September Wrap Up

Hello spooky friends! September has been a whirlwind of a month. Noah started grade 8, I can’t believe in a years time he will be starting high school. It just blows my mind, how much he’s grown. September in my mind is the first month of fall, so I’ve been doing some fall crafts with Emmy. We made some pinecone bird feeders, which was a lot of fun. Emmy very much enjoyed eating the peanut butter. The leaves are starting to change here and I’m living for it. Anyways, it was a really good reading month. In August I was in a bad BTS induced reading slump, and I’m glad to say I read a lot more in September. I’m still wrapped up in BTS content but I was able to read thanks to audiobooks.

Books Read in September

1. Queen takes knight – Joely Sue Burkhart

This is a smutty vampire book and honestly that’s all I needed to know. This was really short only 200 pages, and I was honestly so happy when I found out there are more books in the series. It’s not the greatest book of all time but I really enjoyed it. It follows Shara who is on the run from monsters that killed her parents. One night she is surrounded by the monsters when two giant men show up and fends them off, turns out she is there vampire queen. This book is so steamy and she literally is covered in blood.

2. Pumpkinheads – Rainbow Rowell

This graphic novel is so stinking cute, and it just screams fall vibes. The whole atmosphere of the pumpkin patch was very well done, I wanted to jump in and be a part of it. The art is gorgeous and the story is adorable. Deja and Josiah are great characters, and I loved them so much! If your looking for the perfect book to get you in the autumn feels, then you need to pick this up immediately.

3. A Curse so Dark and Lonely –  Bridgid Kremmerer

A Curse So Dark and Lonely is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast but it is much darker. I’ve seen this book everywhere and I’ve been really intrigued by it, but also intimidated as it’s very large. This book is so good, I flew through it in just two days, and this boy is quite chunky. I loved every moment. Beauty and the Beast if my favorite fairy tale,and I am so in love with this book. 

4.The Raven Boys – Maggie Steivfater

I re read this as an audiobook, which ended up being a bad idea. I often found my mind wandering, it made me so sad. As I loved the book so much when I first read it, this time around I found myself often board. Maybe because I knew what happened or I was coming out if a slump. I did still really love the characters and the whimsical prose.

5. Eclipse – Stephanie Meyer

This of course is the third book in The Twilight series, and it’s also my favorite. There is one scene in this that always gets me, when Jacob is leaving the tent before the fight, every darn time I cry even though I’ve read this book so many times before and know it’s coming, I still cry. I have always been #teamedward, but I also love Jacob and it hits me in the feels. This book in my opinion is the best in the series,

6. The Turn of the Key – Ruth Ware

It’s not secret that Ruth Ware’s books in the past, I’ve rated them all 3 stars. I was never blown away by her writing, but oh boy this book was so good.  I loved it, it freaked me out, gave me chills, I listened to the audiobook at night and I could feel my heart racing. I absolutely loved it and I have really high hoped for her future novels now. This one is about a Nanny who is telling the story from a jail cell, after a child is found dead, this is not a spoiler as it happens in the first chapter. I love the setting, creepy Victorian house, wired as a smart house.It’s fast paced, I read it in two sittings.

7. Someone We Know – Shari Lapena

There inst to much to say about this book other than I enjoyed it, and it was entertaining. I listened to it on audio in two sittings. This book takes place in a quiet subdivision where everyone knows everyone, there has been a string of break-ins. A teenager boy  has been sneaking into houses and hacking into personal computers.A woman down the street reported missing by her husband is later found dead. The book follows the lives of the people in the subdivision, a lot of secrets are discovered as the police investigate the death.

8.To Drink Coffee with a ghost – Amanda Lovelace

Amanda is the Queen of modern poetry! If you haven’t read any of her previous collection I highly recommend you read them all. She writes with such magic, that you can feel every emotion shes poured into her words. I have been following Amanda well before she wrote The Princess Saves Herself in this One and with every new book I fall more in love with her writing.  This collection really touched me, right off the bat I was crying. The poems are powerful and raw, about her complicated relationship with her mother. I really love the artwork scattered throughout the collection,it adds a wonderful touch.There is a series of trigger warning that are provided by Amanda at the beginning of the book, I will share them down below. I adored this collection, so sit down with a cup of hot coffee and read this masterpiece of a book!

