Review: Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway

the lowdown


Oliver disappeared ten years ago. His dad kidnapped him and Emmy lost her best friend. The kidnapping changed everything in their small, suburban California town, including scaring Emmy's parents into sheltering her from as much as possible. Ten years later and he's home again, but Oliver doesn't really know what home is. For ten years, he thought his dad was the good guy and that his mother abandoned him.
I really loved this book. I've read a few of Benway's other books and enjoyed them, but I didn't love them like I did Emmy & Oliver. I think what I enjoyed most about this book was the depth of the storyline. While certainly there is a romance aspect to this book, as the title suggests, the book delves into issues that are a lot deeper than that. If you're looking for a great young adult read about identity, growing up, family, and friendship, Emmy & Oliver is a wonderful choice.

the good

• The writing in this book is particularly strong. It's down to earth and realistic. There's no unnecessary drama, despite the somewhat heavy topic, and the dialogue is just fantastic: smart, funny, and heart warming. I loved the way that Benway wove this story, and I had a hard time putting it down. 
• I liked the fact that so much of this book wasn't concerned with the romance between Emmy and Oliver, but rather their friendship, as well as their friendships with Caro and Drew. If I had to choose one theme from this book, it would absolutely be friendship. It's such an interesting portrayal of how group dynamics shift when someone leaves and then comes back. It was also such a sweet story of growing up and understanding your place in the world. 

the bad

• My primary issue with this book was length. Rarely do I find young adult books to be too short, this one makes it on that list. I just wanted more of Emmy and Oliver. It's probably a testament to just how much I enjoyed this book, but another couple of scenes with them would have really cemented their relationship for me. I would have also liked to have seen more with Caro and Drew, particularly how some of Drew's storylines get resolved and progress.  

the quote

“'Well, that’s growing up, isn’t it?' my dad said. 'You don’t always have to know. And things aren’t always fair. You just have to keep moving forward. A step in one direction.'”

skip it/borrow it/buy it
Absolutely pick this one up! It's such a great read. After a long wait, I got this one from the library and wish I would've just bought it straight out. On my next trip to the bookstore, I'll definitely buy it.

overall score:8/10

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sunday Preview: August 31 - September 4

just to recap

Can you believe its already going to be September?! We can't either!! So last week we reviewed A Paris Apartment by Michelle Gable. On Wednesday, Liz reviewed Pretending to be Erica by Michelle Painchaud. Finally on Friday, Laura brought us Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patterson.

this week

On Monday Liz will review Emmy and Oliver by Robin Benway. Laura will review Huntley Fitzpatrick's The Boy Most Likely To on Wednesday.  And Liz will wrap-up this wonderful week with Yes means Yes by Joclyn Friedman

Friday Flashback: Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patterson

the lowdown
Tandy Angel is a suspect in the murder of her parents. She and her siblings are the only suspects the police have. She was the last person to see her family alive and now she doesn't know who she can trust, even herself. Tandy takes matters into her own hands and decides she will clear her family name and her siblings will be freed. As she digs deeper into her family's perfect life, secrets are brought to light that will change Tandy's life forever.

James Patterson is a great novelist. This book, along with the other two in the series, shows just how much Patterson is able to put into his work and how hard he works for it. This book really captured me (even though I read the second book first on accident) because even though it centers around a murder, Patterson really digs deeper into the family roots and how deep secrets can run in a family without knowing. This is a good series to begin with if you're a young adult and you want to read something that is a bit different. This falls into the murder and mystery section and its a book I think teens will be able to read if they want something of a mystery. After reading the first and second book, I read right through the third one and I am so excited to read the fourth. As always, Patterson will surprise us and give us something new to ponder.

the good

• The book is so captivating because the plot is very interesting and it keeps you at the edge of your feet. The family and the mystery give the plot the life it needs in order to grow and to develop throughout the novel and to be carried on in the other books of the series.
• The characters are very different. They have a history and as we read more about them in the novel, their secrets come out and everything changes. Its a way of keeping it interesting and its good because a dull character would be a dull book. Tandy and her siblings and friends have different personalities and thats what makes them so captivating.

