Book Review: We Were Liars (We Were Liars #1) by E. Lockhart

August 2, 2025June 28, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: YA Mystery
Length: 242 pages
Author: E. Lockhart
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: May 13th, 2014
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from New York Times bestselling author, National Book Award finalist, and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart.

Read it.

And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.

Thank you Get Underlined for the gifted copy.

WELL WELL WELL.

Honestly this book didn’t have a lot going for it but I will give it up for the twist, that one got me (and now I understand more why there’s over a million ratings for this on goodreads). The writing style is definitely unique and I actually enjoy an unreliable narrator so those were all good points for me.

Somehow for 250 pages though there were scenes that dragged or didn’t feel totally necessary. As previously mentioned though, the twist was interesting and gave me a better view point of the whole book.

I’m curious how this has a sequel?? I’m going to pick that one up soon.

Overall audience notes:

YA Mystery
Language: low
Romance: kisses
Violence: moderate
Content warnings: traumatic brain injury, loss of loved ones, arson

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ARC Book Review: The Nightblood Prince by Molly X. Chang

July 20, 2025July 4, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Molly X. Chang
Publisher: Random House
Release Date: July 1st, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Two princes. One prophecy. A fate she cannot outrun.

The night Fei was born, a prophecy was made: she would one day become the Empress of All Empresses.

Torn from her family as a child and raised in the palace to one day marry the Crown Prince of the most powerful empire in the land, Fei has only ever known loneliness. When the opportunity arises to seize her own destiny for the first time in her life, Fei sets out to hunt a legendary tiger, knowing it might cost her everything. What she doesn’t expect is to fall under the mercy of Yexue, the beautiful runaway prince from a rival kingdom. Blessed by the night, harboring a dangerous magic, and capable of commanding an army of deadly vampires, Yexue could be the key to Fei gaining more than just her freedom.

But to outrun destiny, Fei must spark a wave of events that will change the world as she knows it. Torn between two princes and plagued by nightmares of bloodshed, she finds that the stars might be more inescapable—and more irresistible—than she ever considered before.

Thank you to Get Underlined for the gifted copy.

WHAT A STUNNER.

I am gob smacked by this book and could not put it down. As a known struggler with love triangles this reminded me that when it’s done right GOOOOOOD HEAVENS it is everything. I loved the push and pull back and forth between them. I honestly don’t know who I like more??? I felt for both of the guys??? Who even am I?!

And I adored the FMC, Fei. She is resilient and strong. I loved that she took the time to learn and also put the men in their places. There’s some highly coded Mulan moments woven in that had my attention in the best ways.

Oh, did I mention theirs VAMPIRES???? I didn’t know either (though the cover does give it away if you look closely). The brutality and savagery of the world and magic was such an interesting dynamic. I am feral to get my hands on book two. This is my second by by this author and they are quickly becoming a favorite.

Overall audience notes:

NA Fantasy Romance
Language: mild
Romance: one brief open door
Violence: high

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ARC/ALC Book Review: A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim

June 3, 2025May 26, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA FantasyRomance
Length: 480 pages
Author: Elizabeth Lim
Publisher: Knopf Books
Release Date: June 3rd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A breathtaking romantic fantasy inspired by Beauty and the Beast about a girl who paints the future and a cursed dragon lord, bound by love and deception in a plot to bring down the gods.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Six Crimson Cranes!

Truyan Saigas didn’t choose to become a con artist, but after her father is lost at sea, it’s up to her to support her mother and two younger sisters. A gifted art forger, Tru has the unique ability to paint the future, but even such magic is not enough to put her family back together again, or stave off the gangsters demanding payment in blood for her mother’s gambling debts.

Left with few options, Tru agrees to a marriage contract with a mysterious dragon lord. He offers a fresh start for her mother and sisters and elusive answers about her father’s disappearance, but in exchange, she must join him in his desolate undersea palace. And she must assist him in a plot to infiltrate the tyrannical Dragon King’s inner circle, painting a future so treasonous, it could upend both the mortal and immortal realms.

Thank you to PRHAudio for the gifted audiobook and Get Underlined for the final copy.

ANOTHER GEM.

I really liked this book!! And the audiobook was such a great listen. This had some beauty and the beast vibes I was all over. Add in some dragons and this was a winner.

I loved that this had three sisters who all loved and supported each other. The bonded family dynamic was powerful and a theme I appreciated throughout. It’s beautifully written and brought to life all of the nuanced layers of the story. I loved all of the mythical creatures + creatures of the deep. The world is gorgeous.

I loved Truyan. She’s a strong and loyal FMC who continually made me want to cheer her on. I loved her character arc and journey. And y’all know I LOVE a marriage of convenience. Tru and Elang had some good banter and there were a lot of sweet moments too. I found myself with the feels at those closing scenes!! Thank heavens for great epilogues.

Overall audience notes:

YA Fantasy Romance
Language: low
Romance: kisses
Violence: moderate

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ARC Book Review: Brielle and Bear (Once Upon a Time Vol. 1) by Salomey Doku

April 22, 2025November 18, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Magical Realism Romance
Length: 178 pages
Author: Salomey Doku
Publisher: Harper Fire
Release Date: April 22nd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A stunningly illustrated and brilliantly told love story perfect for teen readers – the first in an exquisite full-colour graphic novel series

(This ebook is optimised for Kindle tablets and the Kindle App. It is not suitable for e-Ink kindle devices, such as the PaperWhite. We recommend you download a sample to your device before purchase if in doubt.)

Fairytale Rule No. 1: All the best fairytales start with ‘Once upon a time . . .’

First-year student Brielle, a daydreamy book lover, knows everything there is to know about fairytales. Returning to the city of Rosebridge four years after moving away, she attends Once Upon a Time University, with the intention of living her fairytale dream. And when she meets Bear, shy vice-captain of the Princes rugby team, at the bookshop where she works, Brielle’s dream is off to a good start.

Determined to forget the past, and with an unexpected new relationship blossoming, Brielle feels she’s finally living the dream. That is, until she discovers that she’s not the only one hiding something .

Thank you Get Underlined for the gifted ARC.

SO STINKIN’ CUTE.

I did not have plans to read this 5 months before release but when I picked it up, I inhaled it (my ARC copy had black/white print but the final will have full color). I can’t wait to see the full color version because I loved the artwork and set-up for this story.

It’s light-hearted and made me smile multiple times. I loved the cute flirtations and deep talks. You can see the essence of Beauty and the Beast without being a copycat. I loved the introductions to all of the characters that I hope to see in future volumes. This is an easy read and an utter delight. I can’t wait for more!

Overall audience notes: