squirrelbrain3's reviews
132 reviews

Under Lock & Skeleton Key by Gigi Pandian

dark mysterious fast-paced

3.5

*I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway, and this is my honest review. 

This book was good, but I don't think mystery is really my thing. The best way I can describe it is that while I was reading it, I enjoyed myself, but once I put it down, I wasn't dying to get back to it. The mystery plot itself just didn't keep my interest. 

However, other aspects of the story successfully kept my interest. I was super compelled by the setting of the main character's family home, which is full of secret rooms and passageways and has a magical air to it. It was the perfect cozy yet mysterious setting for this story. 

I was also really invested in the different characters. Our main character, Tempest, is a stage magician whose stage double recently sabotaged her career, causing Tempest to move from Vegas back to her family home. Also living on the property in the sprawling treehouse are Tempest's grandparents: her grandmother, a cold painter who cares deeply about her family, and her grandfather, a doctor turned chef who couldn't be warmer and constantly makes sure everyone is fed. We also have Tempest's childhood friend, her magician ex-boyfriend, and her father and his Secret Staircase construction crew. I truly loved all of these side characters and enjoyed seeing what they all got up to throughout the novel.

I will say the ending could have been a little more twisty and shocking. I think that would've been the difference between 3 and 4 stars for me. But with this being my first real mystery novel, I don't have much to compare to, and I have to go purely off my feelings about it all. Overall, if you like mysteries, I think this one is worth a shot.

Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham

funny lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

So, the good news is Lauren Graham could read me her grocery lists, and I'd still be fully engaged. The bad news is that being engaged and enjoying a story are two different things. Lauren's  voice as a writer is witty and charming (and her narration on the audiobook is perfect), but the pacing of this book was very slow. I spent the whole book waiting for something exciting to happen, and once the action finally took off, the book ended. 

The main character, Franny, is a struggling actress trying to make it in New York before her self-imposed 3 year deadline is up and she has to give up on her dream. She lives with her best friend Jane and their roommate, Dan, and she has a thing for the successful actor in her acting classes. 

I just needed more from all of the aspects of this story: plot, romance, supporting characters, etc. Especially the romance. Needed so much. Ore romance. Franny's thoughts, which are funny and all over the place and perfect for her character, get in the way of all those other aspects. The end of the book was really cute and sweet, though. With better execution, this premise combined with Lauren's voice would've been perfect. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this one for everyone.

Ander and Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa

4.0

This book is such an important one and so much fun simultaneously. The main character is Ander, who is a Mexican, nonbinary, queer teenage muralist whose parents fire him from the family restaurant so he can focus on his art. He is taking a gap year before going to school at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago, but he struggles to see how he'll find his place in a primarily white art community and faces racism when his advisor continuously pigeon holes him as a Mexican artist, ignoring all the other aspects of who he is. Ander's replacement, Santi, is his love interest and also an undocumented immigrant who has to consistently be on the lookout for ICE. The two fall in love very quickly (definitely the instalove trope here) and fight to stay together despite the obstacles that they face from family, friends, ICE, and Ander's upcoming move to Chicago. I really loved the vast majority of this book. My one complaint was that in a very sweet YA romance, all the spicy/sexy scenes (except one) were really vulgar, which was very jarring compared to the tone of the rest of the book. I would have preferred the scenes to be sweeter and more intimate. But that was really my only issue with the book. It was emotional, romantic, funny, and impactful. There were several scenes that had me tearing up and yelling at the book. I would definitely recommend this one.

*I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway and this was my honest review.

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

If you had a max of 24 hours left to live, how would you spend it? And how would you feel about the life you lived thus far? This book explores those questions when a company called Death-Cast calls two teenagers around midnight to let them know that today is the day they will die. Obviously, this book is pretty dark, but it is still really fun as well. The main characters go on big adventures, experience love, and face grave danger, all in approximately 24 hours. I have no soul lately, so I didn't cry while I read this, but I can pretty much promise that you will, in fact, cry if you're a normal functioning, soul-having human. A few scenes in particular were a punch in the gut, but this book is absolutely worth the pain it inflicts, and I would definitely recommend it.

Belle Révolte by Linsey Miller

adventurous slow-paced

2.5

I feel like this book had such a good concept and great potential, but it just fell really flat for me. I feel like in any world with magic, it's important to use really good visual language to bring the magic to life, and there just wasn't enough of that in this book. I felt really bored for a majority of this. I also kind of feel like the story needed more time to really explore everything going on, especially with the dual POV. Everything felt rushed while simultaneously feeling super slow paced. However, I did love all the LGBTQIA+ representation and how it was included very naturally in a way that didn't need labels. There was asexual, aromantic, lesbian, trans, and nonbinary rep, and they never actually used any of those labels to describe it, which felt refreshing, as if they weren't making it a big deal, it just was. But overall, I wasn't super engaged with this book and probably wouldn't recommend it. But that's just my own opinion.

Ain't Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds

4.0

This art and poetry book was beautiful. I loved the combination of the two mediums. The book explores race in America, particularly during the time of COVID-19, and the feeling of being suffocated by the situation. It also explores the ways in which we can find relief and joy in the smallest day to day things in life, even in times of great suffering. I appreciated that it brought in the hope instead of focusing solely on the deapair. It was a super quick read, and I would definitely recommend it.

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

3.0

This novella is written from the point of view of gay men from the past who died of AIDS who are watching over gay teens in the 2010s. Two of these gay teens are trying to break the world record for the longest kiss to help make two boys kissing more accepted. The story follows several other stories of being a modern gay teen (the good and the bad, the happy and the heartbreaking). The narrators also shed light on what it was like living and dying as gay men during the AIDS epidemic. Overall, this was a heartbreaking novella. I gave it 3 stars because it was really hard for me to get into and stay engaged with. However, I think that has more to do with my own mood than the story itself. I needed something a little more joyful and with a smidge more plot right now. Despite my struggles to engage, I would recommend this to those who find the story's concept to be interesting. It was good.

The Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead

adventurous fast-paced

5.0

The way this book wrapped everything up, y'all! So when I finished the last book, I mentioned that I had already guessed one of the main plot twists in this one... and I was correct.

I knew the Warriors of Light would be involved in Jill's kidnapping, and I was a little mad that the characters couldn't figure that out themselves without Trey... but whatever. I loved the plot anyway. I was somewhat shocked by Alicia's involvement, and the whole plot with Olive, Neil, and Declan had me shook. I knew the second they left the commune with Declan that Adrian and Sydney would take him. Adrian was attached immediately. I didn't know Neil was going to go MIA, though. I honestly thought he was going to die rescuing Jill. Around 100 pages before the end, I had no clue how they were going to wrap up all the loose ends, but the agreement with the Alchemists was a perfect way to bring it all together and give Adrian and Sydney the freedom they deserved (#JusticeforAdrian). Also the way Sydney blackmailed her dad and gave her sister a chance to have the best of both worlds with both their parents? *Chef's kiss* I really didn't expect to get any resolution with her family, so that was nice to have. Sometimes, I complain when books wrap everything up too nicely in the end, but I feel like this story deserved a happily ever after vibe. Adrian deserves the best, and this series gave him that. Between a normal life, Sydney, and his little found family, I don't think I could've imagined a better ending for him.

I might even forgive Richelle Mead for how she treated him in the Vampire Academy series now. Maybe.

Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead

adventurous fast-paced

5.0

As with all the others in the series, I loved this book!

I think that the re-education plot added some interesting aspects to the story when it very well could've started to get stale. Adrian and Sydney getting married had me absolutely shook and so freaking psyched. I'm looking forward to reading the last book, but I'm a little sad it'll be over so soon. I also think I've already guessed the main mystery/twist in the final book regarding Jill's disappearance...

so we'll see how that goes... 🤷‍♀️

The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead

adventurous fast-paced

5.0

I had so much fun with this book!!! I love having Adrian's point of view so much, and I am so happy that we got to revel in the romance in this one. So many books/series spend the whole time trying to get the couple together, and the second they get together the story is over. I love seeing what the happily ever after looks like (even if we know that we're not quite at the HEA... but gimme some mushy time!) The ending had me losing my shit. I knew the big thing was going to happen from a mile away... but the things Sydney does and says had my jaw on the floor. I still cannot with it! This series is such a joy to read, and I can already see myself rereading in the future.