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:

One Small Thing

August 28, 2018September 10, 2018 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

Image result for one small thing by erin watt

Title: One Small Thing

Author: Erin Watt

Page Count: 299

Series: N/A

Publishing Date/Publisher: June 26, 2018 by Harlequin Teen

Format: Hardcover

Review: For me, books written by Erin Watt fall under the category of guilty pleasures. I was hooked after Paper Princess and will probably read just about anything written by them, for better or for worse.

I certainly enjoyed this read, but I would not go shouting from the rooftops about it. It was better than some of their other more recent publications, and I was invested until the end, but at times it just seemed repetitive. Even so, the authors touched upon some very relevant themes.

The main character, Beth, is struggling with the loss of someone important in her life, and I think it is really admirable how the authors handle her coming to terms with that loss. The underlying message I received from the story is that everyone grieves differently and at their own pace. You should never assume you understand how someone is coping by the way their grief is outwardly manifested. This book also touches upon the damaging effects of mob mentality. People make their own assumptions about a situation and are quick to jump on the hate bandwagon driven by a few toxic people. Sadly, I think this happens all too commonly, and people are quick to mete out punishment to satisfy their own sense of self-righteousness. This prevents people from moving forward and traps them in a cycle of bitterness and pain.

Ultimately, this is a story about forgiveness, and I wish we could see more of that in real life.

Reader: Bekah

Rating:

Fiction · Romance · Young Adult

Alex, Approximately

August 25, 2018August 29, 2018 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

alex, approximately

Title: Alex, Approximately

Author: Jenn Bennett

Performer: Amy Melissa Bentley

Length: 10 hr, 4 min, 45 sec

Series: N/A

Publishing Date/Publisher: 2017 by Tantor Audio

Format: eAudiobook

Review: When I first read reviews about this book I was ecstatic. A YA novel retelling of one of my all time favorite rom coms?!! YES PLEASE. Perhaps I am at fault for building it up too much in my head, but I was rather disappointed by this adaptation. For some reason, I just really did not care for the character of Bailey, and it is hard to articulate why. Perhaps the best way I can describe it is, if I met her in real life, I do not think we would be friends. She just has one of those personalities that I find completely bland, and even as a reader, I had no desire to get to know her. The character of Porter was a bit more likable, but still a little flat. He constantly made comments to Bailey about having baggage, but when his “baggage” was revealed, it was highly anticlimactic and hardly what I would consider to be baggage at all.

Another thing to note is that I listened to this book in eAudiobook format, and I was not a fan of the performer. I personally found the voices she created for the characters to be annoying, and at times she sounded robotic, especially at the beginning of the book.

The one thing I did appreciate about this book is how the author responsibly handled the love scenes. It’s all about that consent, baby!

In summary, I didn’t love it, I didn’t like it, I didn’t hate it. If you are pining for an archenemies turned lovers plot, just save yourself some time and watch You’ve Got Mail.

Reader: Bekah

Rating:

Fantasy · Fiction · Young Adult

Passenger

May 29, 2017August 29, 2018 youwanttoreadthistrustmeLeave a comment

passenger

Title: Passenger

Author: Alexandra Bracken

Page Count: 496

Series: Passenger, Book 1

Publishing Date/Publisher: January 5, 2016 by Disney-Hyperion

Format: Paperback

Review: Passenger by Alexandra Bracken was a thoroughly entertaining read. I can quite honestly say I loved every minute of it. The plot is engaging and unique, and the mystery has a way of keeping you guessing well into the second and final book (which I am still reading, review to follow). Without giving anything critical away, the book revolves around Etta, a girl from the 21st century, and Nicholas, a sailor from the 18th. They are tasked with a mission for a man who wants to control time travel, which leads to interesting aspects that have rarely (in my experience) been dealt with in issues concerning time travel. Nicholas is black, which means that he is always acutely aware of the colour of his skin and the attitudes towards it in various times. It was not an awareness I was expecting from a book written by a white author and it was incredibly refreshing. Bracken has a way of writing that invokes confusion at times, but only when necessary. She writes the jumbled thoughts of her characters in a way that puts you there with them, figuring everything out and feeling all of their emotions. It was a captivating read.

Reader: Kymberly

Rating: