Reviews Archives - Page 30 of 123

REVIEW: Off-Limits by Helen Yoon

Posted on March 11, 2022March 5, 2022 by Jaymie

Summary and Review

Dad takes a work break and his daughter slips in to his office to explore.

This is one of the most delightful picture books I have read in awhile!

First there’s the joy of office supplies. That alone caused me to buy the book after reading only the first few pages. Then there’s the art – the portrayal of the child’s glee and the way she plays with everything from tape to binder clips to post-its is fantastic!

And then there’s the surprise ending. Absolutely outstanding! Don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: So We Meet Again by Suzanne Park

Posted on March 9, 2022February 18, 2022 by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Avon in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Jessie was tired of being overlooked and taken advantage of at her New York firm, but she’s completely caught off guard when she’s laid off. The company says it’s because she doesn’t “show leadership,” even though she saved the day countless times over the years. But someone else always took the credit. So, now she’s moved back in with her parents in Nashville to try to figure out her next steps.

Already feeling a bit fragile, the last thing Jessie needs is to run into her middle school nemesis. Gorgeous and successful, Daniel is a Korean parent’s dream child. But as Jessie lets Daniel help her with some connections for launching her new business, things between them start to heat up. Should she even think about giving her heart to someone, though, who could be here today and gone tomorrow?

Review

I requested this book solely because of the author. I adored the last couple books I read by Suzanne Park including Loathe at First Sight and The Perfect Escape (YA).

Sadly, this one wasn’t as magical for me as those two books. There were a couple fun moments, but overall Jessie and Daniel didn’t click for me as a reader. The secondary characters didn’t grab me either. I couldn’t get a good rhythm with the story, and it was far too easy to set this down and not pick it back up. I don’t think it’s a “bad” story. It just felt flat for me. The story didn’t keep me engaged and flipping pages like the other two books I mentioned did.

If you are a Park fan, I’d definitely give this a go and see what you think. It’s a fairly light story, so it could make for a nice rainy/snowy day distraction.

(No Rating)

REVIEW: Gina and the Big Secret by Judd Winick

Posted on March 4, 2022February 18, 2022 by Jaymie

Summary

In an effort to save the Nestor, Gina accidentally allowed the world to get “broken.” The Nestor changed Earth’s history. Now, Gina, Lisa, Hilo, and DJ are on a new Earth – where magic has ruled for 100,000 years.

But a new Earth means changes for Lisa and DJ’s family as well as oppression for humans. They NEED to change everything back. But the kids quickly discover they are up against numerous foes in their quest to set Earth right.

Review

This was so fun! Great characters in a new story with some laugh-out-loud moments, tons of action, and new adventures to come in book 9, Gina and the Last City on Earth (2023). I love how meaty these books are – so much for readers to enjoy, both visually and in the story itself.

Series fans will have a lot to love here with old friends and new. Newcomers will enjoy this more if they at least go back to book 7, Gina: The Girl Who Broke the World which launches this new story arc. But honestly, I think any reader would be better off starting at the very beginning with book 1. This whole series is such a delight to read! And this new arc builds on what happened before. You are really missing out if you haven’t read the previous books!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher

Posted on February 25, 2022February 12, 2022 by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Weston is the outcast in the town of Enfield. In a small town, everyone knows your business. So everyone knows about his parents’ divorce, about the year he spent at the rival high school. And the things they don’t know, they make up with rumor and assumption. Everyone but his closest friends thinks he’s weird at best if not actually dangerous.

Anna is an unexpected bright spot in Weston’s life. While they are supposed to be practicing their big duet for marching band, they are finding in each other someone who, surprisingly, GETS them – his struggles after the divorce, her anxiety, his music, her writing.

But since everyone assumes the worst about Weston, Anna feels she has to hide and lie to be with him. But in a small town, no one keeps a secret for long.

Review

I have to be honest. The synopsis for this book did not grab me when I read it. But the author wrote my favorite book of 2021. So reading this one was a given. While I read, my feelings were mixed.

I loved Anna and Weston, both as individuals and together. And the author’s writing is top notch. But I just did not get this story. For so long, nothing was happening. Sure, they grew closer, they faced some roadblocks. But things just kept rolling along. I couldn’t figure out the point of it all.

I’ve described my ideal book a lot here. A big piece of my enjoyment is the puzzle or the quest – something to solve, something to overcome, something to rail against. This just isn’t that sort of book.

I have no idea how to rate this – I was engrossed in the characters and enjoyed the writing. On that alone, I would probably give this 4 stars. But I just couldn’t connect to the plot. And the ending did not help my enjoyment of the story. The whole reading experience was unsatisfying in the end.

Readers who love character-rich stories and don’t care about driving plots are likely a much better audience for this than I was. There’s a lot here to enjoy if you are excited about watching a relationship unfold over time with some fantastic descriptions – especially if you have a soft spot for band stories. (Language, sex, TW: Grief)

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥ = Good, solid, fine

REVIEW: Lost and Found Family by Jennifer Ryan

Posted on February 23, 2022February 12, 2022 by Jaymie

Summary

Sarah Anderson is trying to hold it all together. She’s running the company she started with her husband while also being their top coder. She’s raising her two young sons alone after the death of her husband. The juggling of everything is leaving her exhausted.

And then she gets the letter from the lawyer.

Sarah’s mother-in-law has always assumed and believed the worst about Sarah. And now she’s threatening legal action to take Sarah’s boys away. So reluctantly, she agrees to a six-week visitation with her late husband’s family. Yes, their verbal abuse and hatefulness is hard to take. But she can endure it for six weeks to show her willingness to compromise.

Luke Thompson, the good-looking rancher next door to Sarah’s mother-in-law is the lawyer who sent the letter. And he’s guarded when it comes to Sarah, ready to see this awful person his neighbor has described. But Sarah is nothing like he expected. How does her mother-in-law see something so different? What is he missing in the story of this family? Who is really telling the truth?

Review

I picked this up because I was intrigued by the story. I also ADORED the author’s earlier book, The Me I Used to Be. I thought this would be something similar, and I couldn’t wait to dig in.

I enjoyed this sweet story of steadfast integrity and character in the face of cruelty and anger. Sarah is almost too good to be true.

While I enjoyed the story and the characters, the big climax with Sarah’s family happened mid-book. And unlike The Me I Used to Be, there was no other mystery to carry the rest of the story to the end. I spent the second half of this book waiting for a BIG new conflict or disaster to come, but it never did. The almost-too-perfect-to-be-believable character continued to be saint-like in response to the garbage her late husband had pulled and the fall out she faced through the end of the book.

I felt like the lack of a new challenge or conflict as well as Sarah’s perfection took some of the joy out of the reading experience for me. It was 100+ pages of resolution and happily ever after, which can be nice at times, but isn’t always satisfying. I mistrust books where there’s no challenge or mission – and this one only had a challenge for about half of the story.

These days, though, there is a place for reading an escape story where there’s not a ton of conflict and there’s a whole lot of happily-ever-after. If you are looking for a book like that, give this one a try!

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good +

REVIEW: Castles in Their Bones by Laura Sebastian

Posted on February 18, 2022February 5, 2022 by Jaymie

Summary

Triplet princesses, trained for conquest, turn 16 and head to the countries of their betrotheds.

Daphne heads north to Friv. But the wedding and life she’s been preparing for falls apart before she even arrives.

Beatriz heads to Cellaria, the one place where magic is outlawed. She disguises her silver, stardusted eyes as any hint of magic could get her killed. But her betrothed couldn’t be less enthused about their wedding and life together. How can she work her plans if she can’t even get him to look at her?

Sophronia heads to Temarin, the only one of the princesses with feelings for her intended. Of course, her mother is dismayed instead of pleased. Her girls have jobs to do for the next year to move the Empress’ plans forward so she can take over all three countries for herself.

Each princess has her assignment. But the Empress’ spies couldn’t prepare them for everything.

Review

This was outstanding!! Absolutely fantastic! I was captivated from the start. The set up/world building is excellent, and I loved the princesses. I was fascinated as I watched their journeys begin. And when everything started to shift and twist, I couldn’t put it down until I finished.

And what a finish!

I can’t get book 2 into my hands fast enough.

I said recently that the best sort of book for me is science fiction or fantasy (check) with sharp, sassy characters who don’t take any crap (check), and who are trying to solve a mystery or save the day. While these characters are scheming for the Empress’ plans, this still fit that final requirement, too. The fact that there’s royalty involved is just a bonus for me. I adore books like this – like the author’s Ash Princess (I still need to finish that series) as well as the Wickery series, Crown of Shards, Ruined, etc.. This is by far the best book I have read so far this year – don’t miss this one!