Category: ya

fantasy, One Star Book, Romance, ya

🦖 Hot Pterodactyl Boyfriend Review 🦖

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

🦖 Title : Hot Pterodactyl Boyfriend
🦖 Author : Alan Cumyn
🦖 Publisher : Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
🦖 Publish Date : March 22, 2016
🦖 Genre : Ya, Fantasy, Romance
🦖 Book Form : Ebook
🦖 Pages : 416
🦖 Dates Read : Apr 23 – Apr 25
🦖 Rating : 🦖

Prepare to be blown away—or rather, carried away on huge muscular wings—by this blissfully outlandish, bracingly-smart, tour de force about a teen who has to come to terms with relinquishing control for the first time as she falls for the hot new…pterodactyl…at school. After all, everybody wants him!

Shiels is very pleased with her perfectly controlled life (controlling others while she’s at it). She’s smart, powerful, the Student Body Chair, and she even has a loving boyfriend. What more could a girl ask for?

But everything changes when the first-ever interspecies transfer student, a pterodactyl named Pyke, enrolls at her school. There’s something about him—something primal—that causes the students to lose control whenever he’s around. Even Shiels, the seemingly perfect self-confident girl that she is, can’t keep her mind off of him, despite her doting boyfriend and despite the fact that Pyke immediately starts dating Jocelyn, the school’s fastest runner who Shiels has always discounted as a nobody.

Pyke, hugely popular in a school whose motto is to embrace differences, is asked to join a band, and when his band plays at the Autumn Whirl dance, his preternatural shrieking music sends everyone into a literal frenzy. No one can remember what happened the next day, but Shiels learns that she danced far too long with Pyke, her nose has turned purple, and she may have done something with her boyfriend that she shouldn’t have. Who’s in control now?

– Goodreads

Okay. So. This is one of those books everyone talks about how bad it is. They tell you not to read it, but you do to see how bad it is. This was also (jokingly) a group read last month in Words & Whimsy Reading Challenge. Perfect time to read it and see what the big deal was.

The deal was – it was bad. Shelis is a highschooler. She’s very into student council, so when a pterodactyl joins the school, she decides she is going to make sure he fits in. All the while, she falls in love with him, is jealous he likes her AND another high school girl, AND Shelis’ MOM FALLS FOR HIM. WHAT? They also all have purple noses after they wrangle dance with him. Aka sex. They have sex with a pterodactyl. And get purple noses. I just… what?

That was my thought throughout the whole book. Just what? I was confused. So much happened, but it also seemed like nothing happened? It was weird. And bad. Please don’t read it.

I’m going to link my friend Jordan’s review here. She says it much better than me. Her review is honestly way better than the whole book – and takes a lot less time to read!

Dear friends, please tell me you have not read this book. But if you have, I want to know your thoughts in the comments below!

Until next time…

ARC, fantasy, LGBT, three star book, ya

💎 The Stone of Sorrow ARC Review 💎

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

💎 Title : The Stone of Sorrow
💎 Author : Brooke Carter
💎 Publisher : Orca Book Publishers
💎 Publish Date : April 7, 2020
💎 Genre : Fantasy, YA, LGBT
💎 Book Form : E-ARC
💎 Pages : 304
💎 Dates Read : May 2 – May 4
💎 Rating : 💎💎💎.5

Thank you to Netgalley and Orca Book Publishers for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In a land of myth and ice, seventeen-year-old Runa Unnursdóttir is not the runecaster her clan has been hoping for. She spends her days daydreaming of sailing away and exploring the world instead of studying the runes and learning her spells. The villagers consider her odd, in looks and in manner. She’s nothing like her talented sister, Sýr, keeper of the sacred moonstone that ensures the village’s continued survival. But when a rival clan led by an evil witch raids the village and kidnaps her sister, Runa is forced to act. With a fallen Valkyrie by her side, and the help of a gorgeous half-elf Runa is not quite sure she can trust, the apprentice must travel to the site of an ancient runecasting competition to try to win back the magical gem. But the journey will not be easy; the three unlikely companions encounter malevolent and supernatural creatures at every turn. Somehow, Runa must summon the courage and strength to face her destiny, a destiny she never wanted. Or die trying.

– Goodreads

Okay, first. This cover! It is gorgeousssss. I love the pop of blue on her cloak and her white hair. I think I requested this off the cover alone.

This book had a lot of positives for me. It’s based on Icelandic mythology – which I know nothing about. It was so interesting to read a book based off this and I learned a lot! It made me want to research more Icelandic myths.
Next was all the rep! There is a female-female relationship, along with an asexual character that uses they/them pronouns. I believe this is the first book I’ve read with an asexual character, too!

This was a pretty quick read for me. The story was fast paced and compelling. I did see some of the twists coming, but not all! I liked the magic system. It was well explained and thought out. The ending twist I didn’t see coming and I loved it!

There was a romance – a small one. I didn’t like the guy though. His personality reminded me of a wet noodle. I think she should have gone for the sexy Elf instead! There wasn’t much of the elf, but I’m hoping to see him again in future novels!

Runa, the MC, was interesting. She started out so unsure of herself and insecure, but grew along with the story. I really enjoyed her character arc and can’t wait to see what happens in the next novels!

The reason I gave 3.5 stars was because the story slowed down at points and it became hard to push through. Most of it was action-packed and interesting, though. The ending also kind of dragged to me.

I definitely recommend if you are a fan of fantasy, mythology, with a little bit of romance.

Have you read The Stone of Sorrow? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

ARC, contemporary, Four Star Book, Romance, ya

💕 What I Like About You ARC Review 💕

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

💕 Title : What I Like About You
💕 Author : Marisa Kanter
💕 Publisher : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
💕 Publish Date : April 7, 2020
💕 Genre : Contemporary, Romance, YA
💕 Book Form : E-ARC
💕 Pages : 416
💕 Dates Read : Apr 26 – Apr 27
💕 Rating : 💕💕💕💕

💕 Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 💕

Can a love triangle have only two people in it? Online, it can… but in the real world, it’s more complicated. In this debut novel Marisa Kanter explores what happens when internet friends turn into IRL crushes.

There are a million things that Halle Levitt likes about her online best friend, Nash.

He’s an incredibly talented graphic novelist. He loves books almost as much as she does. And she never has to deal with the awkwardness of seeing him in real life. They can talk about anything…

Except who she really is.

Because online, Halle isn’t Halle—she’s Kels, the enigmatically cool creator of One True Pastry, a YA book blog that pairs epic custom cupcakes with covers and reviews. Kels has everything Halle doesn’t: friends, a growing platform, tons of confidence, and Nash.

That is, until Halle arrives to spend senior year in Gramps’s small town and finds herself face-to-face with real, human, not-behind-a-screen Nash. Nash, who is somehow everywhere she goes—in her classes, at the bakery, even at synagogue.

Nash who has no idea she’s actually Kels.

If Halle tells him who she is, it will ruin the non-awkward magic of their digital friendship. Not telling him though, means it can never be anything more. Because while she starts to fall for Nash as Halle…he’s in love with Kels.

– Goodreads

Oh, I love books that mesh online worlds and the real world. Halle has an altar ego – Kels. Kels is super cool on twitter and the blogging world. She has a great YA blog that pairs books with cupcakes. She’s quick, witty, and sure of herself.

Her best friend online is Nash. He is an artist. They share each other’s stuff, comment on everything, and talk in DMs. So what happens when Kels moves to middle of nowhere Connecticut and meets Nash? Please read the book and find out!

This was such a cute ya contemporary. I loved the fact that it was about a YA blogger. I also used to bake cupcakes obsessively and it really made me want to start back.

I had such a love/hate relationship with Halle. At times I just wanted to scream at her but at times I related to her so much.

The love between Halle and Nash was PERFECT. It reminded me of being young and in love. They had great times, and they fought. It seemed so real!

Another positive aspect of this book is Jewish rep! I have never read another YA with Jewish rep. I loved learning about Jewish church services and other holidays they celebrate!

