The nitty-gritty: Can a story about teen cannibals be fun? Why yes it can, in Kayla Cottingham’s latest, a fast-paced horror tale with humor and heart. “When my parents asked if I wanted a Mini Cooper for graduation, I didn’t think ahead to whether or not it would have enough trunk space to accommodate my […]
The nitty-gritty: The gang is back in this second book in Kendare Blake’s Buffy-inspired series, with plenty of action, laughs and monsters. I love when the second book in a series hits its stride and improves on the first book, and that was my experience with One Girl in All the World. I’ll admit I […]
The nitty-gritty: Imaginative world-building and an intriguing premise make The Luminaries a solid series opener. The Luminaries was a fun opening book in Susan Dennard’s new fantasy series, and although it didn’t fully work for me, I’m definitely curious enough to continue with the series. This is Young Adult through and through, with plenty of […]
The nitty-gritty: A cleverly constructed thriller with plenty of high school drama makes this a perfect summer read for teens. Despite my reluctance to read YA these days, I have to admit I had a blast with We Made It All Up. And yes, the book has the usual YA shenanigans like relationship drama, bullying, […]
The nitty-gritty: A fast-paced survival story with engaging characters, Gone Dark was a lot of fun and a solid YA thriller. “Don’t cry, Zara. Crying is a waste of water.” I don’t read YA very often these days, but I wanted to take a chance on Gone Dark because it sounded like a pretty good […]
The nitty-gritty: Inconsistencies, info-dumps and ridiculous situations made this Buffyverse novel a disappointment. Some spoilers ahead, because I just can’t review this book without them. Every time a new Buffyverse book comes along, I can hardly wait to jump into it. And every time, I feel dissatisfied by the experience. In Every Generation is the […]
The nitty-gritty: I loved Joan He’s writing and her thought-provoking ideas, but a confusing story and unexplained world building elements ultimately left me disappointed. I wish I had enjoyed this book more, especially after seeing many glowing reviews in the blogging community. There’s no denying that Joan He has a way with words, and her […]
The nitty-gritty: I loved the 90s/New Orleans/vampire mythology vibe, but the pacing was inconsistent and the final reveals were too over-the-top for me. Mina and the Undead has a lot going for it: the New Orleans setting (with plenty of references to Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire), a creepy horror mansion with lots of […]
The nitty-gritty: A unique blend of YA and adult, sci-fi and spy thriller, I can honestly say I’ve never read anything quite like Dragonfly Girl. I had a lot of fun with Dragonfly Girl, Marti Leimbach’s well-written YA debut (she has written a bunch of adult titles as well). For readers who are dying to […]
The nitty-gritty: Full of fun 90s nostalgia, This is Not the Jess Show has twists and surprises, plenty of action, and even some sweet emotional moments. This is a hard book to talk about without spoiling some major plot points, but I’m going to do my best. I’m taking a cue from the blurb on […]