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:

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:

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:

Fiction · Young Adult

Damselfly

September 13, 2018January 16, 2019 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

Image result for damselfly by chandra prasad

Title: Damselfly

Author: Chandra Prasad

Page Count: 240

Series: N/A

Publishing Date/Publisher: March 27, 2018 by Scholastic Press

Format: Hardcover

Review: This book was marketed as a modern day retelling of Lord of the Flies, which I found very intriguing. After reading the book, I would say that is an apt description. If you can get past the fact that a bunch of teenagers survived a horrific plane crash relatively unscathed, then it is an interesting story.

For readers who have read Lord of the Flies or similar survival stories, the outcome of the story is fairly predictable, but I think this would be a great discussion book for classrooms that want a fresher take on the classic story. I liked the analogy of the damselfly, and the cliffhanger at the end was certainly satisfying in its own way. I hope this is a standalone, not because I didn’t like the story, but because I think it packs more punch not knowing the fate of the remaining survivors.

Reader: Bekah

Rating:

Fantasy · Fiction · Historical · Romance · Young Adult

The Bird and the Blade

August 31, 2018January 16, 2019 youwanttoreadthistrustme2 Comments

Title: The Bird and the Blade

Author: Megan Bannen

Performer: Emily Woo Zeller

Length: 10 hr, 17 min, 3 sec

Series: N/A

Publishing Date/Publisher: 2018 by Harper Audio

Format: eAudiobook

Review: This book surprised me. I checked it out on my OverDrive app on a whim because it was available. I gave the brief synopsis attached to it only a cursory glance, so I knew very little diving into it. Very quickly into the reading, I knew that the story sounded vaguely familiar. As I listened a bit longer, I realized that it was an adaptation of a story I had heard before. Although I had some inkling of how it would end, I was intrigued to hear the story from the point of view of a slave girl.

What immediately drew me into the story was how cleverly the author organized it. Each part of the tale peeled back a new layer, and details that had at first seemed minor carried greater significance as more back story was revealed. By the end my heart was pounding and although I knew the outcome, I was still eager to see exactly how it played out.

My favorite part about the novel was how carefully the relationships were developed. The story is told from the point of view of Jinghua, a slave girl with a mysterious past. Jinghua is plain in appearance, but others value her for her intellect and spirit. She is beautiful on the inside, if not on the outside, and her actions throughout the story reflect that.

If I were to read this book again, I would probably read it in a different format. The performer had a tendency to exaggerate the waviness of her voice during dramatic scenes. I found this distracting, so I think I would have enjoyed the story even more if I had been reading it in a physical format.

I was so impressed with this book. It is a story of loss and love and sacrifice. It contained all the elements of a great story, and it was beautifully written. It is hard for me to believe that this was a debut novel. I look forward to whatever else the author has in store.

Reader: Bekah

Rating:

Fiction · Young Adult

Picture Us in the Light

August 29, 2018January 16, 2019 youwanttoreadthistrustme1 Comment

picture us in the light.jpg

Title: Picture Us in the Light

Author: Kelly Loy Gilbert

Page Count: 361

Series: N/A

Publishing Date/Publisher: April 10, 2018 by Disney-Hyperion

Format: Hardcover

Review: If I could sum up this story in one word it would be heart-wrenching. Gut tightening, tear duct prickling, chest aching, I will never be the same, heart-wrenching.

The most astonishing thing about this author’s writing style is how she can touch upon extremely sensitive, hot button issues without seeming like she has any sort of political agenda. The emotions and pain she conveys through her characters is so real and so raw, you truly feel like you are glimpsing into their souls.

The ending of this story is going to haunt me, and it is almost hard to recommend this book because it demands a lot of emotional investment. In some ways, it is like watching a train wreck. You can’t stop it, you just have to watch it unfold. Just when you think the story cannot get any sadder, the author surprises you with another tragic twist. So with this one I say, read at your own risk…and with a box of tissues.

As a final note, this is coincidently the third book I have read recently that takes place near my hometown. The issues the author sheds light on are all too real and all too common. I hope this story finds itself in the hands of the right people, because it might just save a life.

Reader: Bekah

Rating:

Fantasy · Fiction · Young Adult

Children of Blood and Bone

August 23, 2018January 16, 2019 youwanttoreadthistrustme4 Comments

children of blood and bone.jpg

Title: Children of Blood and Bone

Author: Tomi Adeyemi

Performer: Bahni Turpin

Length: 17 hr, 51 min, 58 sec

Series: Legacy of Orïsha, Book 1

Publishing Date/Publisher: 2018 by MacMillan Audio

Format: eAudiobook

Review: Let me start off by saying, this book deserves all the accolades it has been receiving. The world building in this story is truly phenomenal, and the African mythology woven into it is masterfully done. Although lengthy, the pacing of the book moves rapidly and by the end, the reader is left wanting more. Luckily, this book has been announced as part of a series, and there will certainly be more to come.

When I first started this book, I was convinced that I would be rating it with five stars; however, as the plot progressed, I found myself becoming increasingly disenchanted by the romantic angle that suddenly emerged midway through the story. The romance not only seemed unprecedented, but rather forced. Although I could see what the author was trying to do, it just did not seem to fit right with what I knew about the characters. I think a romance such as this would need a lot more build up to be plausible, but it was sped along in the interest of furthering the plot. It is not necessarily that I did not want the characters to end up together, but that I think it could have been done better. For this reason, I lowered my rating to four stars.

Regardless of how I feel about the romantic subplot, I found this to be a complex and well-written story. As a history major, I could appreciate the parallels to real life events such as apartheid, colonialism, segregation, etc. There are many layers to this story, and many layers to each character. It will be exciting to see where this story goes.

As an additional note, I HIGHLY recommend enjoying this book in audiobook format. Some stories are just meant to be shared orally, especially those with deep roots in traditional mythology. Bahni Turpin does an excellent job creating personas for each character, and the accents she created really bring the story to life and lend a little something extra to the listening experience.

Reader: Bekah

Rating:

Fiction · Romance

The Kiss Quotient

August 23, 2018January 16, 2019 youwanttoreadthistrustme2 Comments

thekissquotient

Title: The Kiss Quotient

Author: Helen Hoang

Page Count: 336

Series: N/A

Publishing Date/Publisher: June 5, 2018 by Berkley

Format: Paperback

Review: Fifty Shades of Wow…this book was everything I hyped it up in my head to be and more. I love a good romance, and I have read many, but it is rare to come across a book that really makes my heart pitter patter. Not only that, but it has a very diverse set of lovers. The heroine, Stella, has Asperger’s Syndrome (a high functioning form of autism) and the hero, Michael, is biracial (Vietnamese/Caucasian).

I was never a particularly big fan of the Julia Roberts/Richard Gere film Pretty Woman, but this gender bent retelling was both believable and heartwarming. It’s a slow build romance, and even though the outcome seems inevitable, it is still tremendously gratifying to see it come to fruition.

What I particularly enjoy about the book is how the author develops the character of Stella. The author is herself autistic, and the authenticity of her experiences really shines through Stella’s inner dialogue. Stella is both quirky and lovable, and at times the pain and frustration she feels is so raw, you feel it to your very core. You can’t help but root for her and her budding romance with the sensitive, yet studly male escort with a heart of gold.

As a side note, I grew up near the city where the story takes place, so it was very interesting as a reader to experience familiar places in a new and fun way.

Reader: Bekah

Rating: