Book Review: The Everlasting Rose

Title: The Everlasting Rose

Author: Dhonielle Clayton

Series/Standalone: The Belles Series (Book #2)

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

Pages: 344

Publisher: Freeform

Year Published: 2019

Format: Audiobook

"In this sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller, Camille, her sister Edel, and her guard and new love Remy must race against time to find Princess Charlotte. Sophia's Imperial forces will stop at nothing to keep the rebels from returning Charlotte to the castle and her rightful place as queen. With the help of an underground resistance movement called The Iron Ladies- a society that rejects beauty treatments entirely- and the backing of alternative newspaper The Spider's Web, Camille uses her powers, her connections and her cunning to outwit her greatest nemesis, Sophia, and restore peace to Orleans."

My Rating:  4/5

I don't know what it is about second books that just don't always do it for me. I know that it's been mentioned in the past that there will only be 2 books, for now. So I think for the time being this will remain a duology. It wrapped up in a way that could be taken to another level or left regardless. I appreciate that. That being said I wanted a bit more detail about the Iron Ladies and how they began.I was curious about how Princess Sophia became the way she did. I'm also curious about how the young belles acted and what seeing them born would be like. I still love the characters and the world. I think that the idea is unique and the world is so well throughout! I will be reading more work from Dhonielle Clayton in the future!

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

Title: The Girl You Left Behind

Author: Jojo Moyes

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre:  Historical Fiction, Adult, Romance

Pages: 480

Publisher: Penguin Books

Year Published: 2012

Format: Audiobook

"From the New York Times bestselling author of The Giver of Stars, a sweeping bestseller of love and loss, deftly weaving two journeys from World War I France to present day London.

Paris, World War I. Sophie Lefevre must keep her family safe while her adored husband, Edouard, fights at the front. When their town falls to the Germans, Sophie is forced to serve them every evening at her hotel. From the moment the new Kommandant sets eyes on Sophie's portrait- painted by her artist husband- a dangerous obsession is born.

Almost a century later in London, Sophie's portrait hangs in the home of Liv Halston, a wedding gift from her young husband before his sudden death. After a chance encounter reveals the portrait's true worth, a battle begins over its troubled history and Liv's world is turned upside all over again."

My Rating: 2.5/5

I remember hearing about this book from someone, and to be honest I'm not even sure where I heard about it. The concept interested me. The idea of a painting that has travelled and how it got where it is interesting to me. The problem for me was that the characters just weren't fleshed out enough. I felt that they were made intentionally sad, which is fine, but I was more told to feel sad for them then truly shown their suffering in any way. There just wasn't enough connection for me. I felt like the character of Sophie was the character that I connected the most with and even then that wasn't until closer to the end of the story. Overall, I found that this book was just ok. I wouldn't really recommend it unless you're really pulled in by plot lines alone. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Final Girls by Riley Sager

Title: Final Girls

Author: Riley Sager

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Adult

Pages: 342

Publisher: Dutton

Year Published: 2017

Format: Audiobook

"Ten years ago, college student Quincy Carpenter went on vacation with five friends and came back alone, the only survivor of a horror movie-scale massacre. In an instant, she became a member of a club no one wants to belong to- a group of similar survivors known in the press as the Final Girls. Lisa, who lost nine sorority sisters to a college dropout's knife; Sam, who went up against the Sack Man during her shift at the Nightlight Inn; and now Quincy, who ran bleeding through the woods to escape Pine Cottage and the man she refers to only as Him. The three girls are all attempting to put their nightmares behind them, and with that, one another. Despite the media's attempts, they never meet.

Now, Quincy is doing well- maybe even great, thanks to her Xanax prescription. She has a caring almost-fiance, Jeff; a popular baking blog; a beautiful apartment; and a therapeutic presence in Coop, the police officer who saved her life all those years ago. Her memory won't even allow her to recall the events of that night; the past is in the past.

That is, until Lisa, the first Final Girl is found dead in her bathtub, wrists slit, and Sam, the second, appears on Quincy's doorstep. Blowing through Quincy's life like a whirlwind, Sam seems intent on making Quincy relive the past, with increasingly dire consequences, all of which makes Quincy question why Sam is really seeking her out. And when new details about Lisa's death come to light, Quincy's life becomes a race against time as she tries to unravel Sam's truths from her lies, evade the police and hungry reporters, and most crucially, remember what really happened at Pine Cottage, before what was started ten years ago is finished."

My Rating: 4/5

I'm so glad that I've finally read my first Riley Sager book because I've been meaning to read some of his work forever. I thought that starting with his debut (I think) and working my way up would interest me. Overall, this book was really good. I loved the premise, I thought that the idea of it was super intriguing and I was curious throughout. That being said, I definitely thought I knew where it was going. I did not. I was super impressed with the twists and turns throughout the book, the ability to write gruesome scenes with such detail, but without going over the top was incredible. The different time changes helped to draw out the story and held my interest. The only reason that I gave it 4 stars rather than 5 stars was because it seemed to lull a little bit in the middle for me. I look forward to reading more of this author's work and would strongly recommend the audiobook. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton

Title: The Belles 

Author: Dhonielle Clayton

Series/Standalone: The Belles Series (Book #1)

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

Pages: 440

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Year Published: 2018

Format: Audiobook

"Camellia Beauregard is a Belle. In the opulent world of Orleans, Belles are revered, for they control Beauty, and Beauty is a commodity coveted above all else. In Orleans, the people are born gray, they are born damned, and only with the help of a Belle, and her talents can they transform and be made beautiful.

But it's not enough for Camelia to be just a Belle. She wants to be the favorite- the Belle chosen by the Queen of Orleans to live in the royal palace, to tend to the royal family and their court, to be recognized as the most talented Belle in the land. But once Camellia and her Belle sisters arrive at court, it becomes clear that being the favorite is not everything she always dreamed it would be. Behind the gilded palace walls live dark secrets, and Camellia soon learns that the very essence of her existence is a lie- that her powers are far greater, and could be more dangerous than she ever imagined. And when the queen asks Camellia to risk her own life and help the ailing princess by using Belle powers in unintended ways, Camellia now faces an impossible decision.

With the future of Orleans and its people at stake, Camellia must decide- save herself and her sisters and the way of the Belles- or resuscitate the princess, risk her own life, and change the ways of her world forever."

My Rating:  5/5

This book was exactly what I needed. I really wanted to read a book that caught me off guard and was new and different. This is exactly that but still manages to bring a sense of nostalgia (maybe just in the genre it is for me). I would say that this book is almost a dystopian in my mind. I really enjoyed the ideas of beauty as an economic need. In order to fit in to make money, you must be beautiful and therefore it has to come first. Even above necessities of food. That's wild to think about. I loved the characters they were all extremely well-read in the audiobook and had their own distinct voice. The plot was intriguing and I found myself making time to listen to the audiobook instead of just listening to it when I normally would. I loved this book. The only thing I didn't love was that the shocking twists at some points seemed fairly obvious, from my point of view. That being said, I'm usually guessing at what could be going on behind the scenes and there were plenty of plot points I didn't see coming.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Odd One Out by Nic Stone

Title: Odd One Out

Author: Nic Stone

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBT

Pages: 320

Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers

Year Published: 2018

Format: Audiobook

"From the author of Dear Martin comes this exploration of old friendship, new crushes, and the path to self-discovery

Courtney "Coop" Cooper

Dumped. Again. And normally I wouldn't mind. But right now my best friend and source of solace, Jupiter Sanchez, is ignoring me to text some girl.

Rae Evelyn Chin

I assumed "new girl" would be synonymous with 'pariah,' but Jupiter and Courtney make me feel like I'm right where I belong. I also want to kiss him. And her. Which is perplexing.

Jupiter Charity-Sanchez

The only thing worse than losing the girl you love to a boy is losing her to your boy. That means losing him, too. I have to make a move....

One story.

Three sides.

No easy answers."

My Rating: 3.5/5

Before reading the authors notes I was worried that this book might be coming across in the wrong way, but after hearing what the author had to say about why she wrote this book, I began to understand. Labels may be useful for some, but consistently putting a label upon yourself, may also keep you in a box you're not sure you want to be in. This book had wonderful characters that were relatable and enjoyable to read from. While most of the book is about pining after someone, I was interested to see how each relationship would play out. The setting was a little bland, but the neighbour's aspect was fantastic. I was impressed with the author's ability to change voice so quickly for the different perspectives in the story and hope to read more by her soon.

 I will say that this book could be misinterpreted and while I enjoyed it, it wasn't anything that really shook me to my core. I could see how this could be a great book for people going through similar situations, as long as they understand that just because they are into someone it doesn't mean that someone has to be into them! That I can not stress enough.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Thoughts: White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo

Title: White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism

Author: Robin DiAngelo

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Nonfiction, Educational, Anti-Racism

Pages: 192

Publisher: Beacon Press

Year Published: 2018

Format: Audiobook

"The New York Times best-selling book exploring the counterproductive reactions white people have when their assumptions about race are challenged, and how these reactions maintain racial inequality.

Referring to the defensive moves that white people make when challenged racially, white fragility is characterized by emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt and by behaviors including argumentation and silence. These behaviors, in turn, function to reinstate white racial equilibrium and prevent any meaningful cross-racial dialogue. In this in-depth exploration, anti-racist educator Robin DiAngelo examines how white fragility develops, how it protects racial inequality, and what can be done to engage more constructively."

This book will not be rated as the purpose of reading this book is to self-educate

I listened to this book on audiobook, and while it made great points I did find that it was the bare bones. I think that this is a great book for people who really are just beginning to understand the oppression of black people throughout history and into current times. I did find that while it helped me understand some of my reactions it was a little difficult to not think about how the author is white and isn't speaking from her own experiences. It also didn't always offer ways to change things or how to handle current issues such as police brutality, that being said this book was written a few years ago (it was still a major issue then and will continue to be unless serious changes are made). 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

Title: Monday's Not Coming

Author: Tiffany D. Jackson

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre:  Contemporary,  Mystery, Young Adult

Pages: 464

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Year Published: 2018 

Format: Audiobook

"Monday Charles is missing, and only Claudia seems to notice. Claudia and Monday have always been inseparable- more sisters than friends. So when Monday doesn't turn up for the first day of school, Claudia's worried. When she doesn't show for the second day, or second week, Claudia knows that something is wrong. Monday wouldn't just leave her to endure tests and bullies alone. Not after last year's rumors and not with her grades on the line.  Now Claudia needs her best- and only- friend more than ever. But Monday's mother refuses to give Claudia a straight answer, and Monday's sister April is even less helpful.

As Claudia digs deeper into her friend's disappearance, she discovers that no one seems to remember the last time they saw Monday. How can a teenage girl just vanish without anyone noticing that she's gone?"

My Rating: 5/5

This book is heavy. There is no way around it. The missing BPOC and indigenous girls and women in North America are ridiculously high. There is rarely follow through to find out where they've gone, and often they are brushed under the rug as runaways. This story didn't stray from those truths. It showed in vivid light the issues that can arise when a community is taught that things that happen under a parents roof are their own business. I work in childcare so this hit me differently. The idea that a girl could go missing without follow up, thorough searches, police reports or anything else is only the tip of the iceberg. This story had characters that were realistic and heartbreaking, an atmosphere that was so well written and filled with description and the plot was mysterious without being over the top. The twists and turns were surprising, and I felt, well handled.

 It also tackled many topics the idea of being "easy" in society, and how girls are treated as sexual beings at such a young age. This is a book that will sit with you and while it's haunting, it's also reminding each and every one of us that warning signs can not be ignored, and the safety of a child is the responsibility of all. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Calling My Name by Liara Tamani

Title: Calling My Name

Author: Liara Tamani

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Pages: 384

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Year Published: 2017

Format: Audiobook

"Taja Brown knows her place and the restrictions within her conservative and tight-knit African American family, but she suddenly feels left behind watching her friends go through a world of firsts- from kisses to boyfriends to everything in between. But everything shifts when Taja falls in love for the first time. Tamani creates a raw, relatable, and eloquently told a coming-of-age story about finding your place, beliefs, and identity" -Buzzfeed

My Rating: 2.5/5

This was pretty decent overall. I think that the beauty of this story comes from questioning things you grow up with and growing into your own person. It certainly touched on subjects that I am not knowledgable about, and I'm grateful that I was able to read this book. I grew up in a community with a fire and brimstone church that used fear to help gain patronage. I, myself, am not religious but I am curious about other religious experiences. I loved the writing in this book as it flowed and weaved Taja's growth from girl to be her own woman. I will say that the pacing was a bit off for me and that not all the characters were as fleshed out as I had hoped they would be. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would like to read more from the author.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice for Living Your Best Life by Ali Wong and Justin Hakuta

Title: Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice for Living Your Best Life

Author: Ali Wong and Justin Hakuta (Afterword)

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Memoir, Comedy, Nonfiction, Adult

Pages: 240

Publisher: Random House

Year Published: 2019

Format: Audiobook

"Ali Wong's heartfelt and hilarious letters to her daughters (the two she put to work while they were still in utero), covering everything they need to know in life, like the unpleasant details of dating, how to be a working mom in a male-dominated profession, and how she trapped their dad.

In her hit Netflix comedy special 'Baby Cobra', an eight-month pregnant Ali Wong resonated so heavily that she became a popular Halloween costume. Wong told the world her remarkably unfiltered thoughts on marriage, sex, Asian culture, working women and why you never see new mom comics on stage but you see plenty of new dads.

The sharp insight and humor are even more personal in the completely original collection. She shares the wisdom she's learned from a life in comedy and reveals stories from her life off stage, including the brutal singles life in New York (ie. the inevitable confrontation with erectile dysfunction), reconnecting with her roots 9and drinking snakes blood) in Vietnam, tales of being a wild child growing up in San Francisco, and parenting war stories. Though addressed to her daughters, Ali Wong's letters are absurdly funny, surprisingly moving, and enlightening (and disgusting) for all."

My Rating: 4/5

I always find it difficult to rate nonfiction books. Either because they are historically based, or stories about peoples lives. I really try to base my rating of these on writing style and enjoyment. 

I knew that I would enjoy this one because I had watched the author's comedy specials and loved her crass sense of humor. I'm under the opinion that if a man is allowed to talk about sex, and their bodies so the hell are we! And so Ali Wong was a great comedian choice to watch with my gang of friends. When I saw that she was putting out a book, I knew that I would read it. 

For anyone who likes her comedy, I would recommend the audiobook as it is narrated by her mostly, and her husband has his input at the end which was very interesting to me. It can't be easy to hear jokes about yourself some times.

I loved the writing style and was entertained overall. I really hope that she puts out more Netflix special and another book. AMAZING. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Between the Spark and the Burn by April Genevieve Tucholke

Title: Between the Spark and the Burn

Author: April Genevieve Tucholke

Series/Standalone: Between Duology (Book #2)

Genre: Young Adult, Horror, Fantasy, Romance

Pages: 320

Publisher: Dial Books

Year Published: 2014

Format: Hardcover Copy (Own It)

First Line: "My dead grandmother Freddie once told me that the Devil created all the fear in the world."

"The conclusion to Between the Devil and The Deep Blue Sea, this gothic thriller romance with shades of Stephen King and Daphne Maurier is a must-read for fans of Beautiful Creatures and Anna Dressed in Blood.

Freddie once told me that the Devil created all the fear in the world. But then, the Devil once told me that it's easier to forgive someone for scaring you than for making you cry. 

The problem with River West Redding was that he'd done both to me.

The crooked-smiling liar River West Redding, who drove into Violet's life one summer day and shook her world to pieces, is gone. Violet and Neely, River's other brother, are left to worry-- until they catch a two a.m. radio program about strange events in a distant mountain town. They take off in search of River but are always a step behind, finding instead frenzied towns, with hunts, and a wind-whipped island with the thrum of something strange and dangerous just under the surface. it isn't long before Violet begins to wonder if Neely, the one Redding brother she thought trustworthy, has been hiding a secret of his own..."

My Rating:  1.5/5

This book wasn't what I hoped it would be and I can't even say that I'm surprised because I knew that the second book was far less liked then the first. I guess what I'm surprised by is how nothing really seemed to happen or feel the same way as the first book. I was so intrigued on going on this road trip style hunt for a person, and then to watch as nothing seemed to truly have consequences... was just kind of boring. I am interested in reading other work by this author, and I'm hoping that her next instalment is a little better paced. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny