Review: Finding Mr. Better-Than-You

Title: Finding Mr. Better-Than-You

Author: Shani Petroff

Date of Publication: January 14th, 2020

Goodreads Summary:

Camryn has been dating Marc FOREVER—since freshman year! She dropped out of volleyball to go to all his games, switched her schedule around to be in his favorite class, and has been busting her butt to get into Columbia so they can go to the same college. So when Marc suddenly, and very publically, breaks up with her a week into their senior year so that he can date the new transfer student, she’s absolutely devastated.

But why be sad, when you can get even? Inspired by her favorite movies, Camryn decides that the best revenge is a Senior Year well lived, starring a boy who is ever so much better than her ex. With a little help from her friends, Cam is going to have the Best. Senior. Year. Ever.

My Review: 

I’ve loved all of Petroff’s books, so I was excited to see what this story would bring to the table. Not to mention this one has a really super cute cover like her other books!

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What I like best about Petroff’s stories, especially this one, is that it always feels like real and genuine teens. My teen self would have connected so much with Cam. When I had my heart broken, it felt like the end of the world, like things would never run right again. But what I had, as does Cam, was an awesome group of friends. And sometimes with your friends, you fight and get annoyed by things, but the love there always wins out because you’re there for one another. So I loved the friendship aspects in this story!

Cam had wonderful growth, too. She just had to find out who she was, even though it had always been there. I would classify this somewhere between Easy A and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Netflix go ahead and make this a movie already! Cute, witty, and a real page turner!

What’s your favorite contemporary book?

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Review: Reign of the Fallen

Title: Reign of the Fallen

Author: Sarah Glenn Marsh

Date of Publication: January 23rd, 2018

Goodreads Summary:

Odessa is one of Karthia’s master necromancers, catering to the kingdom’s ruling Dead. Whenever a noble dies, it’s Odessa’s job to raise them by retrieving their souls from a dreamy and dangerous shadow world called the Deadlands. But there is a cost to being raised–the Dead must remain shrouded, or risk transforming into zombie-like monsters known as Shades. If even a hint of flesh is exposed, the grotesque transformation will begin.

A dramatic uptick in Shade attacks raises suspicions and fears among Odessa’s necromancer community. Soon a crushing loss of one of their own reveals a disturbing conspiracy: someone is intentionally creating Shades by tearing shrouds from the Dead–and training them to attack. Odessa is faced with a terrifying question: What if her necromancer’s magic is the weapon that brings Karthia to its knees?

My Review:

I had been wanting to read this one for a while, and I’m glad I finally did! What I loved most about this fantasy was that it was more than that! It was packed with loss, addiction, and overcoming it all without never forgetting.

I loved Odessa and how she wasn’t perfect and felt easy to relate to. Loss is something that can affect someone dearly. You can be okay one moment, but then when you lose someone you love dearly, a part of you can come out that you never dreamed could.

The cast of characters were awesome. Each one had a distinct personality and I honestly loved them all. What I would have really loved even more is if this had been multiple POV, just so I could get into the side characters’ heads even more because I cared for them so much! It was beautifully written and I can’t wait to read the second one!

Have you started this series yet?

Review: Fear the Drowning Deep

Title: Fear the Drowning Deep

Author: Sarah Glenn Marsh

Date of Publication: October 11th, 2016

Goodreads Summary:

Witch’s apprentice Bridey Corkill has hated the ocean ever since she watched her granddad dive in and drown with a smile on his face. So when a dead girl rolls in with the tide in the summer of 1913, sixteen-year-old Bridey suspects that whatever compelled her granddad to leap into the sea has made its return to the Isle of Man.

Soon, villagers are vanishing in the night, but no one shares Bridey’s suspicions about the sea. No one but the island’s witch, who isn’t as frightening as she first appears, and the handsome dark-haired lad Bridey rescues from a grim and watery fate. The cause of the deep gashes in Fynn’s stomach and his lost memories are, like the recent disappearances, a mystery well-guarded by the sea. In exchange for saving his life, Fynn teaches Bridey to master her fear of the water — stealing her heart in the process.

Now, Bridey must work with the Isle’s eccentric witch and the boy she isn’t sure she can trust — because if she can’t uncover the truth about the ancient evil in the water, everyone she loves will walk into the sea, never to return.

My Review:

I’ve been wanting to read this one for a while and am so mad at myself for not doing so sooner. I absolutely loved it! I loved the year it was set, the fact that there were sea creatures, mystery, romance, and so much more!

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Bridey was great because she wasn’t a skilled fighter but just a normal girl who found strength from her own courage. She was fierce and protective over her family and I adored that. Morag was another of my favorite characters, such a feisty old woman! Oh, and let me not forget about Fynn. He was sweet and adorable and I wanted to bundle him up in my purse!

The writing was mesmerizing and the story unique with wonderful creatures that I didn’t even know about. So I googled them and was pleasantly surprised at how cool a glashtyn looked! Overall, definitely one of my favorite reads this year!

What is your biggest fear?

Review: Atrox

Title: Atrox

Author: Alexa Whitewolf

Date of Publication: August 21st, 2019

Goodreads Summary:

He used to scoff at fate…

A long time ago, he was ruler among gods. Fallen, he was exiled, sent to oversee the underworld. Until a mage on Earth caught his interest, and their friendship got him involved with the one he was always meant to protect – the Lady of the Lake.

He used to scoff at love….

With Vivienne safe in Sébastien’s embrace, Atrox sheds the last of his protector skin, and says goodbye to his alter, Alistair, for good. Something else has drawn his attention, and it’s got nothing to do with keeping watch from afar. Rather, it’s got everything to do with getting closer than ever before.

…until he falls in the most final trap of all.

Atrox’s last adventure leads him to the kingdom of the Fae, as he seeks the one who stole his heart – the Fae heiress, Catriona. But her aging father is not keen on letting one of his worst enemies win over his daughter. Without mercy, he sets up a trap: seven labours, each harder than the next. If Atrox wins them all, he can plead his case to Catriona herself. And if he loses…he faces death itself.

My Review:

Atrox, man! I’ve been waiting for this boy’s story for a while and it did not disappoint! I’m a big fan of quest type things and Atrox’s journey was packed with emotion, hardships, and love. This story wasn’t just about Atrox’s love for Catriona, it was one about his own growth and discovering himself. But yes, there was some excellent swoon as well!

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The writing in this novella is beautiful and touching, and I seriously love this world so much!

What’s your favorite Fae book?

Review: Soul of Stars

Title: Soul of Stars

Author: Ashley Poston

Date of Publication: July 23rd, 2019

Goodreads Summary:

Once, Ana was an orphaned space outlaw. Then she was the Empress of the Iron Kingdom. Now, thought dead by most of the galaxy after she escaped from the dark AI program called the HIVE, Ana is desperate for a way to save Di from the HIVE’s evil clutches and take back her kingdom.

Ana’s only option is to find Starbright, the one person who has hacked into the HIVE and lived to tell the tale. But when Ana’s desperation costs the crew of the Dossier a terrible price, Ana and her friends are sent spiraling through the most perilous reaches of the Iron Kingdom to stop the true arbiter of evil in her world: an ancient world-ending deity called the Great Dark.

Their journey will take the sharp-witted pilot, Jax, to the home he never wanted to return to, and the dangerous fate he left behind. And when Robb finds out who Jax really is, he must contend with his own feelings for the boy he barely knows, and whether he truly belongs with this group of outcasts.

When facing the worst odds, can Ana and her crew of misfits find a way to stop the Great Dark once and for all?

My Review:

Heart of Iron was one of my favorite books of last year and I was so incredibly excited for this one! Plus, come on, Anastasia retelling in space is totally awesome!

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First, the awesome! Jax and Robb! Man, oh man, I love these two gents so much! They are the perfect power couple, seriously! Also, the world building in these books is freaking great! Especially when it’s hard for me to get into sci-fi most of the time!

I think my main issue was Anna. I love her, but I feel like this story wasn’t really hers at all. I mean, I know there are four POVs, but I just felt like her story line and relationship with a certain other character wasn’t as strong as Jax and Robb.

However, it was a good conclusion to the series with addictive writing and lots of action and emotion. I just wanted more from Anna’s story line!

Have you started this duology?

Review: The Summer of Us

Title: The Summer of Us

Author: Cecilia Vinesse

Date of Publication: June 14th, 2018

Goodreads Summary:

American expat Aubrey has only two weeks left in Europe before she leaves for college, and she’s nowhere near ready. Good thing she and her best friend, Rae, have planned one last group trip across the continent. From Paris to Prague, they’re going to explore famous museums, sip champagne in fancy restaurants, and eat as many croissants as possible with their friends Clara, Jonah, and Gabe.

But when old secrets come to light, Aubrey and Rae’s trip goes from a carefree adventure to a complete disaster. For starters, there’s Aubrey and Gabe’s unresolved history, complicated by the fact that Aubrey is dating Jonah, Gabe’s best friend. And then there’s Rae’s hopeless crush on the effortlessly cool Clara. How is Rae supposed to admit her feelings to someone so perfect when they’re moving to different sides of the world in just a few weeks?

Author Cecilia Vinesse delivers a romantic European adventure that embraces the magic of warm summer nights, the thrill of first kisses, and the bittersweet ache of learning to say goodbye to the past while embracing the future.

My Review:

After finishing Seven Days of You by the author, I knew I had to check out her other book because I loved SDOY one so much! Also, a book about backpacking across Europe to different cities sounded freaking amazing!

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In this book there are two POVs and two different couples which I seriously adored! Rae and Clara were probably my favorites! I also really loved Gabe and Aubrey’s connection. My one main issue was that Aubrey had a boyfriend to begin with who is friends with all four of them, so that rubbed me the wrong way a little bit. But Jonah and Aubrey’s relationship just wasn’t meant to be so I understood.

I swear, Vinesse writes the best contemporary prose that draws me right into the plot. I could visualize each city and every scene perfectly. And! This is the perfect read for the summer!

What city would you want to visit?

Review: Becoming the Dark Prince

Title: Becoming the Dark Prince

Author: Kerri Maniscalco

Date of Publication: July 15th, 2019

Goodreads Summary:

Enigmatic, brooding, and darkly handsome, Thomas Cresswell has always been the one mystery Audrey Rose has never been able to fully solve. As brilliant partners in crime investigation, they understand each other perfectly…but as young lovers, their passionate natures have led to both euphoria and heartbreak throughout the Stalking Jack the Ripper series.

This novella features a collection of scenes that takes place during and after the pair’s horrifying Atlantic voyage in Escaping From Houdini. Experience new and familiar scenes from Thomas’s unique point of view, including an intensely personal look into his plea for Audrey Rose’s hand in marriage.

With a romance for the ages, Audrey Rose and Thomas reach the conclusion to their epic, irresistible partnership in their final adventure, Capturing the Devil.

My Review:

My favorite character since day one has been Thomas. And he has continued to become even more so with each passing book.

Getting this story from his perspective was like a prayer answered. I loved being inside his head and seeing the struggles within himself and his love for Audrey Rose. So sweet!

Maniscalco’s writing is glorious, addicting, and captivating. I can’t wait to read the last book in the series!

Have you started this series yet?