Tag: friendship

REVIEW: Bound by Firelight by Dana Swift

REVIEW: Bound by Firelight by Dana Swift

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Adraa and Jatin are facing more trouble than they ever have.

Adraa’s kingdom has turned against her, believing the worst. She’s cast into prison at the Dome. She will have to fight for her life as well as for a chance to escape and make things right.

Jatin is supposed to be leading his own country, but he can only think of Adraa and freeing her. He’s pulled together a very small team of allies, but they have no idea what they are truly up against.

Review

Wow! This was a roller coaster! And I really enjoyed the ride.

Adraa and Jatin tell their own stories once again. I feel like Adraa was really the star of this book. All of her chapters were riveting. I truly loved her journey – maybe even more than I loved Cast in Firelight.

While Jatin is fighting his way back to Adraa, I had mixed feelings about the old friend who joined his team. While I appreciated the twists and reveals she brought with her, I didn’t love the attempted love triangle. She was a distraction and left me wanting to skip ahead to an Adraa chapter.

I had thought this Wickery series was going to be a duology. And the main action truly is wrapped up here without any cliffhangers. But there are some unresolved issues that make me wonder if there is a plan for more. If so, I am here for them.

If Jatin had had more of a story here, this would have been a five star book for me. In fact, when I look at the two books together, I truly loved Adraa’s story here more than book one. Don’t come into this book expecting more of the same from book one, though. This is less about secrets and lies, and more about peril and identity and real questions about whether or not the heroes will triumph. Book 1 fans should not miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich

REVIEW: If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich

Posted on 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

Saturday is one of the hottest pop groups around. Angel is the fun one; Jon is the sexy one. Zach is the “bad boy.” And Ruben is the blank slate. The label wants him to be the “every guy” who can fit any niche a fan might want that the other three don’t. And that means there is NO room for him to share that he’s gay.

Everything from the boys’ images to their off-stage wardrobes to their choreography is dictated by the label. They want what they want, and they expect the guys to stand and deliver.

But in a moment of vulnerability, Zach acts on feelings he’s been trying to ignore. He kisses Ruben. And everything changes – Zach’s self-concept and identity, the band’s dynamic (even though no one else knows what happened), and the friendship between Zach and Ruben.

If this gets out? It will shake the foundation of everything – the group, their fan base, their record deal, and their future.

Review

This was such a great read! For me there were two aspects of the story – the romance and the band life. Both were so well done.

I liked Ruben and Zach as individuals and also as a couple. All four guys in the group are fascinating, and I loved their fierce devotion to one another. Ruben and Zach get to tell their own stories, which is powerful. Readers are along for the ride as Zach wrestles with his sexual identity and Ruben waffles between his determination to be fully himself and the pressure to give in under all of the gaslighting, manipulation, abuse, and coercion from the adults around him.

The psychology of the novel was my favorite part, though. The manipulation from the label. The identity journey for Zach and for Ruben to a lesser degree. The group dynamics in the “band.” One character’s “merging” behavior (losing himself as he tries to accommodate everyone else first). It’s all SO well done and a joy to dig into.

Come for the romance and the behind-the-scenes look at the music business. Stay for the fantastic characters and the brilliant, insightful moments throughout the story! (Language, sex, alcohol/drug use, LGBTQ+, TW: gaslighting/manipulation/verbal abuse)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: The Wedding Ringer by Kerry Rea

REVIEW: The Wedding Ringer by Kerry Rea

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Willow caught her best friend and fiancé in bed together, and it was like someone yanked a rug out from under her feet. Losing her fiancé was awful. But losing her best friend was devastating.

So yes, she’s lonely. Yes, she’s living in a spare room at her sister and sister-in-law’s house. She dresses up as a princess for birthday parties for spoiled brats. But that doesn’t mean she’s ready to be a friend for hire.

But Maisie is lonely and desperate. And she’s offering Willow big money to pretend to be her long-time friend and be a bridesmaid in her wedding.

The idea of anything wedding-related makes Willow want to throw up. But Maisie’s money could be just what she needs to leave town and make a fresh start somewhere new.

Review

This was so good! It’s like a fake relationship romance, except the fake relationship is a friendship. And bridesmaids for hire seems to be a thing we are hearing about more lately – I’ve seen that set up in a couple other books recently. And I love both “tropes,” so this was a must-read for me. But what makes this special – more than just a collection of story features I like – is the HUMOR! This literally made me laugh out loud. The writing is great as are the characters. Willow is dealing with her crushing losses with withdrawal and self-protection. But she’s still someone you empathize with. You long to see her find her way through the darkness to true friendship – and maybe even love.

This book really has everything I am looking for in a great story. I was completely in sync with these characters from the start. I loved the deep dive into friendship questions. Sure, there’s a romance I enjoyed. But the relationship between Willow and Maisie is the focus – and the star – of the novel. And I loved that. It’s also an identity story as Willow tries to find herself and re-define herself after her losses. And finally, this is FUNNY! Snappy and sarcastic and self-deprecating. And I loved it!

I highly recommend this one! (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: Mad About Meatloaf by Maureen Fergus

REVIEW: Mad About Meatloaf by Maureen Fergus

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Weenie is a meatloaf-loving weiner dog. His best friends are a grumpy, sarcastic cat named Frank and a wise, encouraging guinea pig named Beans. They all live with a guy named Bob who takes care of them. When Weenie eats Bob’s meatloaf right off the counter, Bob’s pretty mad. So Weenie tries to think of a way to make things right with Bob.

Review

This is a darling graphic novel for new chapter book readers. Weenie is a big goof, and Frank and Beans are (mostly) faithful friends. Sure, Frank isn’t always the best influence. (It cracked me up to see Frank as the devil on Weenie’s shoulder while Beans was the angel.) But when Weenie needs him, Frank is there along with Beans.

Kids are going to get a kick out of these three friends and the troubles they find all because Weenie loves meatloaf, maybe a little too much.  Don’t miss this graphic novel series launch perfect for animal fans, dog fans, and fans of funny books and graphic novels.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

REVIEW: Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo

REVIEW: Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Raven has trapped her demon father and is desperate to keep him out of her life. Desperate enough to hop a train to Nashville to meet up with a guy who says he can help.

Raven’s foster sister, Max, is following her in secret to protect Raven from whatever trouble she might run into.

Garth is still adjusting to his recently un-suppressed powers. He’s on a bus to Nashville to meet a guy who says he has the answers Garth is looking for.

And there’s someone else who is supposed to be meeting up with Slade Wilson. He’s the smart one – observing, wary. And as he watches, he sees what happens next.

Review

EEEEEK! I love these books! This was fantastic! I loved Gar and Raven together. It was great to see them connect. I also loved Max’s presence – as well as the other person who is watching. The only complaint I have about this series is that the books are TOO SHORT. I finish each one begging for more. (There’s a cover reveal for the next book at the back, and I am HERE FOR IT.)

I enjoyed the balance here between the character development and the budding romance along with the next bits in the Slade story. Is it enough? No, not for me. But I was satisfied with the balance between the two aspects.

I don’t know that readers have to go back to read Raven and Beast Boy first, but it will certainly help fill out the backstories for Raven, Max, and Gar. And now that readers can slam all three books in one go, it might feel more satisfying than when I read each one and then had to wait a year for the next installment.

I highly recommend these – for graphic novel fans, and for DC fans. (Demons/ghosts)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Her New Story by Laura Bradford

REVIEW: Her New Story by Laura Bradford

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

It’s been a year, and Tess is still reeling from finding her new husband and her “best friend” together. In fact, her distraction is starting to impact her work. She missed a huge, newsworthy story that happened right in front of her. And now she’s dealing with the fall out – in Amish country.

Tess was supposed to get a fun, exotic assignment for her job at In Depth magazine. Her peers are going to dogsled in Alaska, hunt poachers in South Africa, and shadow Special Forces in Afghanistan. She was supposed to go to Belize. It feels so unfair.

But Tess is determined to find her story – something attention-grabbing, something to get her back in her boss’s good graces – and then she can get her career back on the right trajectory.

