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aquaflowerchild's reviews
78 reviews
Murder Likes It Hot by Tracy Weber
The Downward Dog series is what sparked my love of cozy mysteries. I have grown emotionally attached to Kate Davidson and her fascinating life ever since the first book. I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley. I was ecstatic to see how Kate's life has been since book five.
Just like in books 1-5, Kate is entangled in solving a murder. She often puts solving the murder ahead of her personal life, her own well-being, and her yoga business. LOVE the ending!! I really enjoy reading these books, and can't wait for more!
Just like in books 1-5, Kate is entangled in solving a murder. She often puts solving the murder ahead of her personal life, her own well-being, and her yoga business. LOVE the ending!! I really enjoy reading these books, and can't wait for more!
Meet Me in Outer Space by Melinda Grace
2.0
I received an advanced copy of the book via NetGalley. Meet Me in Outer Space is a cute, light read. It is a young adult romance. Edie has an auditory processing disorder which causes her to struggle in a French college course. She has dreams of working in the fashion industry, and has plans to go to Paris, France during the summer. Therefore, passing her French class is her biggest priority. However, she soon finds herself distracted by the Teaching Assistant/Tutor.
I had a few issues, personally, with Edie’s character. She manipulates the relationships with her male friends. She knows how they feel about her, yet she continues to string them along and hold them responsible for how things end up. She also reacts in ways that are not typical of someone who is feeling the emotions that she is feeling. I felt that the ending of the book was a little rushed.
I had a few issues, personally, with Edie’s character. She manipulates the relationships with her male friends. She knows how they feel about her, yet she continues to string them along and hold them responsible for how things end up. She also reacts in ways that are not typical of someone who is feeling the emotions that she is feeling. I felt that the ending of the book was a little rushed.
Finding Baba Yaga by Jane Yolen
2.0
I received the ARC via NetGalley. Two things struck me when I saw this book available on NetGalley: 1-the author and 2-the title. I have read The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen. I liked how I was able to get sucked into the narrative in that book. I grew up reading a version of Baba Yaga, so I was interested to see how she would interpret this story.
This story is written in verse. It has a poetry like feel, but it isn’t really poetry. It is dark, darker than I thought it would be. This is in the sense of the subject; it is not necessarily a “scary” book. This is a very short read; I finished it in one sitting. Yolen definitely gave her own spin on this classic tale. However, it was not my cup a tea.
This story is written in verse. It has a poetry like feel, but it isn’t really poetry. It is dark, darker than I thought it would be. This is in the sense of the subject; it is not necessarily a “scary” book. This is a very short read; I finished it in one sitting. Yolen definitely gave her own spin on this classic tale. However, it was not my cup a tea.
Dear Evan Hansen: The Novel by Val Emmich
I absolutely love musicals. However, sadly, I have never seen any of the well-known ones live. So, I mainly listen to soundtracks or watch the movies, if available. One day while browsing GoodReads, like I do, I saw Dear Evan Hansen! I was super excited! I could finally read and visualize the description to these lyrics.
Dear Evan Hansen creates a narrative around the original lyrics of the musical. I like that the those responsible for creating a beautiful musical took part in creating this novel. I absolutely loved this book. Because I’ve only ever listened to the soundtrack, I kept waiting for the downfall to happen in the book. How far would socially awkward Evan take his story?
I kept saying "Why are you saying this?! Normal people don't do that. Just tell the truth!"
Dear Evan Hansen creates a narrative around the original lyrics of the musical. I like that the those responsible for creating a beautiful musical took part in creating this novel. I absolutely loved this book. Because I’ve only ever listened to the soundtrack, I kept waiting for the downfall to happen in the book. How far would socially awkward Evan take his story?
I kept saying "Why are you saying this?! Normal people don't do that. Just tell the truth!"
People Kill People by Ellen Hopkins
4.0
About a year ago I read Ellen Hopkins’s The You I’ve Never Known. Like that work, People Kill People is written in a similar format. There are sections written in verse format, and others written in prose. Also, like that novel, this one confronts major, current social issues. People Kill People takes on the confrontational issues of gun laws, deportation, homelessness, mental health, and racism. With Hopkins’s inclusion of these current conflicts, it brings a realistic portrayal to the characters’ lives.
The book follows seven points of view. There is the main narration which derives from the perspective of an all knowing being. This narration is written in verse. This being has the ability to “slip into” the other six individuals. The six individuals: Rand, Cami, Silas, Ashlyn, Daniel, and Noelle each have their own sections in the story. Theirs is each written in prose. Each person has dealt with a difficult past, and all struggle with the present. Each character is somehow connected to the others. Every individual has a reason for their actions. The question is not who pulled the trigger. The question is: Is there ever a reason to?
I enjoyed the different perspectives and how they interconnected. I really liked that the epilogue gave a closure to each character’s life.
The book follows seven points of view. There is the main narration which derives from the perspective of an all knowing being. This narration is written in verse. This being has the ability to “slip into” the other six individuals. The six individuals: Rand, Cami, Silas, Ashlyn, Daniel, and Noelle each have their own sections in the story. Theirs is each written in prose. Each person has dealt with a difficult past, and all struggle with the present. Each character is somehow connected to the others. Every individual has a reason for their actions. The question is not who pulled the trigger. The question is: Is there ever a reason to?
I enjoyed the different perspectives and how they interconnected. I really liked that the epilogue gave a closure to each character’s life.
Access Restricted by Gregory Scott Katsoulis
First let me say that I should have known about Word$ series way before now. About a month ago, on one of the Facebook book groups I follow, someone posted about All Rights Reserved. The person gave a quick synopsis and it sounded really good. I took a screenshot of the post and saved the book on my TBR list. I got into a bookfunk and was trying to find something to pull me out. I went looking through my book screenshots, saw the saved post, and began looking up All Rights Reserved. That’s when I saw that Access Restricted was about to come out. I quickly got a copy of All Rights Reserved from the library. This book quickly pulled me into this new world.
The Word$ series is a young adult dystopia series. It is set in a future where everything you say and do costs you. This in turn creates a corrupt system in which only the wealthy can get by. Thanks to Speth in the first book, a revolution takes place to try to change the system. Access Restricted follows Speth on her crusade to right the deceptive system.
Honestly, I was hesitant to begin the sequel. All Rights Reserved was really good. Often with these lesser known series, the subsequent books are not as good. I knew there was so much that needed to be covered in the second book, and I was worried it would not have the same feel as the first. Katsoulis did not let me down! It picked right up where the first book ended. I did not feel like I had missed anything. I was able slip right back into Speth’s world.
The Word$ series is a young adult dystopia series. It is set in a future where everything you say and do costs you. This in turn creates a corrupt system in which only the wealthy can get by. Thanks to Speth in the first book, a revolution takes place to try to change the system. Access Restricted follows Speth on her crusade to right the deceptive system.
Honestly, I was hesitant to begin the sequel. All Rights Reserved was really good. Often with these lesser known series, the subsequent books are not as good. I knew there was so much that needed to be covered in the second book, and I was worried it would not have the same feel as the first. Katsoulis did not let me down! It picked right up where the first book ended. I did not feel like I had missed anything. I was able slip right back into Speth’s world.
Every Single Secret by Emily Carpenter
2.0
Every Single Secret by Emily Carpenter
Daphne Amos is determined to keep her past buried deep, but soon finds herself going to a couples retreat with her fiancé, Heath Beck. The retreat is meant to strengthen couple relationships through therapy exercises. However, there is more than meets the eye to this retreat. Daphne quickly learns more about herself, her fiancé, and the retreat than she bargained.
This book was honestly a little slow
and discombobulating at the beginning.
There was a constant shift from past, present, and future. The quick shift left me confused in trying to sort out the timeline. I finally got into the book about half way through. I did feel that there were some reactions from Daphne that seemed a little unnatural There was also the fact that the biggest reason for Daphne going along to the retreat with Heath was his nightmares, and the reasoning behind them went unresolved. However, I did enjoy unraveling the truth of Heath and Daphne’s storyline.
Daphne Amos is determined to keep her past buried deep, but soon finds herself going to a couples retreat with her fiancé, Heath Beck. The retreat is meant to strengthen couple relationships through therapy exercises. However, there is more than meets the eye to this retreat. Daphne quickly learns more about herself, her fiancé, and the retreat than she bargained.
This book was honestly a little slow
and discombobulating at the beginning.
There was a constant shift from past, present, and future. The quick shift left me confused in trying to sort out the timeline. I finally got into the book about half way through. I did feel that there were some reactions from Daphne that seemed a little unnatural There was also the fact that the biggest reason for Daphne going along to the retreat with Heath was his nightmares, and the reasoning behind them went unresolved. However, I did enjoy unraveling the truth of Heath and Daphne’s storyline.
It Ends With Her by Brianna Labuskes
4.0
It Ends with Her by Brianna Labuskes
It Ends with Her focuses on three female perspectives who find themselves being pursued by Simon Cross. Simon is a sociopath who has a twisted motivation to obtain an affection that is unrequited. He seeks young women to torture while also sending the FBI on wild chases. To him, it is just a game to get the attention of the one woman he has always felt a connection with.
Adelaide, Bess, and Clark are the three characters whose narration carries the story. Adelaide is a young girl who finds herself growing up with Simon. She is accepted by Simon and feels special due to his attention. She soon sees that Simon is not a good person. Bess is a young woman who is in a terrible relationship. However, she has building up the courage and confidence to leave her horrible life behind. Bess ends up entangled with Simon because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time, or so it seems. Clark, an FBI agent, is struggling internally from childhood issues. Clark’s sole concentration is bringing justice to Simon. Each woman soon finds her strength tested thanks to Simon.
This book had the BEST plot twist! I did not expect it.
I liked the suspense building up to the big showdown between FBI agent Clark and sociopath Simon.
It Ends with Her focuses on three female perspectives who find themselves being pursued by Simon Cross. Simon is a sociopath who has a twisted motivation to obtain an affection that is unrequited. He seeks young women to torture while also sending the FBI on wild chases. To him, it is just a game to get the attention of the one woman he has always felt a connection with.
Adelaide, Bess, and Clark are the three characters whose narration carries the story. Adelaide is a young girl who finds herself growing up with Simon. She is accepted by Simon and feels special due to his attention. She soon sees that Simon is not a good person. Bess is a young woman who is in a terrible relationship. However, she has building up the courage and confidence to leave her horrible life behind. Bess ends up entangled with Simon because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time, or so it seems. Clark, an FBI agent, is struggling internally from childhood issues. Clark’s sole concentration is bringing justice to Simon. Each woman soon finds her strength tested thanks to Simon.
This book had the BEST plot twist! I did not expect it.
I liked the suspense building up to the big showdown between FBI agent Clark and sociopath Simon.