Woo hoo! First book review of 2021! I’m starting off the year with a great YA (young adult) novel. Warrior of the Wild had been sitting on my shelf for quite some time now, waiting patiently to be read, and I’m glad I finally picked it up. I’m pretty sure I’ve said this before, but I will say it again; just because a book is classified as YA doesn’t mean only young adults will enjoy it. Take Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Divergent for example. All classified as YA, but enjoyed by all age ranges, so please do not judge me for reading YA.
Let’s dive into Warrior of the Wild, because I have lots of things I would like to share about this book with you all. There were multiple important messages within this book, so many in fact that I had to start taking notes because I would’ve forgotten all the things that stood out to me. The story follows Rasmira, a young female warrior, who is slotted to take over leadership of her village in this Viking inspired world Tricia Levenseller created. But like every other warrior, Rasmira needs to complete her warrior trial before she can start taking over leadership. Unfortunately, she experiences painful betrayal from multiple people in the village, and ends up being banished. However, she can return if she can complete an impossible task bestowed upon her by her father; kill the god that has been terrorizing their village and the surrounding ones. While in the wild, Rasmira forms a bond with two boys who were also banished from their villages for failing their trials, and they have an impossible task they must complete before they can return as well. Ultimately, they end up deciding to help each other try and complete their assigned tasks. The characters realize that things that seem impossible when approached alone, aren’t as daunting when you have friends to help you. Perserverance was a big theme throughout the book, and I would mainly describe Rasmira as a persevering character. She consistently pushed towards her goal, getting back home, despite all the obstacles thrown in her path. Rasmira also deals with a lot of trust issues, and you witness her struggle with trusting the new people in her life. However, she discovers that just because people in her past have failed her, it doesn’t necessarily mean everyone will. Other things I appreciated in Warrior of the Wild:
I highly reccomend Warrior of the Wild for a young adult reader in your life, but as I stated above, YA is for everyone :)
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Cheers to 2021! This time of year signifies a fresh start for a lot of people, and I’m sure most of you have a resolution in mind. Whether it be working out more, eating better, reading more *wink wink*, etc. I normally don’t have a New Year resolution, mostly because whenever I do I fail big time. So let’s just say you will not catch me having a resolution of giving up any type of food, because your girl likes snacks.
However, this year I have some goals and lifestyle changes I want to implement. First and foremost, I want to wake up earlier. It’s hard when I work late to want to get up early, but I would have so much more time for things if I just got up an hour or hour and a half earlier. More time for reading, working out, playing with my dogs, keeping the apartment clean. Sure it may hurt at first, because I value my sleep like a dragon values gold, but it can only benefit me. I am the queen of sleep according to my husband but I want to become the queen of seizing the day! Speaking of seizing the day, my lifestyle change ties directly into opening up time for one of my goals for 2021. That goal is, and I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that I’m going to attempt this, writing my first novel. Writing a novel is a huge undertaking, and is going to take some time. I’m being honest with myself that I probably won’t finish writing it by the end of the year. Maybe a first draft? We shall see but I’m super pumped! As for my reading goals, I want to read 50 books this year. I ended 2020 with 64 books, however my goal was 80. I was bummed at first that I didn’t hit my goal, but then I realized reading 64 books in a year is quite the accomplishment! I lessened my goal for 2021 just because I’m going to be spending more of my free time outlining and writing versus reading. I’m excited for what this year has in store (maybe not the waking up earlier part, but we will work on that), and can’t wait to keep you updated on all things book related as well as writing! 5/5 STARS Wow, wow, wow. Hands down my favorite book of October, and probably my favorite read in a while. Winter Counts was a book I chose for #thrilleroctoberv2 hosted by @readwithangie on Instagram, and this fulfilled the "read a book by a BIPOC author" on the bingo board. I think we can all do a better job in general of supporting BIPOC authors, with BIPOC characters. The reason I say this is because the viewpoint from these authors can really just make you stop and think about the world you live in. If I hadn't read Winter Counts, I probably would've never realized how bad life is for some on Native American reservations. David provided an educational experience to readers about Native American culture, specifically Lakota, while also writing a thrilling crime novel that has you at the edge of your seat by the end of it.
Actual justice doesn't come around often for those living on Rosebud Indian reservation. That's where Virgil Wounded Horse, our protagonist, comes in. Virgil makes a living by dealing out justice to those the American government couldn't be bothered with prosecuting. Unfortunately, in real life this happens way to often to those living on reservations. Federal prosecutors don't bother with prosecuting sexual assault, domestic violence, theft, etc. on the reservation. Virgil ends up being the one delivering justice in these instances, but when hard drugs find their way onto the reservation, he finds himself in the middle of a big investigation, and doesn't know if he will be able to handle the outcome. It's hard to go into much more detail without giving anything away, and I would hate to spoil such a great book! Winter Counts had me laughing out loud, crying, and sometimes just closing the book because I was so NERVOUS about what was going to happen. For a debut author, he did an excellent job of bringing out those emotions in me as a reader, which is what makes me love certain books so much. If you can make me feel strong emotions while reading your book, I will shout from the rooftops that everyone needs to read it. I really enjoyed the personal journey Virgil went on in this book as well. He obviously struggles with his heritage and the traditions that come with it. He knows it's a part of who he is, but he also turns from it and has a bitter attitude toward it. It was very interesting to see the way his attitude towards these things evolved as the story went on, it was probably the most emotional part of the book for me. If you enjoy a good crime novel, I highly recommend this one! I know I've pretty much heavily focused on the Native American culture and educational aspect of this book, but it is a great crime/thriller read. Not predictable at all, and almost kind of a slow burn when it comes to the action. It all just starts slowly building up until you get to the point where you are turning and burning through pages to get to the ending. Just please read this book. You won't regret it. (And if you do, please don't yell at me lol). 4/5 STARS Syopsis: "Getting snowed in at a luxurious, rustic ski chalet high in the French Alps doesn’t sound like the worst problem in the world. Especially when there’s a breathtaking vista, a full-service chef and housekeeper, a cozy fire to keep you warm, and others to keep you company. Unless that company happens to be eight coworkers…each with something to gain, something to lose, and something to hide. When the co-founder of Snoop, a trendy London-based tech startup, organizes a week-long trip for the team in the French Alps, it starts out as a corporate retreat like any other: PowerPoint presentations and strategy sessions broken up by mandatory bonding on the slopes. But as soon as one shareholder upends the agenda by pushing a lucrative but contentious buyout offer, tensions simmer and loyalties are tested. The storm brewing inside the chalet is no match for the one outside, however, and a devastating avalanche leaves the group cut off from all access to the outside world. Even worse, one Snooper hadn’t made it back from the slopes when the avalanche hit. As each hour passes without any sign of rescue, panic mounts, the chalet grows colder, and the group dwindles further…one by one." The month of October I am participating in a thriller/spooky book readathon hosted by Angie of @readwithangie. Go check her out on Instagram, she's awesome! She created a bingo board with different prompts on each square. The goal is to complete as many squares as possible in the month of October to be entered to win giveaways from Angie. One by One fulfilled the "read a book by a new to you author" square. Ruth Ware is a name that I see quite frequently on "bookstagram", and from what I can tell her work is pretty popular. I've never picked up a book by her just because I'm not the biggest fan of thrillers (I like being able to sleep at night). However, I am very happy I ended up reading a book by Ruth, because I really enjoyed One by One (even if my biggest fear is being buried alive in snow lol). One by One is set at a cozy, yet luxurious chalet in the French Alps, where the employees of Snoop are holidaying for a week. You can tell that these are very elite people, based on the fact on where they are staying, and the chalet even comes with live-in staff, Danny and Erin. I can imagine it feeling very peaceful up there tucked away in the mountain, secluded from everyone. To me, mountains are also very ominous, you don't know what to expect from them and what they hold. They contain wondrous beauty but can also be the cause of tremendous terror. Unfortunately for those in the chalet, the latter would be the case for them. Ruth Ware writes this story from a dual point of view, having the readers read from the perspective of Erin, one of the staff members that stays in the chalet, and Liz, a former employee of Snoop. Erin's job is to serve the guests during their stay at the chalet, and that means most of the time she is a fly on the wall. She is basically invisible to the guests, and she definitely overhears plenty of interesting, eyebrow raising, conversations. When it comes time to survival though, she is the one to take charge and direct the group. Which seems suspicious to some.... Then we have Liz, who wants to be anywhere in the world other than in that chalet with her former employers. Half the time the rest of the group forget she is even there. She is a nervous wreck and is obviously wrestling with some secrets that she just wants to let out. Why was she invited in the first place if she wasn't employed with Snoop anymore? Guess you'll have to read to find out. What is supposed to be a fun company holiday, turns into a fight for survival as an avalanche leaves them separated from the rest of the world, as well as members of their group ending up murdered in their rooms. They definitely need to work as a group to survive, but how can you work together when you know one of the others is the murderer? I enjoyed that I pretty much questioned everyone at some point, and that it wasn't predictable who the monster among them was. If you are looking for a lighter thriller, I highly recommend One by One. It never got to the point of "omg I can't hang", but definitely kept me on the edge of my seat and burning through the book to get to the ending. I look forward to reading more books by Ruth Ware, she just might be a new favorite author of mine (to be determined after reading more of her books). 4/5 STARS Synopsis for Majesty:
"Power is intoxicating. Like first love, it can leave you breathless. Princess Beatrice was born with it. Princess Samantha was born with less. Some, like Nina Gonzalez, are pulled into it. And a few will claw their way in. Ahem, we're looking at you Daphne Deighton. As America adjusts to the idea of a queen on the throne, Beatrice grapples with everything she lost when she gained the ultimate crown. Samantha is busy living up to her "party princess" persona...and maybe adding a party prince by her side. Nina is trying to avoid the palace--and Prince Jefferson--at all costs. And a dangerous secret threatens to undo all of Daphne's carefully laid "marry Prince Jefferson" plans. A new reign has begun..." There were a lot of things I was expecting and wanting to happen in Majesty based off of where American Royals left off, and absolutely nothing I expected or wanted happened LOL. Surprisingly, I ended up loving where Katharine McGee took each character's story line. I think it's hard for authors to write sequels, especially when the first book in the story was extremely successful. Katharine McGee made it seem easy by developing each character and throwing twists and turns in that no one would expect. Beatrice, Samantha, Nina, and Daphne each take a personal journey in this second installment of American Royals realizing that the thing they thought they wanted most in the world, might not be the thing that will bring them the most happiness. Throughout this journey there is a fair share of drama, just like the first book (and almost always because of Daphne) which is what made Majesty a page-turner, just like American Royals. I've said before that I'm not a fan of multiple points-of-view because I feel like I don't get to know the characters as well, but I was happy with the amount of time spent with each main character and how each one developed. I'm not sure if there is going to be a third installment in this series. And as much as I want to keep reading about these characters and their stories, I'm also very happy with where Majesty left off, and I feel as if the story is complete. Maybe a possible spin-off focusing on just one of the characters? Who knows?! But I will definitely be keeping my eye out for other books by Katharine McGee, and highly recommend the American Royals duo to all readers. Hi friends! It's been a while since I have posted anything on here, mostly just because I've been reading a lot and not taking the time to write down my thoughts afterward. However, I am going to try to get better when it comes to this because I love sharing my thoughts with you all! I've also been very busy with not one but TWO puppies. They are the absolute best and love cuddling me when I read. Most of my photos here on out are going to have them hidden in there somewhere :) 4/5 STARS
Ever heard of the true crime podcast Crime Junkie? If you follow it closely like my husband and I do, this is the book for you. It's for the fans of Law & Order SVU, and true crime enthusiasts. Did you enjoy reading Nancy Drew growing up? This is right up your wheelhouse, but definitely heavier and deeper. Neapolis, North Carolina is the town where everyone knows everyone, including their secrets. A quaint beach town where nothing ever truly bad happens, and even if it did, people turn a blind eye. It's a community rocked by the rape accusation against the town golden boy destined to swim in the Olympics (sound familiar?), and the town seems to be split 50/50 on their opinions on the case. Rachel Krall, a now famous crime podcast host, is in town to cover the case for her second season. She has an investigative mind that wants nothing more than the truth and justice to be served. So when random notes from Hannah Stills start popping up on her car or in her hotel room, not only is her true crime mind unnerved, but a part of her can't resist looking into things further. This is because Hannah is pleading for Rachel's help in bringing justice to the man who Hannah believes killed her sister, Jenny, 25 years ago. The Night Swim is written from two points of view, Rachel's and Hannah's. Majority of the book is from Rachel's perspective, and then smaller chapters dedicated to Hannah and her telling the story of what happened 25 years ago to her sister, Jenny. Hannah was one of my favorite characters other than Rachel just because she added the mystery and thrill to the book. Also, I admired her character for the amount of bravery it took for her to not only come back to the town where terrible things happened to her family, but also being willing to track down the man who took her sister from her. Shout-out to the author, Megan, for unveiling how rape victims are unfortunately treated throughout the legal process in certain cases. Yes, this book is fiction, but what Kelly (rape victim) is going through is oh so real to many people. Some people believe you and support you and some people don't believe you and speak out against you. I actually got quite emotional reading the book at some points, because I know very well how Kelly was feeling. I was fortunate enough to never have to go through the court process, I only had to show up one day and he pleaded guilty and that was the end of that. But if he had pleaded not guilty I can imagine I basically would be Kelly. I can see this book being triggering for those who have been sexually assaulted, so I wanted to put that warning here for you. Rachel's main objective is covering a rape trial in Neapolis where a local boy who is a swimmer extraordinaire, is accused of raping a girl, Kelly, after a party (sound familiar *cough*cough* Brock Turner). I am a rape victim myself, however I'm finally in a place ten years later where reading accounts of sexual assault, whether real or fictional, are not as triggering. I have come to appreciate books like The Night Swim as well as Know My Name because there are bringing up the need for MORE advocacy for those who are sexually assaulted. Thanks for reading, friends! Let me know if you read The Night Swim, and your thoughts on it :)
Publish Date: July 7, 2020
Genre: Romance Rating (1-5): 5
Thank you to Netgalley, Random House Publishing, and Kate Stayman-London for the ARC of One to Watch in exchange for an honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars! I rate different categories that are important to me personally in a book, and the take an average of the scores to get my overall rating. I don’t share this rubric, because everyone has their own preferences, and should rate books according to what they like, not what I like. I absolutely loved this book. I was hooked right away and stayed hooked throughout it all. I’m happy Kate wrote a book basically calling out The Bachelor franchise for never casting anyone bigger than a size 4 it seems. Bea, the protagonist, is a size 20 and she is extremely relatable. She deals with internal battles of not feeling like society thinks she deserves love because of her size, and when she watches the show ‘Main Squeeze’ (aka the bachelor), she feels down because no one who looks like her is represented on the show. Which I think can be said about a lot of us in real life. So when Bea finds herself being the ‘Main Squeeze’ (aka the bachelorette), she finds herself having to face feelings she hasn’t acknowledged, in front of millions of viewers each week. The writing in this book was excellent, it flowed very nicely. I especially enjoyed the text message threads, email receipts, and articles that Kate inserted throughout the book. For me it felt like having those in there made me even more of a fan of Bea. The story was equally enjoyable, and definitely kept you on your toes! Lots of curveballs were thrown in throughout the book that honestly had my jaw dropping a few times. Character development was on point as well. I felt like I actually knew the main characters and Kate did a good job writing them with depth. Overall a great book shedding light on the need for more body positivity in our society and pointing out that no matter what you look like, everyone is deserving of love.
Publication date: May 19, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Fiction Rating (1-5) 4.2
If I could summarize this book in just a few words, I would say ‘NYC stay-at-home mama DRAMA’. Claire is our main protagonist, and she is hired to be a musician for a playgroup on the Upper East Side, after she was kicked out her band that conveniently became famous once she was out of it. While she at first feels inferior to these women who have it all together, she slowly realizes that maybe they aren’t as put together as they would like the world to think.