The only issue I had with this book is that Halle made some comments about adults reading YA novels that were not positive. I am an adult – I’m 30. There’s no more denying. The majority of what I read is ya, so the comments honestly made me very sad.

Even with those comments, I would still recommend this book! It was so cute and fun and the romance was great!

Have you read What I Like About You? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

ARC, contemporary, Erotica, One Star Book, Romance, ya

🏈 Jane’s Team ARC Review 🏈

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

🏈 Title : Jane’s Team
🏈 Author : Janie Marie
🏈 Publisher : Kindle
🏈 Publish Date : April 2, 2020
🏈 Genre : YA, Romance, Sports
🏈 Book Form : E-ARC
🏈 Pages : 375 pages
🏈 Dates Read : Apr 25 – Apr 28
🏈 Rating : 🏈.5

🏈 Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own. 🏈

When you’re in love with your best friend, life is complicated. When he’s also your stepbrother, it’s a nightmare.

Jane’s apparently a magnet for chaos. Because now she’s agreed to tutor her stepbrother’s enemy, and that sexy bad boy might have a thing for her. She might also love that a tingle surrounds her soul whenever he’s close. Throw his two brothers into the mix, dangerous rivals looking to destroy every one of them, and parents controlling her love life. It’s safe to say she’s wandered into the apocalypse.

At least being torn between four hot guys isn’t the end of the world. Just kidding. It totally is. But they’ll all realize something.

Jane’s the ruler of her life. No one else. Long live the queen . . . and her kings.

– Goodreads

Okay, look. I can get down with some freaky, forbidden romances. Don’t bother me one little bit. However, there were some glowering issues with this book. The more I thought about it, the more mad I got. That’s why you see the rating changed from 3 stars on my April wrap up to 1.5 stars now.

This story follows Jane who has been in love with her step-brother, David, since before they were step siblings. She also has a crush on the jerk next door, Ryder. Jane is forced to tutor Ryder, star of the football team, and learns maybe he isn’t such a jerk after all. Then somehow his two brothers Luc and Tercero are factored in and she just.can’t.choose. Four super hot guys fawning over this girl who’s never even been kissed.

It starts with Ryder and David, and they decide to share and let her explore and make up her mind. Then comes the other two brothers, and they decide to be one big happy family.

All that? Good. Doesn’t bother me one bit. You know what DOES bother me? THE MEN IN THIS BOOK!

I felt every man was so misogynist and just, ugh. They didn’t treat Jane with respect at all. They all try to boss her around. It was the things that were said to her that really pissed me off. Jane, of course, was very insecure in their arrangement. She wanted all the guys, yes, but she was scared of how they would be perceived. Constantly wondered why she couldn’t just choose one. She would say things like, “I’m so dumb” or “I’m such a how” and the boys would smirk their sexy smirk, say “I know.” or “A little” and start kissing her. WHAT?! I thought about this for days after and just kept getting more and more angry. Who says that to someone they ‘love’?! It didn’t seem to be in a joking manner, either. They just.. almost seemed like they were saying it to shut her up? I don’t know. I’m getting angry thinking about it again.

The romance scenes weren’t bad. They were spicy and well done. Like I said, that wasn’t the issue.

This is also an alternate universe for the author’s Gods and Monsters series. You don’t have to read that to understand this book. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll be picking it up.

Have you read Jane’s Team or Gods and Monsters? What did you think? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time…

ARC, blog tour, book meme, book tag, contemporary, LGBT, ya

#5OnMyTBR

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

So excited to take part in another week of #5OnMyTBR! Here’s how it works:

#5OnMyTBR is a bookish meme hosted by E. @Local Bee Hunter’s Nook  and you can learn more about it here or in the post announcing it. It occurs every Monday when we post about 5 books on our TBR.

This week is one of my favorite genres – contemporary!

Four Days of You and Me by Miranda Kenneally
Release Date: May 5, 2020

This is on my TBR this month and I’m so excited to get to it! This follows a couple on the same day over 4 years time. I can’t wait to see how they grow together during their highschool years!

Breath Like Water by Anna Jarzab
Release Date: May 19, 2020

This is another on my TBR this month. I was fortunate to be invited to this novel’s blog tour!

The Mall by Megan McCafferty
Release Date: July 28, 2020

When I saw the cover, I knew I had to have this book! Plus it’s set in the 1990’s, which honestly, was an amazing time.

Yes No Maybe So by Becy Albertalli and Aisha Saeed
Release Date: February 4, 2020

Ugh, I really need to fit this book in my TBR! It’s so timely with election year this year.

Meet Cute Club by Jack Harbon
Release Date: May 5, 2020

This sounds adorable and I need it now!

What contemporaries are on your TBR? Do we have any of the same ones? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

ARC, contemporary, fantasy, Sci-Fi, ya

🤩 Top 5 Anticipated May Releases 🤩

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

May has some GREAT releases, guys! Even though a lot of books are getting pushed back, I still had to narrow down to the top 5 I am looking forward to. Let’s jump right in!

The Betrothed by Kiera Cass

Release Date: May 5, 2020

I LOVED the Selection series. I can’t wait to read her next romance!

Of Silver and Shadow by Jennifer Gruenke

Release Date: May 26, 2020

I am so excited I got this ARC! The cover is intriguing! It’s on my TBR this month.

The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly by Jamie Pacton

Release Date: May 5, 2020

I love books that are set in renaissance faires or medieval themed, so this is a must for me! I will try to work it in in June, probably.

Aurora Burning by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Release Date: May 5, 2020

I hate space books, unless Amie and Jay are involved. I can’t wait to read this and I REALLY can’t wait to chat with them later this month!

A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

Release Date: May 19, 2020

I can’t wait for this. I think I may do a Hunger Games reread next month with this at the end. I don’t know why I didn’t fit it in my TBR this month. Just too much to read!

What are your most anticipated releases this month? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

ARC, blog tour, contemporary, dystopian, fantasy, ya

🌞 May TBR 🌞

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

Okay, I went REALLY ambitious with this months TBR! I am participating in Words & Whimsy Reading Challenge again, along with Bookemon! I just learned about Bookemon Readathon and I am so excited. I love Pokemon and reading, so putting them together is heaven for me!

First let’s start off with Words & Whimsy. Our theme is space – Broken Worlds! Here’s our criteria, Instagram challenge, and mini game!

Graphics made by the amazing Jordan.

Now, let’s get into this TBR.

Now for Bookemon! The bookemon I choose as my sidekick is Paperchu! Since he is electric, I get 100 combat points for every hour I read electronically. Since I read exclusively on kindle, I thought he was perfect for me!

All of my books can fit somewhere into the bookemon criteria, but there are a few I have added to complete additional challenges.

So as you can see, I have 16 books on my TBR. That’s a lot for me, but I’m hoping to get through as many as I can!

What’s on your TBR for May? Do we share any books? Are you participating in Bookemon or Words & Whimsy Reading Challenge? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

ARC, blog tour, contemporary, fantasy, Five Star Book, ya

🌦️ April Wrap Up 🌦️

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

Well, now that I’ve adjusted to the new normal, I’ll be going back to work full time next week! I’m sure this will put a damper on my reading, and I have a HUGE TBR for May. I just could not decide!

April has been my best reading month with 12 books. I’m hoping to keep up and may up the count next month! I’m shooting for 10 a month, and anything over is great!

My favorite book this month was probably Girls with Razor Hearts by Suzanne Young. Crave by Tracy Wolff was a very close second! My least favorite book was Hot Pterodactyl Boyfriend by Alan Cumyn. I mean, I knew it was bad going into it, but I had to see what all of the fuss was about. Believe me. I saw.

I had a much better reading month in April. My ratings were a lot higher than March, which I was happy about. I read a lot of great books this month!

  1. Girls with Razor Hearts by Suzanne Young 🌦️🌦️🌦️🌦️🌦️
  2. We Didn’t Ask for This by Adi Alsaid 🌦️🌦️🌦️🌦️
  3. Ghosted in LA by Sina Grace 🌦️🌦️🌦️🌦️🌦️
  4. Crave by Tracy Wolff 🌦️🌦️🌦️🌦️🌦️
  5. Open Fire by Amber Lough 🌦️🌦️🌦️
  6. Deny Me by Karen Cole 🌦️🌦️🌦️
  7. Red Hood by Elana K Arnold 🌦️🌦️🌦️🌦️.5
  8. The Burning by Laura Bates 🌦️🌦️🌦️🌦️
  9. Shredded by Tracy Wolff 🌦️🌦️🌦️🌦️
  10. Hot Pterodactyl Boyfriend by Alan Cumyn 🌦️
  11. What I Like About You by Marisa Kanter 🌦️🌦️🌦️🌦️
  12. Jane’s Team by Janie Marie 🌦️🌦️🌦️

🌦️ Stats 🌦️

  • Goodreads Goal: 41/120. I am two books AHEAD OF SCHEDULE! WHAT?! This is the first time all year I’ve been ahead of schedule and I am so excited!
  • I read 4427 pages, which is the most all year! I feel really great about this month. I am so proud of myself! My average rating was 3.71, which is also better than last month!
  • For genres, I read three contemporary and fantasy, two romance, one sci fi, thriller, and historical fiction and graphic novel.
  • This was a YA heavy month, with 10 YA books, one new adult and adult.
  • I read 9 ARCs this month – two more than last month! My tbr for May is very ARC heavy, so I’m hoping to keep making a dent in this pile I have! I am so very grateful and honored to have such an ARC heavy TBR pile!

🌦️ Yearly Goals Check In 🌦️

  • Goal of 10 books a month : I exceeded this goal with 12! It feels so good! Hoping to exceed it next month too.
  • TBR Posts : Still doing a post every Sunday, still only read 4 from it, haha. I am doing good slimming it down though! Under 1800!
  • Words & Whimsy : I had the pleasure of talking to Tracy Wolff this month! It was a blast! She is so sweet and down to earth. We have 7 chats (I think?) scheduled for May. I can’t wait to see who I’ll get to talk to! We have some big names this month – Christopher Paolini and then a joint chat with Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman! You don’t want to miss it! Join us here!
  • Words & Whimsy Reading Challenge : Our first month was a hit! May’s theme is Broken Worlds – aka space! We have open, interpretive criteria and fun group chats! Join here!
  • Mithah Reads : This month was hard blog wise. I’ve been working part time basically, but my three year old is NOT wanting to let me blog! And honestly, he wears me out so I’m going to bed a lot earlier! Hopefully once I’m back working full time in May I can get back into my blogging routine! I’ve got three blog tours next month and reviews from April to catch up on!
  • I’m still keeping up with my three blogging spreadsheets which I am very excited about. I love seeing all the data they track!

How many books did you read in April? What was your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

ARC, contemporary, Four Star Book, ya

🔥 The Burning ARC Review 🔥

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

🔥 Title: The Burning
🔥 Author: Laura Bates
🔥 Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
🔥 Publish Date: April 7, 2020
🔥 Genre: YA, Contemporary, Feminism
🔥 Book Form: E-ARC
🔥 Pages: 352
🔥 Dates Read: Apr 17 – Apr 23
🔥 Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A rumor is like fire.

Once a whore, always a whore.

Roses are red.
Violets are blue.
Anna’s a slut.
We all know it’s true.

And a fire that spreads online… is impossible to extinguish.

New school. Check.
New town. Check.
New last name. Check.
Social media profiles? Deleted.

Anna and her mother have moved hundreds of miles to put the past behind them. Anna hopes to make a fresh start and escape the harassment she’s been subjected to. But then rumors and whispers start, and Anna tries to ignore what is happening by immersing herself in  learning about Maggie, a local woman accused of witchcraft in the seventeenth century. A woman who was shamed. Silenced. And whose story has unsettling parallels to Anna’s own.

From Laura Bates, internationally renowned feminist and founder of the Everyday Sexism Project, comes a debut novel for the #metoo era. It’s a powerful call to action, reminding all readers of the implications of sexism and the role we can each play in ending it.

