Book Review: Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory

Title: Royal Holiday

Author: Jasmine Guillory

Series/Standalone: The Wedding Date (Book #4)

Genre: Romance, Adult Fiction, Holiday

Pages: 304

Publisher: 2019

Year Published: Berkley

Format: Audiobook

"Vivian Forest has been out of the country a grand total of one time, so when she gets the chance to tag along on her daughter Maddie's work trip to England to style a royal family member she can't refuse. She's excited to spend the holidays taking in the magnificent British sights, but what she doesn't expect is to become instantly attracted to a certain private secretary, his charming accent, and unyielding formality.

Malcolm Hudson has worked for the queen for years and has never given a personal, private tour- until now. He is intrigued by Vivian the moment he meets her and finds himself making excuses just to spend time with her. When flirtatious banter turns into a kiss under the mistletoe, things snowball into a full-on fling.

Despite a ticking timer on their holiday romance, they are completely fine with ending their short, steamy affair come New Year's Day... or are they?"

My Rating: 5/5

This was such a great romance for me. I know that it's a Christmas book, but I was fine with reading it at the end of summer. The difference between this book and other books that I've read by this author is the character's age range. They are older, in their 50s I would think, and they knew what they wanted from each other. They knew how to flirt, and there wasn't a huge miscommunication plot that derailed the relationship. It was great to see characters find love again and watch them explore London together. I would highly recommend to people who don't like indecisiveness in their romance.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Title: Pride and Prejudice

Author: Jane Austen

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Classic, Romance

Pages: 279

Publisher: Modern Library

Year Published: 1813

Format: Audiobook

"Since its immediate success in 1813, Pride and Prejudice have remained one of the most popular novels in the English language. Jane Austen called this brilliant work 'her own darling child' and its vivacious heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, 'as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print.' The romantic clash between the opinionated Elizabeth and her proud beau, Mr. Darcy, is a splendid performance of civilized sparring. And Jane Austen's radiant wit sparkles as her characters dance a delicate quadrille of flirtation and intrigue, making this book the superb comedy of manners of Regency England."

My Rating: 5/5

I finally read this classic that people have been on my case about for years! And I get it now. The romance in this is just astounding and really timeless. I understand now why women talk about finding their Mr. Darcy and how he is a true love interest for the ages. Elizabeth is an amazing character especially to be written in the time that it was, I'm impressed by the way she holds her own.  I plan to read more classics from Jane Austen, and exploring more classics via audiobook as I find it the best way for me to consume the stories. I'm not sure these are my most coherent thoughts, but here they are quickly jotted down.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: Heartstopper: Volume 3

Title: Heartstopper Volume 3

Author: Alice Oseman

Artist(s): Alice Oseman

Series/Standalone: Hearstopper Series (Book #3)

Genre: Graphic Novel, LGBT, Contemporary

Pages: 384

Publisher: Hodder's Children Books

Year Published: 2020

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"In this volume we'll see the Heartstopper gang go on a school trip to Paris! Not only are Nick and Charlie navigating a new city, but also telling more people about their relationship AND learning more about the challenges each other are facing in private...

Meanwhile Tao and Elle will face their feelings for each other, Tara and Darcy share more about their relationship origin story, and the teachers supervising the trip seem... rather close...?"

My Rating: 5/5

I really enjoyed the change of setting and the different characters we were able to see in this story. I think that Alice Oseman does a great job of making you care about other characters and their relationships. I wasn't expecting to care so much for side characters and yet, here I am. I also love how cute the art style is in these. I can't wait to read the next installment in the series.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Full Disclosure by Camryn Garret

Title: Full Disclosure

Author: Camryn Garret

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult, Hard-hitting

Pages: 290

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Year Published: 2019

Format: Audiobook

"In a community that isn't always understanding, an HIV- positive teen must navigate fear, disclosure, and radical self-acceptance when she falls in love-- and lust-- for the first time. Powerful and uplifting, Full Disclosure will speak to fans of Angie Thomas and Nicola Yoon.

Simone Garcia-Hampton is starting over at a new school, and this time things will be different. She's making real friends, making a name for herself as a student director of Rent, and making a play for Miles, the guy who makes her melt every time he walks into a room. The last thing she wants is for the word to get out that she's HIV-positive, because last time... well, last time things go ugly.

Keeping her viral load under control is easy, but keeping her diagnosis under wraps is not so simple. As Simone and Miles start going out for real-- shy kisses escalating into much more-- she feels an uneasiness that goes beyond butterflies. She knows she has to tell him that she's positive, especially if sex is a possibility, but she's terrified of how he'll react! And then she finds an anonymous note in her locker: I know you have HIV. You have until Thanksgiving to stop hanging out with Miles. Or everyone else will know too.

Simone's first instinct is to protect her secret at all costs, but as she gains a deeper understanding of the prejudice and fear in her community, she begins to wonder if the only way to rise above is to face that haters head-on."

My Rating: 5/5

I absolutely loved this book. The romance, the subject matter, and the characters all kept me reading at a fast pace. I loved the fact that this story had such dynamic characters that were easy to distinguish from one another even though there are so many characters. I loved the look at musicals through a high school lens, it really added to the story. The subject matter itself is extremely important to read about, whether to further understand the prejudices against HIV-Positive people or to feel seen in the world. I was glad to hear that the author had done so much research and included people with HIV to read the story and manuscript to make sure that the experiences represented were authentic. Camryn Garrett's storytelling was beautiful and I can't wait to read more by this author.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson

Title: All Boys Aren't Blue

Author: George M. Johnson

Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Memoir, LGBT, Young Adult

Pages: 320

Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux

Year Published: 2020

Format: Audiobook

"In a series of personal essays, prominent journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist George M. Johnson explores his childhood, adolescence, and college years in New Jersey and Virginia. From the memories of getting his teeth kicked out by bullies at age five, to flea marketing, this young-adult memoir weaves together with the trials and triumphs faced by Black queer boys.

Both a primer for teens eager to be allies as well as a reassuring testimony for young queer men of color, All Boys Aren't Blue covers topics such as gender identity, toxic masculinity, brotherhood, family, structural marginalization, consent, and Black joy. Johnson's emotionally frank style of writing will appeal directly to young adults."

My Rating: 4/5

I originally took out this book to be a better ally, but through reading it I couldn't help but think about how this book will impact my professional life as well. I work in childcare as an Early Childcare Educator, and I'm trying to work at reading books that help me to combat my own societal prejudices and to reflect on my practice with children. My goal is to make sure that all children in my care feel seen and accepted. This book is obviously more than that, but I really enjoyed it. I hope that people who are reading this are feeling seen, and heard. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: The Chosen by Marjorie Liu

Title: The Chosen

Author: Marjorie M. Liu

Artist(s): Sana Takeda

Series/Standalone: Monstress Volume 4

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Graphic Novel

Pages: 176

Publisher: Image Comics

Year Published: 2019

Format: Paperback Copy (Library)

"Maika and Corvin make their way through a warped and lethal land in search of Kippa, who is faced with her own terrible monsters. But when Maika comes face-to-face with a stranger from her deep past, startling truths are uncovered, and at the center of it all lurks a dangerous conspiracy that threatens the Known World. Maika is finally close to getting all the answers she ever wanted, but at what price? With war on the horizon- a war no one wants to stop- whose side will Maika choose?"

My Rating: 2.5/5

I took too long of a break in between this volume and the last one. I'll admit it. I was starting to feel lost again at the start of this volume just because I couldn't remember what had happened, but after taking a minute and thinking about it I figured it out (as much as I ever do in this series). I liked the views of many different betrayals, and that in itself interests me, but I just didn't love this volume as much as I wanted to. Hope to enjoy the next one more.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Power by Naomi Alderman

 

Title: The Power

Author: Naomi Alderman

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Science Fiction, Adult

Pages: 341

Publisher: Viking

Year Published: 2017

Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)

"In The Power the world is a recognizable place: there's a rich Nigerian kid who lounges around the family pool; a foster girl whose religious parents hide their true nature; a local American politician; a tough London girl from a tricky family. But something vital has changed, causing their lives to converge with devastating effect. Teenage girls now have immense physical power- they can cause agonising pain and even death. And, with this small twist of nature, the world changes utterly.

This extraordinary novel by Naomi Alderman, a Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year and Granta Best of British writer, is not only a gripping story of how the world would change if power was in the hands of women but also exposes, with breath-taking daring, our contemporary world."

My Rating: 4.5/5

This book really grabs your attention and you're not sure where the plot is going. Right from the start, I was interested in the way the characters were developing alongside a new world. To watch the world begin to explode and change rapidly, I was curious how it would start to wrap up and what an ending it was. I don't think that I preferred the way that it wrapped, but the letters at the end really wrapped it up nicely for me.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager

Title: The Last Time I Lied

Author: Riley Sager

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Thriller, Adult, Mystery

Pages: 384

Publisher: Dutton

Year Published: 2018

Format: Audiobook

"Fifteen years ago, summer camper Emma Davis watched sleepily as her three cabin mates snuck out of their cabin in the dead of the night. The last she-- and anyone-- saw of them was Vivian closing the cabin door behind her, hushing Emma with a finger pressed to her lips.

Now a rising in the NYC art scene, Emma turns her past into paintings. They catch the attention of Francesca Harris-White, the socialite and wealthy owner of the very same Camp Nightingale-- and when Francesca implores Emma to return to the camp as a painting counselor, Emma sees an opportunity to find closure and move on.

Yet, it is immediately clear that all is not right at Camp Nightingale. Already haunted by surfacing memories, Emma is suddenly plagued by a security camera pointed directly at her cabin, mounting mistrust from Francesca, and most disturbing of all, cryptic clues Vivian apparently left behind about the camp's twisted origins. And as history begins to repeat itself and three girls go missing again, Emma must face threats from both man and nature in order to uncover all the buried secrets--- including what really happened all those years ago."

My Rating: 5/5

This story follows Emma through a traumatic experience that includes flashbacks, that coincide right along with current mysteries. And I loved it! I enjoyed this even more than the writer's debut, Final Girls. I felt like this book was so much more atmospheric just with the setting being at a summer camp. I also love an unreliable narrator done this well. Without spoiling it, the ending was potentially my favorite part. I can't wait to read another Riley Sager thriller and make my way through their works.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames

Title: Kings of the Wyld

Author: Nicholas Eames

Series/Standalone: The Band (Book #1)

Genre: Adult, High Fantasy

Pages: 502

Publisher: Orbit

Year Published: 2017

Format: Paperback (Own It)

First Line: "You'd have guessed from the size of his shadow that Clay Cooper was a bigger man than he was."

"Clay Cooper and his band were once the best of the best-- the meanest, dirtiest, most feared crew of mercenaries this side of the Heartwyld.

Their glory days long past, the mercs have grown apart and grown old, fat, drunk - or a combination of the three. Then an ex-bandmate turns up to Clay's door with a plea for help. His daughter Rose is trapped in a city besieged by an enemy one hundred thousand strong and hungry for blood. Rescuing Rose is the kind of mission that only the very brave or the very stupid would sign up for.

It's time to get the band together for one last tour across the Wyld."

My Rating: 4/5

If you like DnD this might be the book for you. If you want to read about a DnD crew that has retired and has one more great story in them, it's fantastic. I absolutely LOVED the characters in this story. The fact that they were each unique and were easy to place was such a treasure. My personal favorites would have to be Moog, Kit, or Clay. Honestly, who can decide with such a variety to chose from. That being said this is where I had a bit of trouble with the plot. I think sometimes books like this have too many side quests going on. Not that I didn't enjoy some of the conflicts, just that at times it was a bit overwhelming, especially for someone who reads before bed. I also spoiled myself by seeing the title for the next book, and that lowered the stakes. That being said would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun fantasy read.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Title: Ready Player One

Author: Ernest Cline

Series/Standalone: Ready Player One Series (Book #1)

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction

Pages: 374

Publisher: Crown Publishers

Year Published: 2011

Format: Audiobook

"IN THE YEAR 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within the world's digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them.

But when Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win- and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape."

My Rating: 1.5/5

I'm trying to be more honest with my ratings, even though sometimes I feel that giving books a low rating is a bit harsh. That being said, this book just wasn't for me. I had seen a lot of booktubers read it when the movie came out but not many spoke about it after, and curiosity got the better of me. I attempted to read this knowing nothing, and I think that you need to know a few basic premises going in. This book revolves around 80s pop culture. If that's not an interest to you, or you don't like pop culture references, take a stroll. This book is also a product of its time. 10 years after being published I can confidently say that books that speaks with derogatory terms about transgendered people would not be published, or at least I doubt they would be as ridiculously popular as this book is (one can hope). And lastly, it just wasn't for me.

I don't plan on continuing with the series.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny