shelbyanoel's reviews
390 reviews

This Stays Between Us by Sara Ochs

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I absolutely loved “This Stays Between Us”. I’ve never had the pleasure of reading Sarah Ochs books before, but I do love a good thriller. I devoured this one in a day and I’m not sad about it. Set in the diverse, unique, and stunning Outback of Australia, a group of travel abroad friends is reunited years after their original adventure. What they think is that it’s just a reunion, but they’re thrown into a police investigation of their missing friend and her remains being discovered. Forcing the group of Claire, Josh, Declan, Adrien, Kyan, Tomas, and Hari to be reunited together and relive the loss of their friend; however, one of them isn’t who they seem and Claire seeks to find the truth of what happened to Phoebe. 

The twists and turns of who can be trusted, who’s being honest and real, and who has withheld more than what they’re sharing we seek to discover and find out. I really enjoyed the twists and turns, trying to put the pieces together. I really loved the alternating viewpoints of the characters from then and now as we discover what happened to Phoebe and the events that happened that summer. I also appreciated the setting. I mean, Australia?! It all came together in the end and buckle down to read and reread the epilogue! 

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Sourcebooks, and Sarah Ochs for this wonderful read! I’m looking forward to recommending it to my friends and bookclub groups! 

Manga Classics Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, Crystal Chan

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I love "Anne of Green Gables" and when I had a friend recommend this ARC, I jumped on board. I think that this is a beautiful adaptation of this in manga. I would say that it is accurate to L.M. Montgomery's original. The art in is is exquisite and even with it being black and white. Additionally, Anne herself is depicted beautifully with all of her range of emotions and inner speech. I will recommend it to my students and friends who love classics and Manga. Thank you so much Manga Classics Inc. and Netgalley for the ARC.

Dead of Summer by Jessa Maxwell

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This is my first Jessa Maxwell book and I really enjoyed it! "Dead of Summer" gave twists, turns, a great East Coast setting filled with flashbacks of Orla and David and their adolescence before their close friend Alice disappeared without a trace. Alice's disappearance created a life altering gap for Orla as she returns to Hadley Island and sees her in everything and everywhere she looks. Orla still questions what happened to Alice and her disappearance. She seeks for answers and also sees David and his new girlfriend Faith. Faith, supportive character to David, begins to question the elite status of David and also wonder about the talk of the unsolved Alice. Filled with twists and turns, I think that "Dead of Summer" gave nostalgia vibes that tie in art, Rear Window vibes of people watching from Henry, and a mix of the rich and wealthy and their luxurious lifestyle.
I think that this would be a great summer read that is a quick thriller, who done it, and ambiance of a great setting. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the ARC.   

Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

"Left of Forever" is a beautifully depicted story of restoring love and rekindling first love. Tarah unpacked the hard things that life throws at us with loss, choices, and how it can affect us. Wren an Ellis both MC's are unpacking their pasts and intertwining their thoughts into the current reality. One of my favorite parts was the journal entries and the letters. Everyone, I think deserves a second chance at love and maturing and this road trip of a book did it well and right. 

I will be recommending it to my friends and family who love second chances, re sparking a flame, and a bit of spice. If you love family, love, relationships and a balance between romance and contemporary realities, then this is the story for you! 

Thank you for NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Tarah DeWitt for this ARC. It did not disappoint. Thank you again!! 

Not Safe for Work by Nisha J. Tuli

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is my first Nisa J. Tuli novel and I absolutely loved it. I loved the slow burn of this enemies to lover novel and the underlying issues that Tuli unpacked. Female MC Tris and male MC Rafe have their own past challenges, current dreams and beliefs, and how they unpack them in the journey the odd's of being in Maui on a work trip. Tris and  Rafe have a dynamic of pent up tension and history that they are forced to deal with at the most inconvenient time. I mean also, who would not want to go to Maui for 3 weeks on a work trip and be in any honeymoon suite?!

Tuli really intertwined and unpacking racism, sexism, and misogyny into Trish and her character and as a reader I appreciated tying in this dynamic that women in the workforce deal with, making it realistic to our world. 

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Nisa J. Tuli for this ARC. It was a quick read and I think that if you're seeking for a slow burn, enemies to lovers, and strong female MC this will be a wonderful read for you, too! 

The Perfect Divorce by Jeneva Rose

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Jeneva Rose outdid herself again with "The Perfect Divorce". Usually I feel that second novels that follow a strong story line in the first fall short in character development and underwhelming plot., this was not the case with the second of this series! I truly feel that the sequel is better than the original. Sarah is back again with a vendetta and a reason. Sarah is powerful, has an agenda, and I love her and her inner thoughts and working's. So many twists and turns, alternative point of view's, and rooting for the villain (or not, depending on the perspective). "The Perfect Divorce" did not fall short. It served up great up and down's of twists and turns and looking for a resolution outcome between Sarah, Adam's unresolved case, and the separation/divorce affairs of Bob. 

If you're looking for a new thriller with many twists and turns, a great plot, please look no further. I am so grateful to Blackstone Publishing, Net Galley and Jeneva Rose for this outstanding new thriller/suspense! I am looking forward to recommending this to my friends and family and teacher friends in my book clubs. 

The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

What a beautiful and poignant new release by Patti Callahan Henry. "The Story She Left Behind" is a magical historical fiction book about the imagination that we create for ourselves and the mystery of family, and discovery of uncovering a hidden mystery of the unknowns of lost family.  To be alive during a historical time where fantasy, imagination, and the journey of being an author were not as popular or accepted. Clara recently receives the Caldecott award is thrust into unpacking her late mother's whereabouts, but not all her own.  Clara's mom (a world renowned child, child prodigy who created a beautiful book herself at a young age and it is truly known all over the world).  Clara finds herself connected to mysterious man on the other side of the world, he reaches out with a briefcase containing newly discovered literature and translations of her mother's last work, which she thought was lost. Bringing up to the surface feelings of loss, intrigue, and doubt, Clara journey's over the seas from America to Europe and the historical challenges of smog, political, economic and cultural reality Clara starts to be connected with Charlie. Uncovering the past, dealing with setbacks Clara discovers new found family and a deeper purpose in her life. 

The setting in this story was sublime, the description of the forest, the intertwined nature of Beatrix Potter and the magic of the English countryside were all enjoyable. 

I highly recommend this to those who are looking for a warm historical fiction, one that intertwines the new and the old and makes you feel immersed and invested into the intrigue of the characters and the unfolding of Clara and her life.  

Thank you to Netgalley, Patti Callahan Henry, and Atria Books for the ARC. It was a perfect springtime read for me and I anticipate sharing this with my colleagues, book friends, and family. 

Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Scythe & Sparrow by Brynne Weaver

dark funny reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

DallerGut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee

adventurous hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0