Review: An Impossible Impostor

An Impossible Impostor by Deanna Raybourn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I’ll tell you to read it (but read the others in the series first!)

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this advanced copy! All opinions expressed are my own.

Book Summary:

London, 1889. Veronica Speedwell and Stoker are summoned by Sir Hugo Montgomerie, head of Special Branch, with a special non-official request. Determine if the man who has appeared at the home of his god-daughter is who he claims. Eldest son, Jonathan, was believed killed in a volcanic eruption, and now a man claiming to be him has shown up at the family home.

Veronica and Stoker agree to go to Hathaway Hall to covertly investigate the mysterious amnesiac. Veronica is soon shocked to find herself face-to-face with a ghost from her past. To help Sir Hugo discover the truth, she must open doors to her own history that she long believed to be shut for good.

Review:

Through this story line, we learn a little more about Veronica’s history. We had a pretty big surprise dropped into the mix! No spoilers, but there were definitely things I didn’t see coming! I always enjoy a good mystery romp with Veronica and Stoker. I love her strong mind and will to always seek the truth, without fear or worry or repercussions. Through a series of twists and turns in the story, there turns out to be more than one mystery to solve (the mysterious man’s identity, and a missing jewel). I really enjoyed the extra little bit of history that was thrown in about the British Empire during the time preceding the story time period.

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Review: The Bookshop of Second Chances

The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I’ll tell you to read it

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book Summary:

Thea Mottram is having a bad month. She’s been let go from her office job with no notice and her husband has decided to leave her for one of her friends. When she learns that a distant great uncle in Scotland has passed away, leaving her his home and a hefty antique book collection, she decides to leave Sussex for a few weeks. Escaping to a small coastal town where no one knows her seems to be exactly what she needs.

Thea falls for the quaint cottage and small town. She loves the locals, except bookshop owner Edward Maltravers. His attitude, ingrained by his long standing feud with his brother, tests Thea. As considers the impulse to stay in Scotland indefinitely, Thea realizes that her new life may quickly become just as complicated as the one she was running from.

Review:

I really enjoyed getting lost in small town Scotland for this story. The interplay between all the characters kept me on my toes! I really enjoyed getting to know Thea and Edward, and I’ve always wondered about used book store practices. The value of some of the vintage books mentioned was shocking! The descriptions of some of the areas they visited made me want to visit Scotland sometime and go stay in a little village to get lost in the world for a bit.

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Review: If the Fates Allow: A Short Story

If the Fates Allow: A Short Story by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3 out of 5 stars - It was ok

Book Summary:

Social distancing came easily to Reagan. But Reagan doesn’t want her grandpa to be alone for Christmas this year—he’s already spent too much time on his own in 2020. So she heads back to her hometown with a dish of holiday Jell-O salad, hoping it will be safe…

She isn’t expecting to run into the boy next door. Mason is all grown up now. He’s considerate. He’s funny. He doesn’t mind how prickly Reagan is—he maybe even likes it. And it makes Reagan feel like her defenses are falling. She needs her defenses, doesn’t she? In a time when six feet is close enough, how long can they keep their distance?

Review:

I felt like this needed to be fleshed out a bit more. It was a cute, short story… but it could easily have been made into more of a novella. I liked and completely related to the characters. I think it hit a little too close to home though…


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Review: This May End Badly

This May End Badly by Samantha Markum
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for this advanced copy. Opinions shared are completely my own.

Summary:
Doe and her friends are determined to win the century-long war against Winfield Academy before they graduate. But when it is announced that The Weston School will merge with Winfield Academy, the pranks take on a new meaning.

Doe needs to prove that the two schools cannot mix, as a way to protect her safe haven for future students. She starts by aiming directly for Three, the king of Winfield and her long-time nemesis. In order to get under his skin, she strikes a deal with his cousin, Wells, for a fake relationship - in return for Doe helping to return a family heirloom to Wells.