– Goodreads

Yes, it did take me a few days to read this book. I was slumping after I finished Red Hood. The Burning is a heavy book. I took a break, read something light, then came back and flew through this one!

From the get-go we know Anna has secrets. She keeps referencing something that happened at her old school. Something bad enough for her to move away, change her name, and start over. Even give up having a phone and a social media presence. I love/hate books like that. I honestly love it, but my curiosity gets the best of me. Its SO HARD not knowing! I think this is a big part of why I flew through it. Once we found out what the secret was, the book started really gaining steam and going much more quickly.

On top of Anna’s story, we also see her researching a woman who lived in her village in the 1600s that was tried and convicted of witchcraft. At some points, I thought this was more interesting than Anna’s story. I loved the glimpses into the past and all the research she did. Honestly, I want a book just about Maggie!

Laura Bates did great touching on slut shaming. It’s the whole focus of the novel. She did a great job of showing what happens to victims and those around them like friends and family, victim blaming from men and women, and the awful aftermath.

This was a great feminist read. I recommend it to anyone who loves ya feminist contemporaries.

Have you read The Burning? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below! Until next time…

fantasy, Four Star Book, retelling, ya

🐺 Red Hood Review 🐺

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

🐺 Title: Red Hood
🐺 Author: Elana K Arnold
🐺 Publisher: Balzer + Bray
🐺 Publish Date: February 25, 2020
🐺 Book Form: E-book
🐺 Pages: 368
🐺 Genre: Fantasy, Retelling, YA
🐺 Dates Read: Apr 11 – Apr 17
🐺 Rating: 🐺🐺🐺🐺.5

You are alone in the woods, seen only by the unblinking yellow moon. Your hands are empty. You are nearly naked.

And the wolf is angry.

Since her grandmother became her caretaker when she was four years old, Bisou Martel has lived a quiet life in a little house in Seattle. She’s kept mostly to herself. She’s been good. But then comes the night of homecoming, when she finds herself running for her life over roots and between trees, a fury of claws and teeth behind her. A wolf attacks. Bisou fights back. A new moon rises. And with it, questions. About the blood in Bisou’s past and on her hands as she stumbles home. About broken boys and vicious wolves. About girls lost in the woods—frightened, but not alone.

– Goodreads
Image by TheProseAndCons

Before we get into this review, I just want to point out Words and Whimsy is speaking with Elana K Arnold THIS SUNDAY at 8PM EST! Come join us here! It’s bound to be a great discussion!

Red Hood was the first book by Elana K Arnold that I have read, but now I have to go back and read Damsel! Red Hood was SO GOOD!

I don’t think I’ve ever eyeball-read a 2nd Person POV before. The only other one I can think of is You by Caroline Kepnes and I did the audio for that one. I know in the discussion, some were turned off my the 2nd POV, but I felt it put me more into the story. I was so immersed. It makes me want to look for other 2nd POV books!

The story follows Bisou, who gets her period and things get weird. Both for her, and the book. Like, the end of the first chapter is CRAZY. I’m not going to go into it, because spoilers, but omg. Never read anything like it and don’t think I will again. It’s WILD.

I was so immersed in the story. I loved learning about Bisou’s heritage. There’s a POV shift in part two, and it was like being told a bedtime story, albeit a very messed up one. It was so interesting to me.

Bisou has been through a LOT, and she handles it so well. She’s vulnerable, but strong. I loved following her. The side characters were great, too. Meme was my absoloute favorite.

This is a very feminist story. I loved the girl power, that girls are strong, and we can overcome the wolves. We’ve all met a wolf. We’ve all been victimized by one. Bisou handles them with such ferocity you’re left wondering who is really the predator, and who is the prey. This is also the only Little Red Riding Hood retelling I’ve ever read, and I loved it!

I recommend this to anyone who loves YA retellings, feminist novels, or books with super strong female protagonists. You won’t be disappointed!

Have you read Red Hood? Is it on your TBR? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…