Review

While the four books in this “series” stand alone, there are threads of connection from Portrait of a Sister to A Daughter’s Truth (♥♥♥♥) to Piece by Piece and finally to Her New Story. And I have adored the previous three books so much, reading this was essential. I loved getting to spend some time with these characters again.

That said, Tess made it really hard for me to enjoy this. Her bitterness and feelings of betrayal are completely understandable. And I sympathized with her. But she let her experience turn her hard and prickly. And she was that way through most of the book.

Then, she let her prickliness drive her work. She wanted to find a flashy story in Amish country that fit – and reinforced  – her broken and bitter worldview that no one can be trusted but yourself.

I can’t fault the author here. She does an excellent job of telling Tess’ story. I just didn’t like her. Thankfully she was offset by the women around her (from the earlier books) as well as a flirty newcomer. Those other characters, plus Tess’s mentor who tried to be a mirror for Tess to see herself, kept me engaged and curious to see how things turned out.

The resolution felt abrupt to me, especially after enduring brittle, angry Tess for 80% of the book. But it was satisfying, and it left me feeling content about the whole in the end. Readers don’t have to have read the other books – or to have read them in any particular order – to read this. But I personally would recommend the other three first to give better context for this one.

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥ = Good/solid/fine

REVIEW: The Islanders by Mary Alice Monroe

REVIEW: The Islanders by Mary Alice Monroe

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

When Jake’s dad is critically injured while serving in Afghanistan, his mom sends Jake to Dewees Island to stay with his grandmother, Honey. At first, Jake’s upset – he has to leave his friends, go somewhere without wifi, and he’s worried about his dad. Jake also discovers his grandmother hasn’t been doing so well since his grandfather died. Most of the food in the fridge is long past edible. The house is filled with dusty stacks of books. And his grandmother spends a lot of time in her room.

But Jake starts helping his grandmother, and he makes a couple friends his age. And that changes everything. But even as he starts to feel more comfortable on the island, he worries about how his dad’s injury will change things.

Review

This was great! There’s a terrific blending here of Jake’s personal story – with the island, with his grandmother, and with his father’s injury – and a strong friendship story. Each of the three kids – Jake, Lovie, and Macon – are challenged by something. And their friendship helps each kid face that thing and address it in some way.

I enjoyed the naturalist/conservationist pieces – Jake learning about the island wildlife in general as well as the work the three kids do together for the (adorable!) turtles.

There’s a lot here for readers to love – great characters, a fascinating setting, and just enough interpersonal conflict to keep the story moving and the characters growing. I was excited to see that Goodreads lists this as the first in a series. I would definitely read more books with these characters in the future!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: The Lost Things Club by J. S. Puller

REVIEW: The Lost Things Club by J. S. Puller

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free print review copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Every summer, Leah travels an hour south to Chicago to stay with her aunt and uncle for three weeks while her mother travels for work. It’s usually a fun trip filled with sights to see for Leah and her younger cousin, TJ. But this summer is going to be different. Leah’s mom has already warned her that TJ is different this year. Ever since the school shooting, TJ has stopped talking.

Leah is stunned by the difference in TJ since she last saw him just a few months ago. But they’ve always been close. She’s convinced she can get through to him, help him when no one else has been able to.

But the surprise of the change in TJ is nothing compared to Leah’s discovery that 8-year-old TJ is sneaking out of the house at night and walking to a laundromat. He’s even talking to a stranger,  a man he sees every night when he sneaks out on his nightly jaunt.

Leah has to wonder what is so special, so important, for TJ to sneak out. And why he seems like his old self there with strangers rather than at home with his family.

Review

This second novel by the author of the incredible Captain Superlative is a lovely story about family and friendship, trauma and triumph. I adored Leah. While she looks for answers to TJ’s silence at home and his engagement at an area laundromat – the eventual home of the Lost Things Club – she’s also trying to find her niche, her identity, what makes her special. I liked how this broadened her story. TJ is still the focus, but this is another layer to the story that most readers will be able to connect to.

I was impressed by how the story dealt with a really serious topic – a school shooting and TJ’s story of what happened that day – in a kid-appropriate way. Every piece – from TJ’s parents’ desperation to Leah’s thoughtful observations and questions to TJ’s need for the Land of Lost Things to be real – felt true and honest while at the same time never feeling like “too much.” Especially for readers who will be in 3rd or 4th grade (or higher).

