Review | City of Bones

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare
March 2007 by Margaret K. McElderry Books
485 pages
Five stars



"When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder― much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end."- Goodreads



I was so happy I finally read this book. I've heard so many good things and I wanted to see what the hype was about. Something that really pushed me to finally start reading this was that Freeform is coming out with a TV adaption in January 2016. There was a movie adaption of the first book, but I never got around to watching it. I wanted to start reading before I watched any of the adaptions.

City of Bones is the first book in The Mortal Instruments series. Clary Fray knows nothing of demons and Shadowhunters until she meets Jace, Isabelle and Alec at Pandemonium Club. When her mother goes missing from their home she is thrown into a world she knew nothing about. Suddenly, she sees vampires, werewolves and faeries all over New York City. Clary and her friends try to save her mother, what is so important about the Mortal Cup and find out what happened the night Valentine was defeated. 

I absolutely loved this book. It was so fast paced, addicting and the world was so immense. The Shadowhunter world Cassandra Clare has created is amazing. It is so rich and diverse. The language is hard to keep up with at times but it just makes you fall deeper into the world. One of the things I love so much about fantasy is the world building. This book does such a great job at that. 

The characters are diverse, unique and well developed. I was immediately attracted to Clary and Jace. They both have such great character development. While Clary was kind of shy in the beginning she really becomes a different person by the end of the book. She stands by the people she cares about them and won't them be hurt if she can stop it. Jace has a change of heart and softens a lot throughout the story. One character I would love to see more in the next books is Alec. I feel like I didn't get to know him enough. I am totally shipping him and Magnus. 

At times City of Bones was predictable. I won't go into specifics butwas really intetesere were some things I had predicted within the first few chapters of the book that turned out to be true. There were also some things I hadn't predicted and by the end of the story I was so impressed. It was balanced so well with what I thought would happen and what I never saw coming. It was really interesting to see how everything played out. 

I am so excited to pick up the next book in the series. City of Bones left off on a really great note and I can't wait to see what happens from here.

2015 Reading Goals: An Overview

Once again it's time to revisit my 2015 Reading Goals and see how I did. 

My 2015 Reading Goals were:

I want to read 75 books, 10 of which I owned in 2014 or before.

I want to reread these series:

-Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

-Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

-Fallen by Lauren Kate

-Shade by Jeri Smith Ready

I want to read these series in their entirety:

-Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

-Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

I want to read all of Nicholas Sparks books. 

The only goal I completed was reading 75 books, 10-13 of which I owned before 2015. I can't actually remember when I bought some of the books but I know I read at least 10 that I owned before this year. 

It's safe to say I failed, and I'm okay with that. 2015 was a year of learning for me. I have figured out what works for me. I've stepped out of my reading box, explored some new genres and found new ways I like to read. I discovered that I really enjoy listening to non fiction books, like memoirs, on audiobook. I've learned that I can't make a TBR list because I rarely finish it. Two years ago I wanted to read the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare and I am only just now getting to it. 

I think 2016 will be my best reading year. How did you do on your reading goals if you set any? 

Review | Bliss

Bliss by Shay Mitchell and Michaela Blaney
October 2015 by St. Martin's Press
336 pages
Three stars



"Sophia Marcus, 21, has already mapped out every aspect of her glamorous life as a Hollywood actor on her vision board. But her life right now in Toronto is anything but exciting. Attending fruitless auditions during the day and working at a douche-y club at night, Sophia is starting to feel like she's going nowhere...slowly.

Demi Michaels, Sophia's best friend, didn't go to college after high school. Short of ideas for her own future, she puts her energy into building the perfect relationship with an older man. And when that relationship crashes and burns, Demi is left to pick up the pieces.

Sophia's friend (and Demi's frenemy) Leandra Hunting doesn't give a crap about hard work or a loving relationship. She has other plans for her future. After college graduation, Leandra sets out to travel the world in the yachts, planes and limos of ridiculously wealthy men. Will any of them be able to show her what love really means--if she can take off her Chanel sunglasses long enough to see it?

Set in the exotic, intoxicating worlds of Hollywood, Thailand, and London, Bliss paints a relatable portrait of life in your early twenties with equal parts optimism and fear, hope and disappointment, expectation and reality. It's the Age of Uncertainty when you can count on nothing, but, if you're lucky enough to have one truly great friend, you can survive just about anything." - Goodreads



I didn't know much about this going into it. I received it from St. Martin's Press from a Goodreads giveaway, which was pretty exciting. I love Shay Mitchell in Pretty Little Liars and I'm always interested in reading new books by people who are not known for writing books. Beware for some mild spoilers in this review.

Demi, Sophia and Leandra have been best friends since they were children. When they were 17 they made a pact to stay best friends forever, follow their bliss and make their dreams come true. Sophia dreams of Hollywood, Leandra for a rich husband to live the life of luxury and Demi to be successful. Bliss is the story of three girls trying to figure out who they are and what they want in life. Each chapter is from one of the girls point of view. There amazing chapter titles, recipies and quotes throughout the book.

The content of the story was very mature and realistic. I thought it would be geared towards a younger audience but I was wrong. It focuses on very real problems that young girls can face after graduating high school. It shows how you can turn a bad situation into something positive. I thought they way they handled the problems they faced was realistic and believable. They may have made mistakes but they just moved forward and towards their dreams.

I really liked reading Demi's story and I think she was the strongest character. In typical YA fashion each girl was faced with a hurdle or struggle they had to find a way to move past. I found Sophia's to be heartbreaking but I connected with Demi. I really admire her attitude towards life and how she started fresh and made something really great out of her life. She finds out of a bit of information that could destroy her, but she holds her head up high and I think that is a great thing. We are in control of our own happiness. 

