Slammed by Colleen Hoover My rating: 1 of 5 stars Initial reaction: I’m mulling over a few ways to write this review to express my thoughts, but the overarching reaction? I wish I could’ve liked this more. Sadly, with all the formulaic notations, the lack of connection with the main character (who made me want … Continue reading »
Lost Summer by Alex McAulay My rating: 1 of 5 stars There’s only so much suspension of disbelief you can have in a single story. I think in Alex McAulay’s “Lost Summer”, that suspension was used up well before the book hit the 10% mark, at least for me. Even in the most far-fetched of … Continue reading »
Dancing in the Dark by Robyn Bavati My rating: 4 of 5 stars Initial reaction: “Dancing in the Dark” was, indubitibly, a beautifully told story of a young woman’s coming of age and quest to pursue a dream of dancing. However, in the spectrum of faith and abiding by her family’s strict rules, she has … Continue reading »
Not Exactly a Love Story by Audrey Couloumbis My rating: 3 of 5 stars Initial reaction: Very interesting story about an awkward teen growing up in the 70s who falls in love with a girl he happens to get her number and goes through a number of unfortunate mishaps along the way. I think the … Continue reading »
The Lost Son by Tamra Torero and Preston Norton My rating: 4 of 5 stars Every now and again, there’s a time when a book completely blindsides me as far as the respective story and characterization goes. I didn’t really know what to expect from Tamra Torero and Preston Nortons’s “The Lost Son” – even … Continue reading »
Fitz by Mick Cochrane My rating: 4 of 5 stars Initial thoughts: I thought that “Fitz” was an excellent coming of age story with appropriate amounts of tension. It’s about a teenage boy on the edge of breaking without having a father figure in his life. Desperate, Fitz buys a gun, finds his father and … Continue reading »
Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens My rating: 1 of 5 stars Initial reaction: I’ll admit I’m at a loss of words trying to write my initial thoughts in the aftermath of reading this book. It’s not so much that I didn’t find a flow to read this with ease – I actually followed along with it … Continue reading »
What I Didn’t Say by Keary Taylor My rating: 3 of 5 stars Keary Taylor’s “What I Didn’t Say” turned out to be a decent read for me overall, though it’s very much a simple teen chick-lit novel that follows in some genre clichés and has some distracting elements that affected my reading experience of … Continue reading »
Intentions by Deborah Heiligman My rating: 2 of 5 stars The key positive statement I can make in the aftermath of reading Deborah Heiligman’s “Intentions” is that it’s a very compulsive, quick read. I stayed up in the wee hours of the morning finishing it. It’s very easy to get through if you’re engaged in … Continue reading »
Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf My rating: 4 of 5 stars Jennifer Shaw Wolf’s “Breaking Beautiful” unfolded like a film playing before my eyes as I read it. It’s a combination of a story of grief, abuse, death, romance, mystery, and coming of age. Despite many moments where I felt the narrative and mystery … Continue reading »
Never Enough by Denise Jaden My rating: 3 of 5 stars Note: I received an ARC of this book from S&S GalleyGrab. If “Never Enough” had been shaved off by about 100 pages, I think it would’ve been a much better book in terms of getting to its respective premise and message. Granted, it tackles … Continue reading »
Scars by Cheryl Rainfield My rating: 2 of 5 stars How do I start a review on a book that tackles some very tough subjects with its heart in the right place, but doesn’t execute them very well? I can’t speak for Cheryl Rainfield’s experiences, nor would I try to take away from her telling … Continue reading »
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins My rating: 4 of 5 stars “Anna and the French Kiss” took me by complete surprise. It’s definitely one of the better YA chick-lit romances I’ve read, considering its charming, well-rounded cast, intriguing protagonist voice, and vivid cultural setting. It’s cute, romantic, and hilarious in spurts, and … Continue reading »
Pegasus by Robin McKinley My rating: 4 of 5 stars Robin McKinley’s “Pegasus” is the kind of story that you have to digest in small morsels in order for it to grip you in its vivid, fairy tale progressive storyline. It worldbuilds quite a bit in the distinction between its established realms, and for those … Continue reading »
A Little Night Magic by Lucy March My rating: 4 of 5 stars Lucy March, a.k.a Lani Diane Rich, might be a new favorite romance author for me if the potential of where she could go beyond “A Little Night Magic” is any indication. I was charmed by this novel’s blend of quirky chick-lit humor, … Continue reading »