The story follows Claire’s viewpoint, as well as from the viewpoint of some of the moms. I’m not a mom myself, but I think mothers could relate really well to this book. The characters are struggling with the comparison game, whether it comes to themselves or to the development of their baby. They are struggling with making it seem like they have this motherhood thing down easy, and want to document a perfect life for the world to see. And maybe their biggest struggle is when other moms are taking a certain supplement or following a certain wellness routine for the benefit of their child, they automatically jump on the bandwagon. And this will now lead me into a mini rant. How about we all stop showing the picture perfect lives we want people to think we have online, and rather show the real stuff? Admit when a day has been hard and you’ve wanted to tear your hair out. Maybe instead of only posting photos with your hair and makeup done and your child in a perfectly put together outfit, post a photo of both of you first thing in the morning. Who cares if such and such a person on Instagram uses a $30 face wash or buys supplements and vitamins from a certain company? Trust me, the CeraVe for $7.99 at your local grocery store works just fine, and the vitamin section has plenty of good options. Stop comparing yourself to other people who seem like they are so happy based off their social media feed, and know that they struggle too. We are only human. Ok. Now back to the book review ? The writing flowed very well, as did the storyline. There are some things that may not have been necessary, like steamy rated R romance scenes, but there were only really 2 or 3 of them, so not extremely bothersome to me. Overall, it was a nice, witty, page-turner of a book, so head to your local library or local indie bookstore, and pick up this fun novel! Synopsis from publisher: ”After her former band shot to superstardom without her, Claire reluctantly agrees to a gig as a playgroup musician for wealthy infants on New York’s Park Avenue. Claire is surprised to discover that she is smitten with her new employers, a welcoming clique of wellness addicts with impossibly shiny hair, who whirl from juice cleanse to overpriced miracle vitamins to spin class with limitless energy. There is perfect hostess Whitney who is on the brink of social-media stardom and just needs to find a way to keep her flawless life from falling apart. Caustically funny, recent stay-at-home mom Amara who is struggling to embrace her new identity. And old money, veteran mom Gwen who never misses an opportunity to dole out parenting advice. But as Claire grows closer to the stylish women who pay her bills, she uncovers secrets and betrayals that no amount of activated charcoal can fix. Filled with humor and shocking twists, Happy and You Know It is a brilliant take on motherhood – exposing it as yet another way for society to pass judgment on women – while also exploring the baffling magnetism of curated social-media lives that are designed to make us feel unworthy. But, ultimately, this dazzling novel celebrates the unlikely bonds that form, and the power that can be unlocked, when a group of very different women is thrown together when each is at her most vulnerable.”
Happy Reading!!!
Genre: Romance
Rating (1-5): 4.2
Thank you to Netgalley, Entangled Publishing, and Anne Harper for an ARC of Fake It Till You Make It in exchange for an honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I am rating this book 4.2 out of 5 stars. I rate different categories that are important to me personally in a book, and the take an average of the scores to get my overall rating. I don’t share this rubric, because everyone has their own preferences, and should rate books according to what they like, not what I like. This was such a light hearted rom-com, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it! Laugh out loud funny while still having that romantic, touching side. The first chapter really drew me in, basically because it was everyone’s worst nightmare coming true for the protagonist, Sloane. She had kept a private blog online her whole life that served as her journal, but one drunken evening changed the settings from private to public. And it went viral. Talk about extremely relatable embarrassment. Sometimes I rip out and burn my own journal entries because I embarrass myself. I can’t imagine the whole world reading them ? The writing and the story quality were great, and the book flowed nicely. Were some things predictable? Sure, but all rom-coms are and we all still love them. Sloane and Brady, the main characters, had great development throughout the book, and I really enjoyed their respective personalities. This was a ‘fake relationship’ romance, which means the characters are pretending to be in a relationship for their own personal motives. Which in turn helps the book have a comedic side. I would say that the only thing about the book I didn’t like, was when the romance side got a little rated R for two scenes. It just came out of nowhere and I felt like it didn’t fit in with the rest of the book. So if books getting steamy isn’t your thing, I would just caution you that this book has a tinsy bit of it. However, you could easily just skip the two pages it spans over. Excited to see what the rest of the series brings!
Happy Reading!
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AuthorHi, I'm Genny! You can always find me with a book in my hand. Dystopian, Fantasy, and Historical Fiction are among my favorite genres. I hope you enjoy the reviews I provide and can help you pick out your next book! Archives
October 2020
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