Unfortunately, I really disliked Leandra. She goes to Thailand and I thought the change of scenery and adventure would make me enjoy her story more than the other girls. But, that proved to be false. Her story was interesting, but it was so frustrating. I have some serious issues with her as a character. Towards the end I thought she may have changed her ways but was proven wrong. She has little character growth and is not a very good person. She is too consumed by material things, not appreciating the amazing friends she has by her side.

Overall, I really did enjoy this book. I just didn't feel I could give four stars to a book in which I hated one of the main characters. I haven't heard any plans for this to be turned into a series, but if it did I would pick up the next book. 

2016 Reading Goals

After taking a look at my last two years reading goals, I've discovered that I'm really bad at following my own goals. I've always known that I avoid reading something if I'm told to read it. That happened to me all throughout elementary to high school. There were so many books I missed out on reading because I was too stubborn to read them. I didn't know that it also applied to books I tell myself to read. 

This year, I just want to have fun while reading. I want to read longer books, explore new genres and find out what gets me excited about reading.

In 2016 I want to read at least 52 books. That was the number I started with when I started keeping track of how many books I was reading in 2011. I have no doubt that I will surpass that, but I don't want to feel bound by a number and read shorter books. I want to tackle books that are 500 or more pages and not worry about how long it will take to finish. 

I'm still interested in completing some of the series that I've started the last few years. Below I've listed the series I would like to continue making progress on. This is not a full list, just some of the series I'm more excited about. If I don't finish them, then that's okay. But some of these series I only have one book left to complete it and I really should just read them.


The Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan
Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan
White Rabbit Chronicles (book four only) by Gena Showalter
Night School by CJ Daughtery
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (book three only) by Ransom Riggs
Veronica Mars by Rob Thomas
Alienated by Melissa Landers
The Wolves of Mercy Falls (book four only) by Maggie Stiefvater
The Hundred by Kass Morgan
The Selection by Kiera Cass
Splintered by A.G. Howard
Fallen (book five only) by Lauren Kate
Asylum by Madeleine Roux


I've had kind of a weird reading year. I've found some things that have worked for me, but read a lot of books in between that I didn't love. I want to look back at 2016 and feel good about everything I've read. 


Have you guys set any reading goals for yourself in 2016?

Review | Things I Can't Explain

Things I Can't Explain by Mitchell Kriegman
November 2015 Thomas Dunne Books
288 pages
Five stars



"A complete re-imagining of Clarissa Explains it All as 20-something Clarissa tries to navigate the unemployment line, mompreneurs and the collision of two people in love.

She was a smart, snappy, light-hearted girl who knew it all at fourteen. Now a woman in her late twenties, her searching blue eyes are more serious, but mostly amused by the people around her. The gap-toothed smile that made her seem younger than she really was is gone, but she still lightens up the room. Her unpredictable wardrobe rocks just like when she was a kid, but her fashion sense has evolved and it makes men and women turn their heads.

After leaving high school early, Clarissa interned at the Daily Post while attending night school. At the ripe old age of twenty- two she had it made – her own journalism beat (fashion, gender politics and crime), an affordable apartment in FiDi and a livable wage. She was so totally ahead of the game. Ah, those were the days! All three of them. Remember the Stock Market Crash of 08? Remember when people actually bought newspapers?

All of Clarissa’s charming obsessions, charts, graphs, and superstitions have survived into adulthood, but they’ve evolved into an ever-greater need to claw the world back under control. Her mid-twenties crisis has left her with a whole set of things she can’t explain: an ex-boyfriend turned stalker, her parents’ divorce, a micro relationship with the cute coffee guy, java addiction, “To-Flue Glue,” and then there’s Sam. Where’s Sam anyway?

Things I Can't Explain is about knowing it all in your teens and then feeling like you know nothing in your twenties." -Goodreads




Mitchell Kriegman is the creator of the popular 90s show, Clarissa Explains It All. As a kid, I loved Clarissa. She was edgy, cool and highly opinionated. Just like everyone else, I wanted to be just like her. Mitchell always said he didn't feel her story was over, so he wrote this novel to continue it. 

When we meet up with Clarissa Darling again she is in her mid twenties, living in New York City, and just trying to hang on after losing her job at the Daily Post. She's trying to make it as a journalist, while keeping her life together after a messy break up. Her life didn't pan out the way she thought it would.

As a Clarissa lover, I was highly interested on where the other characters from the show would be now. I don't want to give away any spoilers but it's wonderful. We get quite a bit of back story on the events of the last 10 or so years. Although her lovable best friend Sam is no longer in the picture, we do get some great flashbacks to their past relationship. As much as I love the old characters, it's the new ones that kept me interested in the story. Between her co-workers, unique ex boyfriemd Norm and her crazy relationship with Nick, I was hooked. Specifically Nick, because how could you not love him? 

This book perfectly embodies the Clarissa we knew and loved. She was well known for breaking the fourth wall. In Thing's I Can't Explain we still hear her inner monologue and she still obsessed with graphs and charts. It feels like we are once again in Clarissa's bedroom, waiting for Sam to climb up the ladder. Her same quirky personality still resonates throughout this book, but her opinions have changed. She is a little older, and her life isn't what she thought it would be. 

The strongest thing about Thing's I Can't Explain, isn't just the nostalgia. I've always had a special place for a book that pours its emotions out onto the pages. Clarissa's emotions go from high to low and I found myself feeling that too. With every awkward encounter, I cringed. I got butterflies when she spent time with Nick. I felt bittersweet about Sam. I found myself laughing out loud and even crying at times. Clarissa is honest and relatable. 

