The Lady in the Cellar

November 23, 2018 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

Title: The Lady in the Cellar

Author: Sinclair McKay

Page Count: Unknown

Series: N/A

Publishing Date/Publisher: 30 October/ White Lion Publishing

Format: eReader

Review: I really enjoyed this book. Sinclair McKay has an amazing writing style, bringing the historical mystery to life and giving enough background information without it feeling like you’re being bogged down with too much information.

The mystery is so engaging and kept me guessing the whole time, which is not something I can say about too many mysteries these days. They tend to be predictable and the twists and turns aren’t actual twists and turns. This one had me at the edge of my seat, so definitely no complaints there.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a good yet quick read.

Reader: Kymberly

Rating:

Fiction · Young Adult

And We Call It Love

November 21, 2018 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

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Title: And We Call It Love

Author: Amanda Vink

Page Count: 200

Series: N/A

Publishing Date/Publisher: June 1, 2019 by West 44 Books

Format: eBook

Review: I have not read many books in verse, but this one caught my attention because it is being marketed as a hi-lo reader. This is appealing to me because we have many teens that visit my library branch that have a very low reading level. It can be difficult to find suitable reading material that is not only appropriate for their current reading level, but also contains subject matter that is of interest to them.

This book was great because it contained teen characters and teen themes, but did not use overly complicated verbiage. I really liked that the story went full circle and addressed sensitive issues in a relatable and easily comprehensible way. There was also some excellent use of analogy, which I very much appreciate.

I had some difficulty following the formatting, and I am not sure if this is typical of verse style writing or if it was just the formatting on my eReader. It did not prevent me from understanding the material, but it did take some adjustment on my part.

Reader: Bekah

Rating:

Fiction · Romance · Young Adult

Only a Breath Apart

November 20, 2018November 20, 2018 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

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Title: Only a Breath Apart

Author: Katie McGarry

Page Count: 368

Series: N/A

Publishing Date/Publisher: January 22, 2019 by Tor Teen

Format: eBook

Review: This was a very sweet love story that tackled the very difficult topic of abuse. Both Scarlett and Jesse have been victimized by a parent, causing deep and lasting trauma.

At times this was a painful read, because it really shows how devastating and self-perpetuating the cycle of abuse can be. Sadly, it is not uncommon for a victim of abuse to blame themselves, and many are trapped in a toxic relationship because of fear, love, finances, and/or a misplaced belief that the abuser can change.

This story also demonstrates that there are different types of abuse, and that emotional/psychological abuse can be equally as damaging as physical abuse.

Scarlett and Jesse show that it is possible to heal, and that reaching out to people we trust can help us transcend a dangerous situation. There are many other important lessons to be found in this story and I think that makes it is a great reading recommendation for teens.

Reader: Bekah

Rating:

Non-fiction

HausMagick: Transform Your Home with Witchcraft

November 10, 2018 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

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Title: HausMagick: Transform Your Home with Witchcraft

Author: Erica Feldmann

Page Count: 256

Series: N/A

Publishing Date/Publisher: March 12, 2019 by HarperOne

Format: Paperback

Review: I happened upon this book by pure chance, or by destiny (however you want to look at it). I came into work, and there it was — sitting on my desk in a manila envelope. It was sent to me by a friend who works at our main library, and I guess as he was sorting through ARCs sent to us by various publishers, he thought it might be of interest to me.

Witchcraft isn’t my thing, but I decided to give the book a chance. Although I cannot really buy into the “magical” aspect of the rituals described in this book, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could really get behind a lot of the ideas. At the core of this book are themes like mindfulness and setting positive intentions, and these principles really resonate with me. I do believe that people can set the tone or vibe for themselves and others around them, and this book has a strong focus on creating an environment that centers us and gives us peace.

This book covers a lot of different topics including astrology, crystals, and herbs. I enjoyed learning more about these various topics and I could appreciate the aesthetics of the photographs sprinkled throughout the book.

All in all, I am glad that this book happened upon my desk, and I even already have someone in mind who I will be recommending it to!

Reader: Bekah

Rating:

Fiction · Young Adult

Belly Up

November 8, 2018January 16, 2019 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

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Title: Belly Up

Author: Eva Darrows

Page Count: 384

Series: Unknown

Publishing Date/Publisher: April 30, 2019 by Inkyard Press

Format: eBook

Review: There are so many things I love about this book. Most importantly, there are the characters. Darrows’ characters are full of personality and spunk and the dialogue between them sometimes had me snickering out loud. Bottom-line, I want all of them in my life for reals.

Teen pregnancy books often fall into the realm of “issue” fiction, but this is so much more than just a cautionary tale. Certainly the main character, Sara, has to come to terms with the repercussions of a single night of indiscretion, but she finds strength in herself and the people in her life as she navigates through some tough choices.

There is a whole lot of representation in this book. The main character is biracial and bisexual/questioning. Her best friend is asexual, another friend is transgender, and her boyfriend is demisexual. I have to admit that I had to look up several of the terms and identifiers used in this novel because I had no idea what they meant. The story really covers a wide spectrum of gender and sexuality, and it is rare to see that kind of fluidity represented in YA fiction.

I highly recommend this book. It is smart, it is funny, and it really shows how important it is to surround yourself with supportive and loving people…people who will be with you through thick and thin (pun intended).

Reader: Bekah

Rating:

Fiction · Young Adult

My Almost Flawless Tokyo Dream Life

November 1, 2018January 16, 2019 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

38491757

Title: My Almost Flawless Tokyo Dream Life

Author: Rachel Cohn

Page Count: 352

Series: Unknown

Publishing Date/Publisher: December 18, 2018 by Disney-Hyperion

Format: eBook

Review: This is a cutesy Cinderella-esqe story about a girl who is lifted out of an American foster care system and whisked away to a faraway land by her absent until now, incredibly rich father.

It goes about how you would imagine, with Elle acclimating to a new life in a new place where she does not speak the language. Conveniently she is enrolled in an expat private school where classes are taught in English, but she still has to learn how to navigate through a nuanced culture that is vastly different from what she is accustomed to.

I like that fact that the author made Elle a multiethnic character, and it adds some conflict to the story as her “otherness” initially makes it challenging for her to ingratiate herself with her very traditional Japanese family members. It is also interesting to see how she adapts to a mostly homogenous world where customs and etiquette are a very important part of everyday interactions.

I felt like I learned a lot about Japanese culture (I am trusting that the author did her research), and I thought that overall it was an enjoyable read. I will be recommending this to readers who enjoy loose fairytale adaptations and gossipy teen dramas.

Reader: Bekah

Rating:

Fantasy · Fiction · Young Adult

The Girl King

October 18, 2018January 16, 2019 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

35105833

Title: The Girl King

Author: Mimi Yu

Page Count: 432

Series: Unknown

Publishing Date/Publisher: January 8, 2019 by Bloomsbury YA

Format: eBook

Review: This book falls in the category of well-written with a decent plot, but not as good as I wanted it to be. I should have loved this book. It is a tale of two sisters battling it out for a throne, which in this case means a lot of political intrigue and ancient magic. However, I just could not make myself feel invested in the story or the characters. Though I liked it for the most part, there are a couple things that I found to be problematic.

First, the characters and setting were not nearly as developed as the plot. Although we get some glimpses of the motivation that drives the two sisters, I did not feel like I really got to know either of them beyond a superficial level. This is especially true with the character of Minyi. Although she seemed to have had the greatest character arc, it all still felt very shallow to me and her naivety was annoying rather than endearing.

Second, Lu’s romance was poorly constructed. It did not feel authentic and I personally prefer a slow build over instant love. I think the author attempted to do this by making the characters initially at odds (for a very short period of time), but it just fell flat.

It is unlikely that I will continue reading if this book turns into a series (it most likely will), but there are some positive attributes that made this an enjoyable read. Although I would have liked more from this story, it nevertheless featured strong female leads and closed with some pretty awesome magic.

Reader: Bekah

Rating:

Fantasy · Fiction · Young Adult

Bloodleaf

October 8, 2018October 9, 2018 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

35707080

Title: Bloodleaf

Author: Crystal Smith

Page Count: Unknown

Series: Bloodleaf, Book 1

Publishing Date/Publisher: March 5, 2019 by HMH Books for Young Readers

Format: eBook

Review: I found this book to be an enjoyable and quick read. The main character is likeable, and the plot keeps a steady pace.

I did not know prior to reading this book that it is a retelling of a Grimm’s fairytale. After reading the book, I looked up The Goose Girl and read a brief synopsis of the plot and primary characters. My opinion of the book actually went up half a star after doing so, because I thought that the author was very clever in how she incorporated the elements of the fairytale throughout the story. I also liked that the witch hunts and persecution of accused witches was pretty accurate to historical events. This made the story more believable, and gave it an interesting twist.

The reason this book was not quite four stars for me is because I think that the setting and some of the characters, namely Kellan, really needed to be fleshed out more. The plot was well-developed, but it was hard for me to picture events because descriptions of the cities and other locations were not very vivid. As for Kellan, I did not really understand the relationship between him and the main character, Aurelia. I assume his character will get more page time in the next two books, as this is slotted to be a trilogy, but I honestly felt that this book should have been a standalone. The ending provided a lot of closure; so much so that I was actually surprised to find out that the story is going to be extended into two more books.

Reader: Bekah

Rating:

Non-fiction

The Minimalist Home: A Room-By-Room Guide to a Decluttered, Refocused Life

October 4, 2018October 9, 2018 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

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Title: The Minimalist Home: A Room-by-Room Guide to a Decluttered, Refocused Life

Author: Joshua Becker

Page Count: 240

Series: N/A

Publishing Date/Publisher: December 18, 2018 by Waterbrook Press

Format: eBook

Review: Minimalism is all the rage right now. Whether it be your wardrobe or your home, there are many people who will espouse the principles of a more simplistic lifestyle. There is a lot of information and research that can attest to the benefits of minimalism (it’s cost-efficient, time-saving, environmentally friendly, etc.), but what I really liked about this book is that it thoroughly addresses the after of decluttering your life. Other books I have read on this topic take a similar approach to Becker and outline methods to declutter and minimize your possessions room-by-room so that you can focus your time and money on less tangible pursuits such as building a healthier, happier life; however, few address how to realistically maintain this change. Things have a way of accumulating, despite best intentions, and Becker outlines ways you can continue to live minimally well after the initial purge.

Overall, I found this book very easy to understand and very applicable to minimizing an average household. There were many personal testimonies and anecdotes interjected throughout the book, but I personally did not find them to be very useful and skipped through most of them. Others may find these enjoyable to read, but I personally do not need to be convinced that adopting this sort of lifestyle would be to my benefit.

Reader: Bekah

Rating:

Fiction

My Sister, The Serial Killer

October 3, 2018January 16, 2019 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

38819868

Title: My Sister, The Serial Killer

Author: Oyinkan Braithwaite

Page Count: 240

Series: N/A

Publishing Date/Publisher: November 20, 2018 by Double Day Books

Format: eBook

Review: This is truly a breakout year for debut Nigerian authors. First Tomi Adeyemi delivers the first book in a thrilling new YA fantasy series, and now Oyinkan Braithwaite brings to the table a wonderfully crafted family drama.

Despite its dark content, this book was an absolute delight. I often found myself imagining how I would react in the situations Korede found herself in. As someone with two younger sisters, I know how strong and complex the sibling bond can be. To further complicate the relationship, Korede and Ayoola’s bond is forged not only by love (more notably Korede’s), but by shared trauma. As Ayoola’s lifelong protector, Korede shoulders the burden of saving Ayoola from the consequences of her crimes. Ayoola herself is an interesting paradox because her exquisite beauty makes her both a victim and a perpetrator of extreme violence.

At times witty, and at times chilling, this book really had me questioning exactly how far I would go to protect the ones I love.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: