adult, Five Star Book, mystery, thriller

Final Girls Review

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You
  • Title: Final Girls
  • Author: Riley Sager
  • Publisher: Dutton
  • Publish Date: July 11, 2017
  • Book Form: Audio
  • Pages: 342
  • Genre: Thriller, Mystery
  • Rating: ★★★★★

Ten years ago, college student Quincy Carpenter went on vacation with five friends and came back alone, the only survivor of a horror movie–scale massacre. In an instant, she became a member of a club no one wants to belong to—a group of similar survivors known in the press as the Final Girls. Lisa, who lost nine sorority sisters to a college dropout’s knife; Sam, who went up against the Sack Man during her shift at the Nightlight Inn; and now Quincy, who ran bleeding through the woods to escape Pine Cottage and the man she refers to only as Him. The three girls are all attempting to put their nightmares behind them, and, with that, one another. Despite the media’s attempts, they never meet.

 

Now, Quincy is doing well—maybe even great, thanks to her Xanax prescription. She has a caring almost-fiancé, Jeff; a popular baking blog; a beautiful apartment; and a therapeutic presence in Coop, the police officer who saved her life all those years ago. Her memory won’t even allow her to recall the events of that night; the past is in the past. 

 

That is, until Lisa, the first Final Girl, is found dead in her bathtub, wrists slit, and Sam, the second, appears on Quincy’s doorstep. Blowing through Quincy’s life like a whirlwind, Sam seems intent on making Quincy relive the past, with increasingly dire consequences, all of which makes Quincy question why Sam is really seeking her out. And when new details about Lisa’s death come to light, Quincy’s life becomes a race against time as she tries to unravel Sam’s truths from her lies, evade the police and hungry reporters, and, most crucially, remember what really happened at Pine Cottage, before what was started ten years ago is finished.

– Goodreads

My friend and fellow Words & Whimsy and Book Battle mod Erin is OBSESSED with Riley Sager. We had the privilege to talk to him earlier this month! We loved hearing how he got his pen name, his inspirations, and all about his books! The chat is still up over at Words & Whimsy. Go check it out!

So all month Erin has been pestering – I mean, gently pushing – us to read a Riley book. Final Girls was a club read in Book Battle, so I gave in. Boy, am I glad I did! Thanks, Erin!

Final Girls was a twisty thriller with an end I NEVER saw coming! This is the gif I sent to literally everyone when I was finished:

Thanks, giphy!

What I liked:

Final Girls alternates between present and past – specifically what happened that fateful night at the cabin. At parts I was like, ok let’s get back to the cabin. I’m intrigued. Then sometimes it would switch to the cabin and I’d be like, no! There was so much action in the present! I love how Riley twisted the two together. You learn little bits of info about both timelines and it leaves you wanting everything, like, yesterday. I had to know what was going on. I was listening at work and would get SO aggravated when people would interrupt me! Like, yo, I’m tryin’ to find a killer here!
Spoiler alert – I did not find the killer.

What I didn’t like – which wasn’t much!

To me, the beginning somewhat drug on. There seemed to be a lot of info – which I ended up needing. However, at the time I was like, get on with it! I want action! I ended up getting plenty of action – yes, even that kind! – and was thoroughly satisfied. That’s really it. The beginning could have been faster, but it didn’t really take away from the book at all. I still gave 5 stars.

Would I recommend?

Yes yes yes yes yes! 100 times yes! Please read this if you like mystery, thrillers, red herrings, and your mind being blow in general. This is a MUST READ for any mystery or thriller fans. Or if you like horror movies – which is where is inspo came from!

Find this book here:

| Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble |
| iBooks | Kobo |

Until next time…

ARC, Four Star Book, Romance, Sci-Fi, ya

BLOG TOUR! Within Ash and Stardust by Chani Lynn Feener

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Guys! It’s my first blog tour and I am so freaking excited! So here I’m going to give you info on Within Ash and Stardust, give my review, and share a give away! Exciting! Let’s jump right in!

Book Details

  • Title: Within Ash and Stardust
  • Author: Chani Lynn Feener
  • Series: Xenith Trilogy #3
  • Publisher: Swoon Reads
  • Publish Date: July 16, 2019
  • Genre: Sci-Fi, YA
  • Rating: ★★★★

Having gone from kidnapped faux princess to the legitimate heir to an intergalactic throne, an impulsive, sarcastic teen must take charge of her own destiny in this epic YA novel.

On Earth, Delaney is a normal teenager who recently graduated high school with a fantastic best friend and a loving boyfriend.

But Delaney isn’t on Earth. She’s on Xenith, a war-torn planet half a galaxy away. Originally mistaken for an alien princess, Delaney has gone from kidnapped imposter to the recognized heir to an alien throne. Oh, and she’s engaged to the prince of an enemy nation whose ruthless father is on the warpath.

Torn between two planets, two fates, and two loves, Delaney is finally ready to choose her own destiny in Within Ash and Stardust, the stunning conclusion to Chani Lynn Feener’s Xenith Trilogy.

– Goodreads

Thank you to Swoon Reads and Xpresso Book Tours for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Guys. This series was so good. As I’ve said before, I’m not a huge fan of sci-fi, but this was like a back drop of space. Not in your face look at me space which I am so a fan of.

I love the technology elements. I love the political intrigue. I love how I was fearing for Delaney, Trystan, AND Ruckus’ lives! This book was fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t wait to see them win against the Rex!

My most favorite part was the love triangle. Of course. So Xenith #1. I was #teamRuckus ALL THE WAY. Like, who was this Trystan guy thinking he’s all hot? Thank u, next. Then I read Xenith #2. Okay, this Trystan guy isn’t soooo bad, but I’m still rooting for my man Ruck. But then the more Trystan does the more I’m like, ok I love him too. How do I choose?! Then Xenith #3. Man oh man. I felt for Delaney cause I would not have wanted to make that decision. I’m not going to tell you who she goes for – that’s the best part! I love how it ended though and my sweet, sappy heart was satisfied.

I would so recommend this series to anyone who loves a good love triangle or a good space setting. It was a great, clean, YA series!

You can find this great novel here:
| Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble |
| iBooks | Kobo |

Be sure to enter the giveaway hosted by Xpresso Book Tours here!

Chani Lynn Feener has wanted to be a writer since the age of ten during fifth grade story time. She majored in Creative Writing at Johnson State College in Vermont, and graduated in 2012. To pay her bills, she has worked many odd jobs, including, but not limited to, telemarketing, order picking in a warehouse, and filling ink cartridges. When she isn’t writing, she’s binging TV shows, drawing, or frequenting zoos/aquariums. Chani is also the author of teen paranormal series, the Underworld Saga, originally written under the penname Tempest C. Avery. She currently resides in Connecticut, but lives on Goodreads.com.

Until next time…

adult, cozy mystery, three star book

Ice Cream Murder Review

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  • Title: Ice Cream Murder
  • Author: Leighann Dobbs
  • Book Form: E-Book
  • Pages: 267
  • Publisher: Self-Published
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Rating: ★★★.5

When millionaire Regis Banks drops dead at his own party, everyone assumes it was from natural causes – after all, the man was celebrating his one-hundredth birthday.

… Everyone except Lexy Baker’s amateur sleuth grandmother, Nans, and her three friends, that is. 

When it turns out that Regis’ death might have been caused by more than just old age, Nans refuses to let the trail grow cold – especially after a local reporter trying to get a scoop threatens to write an article blaming the death on Lexy.

It doesn’t take long before Nans and Lexy are up to their eyeballs in suspects. And when those suspects start dropping like flies, Lexy and Nans have to step up their game before the killer claims their next victim.

– Goodreads

Again, this month for Book Battle I needed a book with Ice Cream on the cover. I’m so glad I picked up Ice Cream Murder! It’s a super cute cozy mystery with some amateur detecting!

Lexy and her Nans, along with her Nans’ friends, help the police solve murders. I didn’t realize it until later, but this is book 9 in the series. The author does a great job of organically giving you background info. So if you’re like me and pick this book up first, you won’t feel like you’re missing a thing! Also, I was like, this is a small town. They have that many murders?! The crime rate must be super high. Ha! Anyways…

I loved following the old ladies and Lexy trying to solve the murders! They actually gathered evidence, did steak outs, interviewed suspects. It was great! I was surprised at who the killer was. I thought it was someone completely different!

I would definitely pick up this series again if I needed a quick, light read. I loved the investigating. I want to pick up the fist books to get more of a feel for the character’s backstories!

I would definitely recommend this book if you needed a light read to bust you out of a slump, or if you just like cozy mysteries!

Until next time…

ARC, Four Star Book, Romance, Sci-Fi, ya

Amid Stars and Darkness ARC Review

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  • Title: Amid Stars and Darkness
  • Author: Chani Lynn Feener
  • Book Form: E-ARC
  • Pages: 368
  • Publisher: Swoon Reads
  • Genre: YA, Sci-Fi, Romance
  • Rating: ★★★★

Delaney’s entire world is thrown into chaos after she is mistaken for Lissa Olena, an alien princess hiding out on Earth in order to escape an arranged marriage.

