Author: GoodeyReads

Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: September 2020

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I have big goals to hit 200 books this year.

Which may have lead to a wild amount of books read to make sure I’m on target. I hit 177 and 200 is in sight y’all.

Favorite reads: Blood & Honey, A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire, Heir of Fire, Queen of Shadows, and the Wayfair Witches series

Least favorite: The Last House Guest, Bone Crier’s Moon, A Kingdom of Ash and Briars, and The Princess Will Save You

  • He Started It by Samantha Downing – (☆☆☆☆)
  • The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda – (☆☆)
  • Blood & Honey (Serpent & Dove #2) by Shelby Mahurin – (☆☆☆☆ 1/2)
  • [ARC] Float Plan by Trish Doller – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Silent Kingdom by Rachel L. Schade – (☆☆☆)
  • Majesty (American Royals #2) by Katharine McGee – (☆☆☆ 1/2)
  • Fireborne (The Aurelian Cycle #1) by Rosaria Munda – (☆☆☆ 1/2)
  • The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire (Blood and Ash #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • Bone Crier’s Moon (Bone Grace #1) by Kathryn Purdie – (☆☆☆)
  • The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Bottling It (Wayfair Witches #1) by A.A. Albright – (☆☆☆☆)
  • The Enemy (It Happened in Charleston #2) by Sarah Adams – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Poison Study (Study #1) by Maria V. Snyder – (☆☆☆☆)
  • [Reread] Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3) by Sarah J. Maas – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • City of Ghosts (Cassidy Blake #1) by Victoria Schwab – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Kingdom of Ash and Briars (The Nissera Chronicles #1) by Hannah West – (☆☆)
  • Bricking It (Wayfair Witches #2) by A.A. Albright – (☆☆☆☆)
  • [Reread] Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4) by Sarah J. Maas – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • [ARC] The Bitterwine Oath by Hannah West – (☆☆☆)
  • Room-maid by Sariah Wilson – (☆☆☆☆)
  • A Trick for a Treat (Wayfair Witches #3) by A.A. Albright – (☆☆☆☆)
  • The Forgotten Kingdom (The Lost Queen Trilogy #2) by Signe Pike – (☆☆☆☆)
  • The Princess Will Save You (Kingdoms of the Sand and Sky #1) by Sarah Henning – (☆☆☆)
  • [ARC] Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Magic Study (Poison Study #2) Maria V. Snyder – (☆☆☆ 1/2)
  • Winging It (Wayfair Witches #4) by A.A. Albright – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Wrapping Up (Wayfair Witches #5) by A.A. Albright – (☆☆☆☆)
  • [Novella] Of Sun & Sandstorms (Swift Shadows #2.5) by M.L. Greye – (☆☆☆☆)
  • [ARC] Georgana’s Secret by Arlem Hawks – (☆☆☆☆)
  • A Promise of Fire (Kingmaker Chronicles #1) by Amanda Bouchet – (☆☆☆☆)

How was your reading this month? Any favorites? Did we read any of the same books? Lets talk in the comments!

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Book Review: The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Young adult contemporary romance
Length: 353 pages
Author: Kasie West
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: May 5th, 2015
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When Gia Montgomery’s boyfriend, Bradley, dumps her in the parking lot of her high school prom, she has to think fast. After all, she’d been telling her friends about him for months now. This was supposed to be the night she proved he existed. So when she sees a cute guy waiting to pick up his sister, she enlists his help. The task is simple: be her fill-in boyfriend—two hours, zero commitment, a few white lies. After that, she can win back the real Bradley.

The problem is that days after prom, it’s not the real Bradley she’s thinking about, but the stand-in. The one whose name she doesn’t even know. But tracking him down doesn’t mean they’re done faking a relationship. Gia owes him a favor and his sister intends to see that he collects: his ex-girlfriend’s graduation party—three hours, zero commitment, a few white lies.

Just when Gia begins to wonder if she could turn her fake boyfriend into a real one, Bradley comes waltzing back into her life, exposing her lie, and threatening to destroy her friendships and her new-found relationship.

LOVED THIS STORY.

Oh man. This book made me nervous. I wasn’t sure if I could handle Gia. Some characters can really turn you off of a book and make them harder to read. This definitely started out that way. I am so glad I kept going because her character progression was on point.

Her friends made me roll my eyes and get angry more than once. I really couldn’t stand the way any of them were treating each other. I know this can definitely be realistic in high school and I appreciate that we got to see Gia move on from that kind of unnecessary drama.

Totally, absolutely smitten with the romance. The fake-relationship trope is a favorite of mine and this was written beautifully. I like how they found ways back to each other, while helping them work through their own life issues. Gia really won me over with how she learned to have friendships with others she normally wouldn’t. Once again, just happy to see her grow as a person over the book. Bradley and Gia made me melt. I thought Bradley was adorable and he constantly made me smile.

This is a favorite for Kasie West books.

Overall audience notes:

  • Young adult contemporary romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

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Book Review: Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Young adult contemporary romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Kasie West
Publisher: Point
Release Date: May 29th, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Talking to other people isn’t Kate Bailey’s favorite activity. She’d much rather be out on the lake, soaking up the solitude and sunshine. So when her best friend, Alana, convinces Kate to join their high school’s podcast, Kate is not expecting to be chosen as the host. Now she’ll have to answer calls and give advice on the air? Impossible.

But to Kate’s surprise, she turns out to be pretty good at the hosting gig. Then the podcast gets in a call from an anonymous guy, asking for advice about his unnamed crush. Kate is pretty sure that the caller is gorgeous Diego Martinez, and even surer that the girl in question is Alana. Kate is excited for her friend … until Kate herself starts to develop feelings for Diego. Suddenly, Kate finds that while doling out wisdom to others may be easy, asking for help is tougher than it looks, and following your own advice is even harder.

Kasie West’s adorable story of secrets, love, and friendship is sure to win over hearts everywhere.

CUTE AS EXPECTED.

Found myself another charming Kasie West read. Definitely would put it up higher on my list of my favorites of hers.

I thought the romance was super cute. It did take some time for me to get on board with the relationship because I saw it going in a totally different direction (and that was just me choosing the wrong guy haha). But, once I saw how well they worked together they were utterly adorable. I like how the feelings developed and interactions. It was everything I’m looking for when I read a rom-com by West.

The podcast story line was fun. I’ve read one other book that has a radio theme and found that to be such a bust. This worked out well and allowed for growth in the main character, Kate. I thought her changes over the book were positive and I was really able to see that she was growing up. I love seeing these story lines in high school books. There’s so much to work through during those years!

The family and friend dynamic brought another good level for this book. I love when there’s an interesting family (this one all living on the same property). Added plenty of high-jinks and giving more layers to the characters.

Overall audience notes:

  • Young adult contemporary romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

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Book Review: Aurora Burning (The Aurora Cycle #2) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA Sci-fi / Fantasy
Length: 512 pages
Author: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 5th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Our heroes are back… kind of. From the bestselling co-authors of the Illuminae Files comes the second book in the epic series about a squad of misfits, losers, and discipline cases who just might be the galaxy’s best hope for survival.

First, the bad news: an ancient evil—you know, your standard consume-all-life-in-the-galaxy deal—is about to be unleashed. The good news? Squad 312 is standing by to save the day. They’ve just got to take care of a few small distractions first.

Like the clan of gremps who’d like to rearrange their favorite faces.

And the cadre of illegit GIA agents with creepy flowers where their eyes used to be, who’ll stop at nothing to get their hands on Auri.

Then there’s Kal’s long-lost sister, who’s not exactly happy to see her baby brother, and has a Syldrathi army at her back. With half the known galaxy on their tails, Squad 312 has never felt so wanted.

When they learn the Hadfield has been found, it’s time to come out of hiding. Two centuries ago, the colony ship vanished, leaving Auri as its sole survivor. Now, its black box might be what saves them. But time is short, and if Auri can’t learn to master her powers as a Trigger, the squad and all their admirers are going to be deader than the Great Ultrasaur of Abraaxis IV.

Shocking revelations, bank heists, mysterious gifts, inappropriately tight bodysuits, and an epic firefight will determine the fate of the Aurora Legion’s most unforgettable heroes—and maybe the rest of the galaxy as well. 

WHAT JUST HAPPENED.

I’m pretty sure I said that out loud multiple times while reading this. But also, I don’t know how to write a full review without shouting spoilers at you, so bear with me. STILL SPOILER FREE. Just…seriously…GO READ THIS SERIES ASAP PLEASE.

Okay okay, this book was glorious and also destroyed me.

I absolutely loved getting to know all of the characters more. I felt that was missing from Aurora Rising and appreciated the depth and back stories that were added to each of the squad. I have a love for each of them in their own ways and I usually have a main character I don’t like…I can’t hate anyone from Squad 312.

I was especially smitten with getting more of Auri and Kal because woo-wee I am low-key [let’s be honest — high key] ObSeSeD with Kal. NOT TO MENTION, his narrator, Steve West, is also a minor obsession. I will listen to any book he reads. The audio books for this series are fantastic with a full cast, sound effects, and just making you feel like you are sitting there truly listening to the characters. I would highly recommend this as an audio book if you haven’t tried (and are curious about them) before!

A many many things happened over the 500 pages. So much that I can’t recount it all, other than saying, it was intensely filled. There was maybe one slow-ish portion for me, but that was it. Everything hit its markers and kept me reading as fast as I could. I loved the character progression and where this story is going.

AH I DON’T WANT TO FORGET TO MENTION. I have a new ship. And I can’t say that ship because it would spoil some things, but if you’ve read it, and know who I’m referring to, lets discuss. Because I love them. Their dynamic and intensity. The banter and forced proximity. Oooooh boy I hope this is going in the direction I’m imaging or book three might sink me.

I honestly can’t tell you how it ends, because I don’t know how it ends. How twisted is that? And hopefully that sentence made you want to pick this series up because it’s faaaabulous.

Overall audience notes:

  • Young adult sci-fi
  • Language: not very much
  • Romance: kisses / make-outs; fade to black scenes, closed door scenes
  • Violence: plenty, and fairly gory/bloody; weapons, explosions, physical, torture, guns, magic

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