Content warnings: (provided by author) child abuse, eating disorders, sexual assault, self-harm, violence, cheating, death, gore, blood, trauma, grief.

9. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince- J.K Rowling

This is my least favorite of the books in the series, don’t get me wrong I still really love this book, but some of the content was not the best. This book is the turning point to the darkest side to Harry Potter’s world. This book picks up right after the events of Goblet of Fire, Harry just narrowly escapes death by Voldermort. The ministry is making him out to look like a fool, and the community believes that he is lying. Returning to school, the Ministry has appointed Dolores Umbridge to teach defense against the dark arts she is an absolute terror of a woman. This is an emotional book for Harry and you can really see how unhappy he is in this year,he is frustrated and angry. Yet he wants to do well in his classes as this is the year they must take the O.W.L’s. WE get to meet a handful of new characters in this novel, such as Luna Lovegood, I adore her! As well as many others; Sirius plays a big role in this book and the movies really did not do him justice.

10. No Exit – Taylor Adams

 I was in a huge thriller mood, I still am, so I decided to pick up No Exit. This was not at all what I expected when I started this book.The story follows a college art student named Darby who gets caught in s blizzard on her way him to see her mother in the hospital at Christmas. She gets stuck at a rest stop, where she finds a little girl locked in s cage in the back of a truck. Meanwhile the kid appears are inside the rest stop. What I really enjoyed while reading this was its cinematic quality. This would make an incredible movie! The amount of pain and torture shocked me, I really wasn’t expecting it at all. However I’m a wired twisted person and I loved all it.

11. Truly Devious- Maureen Johnson

I’m honestly so mad about this book. Because I expected to enjoy this so so much. All my favorite Reviewers seemed to have loved it, but I found the story to be just okay. Maybe it’s because I read a lot of messed up adult thrillers that this book left me underwhelmed.I love the concept of this book, with the murders and the academy. But the execution is disappointing.

Tv Shows Watched in September

Gilmore Girls- Seasons 1,2,3

The Politician Season 1

Right off the bat it has checked all my boxes: a warning at the beginning about mental health, an amazing cast! I really just watched the entire first season of The Politician in two days. DAY. I NEED s2 immediately. Ben Platt is incredible; I love his voice and they included an original song. Jessica Lange is actually an icon. She’s literally the baddest bitch ever!!! Is there a role she can’t do.

Albums on Repeat

BTS: Perona, BTS: Love Yourself: Tear

Not an album but I must have listened to Chicken Noodle Soup -J-Hope and Becky G at least 50 times. Becky G & Hoseok was the perfect collab! I I love this song. Hoseok looks so good in this video, overall look but his dancing was just amazing as usual! But i felt the dancing in the MV was even more special to him & he just rocked it out with all he had.He’s just doing what he loves and he shines so bright, he’s so talented so charismatic.

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The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai

 I received a copy of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

I am really loving all the adult contemporary romance books lately, and of course they all seem to have killer covers. The Right Swipe caught my attention with its bright pink cover and an awesome synopsis.This was also the August pick for the Dragons and Tea Book Club. This book was good but it didn’t blow me away, sadly to say its not a new favorite.

“Being vulnerable is a risk. Love—romantic, platonic, familial, it doesn’t matter what kind of love—is a risk.”

Ever since Rhiannon, left her old job on some bad terms, she has created a very successful dating app. She is very driven and has no time for relationships. She ends up having a one night stand with a man, and they agree to go on a second date. The day of the date she waits for him and hes a no show. So, she throws herself into her work, she attends a party for a competing dating app, to discover the man, Samson, is there new spokesman.

Rhiannon:  Our main character, she is a black woman, She is a very strong woman, intelligent, successful and independent. She runs a successful dating app with her best friend,she is determined to buy out the competing company.

Samson:He is an Ex-pro NFL player,despite his size, he is such a soft boy, he wants to find a great love but struggles with  modern day dating, and technology. He is patient and kind.

What I really enjoyed about this book was how real the character’s felt, the situations they were put in felt like it could actually happen. I liked Rhiannon and Samson’s connection, they have a really sweet romance. The story also touches on some tough issues such as workplace  harassment,abusive relationships,consent and sexism. It’s in-depth detail but it is touched upon, the way it is woven into the story makes it all the more real as these are issues a lot of woman face daily.

I only gave this book a 3.5 Star rating because it wasn’t mind blowing, even though I did really enjoy it. I am interested in seeing if there will be any companion books.

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The Bride Test by Helen Hoang

ARC provided by the publisher though Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Like many of you I fell in love with the authors debut, The KISS Quotient last year and was really looking forward to her sophomore novel. I didn’t love this installment as much as I did The Kiss Quotient, but I still think that this book is a gem.I just need ya’ll to know the Helen Hoang is my new romance queen.

“Girl loves boy loves girl.”

Just like The Kiss Quotient, this is an ownvoices novel, Helen is Vietnamese and is Autistic. One of my favourite things about this book is seeing the difference between Stella from TKQ and Khai who is the main character of this book. I love how Helen brings enlightenment to the Autism spectrum and how each person has an individual experience and feelings. As I said in my review for TKQ my brother has Aspergers, and people seem to group everyone with autism in the same category. And this book does an amazing job at showing the differences each person experiences.

The Bride Test is written in dual perspective following Esme and Khai. The premise of this book is that Khai’s mother wants him to get married. Khai does not want to get married but his mom believes if she just finds him the perfect woman he will change his mind.

Khai – Vietnamese, Autistic, he is Michaels cousin from TKQ. He believes he can never fall in love, because he feels differently than other people he doesn’t recognize some emotions he experiences. He is a successful accountant at a large company. I really loved him as a character and thought his ba k story was really well written.

Esme – Biracial (Vietnamese and white), living in Vietnam with as a single mother with her daughter, mother and grandmother.She has never met her birth father. She works as a housekeeper in a hotel, where she meets a woman offering g her a chance to fly to California and marry her son, Khai. As the story goes on she developed real feelings for Khai. I really liked Esme as a character, she’s ambitious and hardworking, while being sweet and funny.

“My heart works in a different way, but it’s yours.”

I adore both Khai and Esme! Their chemistry was amazing and I loved how there relationship organic grew. They’re vastly different, but also worked so well together.I LOVED the relationship between Khai and his brother Quan. I really hope the next book will be his story!

My few complaints: As a parent I really didn’t like how Esme hid the fact that she had a daughter. Her child is a huge part of her life and ordinarily the main reason she agreed to come to California. She wants to give her a better life but yet she doesn’t tell anyone about her. I also wasn’t to thrilled about the Epilogue but I can’t talk about that because I don’t want to spoil anything.

Overall, The Bride Test wasn’t on the same level as The Kiss Quotient but it was still incredibly enjoyable.

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April Wrap Up

Hey, loves! I know this is so late! I  have been slacking with reviewing and commenting, but hopefully I’ll get that caught up soon. In May I have a lot of blog posts already planned out and many are drafted so I have a really good feeling about this month.

So to get to the books that I read during the month of April. I read some fantasy books this month which I feel great about as it’s my favorite genre but I have been struggling to get into lately, I give many thanks to the lovely ladies who buddy read with me! I have some varied ratings with the books I read starting from 2 stars up to 4 stars. Okay let’s stop talking and get into what books I read in the month of April!

(Like always, you can click the links in each of the titles to read a more in-depth review of each book.)

Caraval by Stephanie Garber – ★★★★

This was a re-read, because I really wanted to get to Legendary before Finale was released. This time around I read this book via audiobook and it was just as amazing as the first time I read it. This book was just absolutely ENCHANTING! From the very first page up until the last, there was never a dull moment.I got to fall in love with the characters all over again. Stephanie Garber is an incredibly talented author, and a master at weaving beautiful lyrical words.

Legendary by Stephanie Garber – ★★★★★

It has taken me over a year to read Legendary, and I am so happy to have finally read the sequel to Caraval. This book is on my must reads of 2019 and I can now say that I love this book so much! I loved being back in this world, Caraval was such a magical story and Legendary was no different. The romance in this book, I was completely living for it! And that ending!?! The big reveal took me by surprise because it felt a little to obvious so I wasn’t expecting it. Needless to say I am beyond excited for Finale!!

Aurora Rising by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kauffman – ★★

I want to start this review by saying that I was very fortunate to have been given a EARC, I swear that my neighbors could hear me cheering. With that said, this book disappointed me so much! I really wanted to love it and I really didn’t like it until the last 30% of the book. I loved Jay and Amie’s Illuminae Files and I do enjoy there writing. I just wasn’t connecting with the story.This book was a huge miss for me, I know there is a lot of high praise already. I know I’ll probably get some hate for this but no one is more disappointed with my feelings than I am.

Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott – ★★.5

I originally rated this book a three but I took it down to two and a half stars. I only read this book because I want to see the movie. And I only want to see the movie because of Cole Sprouse. Anyway this book is about two teens living with cystic fibrosis, and there relationship. The story overall I enjoyed it, i found it entertaining but the writing was so cringe worthy. I love beautiful prose and this definitely want it.

The Storm Crow by Kalyn Josephson – ★★★★

I really LOVED this book! The Storm Crow is filled with the potential to be a great, captivating series. It’s gripping within the first chapter, the characters are all amazing and the magic is uniquely written. With a large variety of majestic crows that can control the elements they provide everything needed for it’s country.  The crows gave me major  How to Train your Dragon vibes. Josephson has created such a rich and gorgeous world!

Wilder Girls by Rory Power – ★★★★

Wilder Girls has been everywhere lately, with its gorgeous cover to amazing synopsis. I have to say this cover is probably my favorite cover of the whole year.I’m going to need all the sapphic horror books from now on. The female-female relationship in this book was everything! I loved these girls so much and was horrified for what they were going through.Rory power’s writing is beautiful yet it does a fantastic job at making your skin crawl, with it’s deliberate descriptive details. Power’s does not hold back on the horror scenes, as a horror movie lover I found some of the horror to be tame but to others it can be quite triggering. That being said this was one of the most unique young adult novels I had the pleasure of reading.

My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing – ★★★★

Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey – ★★★★

THIS WAS SO ADORABLE AND CUTE!!! I’ve seen a couple of my friends give it a low rating and I can see why some people wouldn’t enjoy it. That wasn’t the case for me. This book is basically a long homage to romantic comedies, which made me realize I have not watched a lot of the movies mentioned, and I quickly wrote them all down to add to my Netflix queue.This book is the perfect summer beach read!

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That’s all! I am so sorry this is going up so late! So those are the books I read this month let me know down in the comments what your favorite book was in April.

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Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

“You can justify anything. If you’re narcissistic enough to believe that the universe conspires for and against you—which we all are, deep down—then you can convince yourself you’re getting signs about anything and everything.”

TW: substance abuse/addiction, abortion

Truly one of the most remarkable stories I have ever had the pleasure of reading .Having read and absolutely LOVED The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo last year I couldn’t wait for Reid’s newest book.I tried to get an ARC but the God’s did not bless me with an opportunity. I have to say the wait was absolutely worth it,I read this book via audiobook and it was fantastic. The book is written in interview format, which worked out so well in audiobook, it’s also a full cast.

Daisy Jones & The Six is about a band formed in the 1970’s. The book is told through interviews with the band members. Our leading lady Daisy is a young beautiful teenager, she desperately wants to be seen. Her parents are never home, and don’t pay her any attention. Daisy becomes a regular at nightclubs and starts getting into being a groupie, witch includes sex, drugs and the Wild life of rock n roll. Daisy gets involved with a musician, he is struggling to write his next song so Daisy ends up writing some lyrics. This man claims them as his own,well this infuriates Daisy and from this point forward she is determined to be a songwriter.

 “I had absolutely no interest in being somebody else’s muse.
I am not a muse.
I am the somebody.

End of fucking story.”

She soon gets involved with this band The Six. It started out as a writing gig with the lead singer Billy but then one night she performed with the band. The fans absolutely adored her and it was decided she would join the band.I was obsessed with this story, I fell really hard for Daisy and needed to know her every move. Daisy was never afraid to be herself and she expressed that at every opportunity. She was raw and emotional. I couldn’t get enough of her. Taylor Jenkins writes beautiful complex characters, to a point that I actually believe they could be real people. This book has a large cast of characters, from the band members to music producers and photographers.

“It was America. It was tits. It was sex. It was drugs. It was summer. It was angst. It was rock ’n’ roll.”

This Book is all about female empowerment, supporting other women and demanding credit where it is due. Carmilla is such a well written character, she loves without asking for anything in return, she’s devoted and not jealous of the women surrounding Billy. Karen she is the only female in the band before Daisy came along, she does not take shot from anyone and stands up for what she believes. I won’t go into what I mean because of spoilers.

Speaking of Billy, he is selfish and stubborn. He is a perfectionist when it comes to his songwriting, when it comes to music he’s the boss or you can find the door and leave. Even during the rough times his love for Carmilla shines through everything he does.

“Art doesn’t owe anything to anyone.”

The atmosphere of the 70’s was captured perfectly. This book does heavily talk about alcohol and drug abuse, because that was a big scene during this time period. I cannot wait for the tv show, to see which actors will play the characters and being able to hear all the songs!

This book has been getting a lot of mixed reviews, a lot of people really don’t like it. For me this is a five star read!

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Get To Know Me Tag

Hello! Since I’ve gained so many awesome new followers in the past two months, which I am so blessed you all subscribed to my blog! I thought I would do this tag as a way to introduce myself.

1. What do you study/what is your job?

First of all I’m a mom to two beautiful kids, my son is 12 and my daughter just turned 15 months old. You can read her most recent update here. Aside from mommying, I work full time as a personal support worker in a mental health special care home. I’m not currently studying but I am halfway through the LPN program, I’m not sure if I’m going to return or not at the moment.

2. What is your favorite social media channel?

Currently it’s Instagram, I’m a visual person. So I love seeing everyone’s photos and there creativity. I’ve been busy trying grow my presence over the past two months and I’m really loving it.

3. If you had another channel, what would it be about?

I would really like to make booktube videos but my anxiety gets the better of me. But I’m hopeful that one of these days to dive into youtube. I’d like to creat book content ,as well as mommy lifestyle content.

4. Do you play an instruments?

No, but I would love to learn guitar.

5. What hobbies do you have other than reading?

I don’t have to much time for much else between the kids, work and reading. But I don’t binge a lot of tv, and I’m trying to get more into photography.

6. Favorite TV Shows?

Here is where I could go on forever but I’ll try and narrow it down a little. My all time favourite tv show will always be Gilmore Girls. I love this show and its characters so freaking much. Another fave is Game of Thrones, who else is excited for the final season?! Hmm let me see I also love The Office, Jane the Virgin, This is Us,Queer Eye and How to get away with murder. There’s more of course but I’ll stop here.

7. What got you into reading?

I have always been a huge reader, I didn’t have many friends growing up. Books ended up being my best friend and shaped who I am today. My dad would take me to the library during the summer and I’d spend hours browsing the shelves.

From goosebumps to the babysitters club. In middle school I became obsessed with Stephen King I couldn’t get enough. Then I discovered Harry Potter and it changed my life! I didn’t read as much in high school then I had Noah. Around the time Noah was 2 I started reading Twilight and it re ignited my love for reading and I never stoped.

8.What are your favorite and least favorite genres?

My heart will always belong to Fantasy. I love huge lush worlds full of magic. Also contemporary is becoming what I teach for the most. My least favourite would have to be historical, steampunk and westerns.

9.What books define your childhood?

I discussed some in an earlier question, but some others include Heartland, The Saddle Club, Shivers and Nancy Drew.

10.Tell us an interesting fact about you!

With The Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

I received a copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

[Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links which means that if you click on a link and purchase something I’ve talked about or recommended, I’ll receive a very small percentage of the sale. ]

“Sometimes focusing on what you can control is the only way to lessen the pang in your chest when you think about the things you can’t.”

The first time I saw the cover of this book I fell in love, it is so gorgeous!! This book means so much to me! This story was very empowering. Emoni was such a strong character and full of passion. Also the amount of representation in the book was excellent. Emoni is part Puerto-Rican and Black and a  teenage mother, there is also a lesbian side character.

Emoni is told that she has a magic touch when it comes to cooking. She takes a recipe and makes her her own by adding spices she believes will enhance the flavors. I felt such a deep connection to Emoni, she is a badass single teen mom, with a beautiful little girl. Many of you probably don’t know that I had my son Noah when I was 17.  I understand her struggles, she wants to provide for her daughter. To make the right decisions so that there future will be secure. I have never felt such a connection with a character before, I cried so many tears throughout this book.

When Emoni discovers she has a chance to take a culinary cooking class as an elective in school. She cannot decide if it’s the right choice to take the class,they will also be going on a trip to Spain at the end of the semester. She already has to keep up with school work, and she works part time to help cover the cost of the baby, plus actually taking care of the baby. Emoni has a lot on her plate. She dreams of becoming a chef and someday working in a restaurant. This book could have been full of stereotypes about teen mother’s, but it wasn’t. It was a beautiful story, about a girl despite her circumstances goes after her dream. Oh my Goodness, I’m crying again just typing this review.

” I want to be able to take care of my own and the only thing I would want to study is culinary arts, but why try to learn that in a school when I could learn it in a real restaurant where I’m making money instead of spending it?”” 

The side character’s were also an amazing addition to the story, Emoni’s best friend is her rock. She has been there for her all through her pregnancy and remained after the baby was born. She is also a lesbian and has the cutest relationship!

The chapters are also really short which I loved. The start of new sections also has little recopies which I thought was a nice touch.It was next to impossible to put down With the Heat on High.

Overall, I would strongly recommend this book.

 Pre-Order With the Fire on High
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Sorcery Of Thorns by Magaret Rogerson

ARC received by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Sorcery of Thorns has been at the top of my list when it comes to 2019 releases. Enchanted of Ravens was one of my favorite books of  .To say I loved this book would not even begin to describe how I felt about it!

Elisabeth, works as an apprentice in a magical library full of magical books with souls, who whisper and interact with the characters. When the books get damaged they turn into huge rampaging monsters. Elisabeth’s interactions with the grimoires gave me all the feels! Elisabeth inst like all the other apprentices, she grew up in the library having been abandoned on its steps as a baby, the other apprentices only start to study at the library at the age of thirteen.  Despite growing up in the library some of the wardens look down on her.

When a dangerous grimoire is released Elisabeth is is thrown into the middle of the situation and soon find herself with charges against her. She is taken away from the library by the Magister,a sorcerer she had briefly met in the past. He is to bring her to the capital to be judged for her crimes.

Elisabeth: I loved her so much! Honestly one of my new favorite characters!! She is full of sass, always getting herself into trouble. She was a badass, and didn’t take crap from anyone and stood up for those she cared about. She also has a soft spot when it comes to the grimoires, I love how she interacts with them.

Nathaniel: I fell in love with immediately. He is such a soft boy! He is also Bi. He openly says that he enjoys the company of men and women. He is portrayed as the villain but he is so much more than a sorcerer.

Silas: OHMYGOD I loved him so much!! He is a demon that turns into a big white fluffy cat. He is bound to Nathaniel but there relationship goes way beyond master and servant. He genuinely cares for Nathaniel, though he tries to hide it. I love that he is supposed to be this evil powerful demon, but he cooks and makes sure there all dressed nicely.

Another thing that I really liked was the romance. It was a slow burn romance, which is one of my favorite tropes. There relationship is everything, its so sweet. You can feel the tension are there interacts become more frequent.

The ending was absolutely amazing It had me on the edge of my seat, and I honestly wanted to jump up and down! I will 100% be pre-ordering the hardback.Sorcery Of Thorns will be released on June 4 2019, and i strongly urge you all to pick it up!

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A Girl Like Her by Tailia Hibbert

A Girl Like Her is the first book in the Ravenswood series, and the February pick for the Dragons and Tea Book Club. I’ve read one other book by Tailia Hibbert and halfway through this one I added almost all of her other books to my TBR. I love her writing and her characters; this book was everything! I loved it so much, Tailia is a gem and everyone should be reading her books. This book was absolute perfection!

This book starts out with Evan, finishing off the day at his new job, the son of his boss whom he doesn’t like to much offers to drive him home. After trying to rebuff his offer he accepts the drive, while walking to the car a young woman runs straight into him, and from that moment he is intrigued by her. He soon discovers that she is his neighbor.

→ Ruth Kabbah: I loved that Ruth has autism and that this is #ownvoices. She is a web comic artist, which warms my nerdy little heart. She loves to wear pajamas with marvel heroes all over them and I was totally here for it. She is also fierce and 100% genuine. Ruth is also a curvy woman of color and has autism, but these traits do not define her, they are just a piece of who she is.

→ Evan Miller: He is an ex-soldier, who has just moved to Ravenswood, he is also Ruth’s new neighbor. He is a tall, muscled blacksmith with a heart of gold. He is a good cook, he prepares meals for his friend at work, he was raised to bring your neighbors a gift upon meeting them so he prepares a meal in anticipation of meeting his new neighbor. After realizing Ruth lives next door and cannot cook, he inserts himself into her life, preparing meals for her nightly.

This is a slow-burn romance, I absolutely loved their relationship. They’re so adorable. I loved that Evan was completely accepting of Ruth, right after meeting her. I simply adored “A Girl Like Her”, it was such a unique and fun story.

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Heroine by Mindy McGinnis

I was provided an ARC by Edelweiss in exchange for my honest review.

Trigger Warnings:  The book starts with this warning: “This book contains realistic depictions of opioid use. Recovered and recovering addicts should proceed with caution.”.  This book gets extremely detailed, and is pretty graphic.

Heroine follows the story of  Mickey Catalan, a high school senior and well-known catcher for her school’s softball team. Mickey and her best friend Carolina, are is a tragic car accident. Mickey’s injuries are severe, she needed surgery to have pins pit into her leg, followed by physical therapy. She is prescribed Oxycodone as a pain killer, shes used the drug to numb her life as well as the pain.

Mickey is worried that she will not be ready to attend the starting season of softball, so she pushes herself during physio. But to make it through these appointments she takes extra pills to dull the pain. She  soon runs out of pills. At her next Doctor’s appointment she is nervous asking for a refill,  as she expected the Doctor tells her that she should have more pills left. Another patient overhears there conversation, once out in the parking lot,the older woman approaches Mickey, giving her her phone number.

She meets a new group of people through Edith, the woman from the parking lot. These people soon become her friends. Mickey feels closer to this group of people, as she believes they understand her better and her need of the Oxy. Soon after  her Oxy connection runs dry and she turns to Heroin.

This is a very dark and graphic story about a teen who fights against her addiction. At first she is unwilling to admit to herself that she has a problem, even to her new friends who are also drug users she denies being an addict. Watching Mickey fall deeper and deeper was such an emotional experience I really felt for her. I liked how the book tells the story of how something as simple as taking a medication that is prescribed to you can lead to addiction. People don’t often think that that could be the start of an addiction. This book was definitely intense at times, and there are some really graphic scenes.

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