Friday, May 31, 2019

May '19 Wrap Up & Book Haul


Happy Last Day of May, Bookworms!!
Can you believe this month is over already? It went by so quickly, and so slowly at the same time.
HAHA!!

May was a pretty good reading month for me, and I'm so thrilled that I have managed to stay out of the reading funk that I've been in off and on all year. I read some really great books this month, and I'm really looking forward to starting new ones next month!

Here's my May Wrap Up!!

Broken Throne by Victoria Aveyard
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev
The Bride Test by Helen HOang
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
Little Fires Everywhere by Celest Ng
Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizel
Kingsbane by Claire Legrand
Finale by Stephanie Garber
The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson
The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson
The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson
Dark Triumph by Robin Lafevers
Mortal Heart by Robin Lafevers

Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Ashes to Ashes by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian
There's Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
Inferno by Julie Kagawa
Sadie by Courtney Summers
Defy the Worlds by Claudia Gray
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
Kingsbane by Claire Legrand
The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson
Finale by Stephanie Garber

** ebooks & audiobooks not pictured:

Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews
Cocky Roomate by Claire Kingsley
Somewhere Only We Know by Maurene Goo
Passion on Park Avenue by Lauren Layne
Fake It Till You Break It by Jenn P. Nguyen

• • •

SOOOO many great books, am I right?? I loved all the books I read this month, and I'm excited to read all the new ones that I added to my collection as well, including a few of the series that I'm planning to start soon!

Here's hoping for another great month in June!!

How was your reading month in May??

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Waiting on Wednesday: Spin the Dawn & The Storm Crow

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36683928-spin-the-dawn
Spin the Dawn
(The Blood of Stars #1)
by Elizabeth Lim
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: July 9th 2019
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780525646990

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Project Runway meets Mulan in this sweeping YA fantasy about a young girl who poses as a boy to compete for the role of imperial tailor and embarks on an impossible journey to sew three magic dresses, from the sun, the moon, and the stars.

Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia poses as a boy and takes his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she'll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. There's just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors vying for the job.

Backstabbing and lies run rampant as the tailors compete in challenges to prove their artistry and skill. Maia's task is further complicated when she draws the attention of the court magician, Edan, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise.

And nothing could have prepared her for the final challenge: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor's reluctant bride-to-be, from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of stars. With this impossible task before her, she embarks on a journey to the far reaches of the kingdom, seeking the sun, the moon, and the stars, and finding more than she ever could have imagined.

Steeped in Chinese culture, sizzling with forbidden romance, and shimmering with magic, this young adult fantasy is pitch-perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas or Renée Ahdieh. (Goodreads)

First, I love the cover for this book. She looks fierce!!
Second, does this book sounds AWESOME, or what??
I've heard SO many great things about it from people who have already read it,
and I am super excited to check it out!


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38330596-the-storm-crow
The Storm Crow
(The Storm Crow #1)
by Kalyn Josephson
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: July 9th 2019
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
ISBN: 9781492672937

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In the tropical kingdom of Rhodaire, magical, elemental Crows are part of every aspect of life...until the Illucian empire invades, destroying everything.

That terrible night has thrown Princess Anthia into a deep depression. Her sister Caliza is busy running the kingdom after their mother's death, but all Thia can do is think of all she has lost.

But when Caliza is forced to agree to a marriage between Thia and the crown prince of Illucia, Thia is finally spurred into action. And after stumbling upon a hidden Crow egg in the rubble of a rookery, she and her sister devise a dangerous plan to hatch the egg in secret and get back what was taken from them. (Goodreads)

Here is yet another book with a really awesome cover!
This book sounds really awesome as well,
and I'm very much excited to check it out also!


Those are my WOW picks for this week! What books are you excited for??

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**


Monday, May 27, 2019

My Thoughts: Passion on Park Avenue by Lauren Layne

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42202094-passion-on-park-avenue
Passion On Park Avenue
(Central Park Pact #1)
by Lauren Layne
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: May 28th 2019
Publisher: Gallery Books
Pages: 288
ISBN: 9781501191572
Genre: Adult Fiction | Contemporary Romance
Source: Edelweiss Review Copy

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From the author of the New York Times bestselling Stiletto and Oxford series, the first in a sizzling new series following the unlikely friendship of three Upper East Side women as they struggle to achieve their dreams and find true love and happiness in the city that never sleeps.

For as long as she can remember, Bronx-born Naomi Powell has had one goal: to prove her worth among the Upper East Side elite—the same people for which her mom worked as a housekeeper. Now, as the strongminded, sassy CEO of one of the biggest jewelry empires in the country, Naomi finally has exactly what she wants—but it’s going to take more than just the right address to make Manhattan’s upper class stop treating her like an outsider.

The worst offender is her new neighbor, Oliver Cunningham—the grown son of the very family Naomi’s mother used to work for. Oliver used to torment Naomi when they were children, and as a ridiculously attractive adult, he’s tormenting her in entirely different ways. Now they find themselves engaged in a battle-of-wills that will either consume or destroy them…

Filled with charm and heart and plenty of sex and snark, this entertaining series will hook you from the very first page. (Goodreads)


Passion on Park Avenue is the very first book in the brand new Central Park Pact series by Lauren Layne, and I was super excited to read this book! If you’ve read any of my reviews recently then you’ll know I’m all about the rom-com and contemporary stories at the moment, and this book sounded right up my alley. And I also really wanted to read something by Lauren as well. I’m thrilled to have finally done so, and I very much enjoyed the book!

As I mentioned above, Passion on Park Avenue is the very first book in this brand new series. It’s about three women who meet under the most peculiar circumstances, and decide to form a friendship despite those circumstances. Each of the women will have a book in this series, and this first book is Naomi’s story.

The storyline for this book was really interesting, and made for a really quick read. I enjoyed reading Naomi’s story, not only for her present story, but her back-story as well. Her climb to the top to becoming a successful business woman was both interesting and inspiring. I also enjoyed her budding relationship with her neighbor, Oliver, who also has an interesting backstory as well. There are also a lot of interesting secondary characters in the story as well, including Claire and Audrey, the other two women in the friendship, and I am very much looking forward to reading their stories as well!

Overall; Passion on Park Avenue is a great start to what should prove to be a fun, entertaining new series by Lauren Layne! I have always wanted to read one of Lauren’s stories, and I’m thrilled to have finally done so. I am most definitely looking forward to continuing this series, and reading some of her other books as well!

Friday, May 24, 2019

My Thoughts: Fake It til You Break It by Jenn P. Nguyen

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40848323-fake-it-till-you-break-it
Fake It Till You Break It
by Jenn P. Nguyen
Website | Twitter

Publication Date: May 28th 2019
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pages: 308
ISBN: 9781250308016
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Netgalley Review Copy

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Mia and Jake have known each other their whole lives. They’ve endured summer vacations, Sunday brunches, even dentist visits together. Their mothers, who are best friends, are convinced that Mia and Jake would be the perfect couple, even though they can’t stand to be in the same room together.

After Mia’s mom turns away yet another cute boy, Mia and Jake decide they’ve have had enough. Together, they hatch a plan to get their moms off their backs. Permanently. All they have to do is pretend to date and then stage the worst breakup of all time—and then they’ll be free.

The only problem is, maybe Jake and Mia don’t hate each other as much as they once thought... (Goodreads)


The first thing that drew me to Fake It Till You Break It was the absolutely adorable cover, and once I read the summary, I knew I would have to read this book ASAP. I love a good rom-com, and this sounded right up my alley. I was also really looking forward to finally reading something by Jenn P. Nguyen, so there was that as well!

Fake It Till You Break it was a very fast-paced, fun read. One of the things that I liked most about this book was the storyline. Not only was it an enemies-to-lovers story, but it was also a neighbors/ex-friends-to-lovers story. Needless to say, I was hooked as I flew through the pages. There were a few things in the story that I wish had been a little more detailed, but otherwise I really enjoyed it!

Another thing that I liked about this book were the characters. Jake and Mia were super cute, and it was fun watching their relationship grow over the course of the book. I loved that their moms wanted them to be together so much, but they did everything they could to resist. (I am a mom and I could totally see me doing this if I were in this situation. Ha!) I do wish we had gotten to know them a little bit better, especially Jake’s love of music and Mia’s love of theater, as well as some of the secondary characters, as they all seemed like so much fun.

Overall; Fake It Till You Break It was a super quick, adorable read, and I am so thrilled to have had the opportunity to read the book! I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more books by Jenn P. Nguyen, and will most definitely be checking out her previous book, The Way to Game the Walk of Shame, which I’ve had on my TBR for a while now! If you’re looking for a quick, fun rom-com, do check out Fake It Till You Break It!

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Waiting on Wednesdsay: Ayesha at Last & The Bookish Life of Nina Hill

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43124133-ayesha-at-last
Ayesha at Last
by Uzma Jalaluddin
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: June 4th 2019 by
Publisher: Berkley Books
ISBN: 9781984802798

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A modern-day Muslim Pride and Prejudice for a new generation of love.

Ayesha Shamsi has a lot going on. Her dreams of being a poet have been set aside for a teaching job so she can pay off her debts to her wealthy uncle. She lives with her boisterous Muslim family and is always being reminded that her flighty younger cousin, Hafsa, is close to rejecting her one hundredth marriage proposal. Though Ayesha is lonely, she doesn't want an arranged marriage. Then she meets Khalid who is just as smart and handsome as he is conservative and judgmental. She is irritatingly attracted to someone who looks down on her choices and dresses like he belongs in the seventh century.

Ayesha is torn between how she feels about the straightforward Khalid and the unsettling new gossip she hears about his family. Looking into the rumors, she finds she has to deal with not only what she discovers about Khalid, but also the truth she realizes about herself. (Goodreads)

You guys.... Does this book sound awesome, or what??
Pride and Prejudice is probably my most favorite book ever,
and I love reading retellings of the book.
This one sounds great, and I'm super excited to finally read it!



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42431386-the-bookish-life-of-nina-hill
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill
by Abbi Waxman
Website | Twitter

Publication Date: July 9th 2019
Publisher: Berkley Books
ISBN: 9780451491879

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"Abbi Waxman is both irreverent and thoughtful."--#1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin

The author of Other People's Houses and The Garden of Small Beginnings delivers a quirky and charming novel chronicling the life of confirmed introvert Nina Hill as she does her best to fly under everyone's radar.

Meet Nina Hill: A young woman supremely confident in her own...shell.

The only child of a single mother, Nina has her life just as she wants it: a job in a bookstore, a kick-butt trivia team, a world-class planner and a cat named Phil. If she sometimes suspects there might be more to life than reading, she just shrugs and picks up a new book.

When the father Nina never knew existed suddenly dies, leaving behind innumerable sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews, Nina is horrified. They all live close by! They're all--or mostly all--excited to meet her! She'll have to Speak. To. Strangers. It's a disaster! And as if that wasn't enough, Tom, her trivia nemesis, has turned out to be cute, funny, and deeply interested in getting to know her. Doesn't he realize what a terrible idea that is?

Nina considers her options.
1. Completely change her name and appearance. (Too drastic, plus she likes her hair.)
2. Flee to a deserted island. (Hard pass, see: coffee).
3. Hide in a corner of her apartment and rock back and forth. (Already doing it.)

It's time for Nina to come out of her comfortable shell, but she isn't convinced real life could ever live up to fiction. It's going to take a brand-new family, a persistent suitor, and the combined effects of ice cream and trivia to make her turn her own fresh page. (Goodreads)

Ummmm.... Nina Hill had me at introvert.
She is an introvert... I am an introvert...
:)
I imagine that I am SO going to relate to this story,
and I can't wait to check it out!!


Those are my picks for this week...
**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**


Tuesday, May 21, 2019

My Thoughts: There's Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35583527-there-s-something-about-sweetie
There's Something About Sweetie
(Dimple & Rishi #2)
by Sandhya Menon
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: May 14th 2019
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 384
ISBN: 9781534416789
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Netgalley / Review Copy from Publisher

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Ashish Patel didn’t know love could be so…sucky. After he’s dumped by his ex-girlfriend, his mojo goes AWOL. Even worse, his parents are annoyingly, smugly confident they could find him a better match. So, in a moment of weakness, Ash challenges them to set him up.

The Patels insist that Ashish date an Indian-American girl—under contract. Per subclause 1(a), he’ll be taking his date on “fun” excursions like visiting the Hindu temple and his eccentric Gita Auntie. Kill him now. How is this ever going to work?

Sweetie Nair is many things: a formidable track athlete who can outrun most people in California, a loyal friend, a shower-singing champion. Oh, and she’s also fat. To Sweetie’s traditional parents, this last detail is the kiss of death.

Sweetie loves her parents, but she’s so tired of being told she’s lacking because she’s fat. She decides it’s time to kick off the Sassy Sweetie Project, where she’ll show the world (and herself) what she’s really made of.

Ashish and Sweetie both have something to prove. But with each date they realize there’s an unexpected magic growing between them. Can they find their true selves without losing each other? (Goodreads)


There’s Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon is definitely one of the books I was most excited to read this spring, and I was thrilled to finally get started on the book! I read When Dimple Met Rishi back when it was released, and I loved it so much, so I couldn’t wait to get started on this new book!

If you read When Dimple Met Rishi, then you probably remember Rishi’s brother, Ashish! There’s Something About Sweetie is all about Ashish, and a brand new character, Sweetie!

There was really SO much that I loved about this book, and one of the main things were the characters! Sweetie is awesome, and is definitely on the list of my top favorite characters. There is so much that I love about Sweetie, including her confidence with herself throughout the whole book, even when her mom constantly nagged her about her weight. She didn’t let this bother her, and I loved her for that. And Sweetie and Ashish together were perfection! I very much enjoyed watching their relationship grow over the course of the book, which made the storyline for this book super cute. I am all about rom-coms at the moment, and this was just what I needed to read!

Overall; If you loved When Dimple Met Rishi, you most definitely need to check out There’s Something About Sweetie! Both of these books are wonderful, and I absolutely can’t wait to read them again, and again, and AGAIN! (Seriously, I love these stories!) I just realized that I still need to read From Twinkle, With Love, also by Sandhya, and I’m even more excited to read it now. If you haven’t yet checked out these books, I definitely recommend that you do so!

Monday, May 20, 2019

My Thoughts: Somewhere Only We Know by Maurene Goo

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36992163-somewhere-only-we-know
Somewhere Only We Know
by Maurene Goo
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: May 7th 2019
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Pages: 328
ISBN: 9780374310578
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Netgalley Review Copy

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10 00 p.m.: Lucky is the biggest K-pop star on the scene, and she's just performed her hit song "Heartbeat" in Hong Kong to thousands of adoring fans. She's about to debut on The Tonight Show in America, hopefully a breakout performance for her career. But right now? She's in her fancy hotel, trying to fall asleep but dying for a hamburger.

11 00 p.m.: Jack is sneaking into a fancy hotel, on assignment for his tabloid job that he keeps secret from his parents. On his way out of the hotel, he runs into a girl wearing slippers, a girl who is single-mindedly determined to find a hamburger. She looks kind of familiar. She's very cute. He's maybe curious.

12:00 a.m.: Nothing will ever be the same. (Goodreads)


Somewhere Only We Know is the very first book that I’ve read by Maurene Goo, (though I’ve had a copy of her book The Way You Make Me Feel sitting on my shelf for the longest time), and I’m super thrilled to have finally read something by her! I saw a lot of hype for this book before I ever started it, and I was definitely curious to read it. I know very little about K-Pop, so I was definitely curious about that, but also the story just sounded really cute. I was excited to get started on it!

There were a lot of things that I really liked about this book, one thing being the interesting characters. Lucky is a K-Pop star who is taking a much needed day to herself her big debut in America, and Jake is working as a tabloid photographer while on a gap year before figuring out college. The story is told through their alternate viewpoints, and it was really fun to experience this adventure through them both.

I also really enjoyed the storyline for this book. It was fun and addictive, but also with a lot of meaningful moments as well. I absolutely LOVED the setting for the book as well! Maurene did a very good job with the descriptions, and I imagine Hong Kong would be an amazing place to visit. (And maybe I can someday!)

Overall; Somewhere Only We Know was a quick, fun read, and I am so glad to have finally read something by Maurene Goo. I am now even more excited to read Maurene’s other books, including The Way You Make Me Feel and I Believe in a Thing Called Love. I hope to read them both, and Maurene’s other books, soon!

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Waiting on Wednesdsay: The Wedding Party & Waiting for Tom Hanks

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42599067-the-wedding-party
The Wedding Party
Jasmine Guillory
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: July 16th 2019
Publisher: Berkley
ISBN: 9781984802194

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The next charming romance by the USA Today bestselling author of The Wedding Date.

Maddie and Theo have two things in common:

1. Alexa is their best friend
2. They hate each other

After an "oops, we made a mistake" night together, neither one can stop thinking about the other. With Alexa's wedding rapidly approaching, Maddie and Theo both share bridal party responsibilities that require more interaction with each other than they're comfortable with. Underneath the sharp barbs they toss at each other is a simmering attraction that won't fade. It builds until they find themselves sneaking off together to release some tension when Alexa isn't looking.

But as with any engagement with a nemesis, there are unspoken rules that must be abided by. First and foremost, don't fall in love. (Goodreads)

Confession: I have not yet started this series,
BUT...
I have both The Wedding Date and The Proposal on my TBR to read ASAP, and I should be done with those books just in time for The Wedding Party to release in July! I am SOOOO excited to finally read these books!!




https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40969415-waiting-for-tom-hanks
Waiting For Tom Hanks
by Kerry Winfrey
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: June 11th 2019
Publisher: Berkley
ISBN: 9781984804020

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Can a romcom-obssessed romantic finally experience the meet-cute she always dreamed of or will reality never compare to fiction, in this charming debut adult novel from Kerry Winfrey.

Annie is twenty-seven years old, single, and obsessed with romantic comedies (she and her mother watched them religiously, before her mom died). Her dating life is limited by the expectations she’s formed from these movies. She is not as open to new experiences as she might be, because she’s waiting for her Tom Hanks–i.e., a guy she’ll find in the perfect, meet-cute romantic comedy way. When Annie does finally meet her perfect match, it’s not quite in the way she expected, and she’s forced to reckon with the walls she’s built around herself over the years. (Goodreads)

This is yet another book that I'm SUPER excited for! I love Tom Hanks, and this immediately made me think of the movie You've Got Mail, which happens to be my most favorite movie of all time! I am super excited to read this book as well!

Those are my picks for this week...
**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**


Tuesday, May 14, 2019

My Thoughts: Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30075662-aurora-rising
Aurora Rising
(The Aurora Cycle #1)
by Amie Kaufman
Website | Twitter | Instagram
and Jay Kristoff
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: May 7th 2019
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 473
ISBN: 9781524720964
Genre: Young Adult | Sci-Fi | Fantasy
Source: Own

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From the internationally bestselling authors of THE ILLUMINAE FILES comes an epic new science fiction adventure.

The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the Academy would touch…

A cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasm
A sociopath scientist with a fondness for shooting her bunkmates
A smart-ass techwiz with the galaxy’s biggest chip on his shoulder
An alien warrior with anger management issues
A tomboy pilot who’s totally not into him, in case you were wondering

And Ty’s squad isn’t even his biggest problem—that’d be Aurora Jie-Lin O’Malley, the girl he’s just rescued from interdimensional space. Trapped in cryo-sleep for two centuries, Auri is a girl out of time and out of her depth. But she could be the catalyst that starts a war millions of years in the making, and Tyler’s squad of losers, discipline-cases and misfits might just be the last hope for the entire galaxy.

They're not the heroes we deserve. They're just the ones we could find. Nobody panic. (Goodreads)


Aurura Rising is the first book in the brand new Aurora Cycle trilogy by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, and is also one of my most anticipated reads for this spring! I am a huge fan of Amie’s books, and I have quite a few of Jay’s books on my reading list as well, but besides that, I LOVE their Illuminae Files trilogy! (It’s seriously one of my faves!) I was super excited to get started on this new series to see how it would compare, and I’m pretty sure Amie and Jay have a hit on their hands with this brand new book!

There are so many things to like about this book, and I think one of the things I love most are the characters. This book is FULL of interesting characters, but my faves would have to be the 7, (yes SEVEN), main characters. Each character is so different from the others, and all have an interesting story as well, (especially Auri, who I think has the most interesting story), and I can’t wait to read the next books so I can know more about them. They are all so great, and make such a great team!

Another thing that I really love about the book is the setting. Even though the thought of space sometimes gives me major anxiety, I LOVE reading about it! Just like the Illuminae Files, this book is set in space, well into the future. I can't imagine ever living in space as well, but I definitely enjoyed experiencing it through these awesome characters. The storyline for this book was also fantastic, as well as super addictive. I flew through the pages of this book super quick, and I adored everything about it.

Overall; Aurora Rising is the first book in what should prove to be another amazing series by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, and I absolutely loved every minute of it! I absolutely can’t wait to get my hands on the next two books, which are currently untitled and without release dates, but I will most definitely be keeping my eye out for them. And I do believe I will have to do a re-read of The Illumanie Files series while I wait! If you love those books as well, do check out this new series too!

Monday, May 13, 2019

My Thoughts: Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41150531-sunset-beach
Sunset Beach
by Mary Kay Andrews
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: May 7th 2019
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pages: 432
ISBN: 9781250126108
Genre: Adult Fiction | Women's Fiction
Source: Netgalley Review Copy

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Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Pull up a lounge chair and have a cocktail at Sunset Beach – it comes with a twist.

Drue Campbell’s life is adrift. Out of a job and down on her luck, life doesn’t seem to be getting any better when her estranged father, Brice Campbell, a flamboyant personal injury attorney, shows up at her mother’s funeral after a twenty-year absence. Worse, he’s remarried – to Drue’s eighth grade frenemy, Wendy, now his office manager. And they’re offering her a job.

It seems like the job from hell, but the offer is sweetened by the news of her inheritance – her grandparents’ beach bungalow in the sleepy town of Sunset Beach, a charming but storm-damaged eyesore now surrounded by waterfront McMansions.

With no other prospects, Drue begrudgingly joins the firm, spending her days screening out the grifters whose phone calls flood the law office. Working with Wendy is no picnic either. But when a suspicious death at an exclusive beach resort nearby exposes possible corruption at her father’s firm, she goes from unwilling cubicle rat to unwitting investigator, and is drawn into a case that may – or may not – involve her father. With an office romance building, a decades-old missing persons case re-opened, and a cottage in rehab, one thing is for sure at Sunset Beach: there’s a storm on the horizon.

Sunset Beach is a compelling ride, full of Mary Kay Andrews' signature wit, heart, and charm. (Goodreads)


Over the past few years I have discovered that summer just isn’t summer without a Mary Kay Andrews book to read, and the book for this summer is Sunset Beach! I added this to my TBR the moment I discovered the book, and I was super excited when I was contacted to review it. I’ve only read a few of Mary’s books so far, but I’ve really enjoyed them all, and I was super curious to see how this one would read. I am so thrilled to say that I really enjoyed it!

A few things I really enjoyed about this book was the setting, which was set, of course, at the beach, (though I do wish there had been more beachy moments), and also the storyline as well! I love that there is a bit of mystery mixed in with Mary’s books, (at least for the ones that I have read so far), and it definitely kept me hooked as I turned the pages. There is an interesting twist at the end of the book that I probably should have seen coming, but didn’t!

I also really enjoyed the characters for the book as well, especially the main character, Drue, who I found myself relating to more than a few times throughout the book. She was great, and would definitely make a great detective with all her super sleuthing skills.

I also want to add that I absolutely love the cover for this book. It makes me want to be at the beach RIGHT NOW!

Overall; Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews was a fun, addictive, and super quick read that was great for kicking of my summer reading list! It would be a great book to read at the beach or by the pool, or even curled up in your favorite chair. I have a couple more of Mary’s books that I’m planning to read this summer, including Summer Rental, Beach Town, and Ladies Night, and I’m even more excited to get started on them now!

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Waiting on Wednesday: The Rest of the Story & Call It What You Want

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42245770-the-rest-of-the-story
The Rest of the Story
by Sarah Dessen
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Publication Date: June 4th 2019
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
ISBN: 9780062933621

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Emma Saylor doesn’t remember a lot about her mother, who died when she was ten. But she does remember the stories her mom told her about the big lake that went on forever, with cold, clear water and mossy trees at the edges.

Now it’s just Emma and her dad, and life is good, if a little predictable…until Emma is unexpectedly sent to spend the summer with her mother’s family—her grandmother and cousins she hasn’t seen since she was a little girl.

When Emma arrives at North Lake, she realizes there are actually two very different communities there. Her mother grew up in working class North Lake, while her dad spent summers in the wealthier Lake North resort. The more time Emma spends there, the more it starts to feel like she is divided into two people as well. To her father, she is Emma. But to her new family, she is Saylor, the name her mother always called her.

Then there’s Roo, the boy who was her very best friend when she was little. Roo holds the key to her family’s history, and slowly, he helps her put the pieces together about her past. It’s hard not to get caught up in the magic of North Lake—and Saylor finds herself falling under Roo’s spell as well.

For Saylor, it’s like a whole new world is opening up to her. But when it’s time to go back home, which side of her will win out? (Goodreads)

I am a HUGE Sarah Dessen fan, and I'm ALWAYS on the lookout for something new by her! I've read all of her books, some multiple times, and they never get old. I have been sitting on a review copy of this book for a while now, and it's finally almost time to start it. I CAN'T WAIT!!




https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40653162-call-it-what-you-want
Call It What You Want
by Brigid Kemmerer
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Publication Date: June 25th 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
ISBN: 9781681198095

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When his dad is caught embezzling funds from half the town, Rob goes from popular lacrosse player to social pariah. Even worse, his father’s failed suicide attempt leaves Rob and his mother responsible for his care.

Everyone thinks of Maegan as a typical overachiever, but she has a secret of her own after the pressure got to her last year. And when her sister comes home from college pregnant, keeping it from her parents might be more than she can handle.

When Rob and Maegan are paired together for a calculus project, they’re both reluctant to let anyone through the walls they’ve built. But when Maegan learns of Rob’s plan to fix the damage caused by his father, it could ruin more than their fragile new friendship...

This captivating, heartfelt novel asks the question: Is it okay to do something wrong for the right reasons? (Goodreads)

Brigid Kemmerer is another author that I really enjoy, and am super excited to read this new book by her as well! A review copy of this book landed on my doorstep a few weeks back, and I'm super excited to get started on it asap.
(And I also need to read A Curse So Dark And Lonely as well!)

That's all for me...
**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**


Tuesday, May 7, 2019

My Thoughts: The Last Time I Saw You by Liv Constantine

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41154320-the-last-time-i-saw-you
The Last Time I Saw You
by Liv Constantine
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Publication Date: May 7th 2019
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9780062868817
Genre: Adult Fiction | Mystery | Thriller
Source: Edelweiss Review Copy

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The internationally bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish follows that success with an addictive novel filled with shocking twists about the aftermath of a brutal high-society murder.

Dr. Kate English has it all. Not only is she the heiress to a large fortune; she has a gorgeous husband and daughter, a high-flying career, and a beautiful home anyone would envy.

But all that changes the night Kate’s mother, Lily, is found dead, brutally murdered in her own home. Heartbroken and distraught, Kate reaches out to her estranged best friend, Blaire Barrington, who rushes to her side for the funeral, where the years of distance between them are forgotten in a moment.

That evening, Kate’s grief turns to horror when she receives an anonymous text: You think you’re sad now, just wait. By the time I’m finished with you, you’ll wish you had been buried today. More than ever, Kate needs her old friend’s help.

Once Blaire decides to take the investigation into her own hands, it becomes clear that all is not as it seems in Baltimore high society. As infidelity, lies, and betrayals come to light, and tensions rise to a boiling point, she begins to alienate Kate’s friends and relatives with her relentless, accusatory questions, as she tries to find Lily’s killer. The murderer could be anyone—friend, neighbor, loved one. But whoever it is, it’s clear that Kate is next on their list. . .

In The Last Time I Saw You, Liv Constantine takes the lightning pace of The Last Mrs. Parrish and raises the stakes, creating an exquisitely tension-filled and absorbing tale of psychological suspense in which innocent lives—and one woman’s sanity—hang in the balance. (Goodreads)


The Last Time I Saw You is the very first book that I’ve read by Liv Constantine, though I have had The Last Mrs. Parrish sitting on my shelf for the longest. I’m beyond thrilled to have finally read something by these two authors, and now I’m even more excited to read more!

To be honest, I didn’t really know what to expect when going into this book. I am not a huge reader of murder mystery stories, but I’ve read more and more of the genre lately, and it’s quickly becoming a favorite genre for me!

One of the things that I really liked about this book is that it kept me guessing. A lot of times I can figure out a story pretty early on, but with this one I did not! The book was full of twists and turns, and just when I thought the story was going one way, it took a 180 and went a completely different way. I love that it kept me hooked as I flew through the pages. I read this book very quickly, as I just needed to know what the heck was going on! The last few chapters of the book caught me completely by surprise, and I really enjoyed all the interesting twists along the way!

This book also has an interesting cast of characters, and I totally thought almost all of them were suspects. (I am naturally suspicious of most people, and I trust very few, but that’s not the only reason I thought this.) So many of the characters could have been the bad guy, and none of them were even close to being perfect. I did find myself relating to the main character more than a few times throughout the story, and I probably would have handled the situation the same way she did in the story. Ha!

Overall; The Last Time I Saw You was a fascinating read that was full of interesting characters and kept me guessing the whole story through. I’m definitely even more excited now to check out The Last Mrs. Parrish, and even more books by Liv Constantine in the future. If you do check out this book, I hope it keeps you guessing all along the way as well!