Category: ARC review

— Adult, ARC review, book review —

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo (ARC Review)

November 19, 2019

Galaxy “Alex” Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. By age twenty, in fact, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most elite universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her?… Read More Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo (ARC Review)

— ARC review, book review, young adult —

Lifestyles of Gods & Monsters by Emily Roberson (ARC Review)

November 18, 2019

Sixteen-year-old Ariadne’s whole life is curated and shared with the world. Her royal family’s entertainment empire is beloved by the tabloids, all over social media, and the hottest thing on television. The biggest moneymaker? The Labyrinth Contest, a TV extravaganza in which Ariadne leads fourteen teens into a maze to kill a monster. To win means endless glory; to lose means death. In ten seasons, no one has ever won… Read More Lifestyles of Gods & Monsters by Emily Roberson (ARC Review)

— Adult, ARC review, book review —

Faker by Sarah Smith (ARC Review)

November 7, 2019

Emmie Echavarre is a professional faker. She has to be to survive as one of the few female employees at Nuts & Bolts, a power tool company staffed predominantly by gruff, burly men. From nine to five, Monday through Friday, she’s tough as nails–the complete opposite of her easy-going real self. One thing she doesn’t have to fake? Her disdain for coworker Tate Rasmussen. Tate has been hostile to her since the day they met. Emmie’s friendly greetings and repeated attempts to get to know him failed to garner anything more than scowls and terse one-word answers. Too bad she can’t stop staring at his Thor-like biceps…… Read More Faker by Sarah Smith (ARC Review)

— ARC review, book review, young adult —

Frankly in Love by David Yoon (ARC Review)

October 22, 2019

Two friends. One fake dating scheme. What could possibly go wrong? Frank Li has two names. There’s Frank Li, his American name. Then there’s Sung-Min Li, his Korean name. No one uses his Korean name, not even his parents. Frank barely speaks any Korean. He was born and raised in Southern California. Even so, his parents still expect him to end up with a nice Korean girl–which is a problem, since Frank is finally dating the girl of his dreams: Brit Means. Brit, who is funny and nerdy just like him. Brit, who makes him laugh like no one else. Brit . . . who is white… Read More Frankly in Love by David Yoon (ARC Review)

— ARC review, book review, young adult —

Permanent Record by Mary H.K. Choi (ARC Review)

October 18, 2019

After a year of college, Pablo is working at his local twenty-four-hour deli, selling overpriced snacks to brownstone yuppies. He’s dodging calls from the student loan office and he has no idea what his next move is. Leanna Smart’s life so far has been nothing but success. Age eight: Disney Mouseketeer; Age fifteen: first #1 single on the US pop chart; Age seventeen, *tenth* #1 single; and now, at Age nineteen…life is a queasy blur of private planes, weird hotel rooms, and strangers asking for selfies on the street.… Read More Permanent Record by Mary H.K. Choi (ARC Review)

— ARC review, book review, young adult —

King of Fools by Amanda Foody (ARC Review)

October 16, 2019

Indulge your vices in the City of Sin, where a sinister street war is brewing and fame is the deadliest killer of them all…On the quest to find her missing mother, prim and proper Enne Salta became reluctant allies with Levi Glaisyer, the city’s most famous con man. Saving his life in the Shadow Game forced Enne to assume the identity of Seance, a mysterious underworld figure… Read More King of Fools by Amanda Foody (ARC Review)

— ARC review, book review, nonfiction —

Monster She Wrote by Lisa Kröger & Melanie R. Anderson (ARC Review)

October 13, 2019

Weird fiction wouldn’t exist without the women who created it. Meet the female authors who defied convention to craft some of literature’s strangest tales. And find out why their own stories are equally intriguing. Everyone knows about Mary Shelley, creator of Frankenstein; but have you heard of Margaret Cavendish, who wrote a science-fiction epic 150 years earlier? Have you read the psychological hauntings of Violet Paget, who was openly involved in long-term romantic relationships with women in the Victorian era?… Read More Monster She Wrote by Lisa Kröger & Melanie R. Anderson (ARC Review)

— ARC review, book review, young adult —

Hello Girls by Brittany Cavallaro & Emily Henry (ARC Review)

September 29, 2019

Best friends are forged by fire. For Winona Olsen and Lucille Pryce, that fire happened the night they met outside the police station—both deciding whether to turn their families in. Winona has been starving for life in the seemingly perfect home that she shares with her seemingly perfect father, celebrity weatherman Stormy Olsen. No one knows that he locks the pantry door to control her eating and leaves bruises where no one can see them… Read More Hello Girls by Brittany Cavallaro & Emily Henry (ARC Review)

— Adult, ARC review, book review —

Our Stop by Laura Jane Williams (ARC Review)

September 22, 2019

What if you almost missed the love of your life? Nadia gets the 7.30 train every morning without fail. Well, except if she oversleeps or wakes up at her friend Emma’s after too much wine. Daniel really does get the 7.30 train every morning, which is easy because he hasn’t been able to sleep properly since his Dad died. One morning, Nadia’s eye catches sight of a post in the daily paper: To the cute girl with the coffee stains on her dress. I’m the guy who’s always standing near the doors… Drink sometime? So begins a not-quite-romance of near-misses, true love, and the power of the written word.… Read More Our Stop by Laura Jane Williams (ARC Review)