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.

Review | No Place Like Oz

No Place Like Oz (#0.1) by Danielle Paige
November 2013 by HarperCollins
125 pages
Four Stars


"In this digital original novella, Dorothy travels back to Oz to reunite with old friends, but her story may not have a happy ending. No Place Like Oz is a prequel to the forthcoming novel Dorothy Must Die.

After returning to Kansas, Dorothy Gale has realized that the dreary fields of Kansas don’t compare to the vibrant landscapes of Oz. And although she’s happy to be reunited with Aunt Em, she misses her friends from the yellow brick road. But most of all, Dorothy misses the fame and the adventure. In Kansas she’s just another prairie girl, but in Oz she was a hero. So Dorothy is willing to do anything to get back, because there really is no place like Oz. But returning to the land she left comes at a price, and after Dorothy is through with it, Oz will never be the same.

Perfect for fans of Alex Flinn, Marissa Meyer, and Gregory Maguire, No Place Like Oz is a dark reimagining of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. Building off of its rich mythology, Danielle Paige creates an edgy, thrilling story for teens that chronicles the rise and fall of one of the literature’s most beloved characters. This digital original novella is a prequel that sets the stage for the forthcoming novel Dorothy Must Die." - Goodreads



This was a really interesting novella. It takes place a few years after Dorothy returns to Kansas. She is trying to readjust to her average life in Kansas after being well liked and going on great adventures in the beautiful and mystical Oz. She begins to feel very lost and like she just doesn't belong anymore. No one believes her tales of Oz and she becomes increasingly frustrated and angry.

With this series being very far from the original Wizard of Oz, I really like the realism of this story. There are nods to the original, such as Dorothy's silver/red shoes.. Although it is a fantasy novella, it feels very realistic. The setting and characters are very familiar. 

It was so wonderful to get into Dorothy's head and see what was going on in there. How does such a sweet young girl turn so evil and power hungry? Danielle does a really good job at making us sympathize with Dorothy. I've always had a soft spot for evil characters you just love to hate, and Dorothy takes the cake. 

I read this after reading the first full book in the series, Dorothy Must Die. I didn't realize that it was actually published before the first novel. I almost liked reading it afterwards better. Knowing how Dorothy was in the present, I liked going back into the past to see Dorothy evolve. I love this series so far, and I think this novella was a great addition. It allows you to really understand this world and get the bigger picture of how things got where they are. Danielle Paige's writing is so addictive and I can't wait to see where the story goes next.

Review | Crystal Kingdom

Crystal Kingdom (#3) by Amanda Hocking
August 2015 by St. Martin's Press
432 pages
Five stars


"Cast out by her kingdom and far from home, she's the Kanin people's only hope.

Bryn Aven - unjustly charged with murder and treason - is on the run. The one person who can help is her greatest enemy, the enigmatic Konstantin Black. Konstantin is her only ally against those who have taken over her kingdom and threaten to destroy everything she holds dear. But can she trust him?

As Bryn fights to clear her name, the Kanin rulers’ darkest secrets are coming to light… and now the entire troll world is on the brink of war. Will it tear Bryn from Ridley Dresden, the only guy she’s ever loved? And can she join forces with Finn Holmes and the Trylle kingdom? One thing is certain: an epic battle is underway—and when it’s complete, nothing will ever be the same…" - Goodreads



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

This was such a great ending to The Kanin Chronicles. Everything came together so perfectly. I would have liked a little more of a view into the future at the end, but otherwise I feel very satisfied with the ending.

Bryn is on the run and on her own after the events of Ice Kissed. She has been charged with treason and murder by Queen Mina of the Kanin. Konstantin Black, her greatest enemy, becomes her ally. Bryn finds that not everything she has always thought was true. There is a good side to Konstantin and he wants to make amends for the wrongs he has made. He wants to fight on the good side to defend the Kanin against his former lover, Mina. They rally together to try and gain support from the other troll tribes, which proves to be very difficult. Not many people would support someone they see on wanted posters around town.

I like that we see more characters from the Trylle series like Queen Wendy and King Loki. We get to see them from another perspective, which is really refreshing. There is war brewing and it seems no one will help the Kanin from the danger in the walls of Doldastam.

I really enjoyed this series and I'm sad to see that it's over. I love Amanda Hocking's writing. To me, this book really proved that Amanda always sees the bigger picture and everything has a purpose. I highly recommend it.

You can read the first few chapters on Amanda's Wattpad after making an account here.

Top 5 | Books to Read by 2016

There are only three months of 2015 left and I am 19 books away from reaching my goal of reading 75 books this year. While I am hopeful that I can reach that goal, there are a few books that I have on my must read list still this year.

The Sword of Summer (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #1) by Rick Riordan

I love Rick Riordan. I have been anticipating this book since before it even had a name. There is something so interesting to me about Norse mythology and I cannot wait to devour this book and see what Rick has done with these gods. Also, that cover art is beautiful.

The Amazing Book Is Not On Fire by Dan Howell and Phil Lester

Dan and Phil are some of my favorite boys on YouTube. They are so funny and watching their videos always puts a smile on my face. I'm really excited to see what they have included in this book. If you are going to subscribe to two channels on YouTube, I highly recommend theirs. (DanIsNotOnFire and AmazingPhil)

Beyond the Kingdoms (The Land of Stories #4) by Chris Colfer

Chris Colfer has created such an amazing series with The Land of Stories. I recently finished the third book, A Grimm Warning. While I wanted to start reading this immediately, I haven't had the chance yet. Book three had the worst cliff hanger and I've been dying to find out what happens next. Alex and Connor did a lot of growing up in the last book and I'm excited to see where these characters will be now.

A Mad Zombie Party (White Rabbit Chronicles #4) by Gena Showalter

I accidentally stumbled upon the White Rabbit Chronicles a few years ago and fell in love. It was originally supposed to be a trilogy but book three was just so heartbreaking. The characters faced a huge loss and the book just left me feeling empty afterwards. I wasn't the only one that felt that way. Gena Showalter decided to write one more book to tie up some loose ends and give these characters the ending they deserve. I don't think I'm reading for this series to be over, but I cannot wait to read it. I haven't loved characters like the ones in this story for quite a while.

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare

I'm probably the only person that hasn't read this series yet. I heard that ABC Family is producing a TV adaption set to release in January called Shadowhunters. I'm really interested in watching the TV show but would like to at least check out book one in the series first. I've heard mostly good things, so I'm pretty excited to give it a shot finally.