging them as I was reading (especially Amanda’s friends).
Without giving away spoilers, I will say that there was one MAJOR story line that I completely disagreed with throughout the entire book which clouded my thoughts on just about everything else…??
Random positive side note: This is one of the only books where I actually appreciated having the photo of a real person on the cover! I usually HATE when books have that as my imagination NEVER matches the photo on the front. This time, however, I appreciated having the beautiful picture on the cover as it gave me reference as to how Amanda looked. I think this gorgeous model was the perfect representation. I also appreciated how she was given a shout out in the author’s note at the end!
Bottom Line:
Loved the story, loved the beautiful cover, didn’t love the writing.
Have you read this book? I’d love to hear your thoughts below!
Xo,
Jenny
Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link. When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo
Have you read this book? I’d love to hear your thoughts below!
This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support! Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:
*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*
*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*
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I love, love, love reading YA (young adult fiction). Some of the best books I’ve ever read have been YA (HERE is a link to one of my very favorites). When a dear friend of mine told me about Erin Stewart’s book, Scars Like Wings, I knew it was a YA book that I needed to read.
Synopsis from Goodreads of Scars Like Wings {Erin Stewart}:
Ava Lee has lost everything there is to lose: Her parents. Her best friend. Her home. Even her face. She doesn’t need a mirror to know what she looks like–she can see her reflection in the eyes of everyone around her.
A year after the fire that destroyed her world, her aunt and uncle have decided she should go back to high school. Be “normal” again. Whatever that is. Ava knows better. There is no normal for someone like her. And forget making friends–no one wants to be seen with the Burned Girl, now or ever.
But when Ava meets a fellow survivor named Piper, she begins to feel like maybe she doesn’t have to face the nightmare alone. Sarcastic and blunt, Piper isn’t afraid to push Ava out of her comfort zone. Piper introduces Ava to Asad, a boy who loves theater just as much as she does, and slowly, Ava tries to create a life again. Yet Piper is fighting her own battle, and soon Ava must decide if she’s going to fade back into her scars . . . or let the people by her side help her fly.
My Thoughts on Scars Like Wings {Erin Stewart}:
Omg this book. It’s a BEAUTIFUL book. I sobbed, I smiled, I LOVED IT. Such a beautifully written story. It shattered my heart and filled my heart all at the exact same time.
This book is HEAVY, definitely not a light read. However, Erin Stewart took such heaviness and perfectly paired it with moments that made me smile through my tears.
There are so many messages that this book delivers and every single one of them spoke directly to my heart. Acceptance, devotion, love, and strength are the most prevalent themes which stuck out the most to me as I was reading.
I finished reading a few days ago and have not stopped thinking of these characters and story lines since. This book has truly touched my heart.
What a stunning debut novel from this author. I can’t wait to read more!
Bottom Line:
Read this. Have Kleenex.
Have you read this book? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Xo,
Jenny
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I randomly came across One Of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus while searching through books online (man I miss doing that in person at the library). I thought it sounded great! I couldn’t wait to read it and to write my review.
Goodreads Synopsis of One Of Us Is Lying {Karen McManus}:
The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars, One of Us Is Lying is the story of what happens when five strangers walk into detention and only four walk out alive. Everyone is a suspect, and everyone has something to hide.
Pay close attention and you might solve this.
On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention. Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule. Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess. Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing. Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher. AndSimon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High’s notorious gossip app.
Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention, Simon’s dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn’t an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he’d planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. Or are they the perfect patsies for a killer who’s still on the loose? Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them.
My Review of One Of Us Is Lying {Karen McManus}:
(Disclaimer: I will never post spoilers in my reviews HOWEVER the comment section is completely fair game to discuss any and all specifics including spoilers)
I LOVE a good YA (young adult) book. In fact, some of the very best books I’ve ever read have been YA (you can read my reviews on a few of these HERE, HERE, and HERE).
So this book was good. It kept me interested enough that I wanted to see how it would end although I very much figured out the ending significantly earlier in the book then the author intended.
HOWEVER, this book was just a bit tooooooo YA for me. Does that even make sense? The language, the actions, the stereotypes of characters/scenarios, all of it. I felt like I was reading a book MEANT for high schoolers which again, I understand that the typical audience of YA books is just that…young adults. However, most YA books that I have read have been so well written and contained such deep messages that they appeal to ALL ages. This book, however…was most definitely written for high schoolers.
Even the names of the characters just made me feel like I’m way too old to be reading this book. Bronwyn? Cooper? Keely? Maeve? Janae? Ashton? I’m too old for this.
This book had a very “Gossip Girl” vibe. I LOVED Gossip Girl…a very long time ago.
One Of Us Is Lying is the 1st in a series of 3. Will I be reading the next 2? Not unless they take place 25 years into the future, lol.
Bottom Line:
If I were 25 years younger, I would have LOVED this book. Unfortunately, I’m not.
Xo,
Jenny
Did you read this book? What did you think? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link. When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo
This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support! Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:
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My friend Jana and I refer to each other as “Book Twins”. Not only is our taste in books so similar but we know and trust each other’s tastes enough to know that when one of us has a book to recommend to the other….it’s highly likely that it’s going to be a hit with both of us. I had never heard of The Fire on High or of it’s author Elizabeth Acevedo. However, as soon as Jana sent me a message a few weeks ago saying this book is now one of her favorite books of 2020…I immediately put it on hold at the library. Thank you, Book Twin!
Goodreads Synopsis of With the Fire on High {Elizabeth Acevedo}:
With her daughter to care for and her abuela to help support, high school senior Emoni Santiago has to make the tough decisions, and do what must be done. The one place she can let her responsibilities go is in the kitchen, where she adds a little something magical to everything she cooks, turning her food into straight-up goodness. Still, she knows she doesn’t have enough time for her school’s new culinary arts class, doesn’t have the money for the class’s trip to Spain — and shouldn’t still be dreaming of someday working in a real kitchen. But even with all the rules she has for her life — and all the rules everyone expects her to play by — once Emoni starts cooking, her only real choice is to let her talent break free.
My Review of With The Fire On High {Elizabeth Acevedo}:
(Disclaimer: I will never post spoilers in my reviews HOWEVER the comment section is completely fair game to discuss any and all specifics including spoilers)
Oh this book is BEAUTIFUL. I absolutely loved everything about it!
I love a good YA (young adult) book and this one is an absolute gem. A must read.
The characters are so well developed and each will stay with me for a very long time. I haven’t stopped thinking of them since I finished reading the last page yesterday! The story lines are rich in detail, description, and depth. This book was so beautifully written. Even the cover art is stunning! I absolutely loved everything about this book.
My one and only complaint with this book is something that I usually love in books! The chapters in this book are SHORT…like sometimes just 2 pages short. While I usually do love this, I did feel at times like they were a bit TOO short and just as a story line was really taking off…the chapter abruptly ended. However, these short chapters did make it so easy to fly through this book! I easily could have read this entire book over the course of 1 or 2 days if I wasn’t currently quarantined with 2 young children 😉
This book is absolutely BEGGING for a sequel…so many story lines that I would love to see extended! Fingers crossed…
Have you read any of Elizabeth Acevedo’s other books? Which would you recommend?
I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link. When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo
This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support! Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:
*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*
*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*
*If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine*
*”Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)*
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Goodreads Synopsis of One Of Us Is Lying {Karen McManus}:
Book Coffee Happy 