I stayed up until 3am finishing this book. I loved every minute of this book and was not ready for it to be over. The book has been marketed as (A Clarissa Novel). I hope that means her story will continue. I need to know what's in that letter! 

Review | The Amazing Book Is Not On Fire

The Amazing Book Is Not On Fire by Dan Howell and Phil Lester
October 2015 by Ebury Press
224 pages
Five Stars


"Hello reader, In this book is a world. A world created by two awkward guys who share their lives on the internet!

We are Dan and Phil and we invite you on a journey inside our minds! From the stories of our actual births, to exploring Phil's teenage diary and all the reasons why Dan's a fail.

Learn how to draw the perfect cat whiskers, get advice on what to do in an awkward situation and discover which of our dining chairs represents you emotionally. With everything from what we text each other, to the time we met One Direction and what really happened in Vegas.." - Goodreads


Dan Howell and Phil Lester are my spirit animals. They are better known for their channels on YouTube, danisnotonfire and AmazingPhil. I was ecstatic when I heard they were making a book. Their videos can always put a smile on my face so, I could only imagine how amazing their book would be. Not to mention, they created a phenomenal book trailer to fuel all the excitement. You can watch that here.  They have a bunch of bonus videos posted on their channel about the process of them writing the book, and even some videos that were inspired by the pages of the book.

The Amazing Book is Not On Fire starts with some background information on Dan and Phil. We get a glimpse of who they were before YouTube and before they had more than 8,000,000 subscribers combined. We get to hear about their births, teenage and college years and what made them upload their first video. We follow their journey on YouTube the many great experiences that have come from that. 

Some of my favorite pages were:
- Reason's Why Dan's A Fail (So Far)
- Why Phil Was A Weird Kid
- Dan and Phil on BBC Radio 1
- The Time We Met One Direction
- What Dan and Phil Text Each Other
- What Happened In Vegas

No matter how many subscribers they have and how crazy things have become, they are still Dan and Phil. This book reads just like their channels. They are painfully awkward at times and absolutely hilarious. Dan writes his own fanfiction and they include both the beautiful and strange fan art others have created. There are so many great photographs and so many inside jokes. 

Dan and Phil have created something special here. It really is the world of Dan and Phil. I'm so happy to be a part of the Phandom. 

Review | Nightbird

Nightbird by Alice Hoffman
March 2015 by Wendy Lamb Books
208 pages
Four stars



"An enchanting novel from bestselling author Alice Hoffman: a charmed New England village, a family secret, and a friendship destined to defeat a witch.

"Some things could only be found in Sidwell it seemed: pink apples, black owls, and my brother, James."

Twelve-year-old Twig's town in the Berkshires is said to hide a winged beast, the Monster of Sidwell, and the rumors draw as many tourists as the town's famed pink apple orchards. Twig lives in the orchard with her mysterious brother James and her reclusive mother, a baker of irresistible apple pies. Because of a family secret, an ancient curse,Twig has had to isolate herself from other kids. Then a family with two girls, Julia and Agate, moves into the cottage next door. They are descendants of the witch who put the spell on Twig's family. But Julia turns out to be Twig's first true friend, and her ally in trying to undo the curse and smooth the path to true love for Agate and James." - Goodreads



If you have never read a book by Alice Hoffman, what are you doing with your life?

In Nightbird, we follow Twig and her family who live in a small town in Massachusetts. Sidwell is not only famous for it's delicious pink apples, but also the monster that resides in the woods. A witch cursed Twig's family 200 years ago and her brother James is still paying the price. Due to the curse, Twig hasn't been able to make friends since she was a child. That changes when a new family moves into the house next door, which the Witch of Sidwell used to own. 

I read this on audio book, which I think was perfect. The narrator did a great job at making each character stand out. Twig is fantastic. While she is terribly shy and people tend to overlook her, she grows so much as a character in this book. She becomes her own person and I really liked seeing the friendships she made along the way. James is wonderful too, and I really enjoyed their relationship.

I've only read Alice Hoffman's adult books. Going in, I thought this was going to be a juvenile book but it reads more as a young adult, which may be due to the ages of the characters.

Nightbird is such a magical book. Everything about it comes together so beautifully. Many of Alice Hoffman's books take place in New England. I've always thought it is the perfect setting to her writing. There's a touch a magic and mystery to this book that I just couldn't get enough of.

I won't give away too much about the ending of the book, but I think it was fantastic. There were a few things I saw coming, but I was really happy to see they played out the way I wanted them too. There were some things that maybe happened too quickly, or were too convenient, but I loved them anyways. I think a lot of that is because it is such a short book, and geared for a younger audience. The story is so beautifully written and the ending wraps everything up nicely. 

I would recommend listening to this on audiobook. It's one of the first one's I've really enjoyed and I think it brought new life to the story.

Review | The Mark of Athena

The Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus #3) by Rick Riordan
October 2012 by Disney-Hyperion Books
586 pages
Three stars



"Annabeth is terrified. Just when she's about to be reunited with Percy—after six months of being apart, thanks to Hera—it looks like Camp Jupiter is preparing for war. As Annabeth and her friends Jason, Piper, and Leo fly in on the Argo II, she can’t blame the Roman demigods for thinking the ship is a Greek weapon. With its steaming bronze dragon masthead, Leo's fantastical creation doesn't appear friendly. Annabeth hopes that the sight of their praetor Jason on deck will reassure the Romans that the visitors from Camp Half-Blood are coming in peace.

And that's only one of her worries. In her pocket Annabeth carries a gift from her mother that came with an unnerving demand: Follow the Mark of Athena. Avenge me. Annabeth already feels weighed down by the prophecy that will send seven demigods on a quest to find—and close—the Doors of Death. What more does Athena want from her?

Annabeth's biggest fear, though, is that Percy might have changed. What if he's now attached to Roman ways? Does he still need his old friends? As the daughter of the goddess of war and wisdom, Annabeth knows she was born to be a leader, but never again does she want to be without Seaweed Brain by her side.

Narrated by four different demigods, The Mark of Athena is an unforgettable journey across land and sea to Rome, where important discoveries, surprising sacrifices, and unspeakable horrors await. Climb aboard the Argo II, if you dare...." -Goodreads

If you have not read the previous books in the series, beware of spoilers!

Let me just start off by saying, I love Rick Riordan. He's absolutely one of my favorite authors and I will always read any book he comes out with. They are always so fun and full of adventure. He is a fantastic writer for readers of any age. Don't let the fact that they are middle grade stop you from reading his books.

I really don't want to say too much about the plot of this story, since it's in the middle of a series, and a companion to The Percy Jackson series. I'll let the Goodreads blurb explain it for me. It's not anything about the plot of this story that made me give it three stars.

I wasn't invested into the story until about halfway through, when they arrived to the mouth of the Mediterranean and met Hercules. As I said before, I don't think there was anything wrong with the plot of the story. It just seemed a little harder to stay focused on than others I've read. The points where it was supposed to be full of action and very intense just didn't register as such. 

One of  Rick Riordan's strongest assets in his writing is his characters. While there may have been a rift between the Romans and Greeks, they were able to work together as a team to accomplish a common goal. There was a lot of character growth and relationships being built. Some of the characters couldn't be further from the other, while some we're more alike than they realize.

I think one of the things I had a hard time with in this book was keeping characters straight. I'm used to reading either just one character or it switching between three characters like in both The Lost Hero and The Son of Neptune. Having seven characters and seven points of view to keep straight is more difficult than I thought it would be. I think that's interesting as an adult reader, I had a hard time keeping them straight. I can't imagine how difficult that would be for an average middle school reader. It made the story very hard to follow at times and hard to keep them straight since so many characters seem to mirror others.

One of the best things of this story was the ending. At that point, I was much more interested in it and I think Arachne was fun to read about. Annabeth really is a phenomenal character and I love reading about her journey. I am in no way surprised that she was able to outsmart Arachne.

I seem to have a problem with middle books by Rick Riordan because I didn't like the fourth book in the Percy Jackson series as much either. I think the ending will make for an amazing fourth book and I am so excited. Don't let my opinion of this book keep you from continuing the series if you have started it already. It really is a great series.

Review | The White Rose

The White Rose (The Lone City #2) by Amy Ewing
October 2015 by HarperTeen
320 pages
Four stars


"Violet is on the run. After the Duchess of the Lake catches Violet with Ash, the hired companion at the Palace of the Lake, Violet has no choice but to escape the Jewel or face certain death. So along with Ash and her best friend, Raven, Violet runs away from her unbearable life of servitude.

But no one said leaving the Jewel would be easy. As they make their way through the circles of the Lone City, Regimentals track their every move, and the trio barely manages to make it out unscathed and into the safe haven they were promised—a mysterious house in the Farm.

But there’s a rebellion brewing, and Violet has found herself in the middle of it. Alongside a new ally, Violet discovers her Auguries are much more powerful than she ever imagined. But is she strong enough to rise up against the Jewel and everything she has ever known?

The White Rose is a raw, captivating sequel to The Jewel that fans won’t be able to put down until the final shocking moments." -Goodreads

If you have not read the previous books in the series, beware of spoilers!



Ever since I finished The Jewel, I've been dying to get my hands on this book once it came out. While it's very much a middle book in a series, I loved it. It wasn't as action packed as maybe I would have liked, but there was so much good information to lead into the next book.

The White Rose picks up right where The Jewel left off. Violet is locked up in her room and Ash is trapped in the dungeon, waiting for death. Violet, Raven and Ash try to escape The Jewel with the help of Lucien and make it to The Farm, where they will supposedly be safe. Of course that is not as easy as it sounds. They run into quite a bit of trouble and meet some unlikely allies along the way. We finally get more details of what Lucien hopes to accomplish with the rebellion.

I had a little bit of a problem with Violet in the first book, but she really became such an amazing character in this story. She stands up for what and who she believes in, no matter what. She's very selfless and puts the people she cares about above herself. I always thought to myself, these surrogates have so much more power than they realize. I'm glad Violet was finally able to see that.

I said it in my last review, and I still agree. I don't really care for Ash. While I do like him more than I did while reading The Jewel, but it's not enough for me to forgive how annoying he was before. The insta-love has died down, which makes me very happy. It feels more natural and not so forced. At the end of the last book, I was actually hoping Violet and Garnet would have a little fling but now I'm team Raven and Garnet all the way. I think they compliment each other so well, even though Garnet is now married.

The world that Amy Ewing has created is pretty incredible. In the first book, we only really heard about The Jewel and The Smoke. In The White Rose, we visit other places as well, like The Bank and The Farm. I like the idea of The Jewel being the center, and the rest just rings around that on the island. Each area and the people that live in it are so unique. It was nice to be able to see that while Violet makes her journey. We really get to see the impact of The Jewel on these people.

One of the best things about the series, and specifically this book are the characters. I've already said how much more I like Violet in this book. She's not the only one. The House of The Stone was a great insight into what Raven was going through next door. We learn so much more about the horrors she faced there and watch her through her healing process. It's very special and she is easily one of my favorite characters. Along with Raven, we see a big change in Garnet. He's no longer just wasting his time with things to make his mother mad. He has a purpose and realizes that he actually likes the people he is now helping. His sarcasm and wit are greatly appreciated. I really liked the addition of Violet's brother Ocher and can't wait to see more of him in the final book. 

Beware for some mild spoilers, but one of my favorite things about this book was learning about the Padalins. I was always a little confused about the auguries and am really pleased with the explanation that we were given. This series is so unique and has so much depth. This series has so much more purpose and meaning now. It's not just a typical YA dystopian. I feel that it really holds its own and is very unique to most other dystopians I've read recently. 

The ending was a major cliffhanger but it's so good. While I kind of saw it coming, it's heartbreaking and I am so interested in how it will play out in the final book of the trilogy. I'm really enjoying this series more and more as it goes on. I highly recommend checking it out before the final book comes out in 2016.

Review | What I Thought Was True

What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick
April 2014 by Dial Books for Young Readers
422 pages
Four stars


"From the acclaimed author of My Life Next Door comes a swoony summertime romance full of expectation and regret, humor and hard questions.

Gwen Castle has never so badly wanted to say good-bye to her island home till now: the summer her Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, takes a job there as the local yard boy. He's a rich kid from across the bridge in Stony Bay, and she hails from a family of fishermen and housecleaners who keep the island's summer people happy. Gwen worries a life of cleaning houses will be her fate too, but just when it looks like she'll never escape her past—or the island—Gwen's dad gives her some shocking advice. Sparks fly and secret histories unspool as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true—about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself—with what really is." -Goodreads


I've always had a soft spot for books with a beach or island setting. They have a specific feel to them that I just love and get so immersed in. This one did not disappoint. I loved Huntley's first book, My Life Next Door. I had high hopes for this one too. While I didn't love it quite as much as MLND, it was still lovely and addicting. There was so much depth and so many great and unique characters. 

Gwen Castle lives on Seashell Island, where the wealthy spend their summers, and the locals take on jobs to serve them. Gwen and her family are very much a part of the island life. Her world gets turned upside down when she runs into what she considers to be her biggest mistake, Cassidy Somers. What I Thought Was True isn't just about Gwen, it's about her family, friends, relationships, jobs, financial issues, the future. 

I loved Emory's character and the role he had in the story. He seems to be the glue that holds the Castle family together. He's not normal, but he's not quite autistic. He's just Em. That being said, I spent most of the book terrified that something was going to happen to him. I thought he was going to get sick or something, and it would be this huge tragedy for the family. Spoiler alert, he's fine, which I'm so happy about. Some of the scenes with Emory were my favorite in the whole book. You can't help but love him. 

Cassidy is so wonderful, but he's not perfect. I love when the romances in YA contemporary novels are realistic. Both characters have made mistakes and can't seem to get on the same page. Gwen and Cassidy were a hilarious couple and just proved how awkward romance is at that age. It was so refreshing to read. Another thing I noticed, and really appreciated, was how the roles seemed to be reversed. Gwen was more physically advanced but Cassidy was better with the emotional side of things. I can't really think of another YA book that I've read where it was so opposite of what you normally see.

One thing I really respected about this book is how casually they talk about sex. The main character isn't an innocent bystander who was taken advantage of. She is able to make her own decisions and her own mistakes. They also mention using birth control and condoms, which I think is really important. It's not just about the heat of the moment, you should think clearly. Huntley doesn't tip toe around the subject, it's just how these characters are. 

There are so many good themes and morals to take away from this story. It was one of the better books I've read in a while and just makes me want to read more contemporary. When it's done well, it's so good. I'm really looking forward to reading Huntley's next book.

Review | The Wizard Returns

The Wizard Returns (#0.3) by Danielle Paige
March 2015 by HarperCollins
100 pages
Five stars



"The Wizard left Oz in a hot air balloon—or did he? This digital original novella is the third installment in the prequel arc to the edgy and exciting New York Times bestseller Dorothy Must Die.

Dorothy Gale is back . . . and she's not the sweet little heroine of Oz anymore. She's power-hungry and vicious, and she leaves a trail of destruction beneath her spike-heeled, magical shoes. But she wasn't always in charge. There used to be a different ruler of Oz. Someone who also came from the Other Place, and who stole power for himself. They called him the Wizard.

The story goes that when a young Dorothy revealed the Wizard as a fraud, the man behind the curtain fled Oz in his hot air balloon. But in The Wizard Returns, he wakes in a field of poppies to find out that not only had he never left, but that he has no memory of who—or where—he is. As he undergoes a series of tests to uncover his memories, he finds that the very girl who threw him from the Emerald Palace is in control. And that Oz may be his destiny after all." -Goodreads



If you have not read the previous books in the series, beware of spoilers!

This has been my favorite novella in the series so far, which says a lot since I've loved all of them.

This novella focuses on The Wizard and Queen LuLu and the Wingless Ones. I don't want to give anything away about the plot, but you just get some more background on the monkeys, the Wizard and their relationship. Both are things that have been referenced in Dorothy Must Die. It was nice to get more information to go off. These novellas are really helping the story come together for me. 

I think the Wizard is such an interesting character, in both the original story and this series. He is so troubled and selfish. I have more of an understanding and appreciation for him now. It was very interesting to see how little loosing his memories changes him, until he is forced to acknowledge his mistakes. 

I love Queen LuLu and the Wingless Ones. They are one of the better additions to the story in my opinion. I think they are so unique. Queen LuLu is so feisty and it's really nice to see how she got where she is now. 

I've read a lot of negative reviews for The Wizard Returns and I guess I just don't understand. A lot of people said they think it had nothing to do with the storyline but I disagree. I really think the monkeys and the Wizard are important. Dorothy wasn't the only person who turned Oz into what it is today. They have each had their role in changing the way things are. 

As I said before, this is my favorite novella in the series and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book. It just keeps getting better and better. 

Review | The Lost Girl

The Lost Girl (Fear Street Relaunch #3) by R. L. Stine
September 2015 by St. Martin's Griffin
261 pages
Four stars


"Generations of children and teens have grown up on R.L. Stine's bestselling and hugely popular horror series, Fear Street and Goosebumps. Now, the Fear Street series is back with a chilling new installment, packed with pure nightmare fodder that will scare Stine's avid fan base of teen readers and adults.

New student Lizzy Palmer is the talk of Shadyside High. Michael and his girlfriend Pepper befriend her, but the closer they get to her, the stranger she seems… and the more attractive she is to Michael. He invites her to join him on a snowmobile race that ends in a tragic accident. Soon, Michael's friends start being murdered, and Pepper becomes convinced that Lizzy is behind the killings. But to her total shock, she and Michael are drawn into a tragic story of an unthinkable betrayal committed over 60 years ago. Frightening and tense in the way that only this master of horror can deliver, The Lost Girl is another terrifying Fear Street novel by the king of juvenile horror" - Goodreads


I loved reading the Fear Street books when I was younger. R. L. Stine has always been one of my favorite authors and I have such a high level of respect for him. I haven't had a chance to read any of the new books in the Fear Street relaunch yet. I saw somewhere that he said this one was his favorite in the relaunch series. Of course, I knew I had to read it right away.

The Lost Girl switches between 1950 and present day, with two separate characters. The part that takes place in 1950 focuses on Beth Palmieri, and her family who plan to open a ranch which is being challenged by a family who own a competing ranch. Present day focuses on Michael, just your average teenager at Shadyside high school, his girlfriend Pepper and their group of friends.

I wasn't sure how the two stories were related or how they would come together but I was really surprised by the ending. What I originally thought was going on, wasn't exactly right. It was so much better. This book was so gruesome, thrilling and creepy. It's not really that the story is scary, it just plays with your mind. I don't want to say too much about the plot. It's better to go into it headfirst. 

After reading this novel, I really can't wait to get my hands on the other books in the Fear Street relaunch, and even re-read some of the originals. I think this book would be really good for anyone who doesn't read horror that often, or someone who just wants to see what it's like. It won't give you nightmares but it's creepy. 

As I said before, I have so much respect for R. L. Stine. After so many years of writing, he shows no signs of stopping or running out of ideas. One of the things I love the most is that with the changing of times, things that used to scare someone before, can be solved by just pulling out your cell phone and calling for help. He finds a way around these things to make it realistic and still scary. He has such a talent for this style of writing. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

Review | The House of The Stone

The House of the Stone (The Lone City #1.5) by Amy Ewing
July 2015 by Epic Reads Impulse
87 pages
Three stars



"In The Jewel, we followed Violet in her servitude under the Duchess of the Lake. Now we'll hear Raven's story and her time as a surrogate for the Countess of the Stone in this digital novella from Amy Ewing.
When Raven is bought at the Auction, she knows immediately that things will not go well. And when she arrives at the Countess's palace, Raven quickly discovers that the Countess is much less interested in having a baby than experimenting with Raven's mind and body. Raven can only hope for an escape…and to see Violet again, all the while reminding herself that she is Raven Stirling, and she does matter." -Goodreads


If you have not read the previous books in the series, beware of spoilers!

I loved reading The Jewel. One of the many mysteries was, what is happening to Raven next door? I was so so excited to see that this novella was coming out. I'll admit, I'm a huge sucker for them. I usually borrow them from an ebook library, so I don't really know what the value of this story is for the price.

This novella follows Raven during the auction, where she is bought by the Countess of the Stone, and her time afterwards. Of course, she is bought by the one person she did not want to be owned by. In the Countesses' house, she is kept in awful conditions, and referred to as "it". The one person she thinks may be an ally, still would not help her or make things any easier for her. 

If you thought things were bad for Violet in The Jewel, just wait until you see how things are going for Raven. The Countess of the Stone is terrible and selfish. Raven is not treated like a person, just an object for her use. I really liked seeing the other, darker side, of what could happen if you were purchased as a surrogate.

My biggest complaint with this novella is just that it's not long enough. It seemed like right when the story got interesting, it ended. I think some of the things we learned in this novella will become important in the second installment in the series, The White Rose.

Overall, I'm really enjoying this story and I loved getting just a little more information on the story. I highly recommend this novella for fans of The Jewel. 

Review | (Don't You) Forget About Me

(Don't You) Forget About Me by Kate Karyus Quinn
June 2014 by HarperTeen
336 pages
Two stars


"Welcome to Gardnerville.
A place where no one gets sick. And no one ever dies.

Except...
There’s a price to pay for paradise. Every fourth year, the strange power that fuels the town exacts its payment by infecting teens with deadly urges. In a normal year in Gardnerville, teens might stop talking to their best friends. In a fourth year, they’d kill them.

Four years ago, Skylar’s sister, Piper, was locked away after leading sixteen of her classmates to a watery grave. Since then, Skylar has lived in a numb haze, struggling to forget her past and dull the pain of losing her sister. But the secrets and memories Piper left behind keep taunting Skylar—whispering that the only way to get her sister back is to stop Gardnerville’s murderous cycle once and for all." - Goodreads



I don't usually dislike books. Most of the time I just won't finish them. I really wanted to like this one. One of the biggest things that attracted me to the book was the cover and the title. I went into it, not really knowing anything about it, just what I read in the Goodreads summary.

The plot of this book is so interesting to me. Gardnerville is a town where no one ever gets sick or dies. Except, every four years something strange happens to the teens in the town. They start doing things out of their character, and it leads to tragedy. Our main character Skylar's sister was part of a fourth year and was locked into the Gardnerville asylum. There's things she can't remember about what happened and Skylar struggles to remember what happened while trying to stop it from happening again. 

I won't say that this book is badly written, because that wasn't what I disliked about it. I just found this book to be really confusing. I read the entire thing and I have little idea of what happened. I have a general idea, but I never felt connected to the book and I never understood exactly what was going on. It was so interesting, but it just wasn't easy to follow. Every chapter switches between the past and the present. As the book progresses you get more details of what occurred, but still get more confused. Maybe it was just me, but I had a really hard time staying focused and interested at times. I had to take a few breaks while reading it because I just had no idea what I was reading.

I heard amazing reviews about the ending of the book specifically. I found the ending to be really unique, but I didn't want to read the whole book just to get to the ending, if that makes sense. I think there are a lot of people out there who will follow this book and love it. I'm just not one of them. It wasn't my cup of tea.

Review | Why Not Me?

Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
September 2015 by Crown Archetype
240 pages
Three stars


"From the author of the beloved New York Times bestselling book Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? and the creator and star of The Mindy Project comes a collection of essays that are as hilarious and insightful as they are deeply personal.

In Why Not Me?, Kaling shares her ongoing journey to find contentment and excitement in her adult life, whether it’s falling in love at work, seeking new friendships in lonely places, attempting to be the first person in history to lose weight without any behavior modification whatsoever, or most important, believing that you have a place in Hollywood when you’re constantly reminded that no one looks like you.

In “How to Look Spectacular: A Starlet’s Confessions,” Kaling gives her tongue-in-cheek secrets for surefire on-camera beauty, (“Your natural hair color may be appropriate for your skin tone, but this isn’t the land of appropriate–this is Hollywood, baby. Out here, a dark-skinned woman’s traditional hair color is honey blonde.”) “Player” tells the story of Kaling being seduced and dumped by a female friend in L.A. (“I had been replaced by a younger model. And now they had matching bangs.”) In “Unlikely Leading Lady,” she muses on America’s fixation with the weight of actresses, (“Most women we see onscreen are either so thin that they’re walking clavicles or so huge that their only scenes involve them breaking furniture.”) And in “Soup Snakes,” Kaling spills some secrets on her relationship with her ex-boyfriend and close friend, B.J. Novak (“I will freely admit: my relationship with B.J. Novak is weird as hell.”)

Mindy turns the anxieties, the glamour, and the celebrations of her second coming-of-age into a laugh-out-loud funny collection of essays that anyone who’s ever been at a turning point in their life or career can relate to. And those who’ve never been at a turning point can skip to the parts where she talks about meeting Bradley Cooper." - Goodreads



I read Mindy's first book and I really enjoyed it. At that time, I had no idea who she was. To be honest, I've never watched The Office or The Mindy Project. Mindy is much more noteworthy now and the internet just loves her. I was really looking forward to this book and all her new stories.

I love Mindy's writing and humor. She is so down to earth and not afraid to make fun of herself or Hollywood. When I was reading this book, it felt like I was just listening to an old friend. She gets real about filming sex scenes, having friends in Hollywood and relationships. One of my favorite sections of the book was hearing about her relationship with a staff member of the White House. 

A big part of this book is talking about her show, The Mindy Project. As I said before, I've never watched it. I just didn't feel connected to that part of the story. You can tell she really cares about it though, which makes me want to watch it. If you are someone who loves Mindy and follows her projects, you may love this book more than I did.

Don't get me wrong, I adored this book. It was so funny, and I had such a good time reading it. I just didn't always feel connected to the story. I really do recommend any of Mindy Kaling's books.

Review | The Witch Must Burn

The Witch Must Burn (#0.2) by Danielle Paige
November 2014 by HarperCollins
100 pages
Four stars


"There’s a new Wicked Witch in Oz—and her name is Dorothy. This digital original novella is the second installment in the prequel arc to the edgy and exciting New York Times bestseller Dorothy Must Die.

Dorothy Gale is back . . . and she’s not the sweet little heroine of Oz anymore. She’s power-hungry and vicious, and she leaves a trail of destruction beneath her spike-heeled, magical shoes. But behind the scenes, there’s someone else pulling the strings. Someone who doesn’t want fame or glory—just control.

Glinda of the North brought Dorothy back to Oz for a reason. And in The Witch Must Burn, a young maid is about to discover that a witch who says she’s Good might be the most dangerous kind of Wicked.

The Witch Must Burn, by debut author Danielle Paige, is a dark and compelling reimagining of a beloved classic and is perfect for fans of Cinder by Marissa Meyer, Beastly by Alex Flinn, and Wicked by Gregory Maguire." - Goodreads



I loved this novella so much! This series is so good in the first place, and the novellas just add to it and make it so much better. There is so much we didn't know while reading Dorothy Must Die. In both the novellas I've read so far, we are getting a glimpse into the past of Oz to see how things changed and evolved.

