Category: Book Review

I’ve been on a mystery kick this year, and if you have too, be sure and check out Dana Mele’s “People Like Us.” Fans of Truly Devious and Pretty Little Liars are sure to enjoy this twisty mystery.

Greatest Hits: The love triangle, oh my God. The protagonist is a bisexual girl with a crush on her best friend and unresolved feelings for an ex boyfriend- and everyone is a suspect in the unsolved murder of a classmate. Hello, high stakes romantic tension! If that alone doesn’t reel you in, what even are you doing with your life?

In addition to the love triangle, the mystery itself unfolds like a dark, dizzy ballet. There are riddles and clues, foreshadowing that begs a second reading just to take it all in, and it all adds up to an unforgettable, unputdownable story. Also, a unique take on the manic pixie dream girl trope that is not to be missed.

My Conclusion: If you haven’t read this book yet, I hope you’re on your way to the bookstore now. You will not be disappointed. If you like this book as much as I did, remember to go rate it on Amazon and Goodreads and give the author props for her work.

Happy Reading!

-Kat

Do you long for the feeling of reading Nancy Drew or Miss Fisher mysteries? Have you been longing for a new mystery, a new strong willed female detective, a new adventure? Look no further than Maureen Johnson’s triumphant new book, Truly Devious.

Greatest Hits:

Not only is this book a love letter to the mystery genre, it winds itself around your soul until you are compelled to finish it in a single sitting. The pacing is phenomenal, the prose has a cinematic quality that is executed flawlessly, and the characters are so lovable it’s almost impossible not to get attached to them.

Possibly my only complaint is that the love interest doesn’t have much chemistry with the protagonist and actually is the only character I had a hard time rooting for. If I had to guess I’d say that at some point in a later book the protagonist is going to realize she’s not into this character at all, but perhaps I’m reading too much into that.

In any case the protagonist herself is so utterly delightful that she lifts the book into the stratosphere of my all time favorite few. Her voice rings off the page with such believability that I wondered briefly if she might be a real person. I got lost in this book, and that is owing largely to the fact that it is so character driven.

My conclusion:

This book is a must read for mystery fans and those just dipping a toe into the genre. If you like character driven stories with suspense, this is absolutely for you.

Happy reading!

-Kat

I know I’m a little late to the party, but after watching the movie at least a dozen times, I finally decided to read Vampire Academy.

I can’t believe it took me this long.

Anyone who reads for enjoyment should read at least the first book in this series. Usually I look for a comp title to say “for fans of…” but for this I’m just going to say, for fans of fiction, you’ll enjoy this book

Greatest Hits:

Honestly I love the characters. They’re confused, hormonal, passionate, and despite being supernatural creatures, they are deeply human. I sincerely want to hand this book to teenage me, wrap a blanket around my/her shoulders and say “look, this Rose chick is just as much of a hot mess as you. You’ll be fine.”

In addition to the characters, the setup of the world is really cool. There’s enough worldbuilding to reel you in, but it’s left open ended enough that the author could write a hundred seperate spinoff series and it would honestly make sense.

The tone manages to be fun without losing sense of the high stakes (pun intended) and the prose style is very smooth, allowing for relaxed, casual reading.

My conclusion:

I highly reccomend this book whether you’re revisiting it or reading it for the first time. It makes for a fun, quick read, and is refreshing especially during a busy time of year.

Happy Reading!

I have had the same favorite book for many years. It seemed almost impossible that anything would surpass my reigning fave to claim the title of Single Most Awesome Book I’ve Ever Read…and then I found Carry On, by Rainbow Rowell.

Greatest Hits:

I’ve been bothered for years by the popular notion that tragic, edgy stories are somehow inherently more artistic or valuable than happy go lucky stories that have happy endings. Truth be told, I could take or leave most of those stories- I don’t like to be upset. I like happy endings. And its for that reason that I knew I wanted to read this book. I had heard enough about it to know that Rowell would challenge the fantasy tropes I had grown tired of, and my previous experiences with her books told me I was sure to find the characters compelling and downright lovable.

Even with incredibly high expectations going in, this book blew them all out of the water. I loved the characters, the world, the prose. I got swept away in the tide of wonderment usually reserved for someone reading Harry Potter for the first time.

The whole story is built on a foundation of love for fantasy and fanfiction. The characters know the tropes, and the tropes are hungry. Arguably, the tropes are the antagonist.

My Conclusion:

When the world feels too cynical to bear, this book is your “break glass in case of emergency.” It’s wonderful and well written, and a damn satisfying read.

Happy Reading!

-Kat

If you’re looking for a gorgeous comic series that will uplift and entertain you, look no further than new indie series Moonstruck. Featuring adorable, endearing characters, this series will appeal to fans of Lumberjanes and Giant Days. (And if you haven’t read those yet, what are you even doing with your life?)

Greatest Hits:

This series has it all: magic, mystery, nerdy lesbian werewolves… Honestly it’s just plain adorable and it’s great fun to read. My face actually hurts from smiling so much.

If you’re the sort of reader who enjoys coffee shop AUs of your favorite characters, this is perfect for you. In general, anyone who enjoys fun, happy reads is bound to love this. There’s still plenty of plot and suspense, but ultimately the enjoyment comes from simply being along for the ride.

My Conclusion:

You won’t regret running out and buying the first volume of this delightful series. It’s an indie series, so I definitely encourage supporting it anyway you can, and it’s a thoroughly enjoyable read to boot.

Happy Reading!

-Kat

When I heard that Lisi Harrison, author of the bestselling Clique novels, had written a book for adults, I almost couldn’t believe it. For years I adored her books- they got me through middle school with my head up. So I welcomed the idea of an adult novel from her with squealing enthusiasm. Fans who grew up with her middle grade and YA books are certain to enjoy this new story.

Greatest Hits:

Every single character in this book was memorable. They felt like full fledged people, so much so that each member of the infamous Dirty Book Club could easily star in her own spinoff novel.

The female friendships both between the protagonist and her peers and Gloria and her generation of book club girls took a spotlight role in this book. Harrison writes friendships so utterly compelling that they would stand out in any plot, but this plot gave them the best possible backdrop for their friendships to blossom and grow.

The story unfolded with grace and humor and more than once I startled my husband by bursting out laughing at the dialogue. Harrison’s wit is as delightful as I remembered, and this book was a real treat.

My Conclusion:

Go get a copy of this book- and maybe get copies for your closest friends. By the end of it you’ll be- as the protagonist would say- “champing at the bit” to start your own Dirty Book Club.

Happy reading!

-Kat

Holly Black’s phenomenal new novel, The Cruel Prince, is perfect for long time fans of the author as well as new fans who enjoy brutal and beautiful fairy tales.

Greatest Hits:

As with previous books by Holly Black, the characters are well rounded, morally grey, and witty to boot. The pose is skillfully woven, drawing the reader in to root for the characters even when they cross from morally grey areas to flat out scheming. Fans of Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows will likely enjoy the collection of antiheroes in this novel.

With beautifully written and complex relationships rife with tension, it’s easy to become engrossed in the world of the characters. If you’re a fan of the kind of sexual tension that keeps you wondering if the characters are about to kiss or murder each other, this is absolutely the book for you.

If you embark on reading this book, be forewarned: it’s a bloody journey. I’ve read a few of Holly Black’s other books, and they’re violent, but nothing quite prepared me for the level of intensity in this novel, especially the first few pages. It’s a fantastic book by all counts, just be prepared for some Game of Thrones violence. (Okay, maybe not that bad, but somewhere on the spectrum between Hunger Games and Game of Thrones.) In any case, the intensity is spread throughout the book in a way that keeps the pacing excellent. There are hills and valleys and the gruesome things are juxtaposed with beautiful things.

My conclusion:

This book is definitely not a light read, but if you can handle the darkness you will not be disappointed. If you’re looking for a tale fraught with betrayal and blood, this is the story for you. It is fast paced, impossible to put down, and the world is memorable. Holly Black has once again raised the bar for modern fairy tales. Happy reading!

If you’re looking for a good mystery to keep you up at night, leave the light on for M.A. Bennet’s S.T.A.G.S.. Fans of high stakes mysteries like Pretty Little Liars will fall in love with this richly told tale, and anyone who enjoys a little fright with their night should consider carving out some time to read it.

Greatest Hits:

Bennet is a master of suspense, weaving a story that keeps the reader continually unsettled without revealing too much at once. Even as the reader begins to piece the puzzle together, watching the protagonist take the journey is rewarding and will keep you on the edge of your seat. The characters each leave distinct impressions behind, and I dare you not to think about them long after you’ve read the last page.

The twists and turns kept me hooked from the start, and didn’t let go, even after I finished reading. It didn’t feel too predictable, and I continually found myself surprised by the way the mystery unfolded. I also loved that at some points, the protagonist questioned her perception of events. It felt really honest and believable, because a real person in the situation she’s in would almost definitely try to talk themselves out of believing what was really happening. Similarly, I liked that she had complex feelings toward her wealthy classmates. She obviously has a lot of moments where she sees the corruption that wealth and power make possible, but she also has moments of wishing she had that glamorous life. Again, this felt really believable. The mix of envy and mistrust and desire definitely made her a relatable character.

Without saying too much about the ending, I will say it is FANTASTIC. I was afraid I would come to the end of the book feeling as though things had wrapped up too neatly, and the author skillfully manipulated that feeling, building the plot to a certain point and allowing the reader to become almost complacent before giving information that keeps things from wrapping into too neat of a bow. I loved it, and it was executed flawlessly.

My Conclusion:

Go read this book! If you love mysteries, it will be a wonderful addition to your shelf. If you never read mysteries, it will still take you for a gripping ride. I highly reccomend this book, and look forward to reading anything by M.A. Bennet that I can get my hands on. Happy reading!

-Kat