I imagine some sensitive readers might struggle with the seriousness of the story, but I think that most kids will feel like Leah – an outside observer who loves TJ and wants to understand him. And I think those readers will be caught up in the eventual solution. Don’t miss this one! (TW: grief and loss, references to a school shooting, but no description of the event itself. Mostly focuses on the impact of the event.)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Whatever Happens (Julie and the Phantoms) by Candace Buford

REVIEW: Whatever Happens (Julie and the Phantoms) by Candace Buford

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Includes SPOILERS for the Netflix show Julie and the Phantoms.

[At the end of season one of Julie and the Phantoms, the band has finished playing at the Orpheum, but the guys don’t “cross over.” Their unfinished business, whatever it is, isn’t done. Julie finds them in the studio, still suffering from Caleb’s power over them. But something happens that releases them from Caleb; their club stamps disappear. And for the first time, Julie can touch them even though they are ghosts.]

While Alex and Reggie leave to find Willie and see what they can figure out about their more solid ghostly state, Luke and Julie reminisce about their show at the Orpheum and talk about their most cherished days from the past. For Luke, it’s the day Sunset Curve was preparing to play the Orpheum the first time in 1995. For Julie, it’s a day she spent with her mom in 2019, before they knew her mom was sick.

Review

This is so clever! It fills in fun backstory for the characters without getting in the way of any potential season 2 stories for the show. Fans will get to read about songwriting moments for Luke, Julie, and Rose as well as some family interactions for Alex, Flynn, and Julie. Readers get a glimpse at Bobby and his place in the band and find out a little more about Reggie’s family.

As old as I am, I am probably way too attached to a show for kids and teens, but I absolutely *adore* these characters. I have my fingers crossed that Netflix will shoot at least one more season of the show. But while we all wait, fans will love getting to spend time with these characters in some new stories which fit perfectly into the show and reveal a little more depth to each of the teens. This book made me love my favorite characters all the more.

If I was rating this on my enjoyment alone, I would give this 4.5 stars. I loved it. I would re-read this. The author does almost too good of a job conveying the chemistry between Luke and Julie (this is a middle grade story, after all), and I am thrilled to add some backstory to my head canon about these characters. A lot of that character depth comes from the characters getting to tell their own parts of the stories. Each of the 6 teens has at least one point-of-view chapter. But that is also where the wrinkle comes in for me. The set up is that Luke and Julie are alone, telling these stories to one another. There’s no place in that set up for the other 4 characters to chime in with their perspective on group events, much less sharing about things that happened away from Luke or Julie. That structural wrinkle would drop my book rating to probably a 3.5 – the story is otherwise solid. I’m going to give it an average rating of 4 here, but in my head, the content is definitely rated higher than that.

Readers will want to have at least a passing knowledge of the events in the show and the characters in order to enjoy this. Fans craving new content for these characters should snap this up. (LGBTQ+, TW: coming out stories/parental disapproval)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read (but you know I totally will with this one!)

REVIEW: Marcus Makes a Movie by Kevin Hart

REVIEW: Marcus Makes a Movie by Kevin Hart

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Marcus had to sign up for an after school activity. He wanted to do art so he could work on his comic every day after school. But the art teacher would have made him do other projects, too. So he agrees to sign up for film making.

But when he gets to the first session, he’s not feeling the leaders or the other kids. He’s hoping to just sit in a corner and work on his superhero comic about Toothpick, his hero. But then one of the leaders suggests Marcus could turn his superhero comic into a movie!

Review

This is a lot of fun! Marcus has big feelings and a big personality, but his heart is usually in the right place. I could hear the author’s voice in my head as I read. And the mentions of “Tevin Bart,” “Taylor Berry,” and some superhero references in the book were hilarious!

This includes solid information about screenplays, writing and revising, taking criticism, etc., but it is well-integrated and never distracts from the story. And Marcus’ voice and personality are consistent (and awesome) all the way through.

This was such a fun story with characters I thoroughly enjoyed. I’d love to read more Marcus adventures! (Grief/loss)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.