This story is told from Jellia's point of view, who is Dorothy's head maid at the palace. Jellia is a great character and I've wanted to know more about her and her motives. She's spunky, witty and caring. She protects others from Dorothy's wrath. I was really pleased to see this story was from her perspective. 

Not only do we get a glimpse into Dorothy from Jellia's viewpoint, but we also get to see Glinda. For being the so called "good witch", she is truly awful! It was really nice to see how the resistance started and how she got involved with it. 

I highly recommend reading this novella after reading Dorothy Must Die. This is a truly amazing series.

Review | Down The Rabbit Hole

Down The Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of A Former Playboy Bunny by Holly Madison
June 2015 by Dey Street Books
352 pages
Four stars


"A former girlfriend of Hugh Hefner describes how her years inside the Playboy Mansion went from a fairytale of A-list celebrity parties to an oppressive regime of strict rules, scheduled sex, and a total loss of identity, so much so that she even contemplated suicide." -Goodreads



Personally, I really enjoyed this book. I know it's kind of a hot topic and really just a he said-she said thing. Every person is going to see things differently than another and no one really has the right to say whether what Holly said in this is true or not. This is the story she is telling us, and I'll take it.

I really enjoyed Girls Next Door for the first few seasons that it was on TV. A lot of people said that Holly comes off horribly on TV but I enjoyed her bubbly personality. I found Kendra to be the one that I couldn't stand watching. It was interesting to get a view into this world that most people never get the chance to step foot into. 

If you can't tell by reading my reviews, I love non fiction books, particularly memoirs. I read a lot of celebrity books, regardless if I think the person has actually written the book or not. I read somewhere that Holly had a collaborator for this book, but didn't really find any proof of that. Even if she did, I think Holly has a very unique voice and the pace of her book was very easy to keep up with. I didn't feel that at any point she had really lost my attention. I would say this is absolutely one of the better books I have read recently. I certainly found it better than either of the books Kendra has written. To me, it's more honest and raw.

Yes, the whole idea of three girls living in the mansion with Hugh is very strange. I think that's why I enjoyed this book so much. It must have been such a bizarre situation, even for someone who dreamed of posing in Playboy or living in the mansion. A lot of people have said that Holly must have just been wanting to start drama with writing this book. I think she is just trying to prevent people from ending up in the same situation as her. 

I admire her for writing this book. I'm sure a lot of it was very difficult and she knew she would be upsetting people while writing it. I've always thought there was something off about Hugh Hefner. I believe the claims about him being a close minded man, who belittles woman. I think it's an important story to be told. Fame and money isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Review | Me and Earl and The Dying Girl

Me and Earl and The Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
March 2012 by Amulet Books
295 pages
Three stars


"Greg Gaines is the last master of high school espionage, able to disappear at will into any social environment. He has only one friend, Earl, and together they spend their time making movies, their own incomprehensible versions of Coppola and Herzog cult classics.
Until Greg’s mother forces him to rekindle his childhood friendship with Rachel.

Rachel has been diagnosed with leukemia—-cue extreme adolescent awkwardness—-but a parental mandate has been issued and must be obeyed. When Rachel stops treatment, Greg and Earl decide the thing to do is to make a film for her, which turns into the Worst Film Ever Made and becomes a turning point in each of their lives.

And all at once Greg must abandon invisibility and stand in the spotlight." -Goodreads



I knew very little about this book going into it. I heard a lot of people on BookTube talk about how much they loved it, but never really specified the plot. I went into it pretty blind, but still was a little let down.

Greg Gaines is just an average Joe who makes bad films with his best friend Earl. When a friend from the past, Rachel, is diagnosed with Leukemia, his mom forces him to spend time with her to cheer her up. 

One of the things I loved the most about this book is the formatting and storytelling. Greg talks to the readers directly, which I think was done fantastically. This book is him looking back on the past, and telling us what we should expect from the story. There are bullet points, lists, and scripts among other things throughout the regular narration. It really breaks up the story and keeps your attention. 

In so many books that deal with such a heavy subject matter, it's emotionally draining to read. Rachel's sickness is such a sad an unfortunate thing, but Greg keeps it lighthearted and the story isn't just about Rachel being sick. It's about the friendship between these three people and how Greg grows up when faced with this hard situation. Me and Earl and The Dying Girl is hilarious at times and I found myself literally laughing out loud.

Greg is a very interesting character, and I have to say, I don't like him very much. He is socially awkward and aggravatingly modest. Most of the time he comes off as inconsiderate and a little too blunt. He isn't very respectful or appreciative of the people in his life, although that does change towards the end. He just seems to be a typical clueless teenage boy, who knows nothing of the world. I think Jesse Andrews did a great job at writing his character, I just can't connect to him. I know I am the unpopular opinion in this, because a lot of people really do love Greg. While he was funny, and by the end I had warmed up to him, I just didn't love him. 

I really would have loved to see the film they made at the end turn out better than it did. I wish they had been able to make something that really honored Rachel but I don't think that would have been true to the characters in this story. I liked Earl, but they both were just a little too clueless. I really did appreciate the honesty in the story and the consistency in the characters.

I watched the film recently to see how it would compare to the book. In some ways, I connected to the movie more. I found Greg to be more likable and less frustrating. I liked book Rachel better though. I think they complimented each other well, but were definitely different stories. Both the movie and the book had parts that I liked better than the other.

I do recommend this book. I think most people will love this story, it just wasn't my cup of tea at times. I know I am the unpopular opinion and maybe if I were to reread this story a few years from now, I'd appreciate Greg a little more than I do now.