In order to stay ahead of the pranks, lies, and her own growing feelings for Wells, Doe does everything she can to keep her world upright. As the year goes on, Doe has to decide what is more important - the school legacy and winning a rivalry or protecting her students from something much more dangerous. When the rumors prove to be true about a teacher with inappropriate intentions, Doe has a choice to make.

Review:
This was a great book with characters who felt extremely real. In the stereotypical review wording - I laughed, I cried! I finished this book in 2 days and stayed up hours past my bedtime to get to the end and see how it all turned out. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a YA book that will suck them in with great pranks, believable characters, and a love story.

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Review: Unwanted Love

Unwanted Love by Rachel Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - if you ask me, I'll tell you to read it (with some caveats)

I chose this book 100% for the cover photo. My parents have that exact photo hanging in their bathroom at home. I grew up spending summer weekends at Clear Lake. It's my happy place.

Summary:
Kat Willis grew up the only child of a wealthy family in Crystal Lake. She was mostly raised by staff and put out for show when it benefited her parents image. In rebellion, Kat has become the local wild child, going out to bars and having one night stands (and ONLY one night, no repeating). When she meets Jaxson McAllister, her world is flipped on its head. She's never had someone get under her skin and into her mind like him.

Review:
I went into this story without many expectations. I was pleasantly surprised by the story line, but I kept thinking "how in the world am I only at xx%? I feel like this should be wrapping up pretty soon.". The extra story beyond what I was expecting made for a nice ending. I stayed up later than I should have just to figure out how we were going to get to the happily ever after.

I was annoyed that the author kept calling her lady bits a hoo-hoo. It seemed somewhat immature. "I seriously thought my hoo-hoo was going to explode right there." I've heard hoo-ha, va-jay-jay, or other less PC things, but I've never in my life heard it called hoo-hoo. Especially not in a book when talking about sex.

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Review: How to Survive a Modern-Day Fairy Tale

How to Survive a Modern-Day Fairy Tale by Elle Cruz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for this advanced copy. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

 

Summary:
Claire Ventura, the middle child of a Filipino American family, is the people-pleaser trying to make sure differences are dealt with and disagreements are kept to a minimum.... sometimes at her own expense. She works in a bookstore, but dreams of opening her own cookie decorating business (rather than just having it as a side hustle). Claire spends her days decorating cookies, visiting her Lola (grandmother) in the memory ward of the local nursing home, and working at the bookstore. So, when she almost runs over a man while parking her car, she's shocked when he wants to spend more time with her. She is even more surprised to find that he is local tech billionaire Nate Noruta.

Review:
I could relate to Claire, as someone who is not comfortable in the spotlight or the ability to jump away from a steady job into the potential unknown. The story sucked me in to see what might happen next. There were so many internal struggles of the characters. I really enjoyed learning a little about the Filipino American immigrant story, and I loved the interaction between Claire and her two sisters. It seemed completely real and relatable. Nate and Claire struggle in their new, whirlwind relationship to find a way to integrate their completely different lives. Nate lives in the spotlight, with paparazzi and social media, while Claire lives in her normal, everyday world. Nate travels around the world regularly on business, while Claire usually stays close to home. I read late into the night in order to see how Claire and Nate would end up with their (absolutely necessary) happily ever after.

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Review: Yes No Maybe So

Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

Summary:
Jamie Goldberg, an awkward guy, is working with his cousin on a State Senate campaign. He enjoys being involved, as long as it's behind the scenes. Maya Rehman, an outgoing gal, is dealing with a canceled summer trip, an MIA best friend, and parents that are separating. The two couldn't be more different. In a weird twist, the two (re)meet at a Ramadan celebration, realizing that they were great friends as children. Their mothers, friends for many years, determine that the two should join the door-to-door canvassing for the political candidate. Through the hours of canvassing, they grow closer and learn more about each other.

Review:
I really enjoyed the story of these two. The political story seems loosely based on the Raphael Warnock special election, with the tense and personal stories on the line. I liked learning about the behind the scenes of some of the political elections, as well as how to contact those currently in office. I also really liked learning more about Ramadan through the interactions between Maya and Jamie. A mostly easy read, with some twists and turns on the way to a happy ending for most in the story.

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