Tag: book

— ARC review, book review, young adult —

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (ARC Review)

December 22, 2020

After her mother dies in an accident, sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews wants nothing to do with her family memories or childhood home. A residential program for bright high schoolers at UNC–Chapel Hill seems like the perfect escape—until Bree witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus. A flying demon feeding on human energies. A secret society of so called “Legendborn” students that hunt the creatures down. And a mysterious teenage mage who calls himself a “Merlin” and who attempts—and fails—to wipe Bree’s memory of everything she saw… Read More Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (ARC Review)

— book review, children's —

The Princess Bride: A Counting Story by Lena Wolfe and Bill Robinson (Review)

December 22, 2020

Heroes, giants, wizards, true love. Celebrate the beloved film with this charming counting primer that fans will want to share with the youngest readers. There are 6 fingers on the Count’s right hand, 3 outlaws on a mission, 2 destined lovers, and 1 unforgettable story that brings them all together. Illustrated with vibrant art, this adorable counting book is the ultimate gift for fans of The Princess Bride to share with the toddlers in their life or give as a gift to fellow fans. It’s inconceivable that anyone wouldn’t love this charming book… Read More The Princess Bride: A Counting Story by Lena Wolfe and Bill Robinson (Review)

— book review, nonfiction —

Friendsgiving by Shoshana Stopek (Review)

December 20, 2020

Let Friends be your guide to hosting unforgettable year-round celebrations. This one-of-a-kind handbook is filled with recipes, entertaining tips, and group activities inspired by the feasts and fun of everyone’s favorite sitcom squad. In part one of Friendsgiving you’ll find recipes like Righteous Mac ‘n’ Cheese and Neslé Toulouse Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. Part two is filled with Friends-style entertaining tips, such as creating the ultimate Friendsgiving playlist and DIY-ing party decorations. Part three keeps the fun going with Pin the Tail on Ugly Naked Guy, Unagi Pictionary, and many more activities… Read More Friendsgiving by Shoshana Stopek (Review)

— book review, children's —

Sugar in Milk by Thrity Umrigar and Khoa Le (Review)

December 20, 2020

When I first came to this country, I felt so alone. A young immigrant girl joins her aunt and uncle in a new country that is unfamiliar to her. She struggles with loneliness, with a fierce longing for the culture and familiarity of home, until one day, her aunt takes her on a walk. As the duo strolls through their city park, the girl’s aunt begins to tell her an old myth, and a story within the story begins. A long time ago, a group of refugees arrived on a foreign shore. The local king met them… Read More Sugar in Milk by Thrity Umrigar and Khoa Le (Review)

— ARC review, book review, young adult —

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson (ARC Review)

December 17, 2020

Korey Fields is dead. When Enchanted Jones wakes with blood on her hands and zero memory of the previous night, no one—the police and Korey’s fans included—has more questions than she does. All she really knows is that this isn’t how things are supposed to be. Korey was Enchanted’s ticket to stardom. Before there was a dead body, Enchanted was an aspiring singer, struggling with her tight knit family’s recent move to the suburbs while trying to find her place as the lone Black girl in high school. But then legendary R&B artist Korey Fields spots her at an audition. And suddenly her dream of being a professional singer takes flight… Read More Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson (ARC Review)

— ARC review, book review, young adult —

Shine by Jessica Jung (ARC Review)

December 16, 2020

What would you give for a chance to live your dreams? For seventeen-year-old Korean American Rachel Kim, the answer is almost everything. Six years ago, she was recruited by DB Entertainment—one of Seoul’s largest K-pop labels, known for churning out some of the world’s most popular stars. The rules are simple: Train 24/7. Be perfect. Don’t date. Easy right?… Read More Shine by Jessica Jung (ARC Review)

— Adult, ARC review, book review —

Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey (ARC Review)

December 13, 2020

Hair, makeup, clothing, decor… everything in Bethany Castle’s world is organized, planned, and styled to perfection. Which is why the homes she designs for her family’s real estate business are the most coveted in town. The only thing not perfect? Her track record with men. She’s on a dating hiatus and after helping her friends achieve their dreams, Bethany finally has time to focus on her own: flip a house, from framework to furnishings, all by herself. Except her older brother runs the company and refuses to take her seriously. When a television producer gets wind of the Castle sibling rivalry, they’re invited on Flip Off, a competition to see who can do the best renovation… Read More Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey (ARC Review)

— ARC review, book review, young adult —

Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar (ARC Review)

December 11, 2020

If the night sky holds many secrets, it holds Sheetal Mistry’s secret the closest. A secret that explains why her hair is the silver of starlight, or why some nights the stars call Sheetal by name. Stars like her mother, who returned to her place in the constellation Pushya years ago. Since that day, Sheetal has been forced to hide. But as her seventeenth birthday draws near, the pull from the sky is growing stronger. So strong that Sheetal loses control, and a flare of starfire burns her human father—an injury only a full star’s blood can heal… Read More Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar (ARC Review)

— ARC review, book review, young adult —

The Beholder and The Boundless by Anna Bright (ARC Reviews)

November 15, 2020

Selah has waited her whole life for a happily ever after. As the only daughter of the leader of Potomac, she knows her duty is to find the perfect match, a partner who will help secure the future of her people. Now that day has finally come. But after an excruciatingly public rejection from her closest childhood friend, Selah’s stepmother suggests an unthinkable solution: Selah must set sail across the Atlantic, where a series of potential suitors awaits—and if she doesn’t come home engaged, she shouldn’t come home at all. From English castle gardens to the fjords of Norge, and under the eye of the dreaded Imperiya Yotne, Selah’s quest will be the journey of a lifetime. But her stepmother’s schemes aren’t the only secrets hiding belowdecks…and the stakes of her voyage may be higher than any happy ending… Read More The Beholder and The Boundless by Anna Bright (ARC Reviews)