the bad

• The ending could have held up a bit more. There was so much buildup until then and it wasn't as grand as I thought it would be. Maybe its because we do need to continue reading the series.
• The mix up of the suspects and the neighbors. Sometimes things just weren't clear enough and so it was a bit confusing. There could have been more of a separation to really get a picture of who went where.

the quote
"Our parents were gods and monsters at the same time. Maybe we're all like that-gods and monsters."

skip it/borrow it/buy it
 The book itself and its plot are very interesting. Its a great 'jump into mystery' kind of book. I would recommend you borrow it first to get a feel for the author, series, and genre.

overall score:7/10

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: Pretending to Be Erica by Michelle Painchaud

the lowdown


Violet has spent most of her life pretending to be someone else. Violet has spent years preparing to become Erica Silverman, a Las Vegas heiress who was kidnapped at the age of five. Violet knows the truth, that Erica was killed almost immediately after, but very few others do. Violet's father, Sal, Las Vegas' best conman learned the truth from Erica's killer. He raised Violet to impersonate Erica with the intent that she would infiltrate the household and steal an expensive painting. But when push comes to shove, and Violet finds herself living in Erica's old life, making friends and a boy that could possibly be more, she begins to doubt her mission.

I was so ready to love this book, but unfortunately, I just didn't. The first three quarters of the book were really well done, but after all the lead up to a specific event, Violet stealing the painting, I found the climax to be a little stilted and frankly not deserving of the build up. It was still an enjoyable read, but I was hoping it'd end with a pop, but instead it fizzled.

the good

• I thought that the premise and general storyline were really interesting. I've never read anything like it before and found it to be really enjoyable. It was interesting to see the way that her upbringing as the daughter of a conman impacted the way that she looked at the world.
• The book touches on a lot of different themes, especially identity and grief. I really enjoyed reading about the ways that Violet and Erica's identities merged and weaved in and out of each other. I thought that Painchaud handled the grief that many characters were experiencing in a thoughtful way.
• Painchaud was really good at slowly building suspense to the ending. It was more subtle than a lot of other books in the genre, but by the end I was really curious as to what Violet would do when it came time to steal the painting. 

the bad

• Honestly the ending of this book is what really ruined it for me. I don't want to give anything away, but I feel that it does deserve some commentary. It's not at all that the ending wasn't satisfying or was inappropriate to the story. It's just that Painchaud had me so intrigued as to what was going to happen, and told such an unconventional story, I was hoping the ending would honor that and I don't feel that it did. 

the quote

“The microwave clock spills over into midnight, and the marionette girl walks up the stairs to sleep in her puppet bed in the puppet house, filled with not-puppet people. They are made of flesh and blood, and she is made of lies and wood.”

skip it/borrow it/buy it

I think that this one is worth reading for any YA fan, especially for those fans of suspense and thrillers. I don't think I'll be picking up a copy of this one for my bookshelf. Borrow it.

overall score:6/10

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: A Paris Apartment

the lowdown
Sotheby's Continental furniture specialist April Vogt is traveling to France after her boss tells her that they have discovered an apartment. This is her chance to escape from New York. April learns that the owner, Marthe de Florian, was once a renowned courtesan who had her portrait painted by Giovanni Boldini. Her story begins to unravel as April sorts through all the furniture and finds her diaries. Not only learning about Marthe's life and unmoving her past, April is also rediscovering herself and the life she left behind in New York before coming to Paris.

Michelle Gable wrote this beautiful novel and it made me want to visit Paris and get lost in its history. The story of Marthe is an interesting one that keeps April invested in the apartment. Its the same way that Gable kept the novel interesting. The two different women portrayed in the novel allowed them to grow and invest in rediscovering herself (April). I found myself never wanting the book to end and just wanted to reread it right after I finished. I liked how Gable is able to flip back to New York and Paris and she gave April that history that every character needs in order to grow throughout the novel.

the good

• Gable is able to keep you interested in the novel and it is a page turner. You want to find out what else April found and if there is something new that happened in Marthe's life. Its a great way to see how the material items in a persons life can hold so much history without one knowing.
• April and Marthe are both strong characters that each grow throughout the novel and show how each person can rediscover themselves if they take the time. These ladies are easy to relate to since they each have different characteristics. 

the bad

• The story does flip flop a lot between the characters. One minute you're reading about April and the next its about Marthe. You have to keep up with who is who and its easy to differentiate but it can get a bit confusing if you aren't paying attention.

the quote
"Life moves on, the world moves on, the seeds we plant continue to grow."

skip it/borrow it/buy it
 I would recommend buying it because it is a good weekend read if you need an imaginative escape from reality.

overall score:8/10

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sunday Preview: August 24 - 28

just to recap

Last week we reviewed A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall and Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng. We didn't get around to the Friday Flashback since Laura went MIA. But this week she'll post it!

this week

Laura will be reviewing A Paris Apartment by Michelle Gable on Monday. Liz will be reviewing Pretending to be Erica by Michelle Painchaud. And for Friday, Laura will be reviewing Confessions of a Murder Suspect  by James Patterson. We hope you have a wonderful week, and for those returning to school this week, good luck this school year!

Review: Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

the lowdown


Lydia is dead. She's dead and she's at the bottom of the lake in town. Lydia is the middle daughter of James and Marilyn Lee, who live in Ohio in the 1970s. James, a history professor is of Chinese decent, while Marilyn is blue-eyed and blonde haired. All of the lives of the Lee family revolve around Lydia, and when she's dead, the delicate balance they struck crumbles to pieces.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book, and the way in which I did. I was expecting this to be much more about Lydia and her death, but it was far more of a family drama, a very delicate and well crafted one at that. Ng isn't heavy handed although she writes about some tough situations. While I was definitely interested to find out what happened to Lydia (and you do), I was far more interested to see how the family dynamics would turn out as the family learned to navigate their new dynamic without her. Still, I had certain frustrations with this book and I don't think I was as enamored with it as other folks out there. That being said, this one is definitely worth a read.

the good

• Ng employs a certain subtly and nuance that I think few other contemporary family dramas offer. Told alternating between the time before Lydia dies and the weeks after, Ng offers us a glimpse into how a family dynamic can be predicated on an entire person, and how that dynamic falls apart when that person is gone, as well as the trials of expectations, racial identity, marriage, and family. If not anything else, this is book is a family portrait.       
• It was incredible and also gut wrenching to see the way this entire family was built around Lydia, each having their own expectations for her, and the way that it all fell apart when she died. Although sometimes deeply saddening, the different storylines that Ng wove and the way in which they all interacted were expertly crafted.                                                                 

the bad

• The ending felt a little anticlimactic to me. While I can't say much without giving the story away, I will say that I think that the ending exhibited the same kind of nuance that I appreciated as the story was building. I was looking for a big, powerful ending, and I don't think this book delivered on that front. Given the way in which Ng built the story and weaved the family members together, the ending, sweet but still subtle, suited the story well.

the quote

“What made something precious? Losing it and finding it.”

skip it/borrow it/buy it

Definitely make a point of reading this one. This is one of those books that sticks with you without needing to reread it, however. Borrow it.

overall score:8/10

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall

the lowdown
Lea and Gabe are taking the same creative writing class, hangout in the same places and even order the same Chinese dish. So when they're paths cross multiple times during the year, they begin to wonder if fate is on their side. Everybody can see that they are meant to be together, from the professor to the Starbucks baristas to the squirrel on the green. These two are made for each other, except Lea and Gabe can't see it.

I love, love, love this book!! It is going straight to my top 10 ya book lists. This story is told in 14, count them, 14 different viewpoints and never from the two most important characters, Lea and Gabe. In her first book, Hall did a tremendous job on this book and its a book I know I will pick up and reread over and over again. I liked how the setting was a university and I could relate to that since I am in the middle of finishing up my last semester. This is a book I hope could get a film or a tv movie and I hope it does. I think everybody should pick up a copy and read it because its amazing how an author could post her story on a website and then get it published and be so great and different and amazing. A Little Something Different has a little bit of everything from the drama to the romance and its something every person goes through.

the good

• The writing is so different in the book and its a nice refresher. 14 different viewpoints on a love story. Its nice to step outside the box and get these points of view and to see it through everybody else's eyes. Hall is able to capture moments and bring them to life through her writing and through the 14 viewpoints.
• The characters are all witty and different and their personalities jump right out of the pages. They are all different people who everyone can relate to in a certain way and it gives the book a feeling of closeness. 