Kidnapped by the princess’s head bodyguard, Ruckus, and imprisoned in an alien palace, Delaney is forced to impersonate the princess until Olena can be found. If she fails, it will lead to an alien war and the eventual enslavement of the entire human race.

No pressure or anything.

Factor in Trystan, the princess’s terrifying betrothed who is intent on unraveling all her secrets, and her own growing feelings for Ruckus, and Delaney is in way over her head.

Get lost Amid Stars and Darkness, in this YA sci-fi romance from debut author Chani Lynn Feener.

– Goodreads

Thank you to Swoon Reads and Xpresso Book Tours for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Here’s a little backstory about why I’m reading this series this month. I signed up for a Blog Tour for Within Ash and Stardust on Xpresso Book Tours. I was living for the cover so I knew I had to sign up. I have learned – do your research! That’s the 3rd book in this series. Thankfully they also sent e-arcs of the first two. Man, I am so glad they did. I loved this book!

It’s a typical case of mistaken identity. Only Delaney gets kidnapped by aliens and taken to their home planet. Come to find out, it wasn’t just mistaken identity. There’s some gadgets that come into play, and now Delaney looks exactly like the alien princess! Delaney falls for her body guard. He falls for her. Only she has to pretend to like her fiance – the alien prince Trystan.

I’m usually iffy on sci-fi books. I love all of Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff’s stuff. This was similar in the fact that yes, you’re dealing with aliens and spaceships and other worlds, but it doesn’t scream SPACE. I don’t like books where space is just shoved in your face. This focused more on Delaney trying to fool everyone into thinking she was the princess. Space was just the backdrop, which is exactly how I like it.

The romance was slow-burn, which I enjoy. I’m not a huge fan of insta-love. Trystan was the ‘bad guy’, but is he really so bad? Is he acting? Will he turn good? I love when you kind of feel for the bad guys. Also, I know there’s a lot of #teamTrystan out there! Right now I’m #teamRukus, but we will see if that changes with book two!

The ending had a cliffhanger, and I was so glad I already had book two! It would have been torture if I had to wait for it to come out!

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a love triangle, sci-fi, and political intrigue! I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait to start book two!

Until next time..

adult, cozy mystery, three star book

The Sweet Dreams Bake Shop Review

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  • Title: The Sweet Dreams Bake Shop
  • Author: J. A. Whiting
  • Book Form: E-Book
  • Pages: 204
  • Publisher: Self-Published
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Rating: ★★★

Angie Roseland runs The Sweet Dreams Bake Shop in the seacoast town of Sweet Cove, Massachusetts. The building’s new owners are not renewing the bake shop’s lease and Angie is running out of time to find a new location. When one of the town’s long-time residents is murdered, Angie finds herself on the suspect list. With the help of her three sisters and a huge orange cat, Angie works to uncover the killer’s identity. 

A cozy mystery with recipes ! 

– Goodreads

Cozy mysteries aren’t usually my thing. I often read them when I need a palate cleanser of sorts, like if I’m in a slump. The Sweet Dreams Bake Shop would be good for that. It was a fast read. It didn’t take long to get into. I read it in less than a day.

I picked up this book because we have an Ice Cream theme in Book Battle, and I needed a book set in a restaurant.

So The Sweet Dreams Bake Shop follows Angie as she tries to identify who murdered one of her regular customers. I found it kind of odd at times. She flirts with one of the realtors who purchased the building where her shop is located. However, she inherits the Professor’s mansion after she dies – and invites all of her sisters to live with her. Now Angie is an adult, so I kept thinking – ‘Ok, when her and this guy get together, he’s gonna be living in a house full of her sisters…?’ I thought that multiple times throughout this book. It’s just a little odd to me.

The story was ok as far as cozy mysteries go. It wasn’t the best I’ve read, but it wasn’t the worst. I wasn’t super surprised at who the killer was. One of my favorite things was the Professor’s cat. The cat apparently knew who did it, but no one paid attention to him. Poor kitty. I didn’t find that Angie and her sisters did a lot of investigating though? It was more like, oh what if this happened? Speculation, I guess.

Overall, this was a quick read. It wasn’t very fulfilling. There wasn’t a ton of depth. It’s nice to read if you’re in a slump and need somthing quick to break you out.

It does include recipes in the back for all you bakers!

Until next time…

ARC, contemporary, three star book, ya

You, Me and Letting Go ARC Review

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  • Title: You, Me & Letting Go
  • Author: Katie Kaleski
  • Book Form: E-ARC
  • Pages: 286
  • Publisher: Swoon Romance
  • Genre: YA, Romance, Contemporary
  • Rating: ★★★.5

A love so epic, no label is needed.

Van Sato’s got labels. Tourettes, ADHD, SPD – words that have defined his existence since the time he was old enough to know what they meant. Now, Van wants to prove he’s more than an acronym, a syndrome, a problem kid. He takes a summer job as a day camp counselor to prove he’s capable of independence and moving on to the next phase in his life. Maybe, he might even make a friend while there. Someone who’s got just as many or even more labels than him. Someone who understands what it’s like. 

Tabby Dubanowksi wants to forget about everything, the hospitalization, the judgment, the whispers behind her back. As a camp counselor, she will be admired, looked up to, and able to help people who don’t know anything about her old life. Tabby wants a fresh start and a chance to re-ignite her passion for film-making, if only for one summer.

After running away from their pasts, Van and Tabby collide in a storm cloud of attraction laced with self-doubt, insecurity, shame, and blame. Now, with Van feeling like he might have to quit his job, and Tabby struggling to quell the urge to cut, they will struggle to find themselves in a world designed to keep them apart.

– Goodreads

Thank you to Swoon Reads for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have a thing for books with teens with diseases this month, apparently.

You, Me & Letting Go is a story about Van, who had Tourette’s along with ADHD and Sensory Processing Disorder, and Tabby, who had anorexia and self-harmed. They meet at their summer job and young love ensues.

This was the first book I have ever read that features someone with Tourette’s, so that was nice to have that rep. I really enjoyed Van’s story and struggles – especially how he and Tabby helped each other deal with their issues.

This was a quick, easy read. I read it in about 4 hours with my two year old interrupting me. Though it was quick, the story packed a punch and I was invested in the characters. I’ll be on the lookout for more by Katie Kaleski!

Until next time…

ARC, contemporary, three star book, ya

Cursed ARC Review

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  • Title: Cursed
  • Author: Karol Ruth Silverstein
  • Book Form: E-ARC
  • Pages: 320
  • Publisher: Charlesbridge Teen
  • Genre: YA, Contemporary
  • Rating: ★★★.5

A debut novel for fans of The Fault in Our Stars that thoughtfully and humorously depicts teen Ricky Bloom’s struggles with a recent chronic illness diagnosis.

As if her parents’ divorce and sister’s departure for college weren’t bad enough, fourteen-year-old Ricky Bloom has just been diagnosed with a life-changing chronic illness. Her days consist of cursing everyone out, skipping school–which has become a nightmare–daydreaming about her crush, Julio, and trying to keep her parents from realizing just how bad things are. But she can’t keep her ruse up forever. 

Ricky’s afraid, angry, alone, and one suspension away from repeating ninth grade when she realizes: she can’t be held back. She’ll do whatever it takes to move forward–even if it means changing the person she’s become. Lured out of her funk by a quirky classmate, Oliver, who’s been there too, Ricky’s porcupine exterior begins to shed some spines. Maybe asking for help isn’t the worst thing in the world. Maybe accepting circumstances doesn’t mean giving up.

– Goodreads

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

Cursed definitely got better for me as time went on. It follows the story of Ricky, short for Erica, who has a chronic illness. She’s been skipping school for SIX WEEKS and finally gets caught. 

We follow Rickey as she goes back to school, tries to connect with her crush, and tries to find acceptance. 

The writing seemed juvenile at first – but that was just Ricky. She had a lot of growing up to do. She did it with the help of her most-hated-turned-favorite teacher. 

You don’t discover what illness RIckey has until about halfway through the book. I started picking up on it pretty early on. I had some knowledge of it being a nurse, but my best friend’s sister also has the disease. 

I loved that it was own voices. It’s nice to see representation of someone with this “mystery illness”. This is the first book that I’ve read that featured that illness. 

Also, shoutout to whoever designed the cover! It’s a nice nod to the pain scale we use in healthcare for patients to rate the amount of pain they are in.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes reading about kids with illness or loves YA contemporary.

Warning: this book does contain swearing!

Until next time…

fantasy, Five Star Book, Sci-Fi, ya

Memento Review

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  • Title: Memento
  • Author: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
  • Book Form: Physical
  • Pages: 82
  • Publisher: Knoph Books for Young Readers
  • Genre: YA, Fantasy
  • Rating: ★★★★★

December, 2574. Forty-three days before the BeiTech attack on Kerenza IV.

This is the story of my first friendship.

This is the tale of my first murder?

Some monsters are born.

But I?

< ERROR >

I was made.

– Goodreads

Wow. I mean. How can a book wreck me in 82 pages?

Amie and Jay have done it again. I was instantly sucked in by the format, as it’s been with this whole series. I was so quickly engrossed and just cared about these people. I loved learning more about AIDAN and his backstory. Yes, the AI has a backstory and it’s insane. 

What struck me most was the letter that was sent at the very end by AIDAN. I. Was. SHOOK. I think I just stared at the last page with my mouth open for five minutes. 

Did I laugh? Yep. Did I cry? Yes. This book makes you care so much you cry in 82 pages. I’m still kind of in awe of that. 

If you didn’t pre-order Aurora Rising to get this, I’m so sorry. It might be a decision you will regret forever. Sorry!

Until next time…

ARC, fantasy, three star book, ya

The Lost Coast ARC Review

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  • Title: The Lost Coast
  • Author: Amy Rose Capetta
  • Book Form: E-ARC
  • Pages: 352
  • Publisher: Candlewick
  • Genre: Fantasy, YA, LGBT
  • Rating: ★★★ .5

The spellbinding tale of six queer witches forging their own paths, shrouded in the mist, magic, and secrets of the ancient California redwoods.

Danny didn’t know what she was looking for when she and her mother spread out a map of the United States and Danny put her finger down on Tempest, California. What she finds are the Grays: a group of friends who throw around terms like queer and witch like they’re ordinary and everyday, though they feel like an earthquake to Danny. But Danny didn’t just find the Grays. They cast a spell that calls her halfway across the country, because she has something they need: she can bring back Imogen, the most powerful of the Grays, missing since the summer night she wandered into the woods alone. But before Danny can find Imogen, she finds a dead boy with a redwood branch through his heart. Something is very wrong amid the trees and fog of the Lost Coast, and whatever it is, it can kill. Lush, eerie, and imaginative, Amy Rose Capetta’s tale overflows with the perils and power of discovery — and what it means to find your home, yourself, and your way forward. 

– Goodreads

** Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **

I wanted to love this book. I did. The premise sounded amazing. And part of the book was amazing. It just took too long to get there. 

I thought The Lost Coast was very… wordy? Like just so many words that it was hard to follow. It took me a while to really get into it. 

The last 40% was great. I couldn’t put it down. But getting through the first 60% was hard for me. And I so wish it wouldn’t have been. 

Now. What I loved most was the LGBTQIA+ rep. There were so many different sexualities represented. Also so many nationalities and body types! I think everyone can find a little of themselves in The Greys.

Until next time…

ARC, fantasy, Four Star Book, graphic novel, middle grade

Sea Sirens ARC Review

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  • Title: Sea Sirens
  • Author: Amy Chu and Janet K. Lee (Illustrator)
  • Book Form: Physical
  • Pages: 144
  • Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
  • Genre: MG, Graphic Novel, Fantasy
  • Rating: ★★★★

Dive into this middle-grade graphic novel about a Vietnamese American surfer girl and her talking cat who plunge into a fantasy world of oceanic marvels . . . and mayhem!

Trot, a Vietnamese American surfer girl, and Cap’n Bill, her cranky one-eyed cat, catch too big a wave and wipe out, sucked down into a magical underwater kingdom where an ancient deep-sea battle rages. The beautiful Sea Siren mermaids are under attack from the Serpent King and his slithery minions–and Trot and her feline become dangerously entangled in this war of tails and fins.

This graphic novel was inspired by The Sea Fairies, L. Frank Baum’s “underwater Wizard of Oz.” It weaves Vietnamese mythology, fantastical ocean creatures, and a deep-sea setting.

– Goodreads

Thank you to Viking Books for Young Readers and Penguin Random House for a free copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was SO surprised to get this finished copy from Viking today! I saw I had something coming from Penguin Random House so I was like, ‘Oh, it’s Memento.’ Even though I’m so excited for Memento, I was pleasantly surprised! And a finished copy! What?!

I was so excited I dove right in to this California surfer girl’s story. The first thing I noticed on the cover was she was holding a one-eyed cat! You never get the story of why he has one eye, however, there are more books coming!

Trot is a surfer girl who goes to the beach every day after school to surf while her grandpa fishes. Her grandpa has Alzheimer’s, which I think is really good to show in a book for younger kids. I know a lot of kids have to go through having a loved one with this disease – I did. So it’s really nice to have that representation like, hey- you aren’t alone. It’s a pretty common thing these days.

I loved when Trot and Cap’n Bill – the one eyed cat – make it to the Siren Kingdom. The story was so cute and fun. I couldn’t put it down!

I loved the diversity of the characters. I loved the underwater experience. It definitely read as a middle grade novel, but honestly, sometimes we just need something light-hearted and fun. I will definitely be on the lookout for the further adventures of Trot and Cap’n Bill!

Until next time..