Tag: NetGalley

Fiction · Young Adult

And We Call It Love

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42778410

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: 

All_Star_GoldAll_Star_GoldAll_Star_GoldAll_Star_Gold

Fiction · Romance · Young Adult

Only a Breath Apart

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39863269

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: 

All_Star_GoldAll_Star_GoldAll_Star_GoldAll_Star_Gold

Fiction · Young Adult

Belly Up

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35128563

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: 

All_Star_GoldAll_Star_GoldAll_Star_GoldAll_Star_GoldAll_Star_Gold

Fiction · Young Adult

My Almost Flawless Tokyo Dream Life

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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: 

All_Star_GoldAll_Star_GoldAll_Star_Gold

 

Historical · Non-fiction

The Atlas of Disease

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Title: The Atlas of Disease

Author: Sandra Hempel

Page Count: Unavailable

Series: N/A

Publishing Date/Publisher: 4 October, White Lion Publishing

Format: eReader

Review: This is a book that will only appeal to a certain group of readers, but since I am in that group, I found it fascinating. Sandra Hempel offers a concise history of various diseases that have plagued the Earth for centuries (and in some cases, millennia), and writes in a very clear manner. It’s not bogged down with too much academic terminology, making it accessible for the general public, not just those studying the topic.

The structure of the book itself is amazing, and the maps are so informative. Hempel includes old drawings/political cartoons of the diseases, which helps show the historical impact of the disease. She also doesn’t focus too much on one disease; each chapter is relatively short, yet still provides a great deal of information. It takes a great deal of talent to be able to have something be in depth and short at the same time.

Bottom line: if you like to study history and disease, this book is for you.

Reader: Kymberly

Rating: 

All_Star_GoldAll_Star_GoldAll_Star_GoldAll_Star_Gold

Fantasy · Fiction · Young Adult

The Girl King

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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: 

All_Star_GoldAll_Star_GoldAll_Star_Gold

Non-fiction

A Beautiful Morning: How a Morning Ritual Can Feed Your Soul and Transform Your Life

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38364504

Title: A Beautiful Morning: How a Morning Ritual Can Feed Your Soul and Transform Your Life

Author: Ashley Ellington Brown

Page Count: 210

Series: N/A

Publishing Date/Publisher: February 27, 2018 by Leo Press

Format: eBook

Review: Mornings have always been tough for me.  I have trouble waking up, and before I had a baby, I was notorious for hitting snooze several times before finally getting up.  Now that I am an early riser (baby’s choice, not mine), I am trying to have a more positive outlook on starting the morning.

This book certainly gave me food for thought, but I found the interview portion (which makes up the majority of the book) to be a bit redundant.  Many of the women have similar backgrounds (life coaches, artists, yoga instructors, etc.), so it was difficult for me to relate to them.  I think the inclusion of people who lead lifestyles similar to my own would have made this book far more relatable to me.

The most useful information, in my opinion, was found in the final chapters of the book. These chapters summarized common themes shared by the interviewed women, and provided a list of suggested activities and exercises that can help you craft an enjoyable morning routine.  I especially liked that the author recommends that you start small, changing only one little thing at a time, until you have a routine that relaxes you and puts you in a positive mindset for the rest of the day.  I will be putting these ideas into practice as I create my own morning ritual.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: 

All_Star_GoldAll_Star_GoldAll_Star_Gold

Fantasy · Fiction · Young Adult

Bloodleaf

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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: 

All_Star_GoldAll_Star_GoldAll_Star_Goldhalf star

Fantasy · Fiction · Young Adult

DOUBLE REVIEW: Thief of Cahraman

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40933577

Title: Thief of Cahraman

Author: Lucy Tempest

Page Count: 322

Series: Fairytales of Folkshore, Book 1

Publishing Date/Publisher: July 21, 2018 by Folkshore Press

Format: eBook

Review: I have to say, I am a little bit shocked that this book has received such a high overall rating on Goodreads.  I am a big fan of fairytale adaptations, so I am always excited when I see such a highly rated new series in this category.  Unfortunately, this did not live up to my expectations.  I personally felt that the characters were flat and the story predictable.  I always felt that I was several steps ahead, predicting the events that happen chapters before they actually occur.  This was partly because the “reveal” set-up was not subtle, and partly because I have read this story before.  This book was marketed as “The Selection meets Aladdin”, but I did not realize exactly how similar to The Selection this book would be.  This book lost big time originality points with me for this reason, and I have no desire to read the next two books in the trilogy.

On a more positive note, the cover art for this book is gorgeous!

Reader: Bekah

Rating: 

All_Star_GoldAll_Star_Gold

Review: I actually really enjoyed it, but that could be because I don’t read much fiction anymore, so it’s all new-ish for me. While it was predictable, I thought it was well done and I loved the introduction of the other Disney characters. I thought Adelaide was a well-rounded character and I found her motives to be very believable: when you have nothing and then suddenly have friends that are practically family, you would do whatever you could to protect them. You wouldn’t let them be taken from you without a fight. I’ll be reading the rest of the series when they come out.

This is definitely one of the few times Bekah and I don’t agree when it comes to a book; we’re normally on the same page. I think it comes down to the fact that she’s read more fairytale retellings than I have, but she’s given me a list so I can catch up!

Reader: Kymberly

Rating: 

All_Star_GoldAll_Star_GoldAll_Star_GoldAll_Star_Gold

Non-fiction

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

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39810030

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: 

All_Star_GoldAll_Star_GoldAll_Star_GoldAll_Star_Gold