the bad

• The different viewpoints can get to be a bit much but thats natural since its so many other characters to keep up. There are some that have no real connection to the lovebirds and those could have maybe been edited to have had a previous connection with them. 

the quote
"They sit there in the window of the coffee shop for almost an hour, not talking much, but looking at each other over the tops of their books, flirting somehow even without words. It would be gross if it weren't adorable."

skip it/borrow it/buy it
 I would recommend buying it and reading it immediately. This book is too good to pass up.

overall score:10/10

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sunday Preview: August 17 - 21

just to recap

Last week we came back from vacation with regular reviews! We reviewed the Fill-in Boyfriend, The Monogram Murders, and on Friday, we flashed back to Heart on a Chain.

this week

We're starting off the week with a review of A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall. On Wednesday, Liz will review the hit Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng. On Friday, Laura will do a Flashback Friday review of James Patterson's Confessions of a Murder Suspect. We're looking forward to a wonderful week with a lot of reading. Summer break is winding to an end, so we're doing our best to read as much as we can :)

Have a great week, everyone!

Flashback Friday: Heart on A Chain by Cindy C. Bennett

the lowdown


Kate lives with a terrible home life. She has an absent, alcoholic father, and a pill addicted mother who abuses her. At school, things aren't much better. Because of her secondhand clothes, she's an easy target and she's learned that fighting back only makes it worse. So she hides, and does her best to make herself invisible. But that changes when Henry, her elementary school crush, returns. He remembers Kate and refuses to let her be invisible anymore. As they fall in love, Kate tries to keep everything straight and figure out what game Henry must be playing with her, even as the violence at home escalates.

I read this book a few years ago and considered it to be one of my favorites for quite a while. Something about this book really stuck with me, and even before I picked it up to reread it for this review, I could still remember a lot about it, even after years, which is rare for me. I was scared, though, that I would find it a bit far fetched now that my tastes have matured a bit. While that did happen to a certain extent, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book again. It moved me to tears multiple times, and it was a really refreshing story.

the good

• Kate is a really likable character. I think that the strength that she shows in the face of so much adversity is extremely moving. At the beginning, she can be a little frustrating, especially when she refuses to believe Henry's true intentions, but who can blame her?
• Henry and his entire family are so wonderful. I think to a certain extent, they're probably a little unrealistic, because it's like they're taken straight out of the Perfect Family Museum. I think though, that this serves the book well, because Bennett draws such sharp dichotomies between family types. Henry is also straight up out of the Perfect Boyfriend Museum, but again, I think that it serves the book well.                                                                                             

the bad

• This book is heavy on drama, and Kate definitely relies on others to save her. There's some criticism that this is a little anti-feminist, that Henry comes in and saves the day. But I think that allowing yourself to be that open to being saved. But, I understand the criticism, it would have been nice if Kate would have taken a more active role 

the quote

“Kate, I’ve loved you for years. I mean, I know twelve-year-olds don’t know what love is, so I guess I should say I’ve really liked you for years. But when I saw you this year, I knew. I knew we should be together. I just didn’t know how hard you were going to make me work to get you to even like me. So, yeah, of course I want you to love me back.”

skip it/borrow it/buy it

This one is tough for me to decide, but ultimately, I think it falls into the buy it category. As evidenced by this review, I liked this book enough to want to reread it. It's a heartfelt, emotional, and heartwarming story about love and its redeeming qualities, and I think it warrants buying.

overall score:8/10

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: The Monogram Murders by Sophie Hannah

the lowdown
Hercule Poirot is taking his coffee as usual in this little gem of a coffeehouse on Thursday night when all of a sudden she comes in. Looking as nervous as ever, she begins to tell Poirot that she's "a dead woman, or soon will be" and that justice will be paid once its all over. What she doesn't know is that Poirot is a detective and has a friend in Scotland Yard and that he is on vacation...or does she? Poirot is about to stumble onto a mystery greater than ever that will take him across England.

Seeing as I love a good mystery novel, this tops the cake. I was intrigued because the cover called my name, and the title, and the fact that it is a remake on a classic mystery novel by Agatha Christie. Christie made a character as complex and dignified as Poirot and Hannah was able to give him a little life and brought him to life through the eyes of his friend. Reading the book from this perspective was very interesting and very different. It gave the book a mystery hook since you didn't know what the main character was thinking all the time and how he was solving crimes. I hope Hannah continues to remake Christies stories because they are enchanting and keep you on your toes.

the good

• The writing was very clear and easy to understand. Hannah brought to life 1929 London to life on page and managed to keep you interested with the clues and the very important details needed. She had me guessing the entire time and the killer was right in front the entire time.
• The pot itself was very inviting and I wanted to keep reading to see if Poirot had made any progress and to see where Catchpool was going with his findings. The crime is very intriguing and keeps you guessing.

the bad

• Hannah could get a bit wordy at times and that seemed to drag the story on for pages. Maybe keeping the most important things but the long stories and nothingness could be kept out.
• I found myself getting bored at times but like I said above, it was wordy and that is when I would find myself bored and I'd put the book down.

the quote
"There comes a point in most cases-and by no means only those in which Hercule Poirot has involved himself-when one starts to feel that it would be a greater comfort, and actually no less effective, to talk only to oneself and dispense with all attempts to communicate with the outside world."

skip it/borrow it/buy it
 I would recommend borrowing it and if you do like then go ahead and buy it.

overall score:7/10

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West

the lowdown

Gia Montgomery's boyfriend, Bradley, dumped her. In the parking lot. Of prom, where he's supposed to be her date. And oh yeah, her friends weren't completely convinced that he existed, and this was her chance to show them that he did. Further complicating this is the fact that the reason her friends didn't believe that he existed was because of a new member to the group, Jules, who Gia thinks is scheming to steal her friends away from her. So what's a girl to do? Well, when she sees a guy sitting in a car, reading, in the parking lot, she asks him to fill in for Bradley.

I read On the Fence, another entry by West last year and absolutely inhaled it. I love that book. I read this one just as fast, albeit with less enthusiasm. This was a good, enjoyable read, but it was a lot fluffier than On the Fence. If this book had a little more depth, it'd be a lot more effective. Still, this is one worth reading and West is definitely an author to keep an eye on.

the good

• The premise was interesting. Definitely done before, West offers a fresh variation on the theme. Hayden (fill-in Bradley) was a likable character and his growth with Gia was enjoyable to read. Hayden's sister, though, is the star character of this book, and I found myself enjoying the scenes between Gia and her even more than those between Gia and  Hayden.
• The romance didn't feel contrived or forced in any way. It seemed to develop naturally, which I really appreciate. 
• Despite it lacking some depth, the storyline between Gia and her friend group was interesting to read about. While many others might not have felt that it had an adequate resolution, I was satisfied by it. That dynamic was really relatable for me, and suspect for quite a few others as well. It really reminded me a lot of issues that I encountered in high school and college, too, wanting to fit it and being afraid of being pushed out.

the bad

• Like I mentioned previously, this book was heavy on fluff. There wasn't a ton of substance, and while Gia has a moderate amount of character development, it's all surface level. It would have been really interesting to see Gia struggle with something a little more substantial, because I think that the character could have handled it. 

the quote

“We rarely find a depth by looking inside of ourselves for it. Depth is found in what we can learn from the people and things around us. Everyone, everything, has a story, Gia. When you learn those stories, you learn experiences that fill you up, that expand your understanding. You add layers to your soul.”

skip it/borrow it/buy it

Well worth reading, but not quite worth buying. I don't see myself returning to this one; borrow it.

overall score:7/10

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sunday Preview: August 10 - 14

just to recap

Last week, Laura and Liz spent their vacation week catching up on sleep, working, netflixing and of course, reading. Laura is finally back from Mexico (about damn time) and is ready to jump back into blogging. She missed it so much (not as much as she missed Liz but a good amount) and can't wait to bring you reviews of books she read while on vacation. Liz is well relaxed and after spending time with her adorable animals, Tedi and Cesa, and her somewhat adorable husband, she is back to hounding Laura about visiting Minneapolis and ready to begin blogging away.

this week

Finally back on schedule and ready to start off the week is Liz's review of The Fill-in Boyfriend by Kasie West. On Wednesday, Laura will review The Monogram Murders by Sophie Hannah and we will finish off this week with a flashback from Liz of Heart on a Chain by Cindy C. Bennett. Have a wonderful week and check back for these reviews!