Book Review: The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore

Title: The Strawberry Patch Pancake House

Author: Laurie Gilmore

Series/Standalone: Dream Harbor Series (Book #4)

Genre: Adult Fiction, Romance, Contemporary

Pages: 361

Publisher: HarperCollins

Year Published: 2025

Format: Paperback (Own it)

"As a renowned chef, single-dad Archer never planned on moving to a small town, let alone running a pancake restaurant. But Dream Harbor needs a new chef, and Archer needs a community to help raise his daughter, Olive.

Iris has never managed to hold down a job for more than a few months. So when Mayor Kelly suggests Archer is looking for a nanny, and Iris might be available, she shudders at the thought. But in need of money she reluctantly agrees. 

As Archer and Iris get used to their new roles, is it possible that they might have more in common than they first thought, or is Olive just determined to play match-maker..."

My Rating: 2/5

I really enjoyed the start of this book. I was having a good time. I could see the miscommunication trope upcoming, but as for most of this series, that is to be expected. But then there were a few tropes used that I didn't love. They weren't used in a way I found believable or understandable for the character. It was already hard to see Iris in this romance after she said that children were terrifying in one of the last books. So while this was fun, it was my least favourite in the series so far by a mile. 

Thank you for reading,

Sidny 

Book Review: The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore

Title: The Christmas Tree Farm

Author: Laurie Gilmore

Series/Standalone: Dream Harbor Series (Book #3)

Genre: Romance, Adult Fiction, Cozy, Contemporary

Pages: 369

Publisher: HarperCollins

Year Published: 2024

Format: Audiobook (Own it Physically)

"Kira North hates Christmas. Which is unfortunate since she just bought a Christmas tree farm in a town that's too cute for its own good.

Bennett Ellis is on vacation in Dream Harbor taking a break from his life in California. And most importantly, taking a break from his latest run of disastrous dates. 

After a run in with Kira in her fields, Ben has no intentions of offering to help the grumpy owner set up her tree farm, despite the fact she's clearly got no idea what she's doing.

Kira knows she should stop being stubborn, but her farm is not all cute and cozy like people always show on social media, it's borderline dangerous with no heating, and she'd rather no one saw it. 

But somehow fate finds Ben at Kira's farm once more, and as Kira watches him swing an ax at the first tree, she finds herself appreciating his strength and questioning why she refused help in the first place..."

My Rating: 5/5

I absolutely loved this book. I thought that it was going to be a little too cutesy, but it surprised me with its smut, its depth and its ability to maintain the cozy vibes we had in the first two books. I loved it so much, in fact, I ordered a trophy copy immediately to add to my shelf, and forced my husband to start the first book so he can read this one too. If you're looking for cozy vibes, meets comfort show, meets smut, this is a great read.

Thanks for reading

Sidny

Book Review: Flawless by Sara Shephard

Title: Flawless

Author: Sara Shepard

Series/Standalone: Pretty Little Liars Series (Book #2)

Genre: Young Adult, Thriller, TV tie-in

Pages: 330

Publisher: HarperCollins

Year Published: 2007

Format: Audiobook (Own it)

"In the exclusive town of Rosewood, Pennsylvania, where the sweetest smiles hide the darkest secrets, four pretty little liars- Spencer, Aria, Emily and Hanna- have been very bad girls...

Spencer stole her sister's boyfriend. Aria is brokenhearted over her English teacher. Emily likes her new friend Maya... as much more than a friend. And Hanna's obsession with looking flawless is literally making her sick. But the most horrible secret of all is something so scandalous it could destroy their perfect little lives.

And someone named "A" is threatening to do just that.

At first they thought A was Alison, their friend who vanished three years ago... but then Alison turned up dead. So could A be Melissa, Spencer's ultracomptetive sister? Or Maya, who wants Emily all to herself? What about Toby, the mysterious guy who left town right after Alison went missing?

One thing's for certain: A's got the dirt to bury them all alive, and with every crumpled note, wicked IM, and vindictive text message A sends, the girls get a little closer to losing it all."

My Rating: 3/5

This series is so wild. Definitely a symbol of the time. It is entertaining, but it's not something I think that I'll remember long-term. I've enjoyed listening to the audiobook, and I can't wait to see more. I'm curious where the author takes us, and how the different factors will come to play.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Outliers by Kimberly McCreight

Title: The Outliers

Author: Kimberly McCreight

Series/Standalone: The Outliers Series

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller 

Pages: 336

Publisher: HarperCollins

Year Published: 2016

Format: Hardcover (Own It)

"It all starts with a text: Please, Wylie, I need your help.

Wylie hasn't heard from Cassie in over a week, not since their last fight. But that doesn't matter. Cassie's in trouble, so Wylie  decides to do what she has done so many times before: save her best friend from herself.

This time it's different, though. Instead of telling Wylie where she is, Cassie sends cryptic clues. And instead of having Wylie come by herself, Jasper shows up saying Cassie sent him to help. Trusting the guy who sent Cassie off the rails doesn't feel right, but Wylie has no choice: she has to ignore her gut instinct and go with him.

But figuring out where Cassie is goes from difficult to dangerous, fast. As Wylie and Jasper heard farther and farther north into the dense woods of Maine. Wylie struggles to control her growing sense that something is really wrong. What isn't Cassie telling them? And could finding her be only the beginning?"

My Rating: 2/5

I knew nothing about this book going in (a trend, I know) and it was odd. THe beginning I was hooked, the middle I was a little bored, and the end I was just left wondering what the hell I had read. Not necessarily in a good way. I think that this book in many ways reminded me of Maximum Ride mixed with mystery and a tinge of thriller. Needless to say, not for me and I won't be continuing with the series. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Title: The Song of Achilles

Author: Madeline Miller

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Adult Fiction, Retelling, Romance

Pages: 408

Publisher: HarperCollins

Year Published: 2011

Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)

First Line: "My father was a king and the son of kings."

"Achilles, 'the best of all the Greeks,' son of the cruel sea goddess Thetis and the legendary king Peleus, is strong, swift and beautiful, irresistible to all who meet him. Patroclus is an awkward young prince, exiled from his homeland after an act of shocking violence. Brought together by chance, they forge an inseparable bond, despite risking the gods' wrath.

They are trained by the centaur Chiron in the art of war and medicine, but when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, all the heroes of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny. Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the cruel Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice."

My Rating: 4.25/5

I know, you see a rating like this and you think, "What does that even mean?" Let me explain. When I give a book 4.5/5 to me that means it just didn't quite feel like a 5, but it was so close. When I give a book this rating it means usually that it got so hyped to me that it was bound to have a bit of a letdown. I loved the writing, I loved the setting and the way the author retold the story, but I found portions of the story didn't capture my attention. I did start with the audiobook and I loved it (just didn't finish it before my loan was up). I would recommend obviously if you're a huge mythology fan, or if you are interested at all, but keep in mind that the hype can get to you.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

Title: Dorothy Must Die

Author: Danielle Paige

Series/Standalone: Dorothy Must Die Series (Book #1)

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retelling

Pages: 452

Publisher: HarperCollins

Year Published: 2014

Format: Audiobook

"I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero.

But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?
Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little bluebirds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still a yellow brick road—but even that's crumbling.

What happened? Dorothy.
They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas.
I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked.
I've been trained to fight.
And I have a mission."

My Rating: 2/5

This just wasn't for me. I want to preface that by saying there is nothing wrong with this book, it just didn't read well for me. The retelling aspect was fine, but the over-the-top aspect isn't my cup of tea. The characters didn't draw me in the way I wanted them to and with so many installments in the series, I'm going to leave off the series here. If you love the Wizard of Oz this is your chance to follow the yellow brick road.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica

Title: The Other Mrs.

Author: Mary Kubica

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Thriller, Adult Fiction

Pages: 416

Publisher: HarperCollins

Year Published: 2020

Format: Audiobook

"Sadie and Will Foust have only just moved their family from bustling Chicago to small-town Maine when their neighbour, Morgan Baines, is found dead in her home. The murder rocks their tiny coastal island, but no one is more shaken than Sadie, who is terrified by the thought of a killer in her very own backyard.

But it's not just Morgan's death that has Sadie on edge. It's their eerie old home, with its decrepit decor and creepy attic, which they inherited from Will's sister after she died unexpectedly. It's Will's disturbed teenage niece Imogen, with her dark and threatening presence. And it' the troubling past that continues to wear at the seams of their family.

As the eyes of suspicion turn toward the new family in town, Sadie is drawn deeper into the mystery of Morgan's death. But Sadie must be careful, for the more she discovers about Mrs. Baines, the more she begins to realize just how much she has to lose if the truth ever comes to light."

My Rating: 5/5

This thriller had me gawking by the end of the story. The way the author writes such a creepy and uncomfortable atmosphere is perfection. The audiobook kept me on my toes and kept me wanting more. Throughout the story, I did fall for different twists and turns and when we got to the end I was impressed by the author's ability to leave breadcrumbs throughout. I would recommend reading more by the author and I plan to read as much of her backlist as I can get my hands on.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Title: Tiger Lily
Author: Jodi Lynn Anderson
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Retellings
Pages: 292
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Year Published: 2012
Format: Hardcover Copy 
First Line: "She stands on the cliffs, near the old crumbling stone house."

"Before Peter Pan belonged to Wendy, he belonged to the girl with the crow feather in her hair...

Fifteen-year-old Tiger Lily doesn't believe in love stories or happy endings. Then she meets the alluring teenage Peter Pan in the forbidden woods of Neverland and immediately falls under his spell.

Peter is unlike anyone she's ever known. Impetuous and brave, he both scares and enthrals her. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland's inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily. Soon, she is risking everything- her family, her future- to be with him. When she is faced with marriage to a terrible man in her own tribe, she must choose between the life she's always known and running away to an uncertain future with Peter.

With enemies threatening to tear them apart, the lovers seem doomed. But it's the arrival of Wendy Darling, an English girl who's everything Tiger Lily is not, that leads Tiger Lily to discover that the most dangerous enemies can live inside even the most loyal and loving heart.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Peaches comes a magical and bewitching story of the romance between a fearless heroine and the boy who wouldn't grow up."

My Rating: 1/5

Starting this out maybe wrong, I read Peaches in high school and I freaking loved it! I saw that there was another book she had written a while ago and bought it. It sat on my shelf for a while and when a prompt for a book with orange on the cover came up in the Winter  Magical Readathon. So I decided to read it. And the description tells the whole story. The characters were unrelatable for myself and I felt that there were no real stakes. I think that the plot wasn't paced well things that should have been weighed more weren't were as poetic writing took up many pages. It just wasn't for me. I hope that upon rereading Peaches series I can relive some of the original writing that I liked. Realizing that I am older and more skeptical makes me think that I might not enjoy that as much either. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Requiem by Lauren Oliver

Title: Requiem 
Author: Lauren Oliver
Series/Standalone: Delirium Series (Book #3)
Genre: Dystopian, Young Adult, Science Fiction
Pages: 391
Publisher: Harper Collins
Year Published: 2013
Format: Audiobook

"Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has transformed. The nascent rebellion that was underway in Pandemonium has ignited into an all=out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the centre of the fight. After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven. Pockets of the rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of the Invalids. Regulators infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels.

As Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain of the Wilds, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancee of the young mayor. Requiem is told from the perspectives of both Lena and her friend Hana. They live side by side in a world that divides them until at last, their stories converge."

My Rating: 2.5/5

This story was just overall such a disappointment. I already had lowered my expectations due to what I'd heard around the book community but this was just so frustrating to me. I wasn't connecting to the characters as much as I wanted to or to the story line. The only part that really made this story partially worth it was Hana's perspective. But even that didn't make much sense to me. I am planning on reading the short story collection from my library, but I'm not sure if that will be anytime soon. 
What were your opinions on this classic dystopian ya book series? Let me know!

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Book Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Title: Delirium
Author: Lauren Oliver
Series/Standalone: Delirium (Book #1)
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Romance
Pages: 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins
Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)
First Line: "It has been sixty-four years since the president and the Consortium identified love as a disease, and forty-three since the scientists perfected a cure."

"In an alternate United States, love has been declared a dangerous disease, and the government forces everyone who reaches eighteen to have a procedure called the Cure. Living with her aunt, uncle and cousins in Portland, Maine, Lena Haloway is very much looking forward to being cured and living a safe, predictable life. She watched love destroy her mother and isn't about to make the same mistake.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena meets enigmatic Alex, a boy from the 'Wilds' who lives under the government's radar. What will happen if they do the unthinkable and fall in love?"

My Rating: 3.75/5

This book is said to be the best of the series, which makes me more than a little nervous about continuing on. I really enjoyed the first 3/4 of the book. I thought that the characters were well planned out and the world was interesting to read about. I also really appreciated the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. I think where this book lost my interest was when there were twists and turns too close together. I'm thinking about listening to the audiobook for the next books over the summer if I should physically read them let me know.

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Spoiler: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

This concept was so interesting to me, but after hearing overall series reviews I wasn't sure about whether or not to pick up this series. I really thought that this first book was a great entry into the world and the quotes really made a huge impact on the story overall and gave a look into how the world had changed. 
I also appreciated the idea of the Wilds. So excited to see that setting change in the next book.

Characters:
Lena: I think that her fear was totally valid throughout the story. If you had been taught you're a whole life that loving someone was deadly, you would stray far away from caring about anyone. Which is maybe why I was confused by how emotional she was with Hana. Obviously, it was a different love, but it still counts. Excited to see where her life goes, but heart broken about Alex.

Alex: Something has got to give. He has to have some kind of past we don't know about. I also think that we need to be given his perspective. If that's even a thing anymore. Also he has to come back right? Right?

Hana: I hope that she ends up happy. She deserves more than the life she's taking.

Gracie: She is the character that made me feel the most. I think the way she copes is interesting, and also could be a side effect of lack of love and caring as a child.

Rachel: I wonder what would have happened to her if she had never had the procedure.


Moments to Remember:

Final Line: "They cannot take it."

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Book Review: Restore Me by Tahereh Mafi

Title: Restore Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Series/Standalone: Shatter Me Series (Book #4)
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Romance
Pages: 448
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year Published: 2018
Format: Hardcover Copy (Own It)
First Line: "I don't wake up screaming anymore."

"Juliette Ferrars thought she won. She took over Sector 45, was named the new Supreme Commander, and now has Warner by her side. But she's still the girl with the ability to kill with a single touch- and now she's got the whole world in the palm of her hand. When tragedy hits, who will she become? Will she be able to control the power she wields and use it for good?"

My Rating: 5/5

I was prepared to be utterly disappointed with the second part of this series, especially since this series was originally released as a trilogy. And I was happy with the way the trilogy wrapped up. I understood how the author could use the storyline to create more in this world, but I was ok with it left off as well. I was impressed with the use of the knowledge we gained in the past books and the change of power in this book. I loved so much about this continuation and while I've heard others say that the first part of the story drags on, I didn't find it to drag at all. That being said, I finished the first half of this series recently which helped me to continue the series without a pause.

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Spoiler: Restore Me by Tahereh Mafi

This book was everything I wanted and more. Tahereh Mafi knows how to write a good love scene in a YA book without getting explicit. I also loved her writing style and her strange characters. I also loved the way this book switched perspectives. My love for Warner is so strong and it continued on in this series. I also enjoyed the addition of characters and the change of pace in this story. I can't wait to continue on with this series.

Characters:
Juliette: I understand her huge confusion and Warner knowing that the people who abused her were not her real parents, but let's think about this for a moment. Her biological parents gave her up for an experiment and let their oldest daughter be tortured so she couldn't be used as a weapon. I wonder how she will escape her current predicament.

Warner: I loved him even more in this book than I did in Ignite Me. I really enjoyed the way the series was based on the understanding of his character. And the way that he tries to be there for Juliette but doesn't know how after he has to reveal the truth he finds. It hurts my heart to see them breaking up. But I also wonder how he didn't remember I childhood where she existed in one of the families.

Castle: I was the most frustrated with him. How dare he wait until now to have Warner tell Juliette about her past. And what about what else he might know? Did he survive?

Oceania: Not exactly the motherly type.

Kenji: I still think he's one of the best characters in this story. He is heartwarming and his past is heart-wrenching. I loved that he was willing to tell those around him what he thought whether they wanted to hear it or not.

Nazeera: I wonder about her childhood with Ella/Juliette. What made her turn on the Reestablishment overall. Was it the loss of childhood friends, or something more?


Moments to Remember:
Pg. 275
"Before? When Juliette couldn't decide between myself and Kent? That pain? That was child's play.
But this.
This is suffering. This is full, unadulterated torture."

Final Line: "The world goes black."

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Book Review: Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi

Title: Into the Still Blue
Author: Veronica Rossi
Series/Standalone: Under the Never Sky Trilogy (Book #3)
Genre: Dystopia, Young Adult, Romance
Pages: 389
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year Published: 2014
Format: Audiobook

"The race to the Still Blue has reached a stalemate. Aria and Perry are determined to find this last safe haven from the Aether storms before Sable and Hess do- and they are just as determined to stay together.


Within the confines of a cave they're using as a makeshift refuge, they struggle to reconcile their people, Dwellers and outsiders, who are united only in their hatred of their desperate situation. Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities. Then Roar arrives in a grief-stricken fury, endangering all with his need for revenge.

Out of options, Perry and Aria assemble an unlikely team for an impossible rescue mission. Cinder isn't just the key to unlocking the Still Blue and their only hope for survival- he's also their friend. And in a dying world, the bonds between people are what matter most.

In this final book in her earth-shattering Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi raises the stakes to their absolute limit and brings her epic love story to an unforgettable close."

My Rating: 4.5/5

This ending was more than I could have expected and possibly my favourite book in this trilogy. I loved the storytelling and the plot, but also the way our characters reacted to things that had happened in the second book. I also really enjoyed the change of setting that occurred throughout this last instalment. I would definitely read more works by the author. I loved this series, and it reminded me of all that a dystopian really can be. So different and so heartwarming, but still so spooky to think about the what-ifs. I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoyed dystopian books in the past but felt like they've seen it all. 

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Spoiler: Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi

This whole series had really reminded me of what I love about dystopian. The ideas of what if and what would you do if are very strong in this series. But this story also has the idea of fate. Whether you are born as a dweller or an outsider, your fate was the same by the end unless you aligned yourself with someone promising, and even then odds were that you wouldn't make it out.
I've also enjoyed the more adult aspect of this series. This series doesn't go into explicit details, but it doesn't brush away the ideas of needs and wants. It helped me to connect with our characters and make me feel like they were real people.

Characters:
Perry: His passion for his people and for Aria knows no bounds. I loved that he was a passionate character and wanted the best for everyone overall. I also enjoyed the fact that he clearly cared about Aria and wasn't afraid to show it after so long being apart.

Aria: Aria grew a lot as a character in this last book, she thought about who she was and who she wanted to be. I also enjoyed that she was willing to stand for herself, but was able to ask for help if she needed it. I hope her future is bright, even better than anything that would have happened in the pods.

Talon: He deserves this bright future. And he made me smile.

Cinder: His loss hurt me deeply, but I also think that it was necessary for his loss. I really loved that he showed his emotion and his fear, it's important for us to realize that fear is important.

Roar: I think that Roar is my favourite character. He is charming and funny, teasing as many of my friends are. That being said, his heartbreak was evident in this story and played a very important role in this storyline.

Sable: He is the evil we never even thought of. I honestly thought that he was a Rhysand type, but boy was I wrong. I wonder what would have happened if he hadn't been so harsh and raised to be so Horns above all. 

Hess: Can't say he'll be missed, he was the original villain and I still didn't forgive him for all he put Aria through.

Sorren: I think that Sorren grew a lot in this book as well, he realized it's not important about to be the head man if he wasn't going to live to see another month.

Brooke: I'm happy that she found someone else and was willing to be more friendly to Aria. 


Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Book Review: Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Title: Through the Ever Night
Author: Veronica Rossi
Series/Standalone: Under the Never Sky (Book #2)
Genre: Dystopian, Young Adult, Romance
Pages: 341
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year Published: 2013
Format: Audiobook

"It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. but their reunion is far from perfect. The tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.

Threatened by false friends and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, can their love survive through the ever night?"

My Rating: 4/5

This is a storyline I didn't think that I would enjoy after reading the description, but I really enjoyed the plot and the different parts of the world we got to see throughout this second instalment. Is this a slight cliche dystopian novel? Yes, yes it is. I really enjoyed the storyline though overall and it's a little different than other dystopian's I've read. I also enjoyed that this book didn't stray away from realistic content (no there was no explicit sexual things, but they outlined it so the reader knew what was going on). I also enjoyed the different narrator of the audiobook, he was a slower reader so I was able to increase the speed on my audiobook to complete the story quickly. Overall I really enjoyed this second book and look forward to continuing the series.

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Spoiler: Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

This series is really surprising me. It's different than other dystopian novels that I've read. The idea of people in a compound having technology to transport them to other places was an interesting idea. I also really enjoy the idea of the tribes outside. I also enjoyed the two perspectives that were so different. This audiobook also had a far better narrator and I appreciated it greatly. Overall I'm really enjoying this dystopian series and I'm excited to continue. 

Characters:
Perry: I think that he found himself in a tough position for the majority of this book. He had thought for so long that being Blood Lord would be easy. And after seeing the struggles he was going to face, he realized that maybe it wasn't as simple as he thought. Especially having to choose between someone he loves and his duty. Which I'm sure Reef didn't help with.

Reef: There's something about this guy that I just don't trust. I have a feeling he's trying to take over the Tides behind Perry's back. 

Talon: I think that Talon is experiencing so many changes especially watching the compound that he was taken to fall apart around him. I wonder if he will continue to be healthy, or if his health will fail once again on the outside.

Aria: I loved that she grew into so much more than Perry's "girl". She was able to hold her own during fights and willing to do anything for her friends, something I can definitely appreciate. I look forward to seeing more of her growth in the last instalment of the series.

Soren: I wonder what will keep him from losing it again, is it just a matter of time or will he continue to be "nice".

Roar: To lose someone when you're so close to getting them back is horrible to imagine, and it's broke my heart to see him lose Liv. I also felt heartbroken when he thought that she was over him and didn't want to be with her anymore. His poor heart.

Cinder: When he finally thought he would be safe and accepted and then he was taken. I hope that he makes it through to the still blue, just not with Sable and Hess. He belongs with Aria and Perry... duh. 

Liv: I wish we had gotten to know her better, and I think that there is a novella with her and Roar before the story of the first book begins. I'm curious about her relationship with Sable and how she got him eating out of the palm of her hand, to begin with.

Counsel Hess: This guy clearly has no conscience, or he can justify what he's doing to the extra people in the pods. I wonder what he'll do if Aria catches up with him. 

Sable: I wonder about his backstory and how he was able to kill Liv so easily. I also wonder how he found the location of the still blue to start with


Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Book Review: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Title: Under the Never Sky
Author: Veronica Rossi
Series/Standalone: Under the Never Sky Series (Book #1)
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian
Pages: 374
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year Published: 2012
Format: Audiobook

"Since she'd been outside, she'd survived an Aether storm, she'd had a knife held to her throat, and she'd seen men murdered.

This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving the outer wasteland-- known as The Death Shop-- are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She's been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild-- a savage-- and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile-- everything he would expect from a Dweller. but he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliances forge a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky."

My Rating: 4/5

I had heard that this was an awesome dystopian series and this was a promising start to what looks like a fun trilogy. I really enjoyed the writing style and the world that was explored throughout this first book, but the audiobook narrator was not my favourite. I also found that some aspects of the book were cliche, while others were just unique enough to catch my interest. I'm excited to continue listening to the next book (I haven't been able to find these at my local library, so audiobook it is), and see where our characters take us. 

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Spoiler: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

This may be the year of highly hyped books or books I heard about on the internet. After the big dystopian craze (brought on by the Hunger Games...) this series became rather popular on the internet book community and I waited until now to see if it was really worth the hype or if it was just built up due to the trend of the time. I must say that this book stood the test. I really enjoyed the premise and the unique aspects of the storyline (having mutated powers based on being in the aether, the aether itself, podlife, etc). This book at some points gave me Illuminae vibes (without the space aspect). The characters were interesting but not as diverse as I would have hoped but who knows who we will meet in the next instalment.

Characters:
Perry: I think that he was an interesting love interest. Someone who is so opposite to his partner in most ways but finds themselves unable to resist them in spite of it. I also loved his loyalty to his nephew and the way he saw life on the Outside. The idea of being able to scent how someone felt and thought was interesting to me, I also thought that it was interesting to his two gifts combined both in everyday life and battle. 

Aria: Nothing quite like being called Mole. I enjoyed that part a little too much. I also enjoyed the fact that she was part Outsider and that she gained an ability after being in her "natural" habitat for an extended period of time. I do wonder how she'll carry out the deal that she made at the end of the story and how that will affect her relationship with Perry. 

Roar: A fun side character, reminded me a bit of Lucien in the first ACOTAR book and how his companionship helped Aria through tough times. I also enjoyed that the had similar skills.

Cinder: I wonder where he came from and what his original tribe thought of his gift. Is it possible there is a tribe who can just "use" the Aether?

Talon: While being in a pod seems to be helping his health, I wonder how long after the deal Aria made with the Counsellor. Will that affect his treatment?

Vale: Do we eventually get a backstory about how he felt toward Perry throughout his life, cause it's not like we can just learn about that now. Unless we learn that through Talon or others surrounding Vale. Also to sell out the children of your tribe in order to feed them? What a difficult decision to make, but to hire a hit man for your brother, that's a little overboard. 

Marron: Another character I'm curious to learn about in the next book. One I hope to see alot more in the next book.


Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Book Review: The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Title: The Rosie Project
Author: Graeme Simsion
Series/Standalone: Don Tillman (Book #1)
Genre: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Humor
Pages: 329
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers LTD
Year Published: 2013
Format: Physical Copy (Library Book)
First Line: "I may have found a solution to the Wife Problem."

"Wife Wanted.
Must be punctual, logical and enjoy travelling by bicycle. No smoker, drinkers or horscope readers need apply.

Don Tillman has a brilliant scientific mind, but social situations confound him. He's never had a second date. And so, in the evidence-based in which he approaches all things, he embarks upon the Wife Project: a sixteen-page questionnaire to find the perfect partner. Then in walks Rosie Jarman.

Rosie is on a quest of her own. She's looking for her biological father, a search that a certain gentics expert might just be able to help her with. Soon Don puts the Wife project on the back burner in order to help Rosie pursue the Father Project. As an unlikely relationship blooms, Don is about to realize that despite the best scientific efforts, you don't find love: love finds you."

My Rating: 4/5

This is the first book that I'm reading as a group with a book club I joined at my local library. I'm trying to branch out from young adult books and getting more involved in the community as a whole. Overall I really enjoyed this book, it was fun and humorous without taking itself too seriously. I don't think I would continue the series unless the book club continues with it, not because I didn't like the novel I was just satisfied with how the story wrapped up. I loved the way this book dealt with the idea of Asperger's and social scenarios for people whose brains work in a different way.

Thanks for reading,
Sidny