Tag: Reviews

Review | End of Story by Kylie Scott

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New York Times bestselling sensation Kylie Scott’s sexy, smart and unconventional opposites-attract love story looks at what happens when fate refuses to give up on what’s meant to be…

When Susie Bowen inherits a charming fixer-upper from her aunt, she’s excited to start living her best HGTV life. But when she opens the door to find that her contractor is none other than her ex’s best friend, Lars—the same man who witnessed their humiliating public breakup six months ago—she isn’t exactly eager to have anyone around whose alliance is with the enemy. But beggars can’t be choosers, and the sooner the repairs are done, the sooner she can get back to embracing singledom.

Things go from awkward to unbelievable when Lars discovers a divorce certificate hidden in a wall and dated ten years in the future—with both their names on it. It couldn’t possibly be real…could it? As Susie and Lars work to unravel the document’s origins, the impossibility of a spark between them suddenly doesn’t seem so far-fetched. But would a relationship between them be doomed before it’s even begun?

Rating: 3 out of 5.

If you’re looking for a fun rom com that is light with some paranormal aspects, this is a good one to pick up. I thought the concept itself was really good and liked the way it sounded. It did play out a little more skewed towards women’s lit than a traditional romance, but the relationship that was built was still great and it ended up being a fun friends to lovers story. It would definitely be a good quick read to lighten things up as there was a lot of humor and fun, as well as a good romance.

Happy reading!

Review | Ninja Kitten by Colleen AF Venable, Ellen Stubbings and Marcie Colleen

DeAnneLeave a comment

Fans of comics, and heartwarming stories—not to mention cats!—will love Kitten Ninja, the origin story of the incredible Cat Ninja!

Before Cat Ninja grew up and became Metro City’s greatest defender, he was tiny, adorable Kitten Ninja and he battled…much tinier foes. (Hey, everybody has to start somewhere, right?)

In this spin-off prequel to the enormously popular Epic Original Cat Ninja series, our favorite feline hero takes on everything a kitten-size ninja has to battle on the way to his heroic a sun spot that won’t stay put, an irresistible ball of yarn, and—every cat’s archenemy—snow!

Goodreads | Amazon

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I was excited to see something new from the author of Katie the Catsitter, and since it was cat themed it was a win win for me! This is an adorable graphic novel with a few different shorts so to speak, all about Kitten Ninja and their adventures. The art is colorful and adorable, perfectly suited to stories about an adventurous kitten. If you love cats definitely give this a read, it’s quick, fun and adorable.

Happy reading!

Review | The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin

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A social media influencer with a secret past buys a murder house to renovate, but finds more than she bargained for behind the peeling wallpaper in this gothic psychological debut.

Sarah Slade is starting over. As the new owner of the infamous Black Wood House—the scene of a grisly murder-suicide—she’s determined that the fixer-upper will help reach a new audience on her successful lifestyle blog, and distract her from her failing marriage.

But as Sarah paints over the house’s horrifying past, she knows better than anyone that a new façade can’t conceal every secret. Then the builders start acting erratically and experiencing bizarre accidents—and Sarah knows there’s only so long she can continue to sleep in the bedroom with the bloodstained floor and suffer the mysterious footsteps she hears from the attic.

When menacing notes start appearing everywhere, Sarah becomes convinced that someone or something is out to kill her—her husband, her neighbors, maybe even the house itself. The more she remodels Black Wood House, the angrier it seems to become.

With every passing moment, Sarah’s life spirals further out of control—and with it, her sense of reality. Though she desperately clings to the lies she’s crafted to conceal her own secrets, Sarah Slade must wonder . . . was it all worth it? Or will this house be her final unraveling?

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I was hooked on the concept of is it a haunted house, could there be an intruder or is the MC going mad, so I was excited to pick it up. I sometimes hesitate when it’s an unreliable narrator, especially when it’s a woman who drinks a lot, since that’s a too common trope. I enjoyed the slow unwinding of Sarah and Joe’s past and what had led them to the point they are at today. I also enjoy the additional perspectives that pop up later and further expand the angles we see the story from. There were definitely some messy spots and lots of twists and turns that keep you guessing until right before the end. I felt the final twist was a good one and not entirely expected. The writing was also compelling and made it an easy book to consume in one sitting.

Happy reading!

Review | Gamer Girls: Gnat vs. Spyder by Andrea Towers

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Thirteen-year-old Natalie lives a double life. By day, she’s an average eighth grader at Golden Trails Middle. At night, she’s Gnat112, a streamer for her favorite video game, Alienlord. But when the new girl moves in next door, will Natalie’s double life be revealed?Natalie has a secret. She’s a gamer.By day, Natalie is an average eighth grade student. At night, she’s Gnat112! Living a double life is hard . . . and keeping a secret from your friends is even harder.In this illustrated middle grade book (the first of an all-new series, Gamer Girls), Natalie and her three BFFs learn to navigate the gamer world together, one girl at a time. This series is a great read for gamers and gamer enthusiasts of all kinds. Plus, there’s the occasional middle school drama . . . if only Natalie could battle math teachers like video game aliens!

Rating: 4 out of 5.

This was an adorable read! I loved how it touched on being yourself and being ok with being yourself at a young-ish age. It’s a great example of being tempted to hide your interests, but learning not to. Plus I always enjoy some gamer rep, whether it be people getting into gaming or people who already love it. This is a great book for younger readers who are gamers themselves, or any that might be struggling with navigating friendships and such. All in all a fun read!

Happy reading!

Review | A House at the Bottom of a Lake by Josh Malerman

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Both seventeen. Both afraid. But both saying yes.

It sounded like the perfect first date: canoeing across a chain of lakes, sandwiches and beer in the cooler. But teenagers Amelia and James discover something below the water’s surface that changes their lives forever.

It’s got two stories.

It’s got a garden.

And the front door is open.

It’s a house at the bottom of a lake.

For the teens, there is only one rule: no questions. And yet, how could a place so spectacular come with no price tag? While the duo plays house beneath the waves, one reality remains:

Just because a house is empty, doesn’t mean nobody’s home.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

I was really excited to finally get to this one, but ended up somewhat disappointed. If I had to sum it up I would say I just found myself wanting more. I wanted it to be a bit creepier and have more explanation. The writing itself and the descriptions were very atmospheric, which I really enjoyed – but again, I was left wanting more in a lot of cases. My other issue is the ending. I’m not even sure what was being said or what it was supposed to mean at that point. I’m usually all for a book playing some mind games and having deeper meanings, but this one just fell a little flat for me and left me wanting.

Happy reading!

Review | Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger

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Three couples rent a luxury cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway to die for in this chilling locked-room thriller.

What could be more restful than a weekend getaway with family and friends? An isolated luxury cabin in the woods, spectacular views, a hot tub and a personal chef. Hannah’s generous brother found the listing online. The reviews are stellar. It’ll be three couples on this trip with good food, good company and lots of R & R.

But the dreamy weekend is about to turn into a nightmare.

A deadly storm is brewing. The rental host seems just a little too present. The personal chef reveals that their beautiful house has a spine-tingling history. And the friends have their own complicated past, with secrets that run blood deep.

How well does Hannah know her brother, her own husband? Can she trust her best friend? Meanwhile, someone is determined to ruin the weekend, looking to exact a payback for deeds long buried. Who is the stranger among them?

Rating: 3 out of 5.

As much as I was intrigued by the concept of this one, it didn’t quite get there for me. I felt like the differing perspectives didn’t really fit together for most of the story. Things like that can cause me to not be able to really get into the story and that’s what I found happening here. By the end everything did come together, but the pacing was off since I kept being thrown off by the disjointed perspectives. Also, there weren’t really any characters that were reliable or likeable, so that’s another thing that was pulling me out of the story. Once completed I can definitely see how the story can be enjoyed, it is certainly twisty and does come together in the end – but this one just wasn’t entirely for me.

Happy reading!

Review | Dear Rebel

DeAnneLeave a comment

More than 125 extraordinary teens and women share their advice, experiences, and the secrets of their success—in their own words. Through letters, poems, essays, self-portraits, and more, the authors tackle topics like overcoming obstacles, discovering your passion, and dreaming big.

Learn how Ms. Marvel actor Iman Vellani connected with her roots through her character. Read about how March for our Lives co-founder Jaclyn Corin found her voice as an activist. Follow mountaineer Carla Pérez on the final 100 meters to the top of Mount Everest. This rich collection of first-person stories has something for everyone, inspiring young readers to try new things, face their fears, and be themselves.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

If you’re expecting the typical format that most Rebel Girls books follow, this one will surprise you. This installment would be a great coffee table book, or something to read a letter from each night or something like that. It is very personal, as it is told in each individual’s voice and from their hearts. Whether it be them simply telling their stories, or sharing hard learned advice. There’s definitely something that will resonate with everyone as the included individuals vary greatly in accomplishments, career, diversity, etc – so I’m sure there’s something for everyone. Though it’s a different format than we are used to, it’s definitely a great addition.

Happy reading!

Review | Rebel Girls Level Up: 25 Tales of Gaming and the Metaverse

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Meet 25 inspiring women in the world of gaming and the metaverse. Read about how they’ve created innovative technology, designed the video games you play, and broken barriers whenever their industry put up walls.

Dive into gamer communities with popular streamers like Imane Anys, better known as Pokimane. Learn to lead with Aya Kyogoku, who directed several Animal Crossing games. Design digital clothing with Roblox creators like cSapphire. And compete in the wild world of esports with pro gamers Sasha Hostyn and Sylvia Gathoni.

This book pairs inspiring, easy-to-read text with colorful full-page portraits created by female and nonbinary artists from all around the world. Plus, scannable codes let you listen to longer stories on the Rebel Girls app!

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I was super excited to see that one of the newer installments in this series was about gaming as it does feel like a space that the series hasn’t explored before. The format is very similar to other installments in the series and is easily consumable with a great mix of different personalities and motivations in the gaming/metaverse community.

The only thing I didn’t love about this installment is that a couple of the images were generating using AI illustration. One of the things I love about these books is the fact that for each person represented, they are also highlighting the work and style of different artists. There’s a lot of controversy surrounding AI art as everyone knows. I’m not going to really get into it in a review, but that did knock me back a bit. I did appreciate the note at the end of the book where this is actually talked about and I appreciate the shared perspective as to the why, but that did upset me a little.

That being said it is still a wonderful addition to the series that I thoroughly enjoyed and I’m excited to see what they add next.

Happy reading!

anOther Mythology by Maxwell I. Gold

DeAnneLeave a comment

A Queer Poetic Retelling of Classic Myths.

From Thanatos to Hades, Maxwell Gold’s book of horror prose poetry reimagines myths from a queer perspective. Gold’s poetry merges camp sensibility and cosmic horror in poems that are beautiful, bloody, and barbed. A poetic soap opera of gods and monsters.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I’m always up for anything that tackles lore, fairytales or mythology, so a look at mythology through a queer lens utilizing prose poetry sounded interesting to me. The writing itself is very lyrical, but it is something that you need to sit with and examine. It’s not light, and it’s not meant to be. I thought it was a really good exploration of both well known myths and those that may not be well known to a lot of people, through a unique perspective.

Happy reading!

Review | Everyone’s Thinking It by Aleema Omotoni

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Mean Girls meets Dear White People in this big-hearted, sharp-witted UK boarding school story about family, friendship, and belonging—with a propulsive mystery at its heart. Within the walls of Wodebury Hall, an elite boarding school in the English countryside, reputation is everything. But aspiring photographer Iyanu is more comfortable observing things safely from behind her camera. For Iyanu’s estranged cousin, Kitan, life seems perfect. She has money, beauty, and friends like queen bee Heather. But as a Nigerian girl in a school as white and insular as Wodebury, Kitan struggles with the personal sacrifices needed to keep her place—and the protection she gets—within the exclusive popular crowd. Then photos from Iyanu’s camera are stolen and splashed across the school the week before the Valentine’s Day Ball—each with a juicy secret written on it. With everyone’s dirty laundry suddenly out in the open, the school explodes in chaos, and the whispers accusing Iyanu of being the one behind it all start to feel like déjà vu. Each girl is desperate to unravel the mystery of who stole the photos and why. But exposing the truth will change them all forever.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

As soon as I heard that this was a Shakespeare retelling, I was hooked as I have a soft spot for Shakespeare, especially certain plays – A Midsummer Night’s Dream being one of them. I definitely felt that the buzz words of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Mean Girls was appropriate. It definitely wasn’t just a light, funny story though, there were very real issues that were tackled and woven into the story, such as bullying, racism and other issues that teens face on a regular basis. It was a fast paced read for me that was hard to put down once the secrets started being revealed. I wasn’t expecting to go through a lot of twists and turns, so was happily surprised when there were points where I was left guessing what was going on. All in all a fantastic debut and I look forward to what this author comes up with next.

Happy reading!