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Book Review: You’ll Be the Death of Me by Karen M. McManus

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Rating: ☆☆☆ 1/2
Audience: YA Thriller
Length: 336 pages
Author: Karen M. McManus
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: November 30th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Ivy, Mateo, and Cal used to be close. Now all they have in common is Carlton High and the beginning of a very bad day.

Type A Ivy lost a student council election to the class clown, and now she has to face the school, humiliated. Heartthrob Mateo is burned out–he’s been working two jobs since his family’s business failed. And outsider Cal just got stood up…. again.

So when Cal pulls into campus late for class and runs into Ivy and Mateo, it seems like the perfect opportunity to turn a bad day around. They’ll ditch and go into the city. Just the three of them, like old times. Except they’ve barely left the parking lot before they run out of things to say…

Until they spot another Carlton High student skipping school–and follow him to the scene of his own murder. In one chance move, their day turns from dull to deadly. And it’s about to get worse.

It turns out Ivy, Mateo, and Cal still have some things in common. They all have a connection to the dead kid. And they’re all hiding something.

Now they’re all wondering–could it be that their chance reconnection wasn’t by chance after all?

From the author of One of Us Is Lying comes a brand-new pulse-pounding thriller. It’s Ferris Bueller’s Day Off with murder when three old friends relive an epic ditch day, and it goes horribly–and fatally–wrong. 

GOOD, NOT GREAT.

I feel like I don’t have a lot to say about this one, which is why it’s more in my “meh” rating section. This was a good mystery. I really appreciated the fast paced nature and how quickly I flew through it at least.

What I struggled with were the characters. I don’t think I enjoyed any of them? Everyone was…fine. And that’s how I felt throughout. I do love a good multi-POV book and the changing nature and narrative of the story. Things got twisted and while I saw a lot of it coming I was surprised by a few aspects.

It kind of ruined it for me at the end with how many people said, why didn’t you just tell us/the police? Because yeah, that would have ended this entire book (which takes place over one day) before it really began. A mixed bag of thoughts, I still enjoy the author’s writing style and look forward to her next book.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Thriller
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: drug overdose, selling of drugs, murder and attempted murder, an inappropriate teacher/student relationship

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Book Review: Never Leave Me (Waters of Time #2) by Jody Hedlund

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary/Historical Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Jody Hedlund
Publisher: Revell
Release Date: January 4th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In the last stages of a genetic disease, Ellen Creighton has decided to live out her remaining days at the estate of her longtime friend Harrison Burlington. Harrison cares deeply for Ellen, but as a wheelchair-bound paraplegic, he’s never allowed himself to get serious in a relationship. However, he’s desperately trying to save her by finding the holy water that is believed to heal any disease.

When he locates two flasks, Ellen refuses to drink one of them because she believes the holy water killed her sister and father. In an effort to convince her to take it, Harrison ingests the contents first, and when Ellen witnesses the effects, she can no longer deny the power of the substance in the bottles. Dangerous criminals are also seeking the holy water, and Ellen soon learns they will go to any lengths to get the powerful drug–including sending her back into the past to find it for them.

Bestselling and award-winning author Jody Hedlund plunges you into the swiftly flowing river of history in a race against the clock in this breathtaking, emotional second Waters of Time story.

UNPOPULAR OPINION.

This did not work for me like the first book did.

Why?

I felt it was too repetitive to the first story. Same bad guy doing the exact same thing. Same reason for going to the past. Same things happening in the past. I don’t know, just a bit too many similarities for this not to drag.

The romance between Ellen and Harrison was really sweet. I did love the first quarter and last where they got a lot more page time together. There were some seriously swoony and charged moments between the two and who am I kidding, that’s ALL I WANT.

I mostly sped read through the later half of this hoping to get back to the main characters actually sharing the page. I wanted a lot more from the surrounding plot and it even took until 30% in to actually know what the whole story would entail. I don’t know, just wasn’t as captivated by this one y’all.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary/Magical Realism Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: mild
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: physical altercations, kidnapping, loss of loved ones, full detail childbirth scene

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Book Review: The Belle of Belgrave Square (Belles of London #2) by Mimi Matthews

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Rating: ★★★★★
Genre: Historical Romance
Length: 406 pages
Author: Mimi Matthrews
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: October 11th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A London heiress rides out to the wilds of the English countryside to honor a marriage of convenience with a mysterious and reclusive stranger.

Tall, dark, and dour, the notorious Captain Jasper Blunt was once hailed a military hero, but tales abound of his bastard children and his haunted estate in Yorkshire. What he requires now is a rich wife to ornament his isolated ruin, and he has his sights set on the enchanting Julia Wychwood.

For Julia, an incurable romantic cursed with a crippling social anxiety, navigating a London ballroom is absolute torture. The only time Julia feels any degree of confidence is when she’s on her horse. Unfortunately, a young lady can’t spend the whole of her life in the saddle, so Julia makes an impetuous decision to take her future by the reins—she proposes to Captain Blunt.

In exchange for her dowry and her hand, Jasper must promise to grant her freedom to do as she pleases. To ride—and to read—as much as she likes without masculine interference. He readily agrees to her conditions, with one provision of his own: Julia is forbidden from going into the tower rooms of his estate and snooping around his affairs. But the more she learns of the beastly former hero, the more intrigued she becomes…

OH MY GOSH I LOVED THIS SO MUCH.

I don’t feel like I can accurately put into words how much I loved this book. One of those “no notes” situations where gosh dang I am in a book slump over it.

This is now one of my favorite regency romances and one of the best Beauty and the Beast retellings I have come across. Add in MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE and I am SOLD. The entire book was filled with alllllllll of the swoon. I was a puddle over Jasper and his story and how he wooed Julie. It has some instant attraction vibes that flat out worked beautifully. It may seem low angst but I felt everything dang feeling watching these two come together.

I wish I had a physical/digital copy (I read the audiobook) to highlight many passages. Matthews creates gorgeous stories that melt your soul and make you fall in love with the characters. I loved the way Julia stood up for herself and found two strong feet to stand out with the faith of Jasper behind her. And I loved that she was shy AND strong.

The plot with the children and family and friends pushed the main romantic plot line perfectly. I am in awe of this read. It was stunning. I’m writing this review right after finishing it and I really just want to yell at everyone TO GO READ IT NOW PLEASE.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: very vague fade to black / closed door
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: physical, emotional, and psychologically abusive parents, grief, recounting war themes

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Book Review: The Holiday Switch by Tif Marcelo

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Rating: ☆☆☆
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 272 pages
Author: Tif Marcelo
Publisher: Underlined
Release Date: October 5th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A paperback original romance about a bookish Filipino-American girl who crosses paths with the innkeeper’s aggravating nephew–but when they accidentally switch phones, their newly discovered secrets draw them together.

Lila Castro is ready to take on her last winter break of high school. The snow is plentiful, the mood is full of holiday cheer, and she’s earning extra cash working at the cozy local inn. But her perfect holiday plans crash to a halt when her boss’s frustratingly cute nephew, Teddy Veracruz, becomes her coworker. When they accidentally switch phones one afternoon, they both realize they’ve been hiding things from each other. Will their secrets–and a dash of holiday spirit–bring them closer to love?

Underlined is a line of totally addictive romance, thriller, and horror paperback original titles coming to you fast and furious each month. Enjoy everything you want to read the way you want to read it.

SURFACE LEVEL.

That’s what this book was missing. A deeper dive into the characters. I thought it was a cute holiday romance that definitely fit the season, but it was nothing memorable enough for me to recommend it to everyone I see.

I did love reading about a book blogger and rock climber. Those were fun anecdotes that were different from the day to day YA contemporary romance. I didn’t ever fully understand the “switch” concept? They traded phones on accident once, buuut that was a super small scene in comparison to everything else that happened.

Lila and Teddy had some cute moments and I overall liked the development of their relationship. A bit dramatic at times with a good conclusion. A simple, lighter read with a bit of holiday flair.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: discussion of previous doxing & internet stalking

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