Tag Archives: Contemporary

My Favorite Witch by Annette Blair

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for my favorite witch book cover

Title: My Favorite Witch
Author: Annette Blair
Series: Accidental Witch Trilogy #2
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Chic lit, Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Dates read: 4th September 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2006
5th sentence, 74th page: They made eye contact, sizzling eye contact, if he was any kind of judge.

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Synopsis

HE SWORE OFF WOMEN. SHE SWORE OFF MEN…

Jason Pickering Goddard’s career as a playboy hockey star comes to a dramatic halt when he tragically damages his legs in a car accident. Swearing off women, he decides to stand in as Director of Special Events at the Pickering Foundation in the interim – knowing his celebrity status will greatly help the foundation’s foster home for boys.

BUT NEITHER EXPECTED THIS KIND OF MAGIC.

A sexy witch cursed by a cheating ex-fiance, Kira Fitzgerald has closed the book on men. But a new chapter in her life opens when she’s appointed as Jason’s coordinator. The clash of their strong personalities ignites Jason’s competitive streak and sparks an inner fire that threatens to melt the ice around his heart – a slow warm-up that weakens Kira’s own defenses. And there’s not a spell strong enough to save her…

Thoughts

I’ve been waiting for this book to arrive on my doorstep for ages! I just loved The Kitchen Witch so much, and I couldn’t wait to read about one of her friends… I really wasn’t disappointed. So much so that I stayed up all night finishing this. Unable to put it down… I suppose having a good book by your side is one moment in which insomnia can actually work for you…

Kira only makes a brief appearance in The Kitchen Witch, but it’s enough that you are completely drawn in and want only what’s best for her. She has a great vulnerability and innocence covered in this incredibly tough outer layer. The fact that she’s been quite seriously burnt in the past, actually made me think of my own sister, which just made me want to hug her and find her a good man all the more… which of course happens. Because this is a romance. And it’s cute and why would you have a romance without a great, hunky lead to partner with the vulnerable, independent woman?

Normally I want to punch people in romances because of their incredibly stupid decisions. The vast majority of the time, the reason that they can’t work is because one of them is just epically dumb. Not so much with this story, don’t get me wrong, there were some silly decisions made… but they came from a place that I could completely understand and relate to. So much less frustrating when you can truly understand the characters’ flaws and insecurities… even if they’re still a little dumb.

This is one of those perfect books for when you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, overworked and just plain stressed. It’s not overly intense, but there is enough happening that you are fascinated by what will happen next. You know that eventually the leads will end up together, so you’re not upset by that. But there’s enough concern that you want to make sure this isn’t the one romance in which there is no happily ever after… my only actual complaint about this book is that now it’s over and I have to return to the real world…

 <- The Kitchen Witch ReviewThe Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Pride by Ibi Zoboi

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for pride ibi zoboi book cover

Title: Pride
Author: Ibi Zoboi
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Retellings, Young adult
Dates read: 25th – 26th July 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Year: 2018
5th sentence, 74th page: She grabs her ball from beneath the bench and starts passing it between her hands.

Synopsis

Zuri Benitez has pride.

Brooklyn pride, family pride, and pride in her Afro-Latino roots. But pride might not be enough to save her rapidly gentrifying neighborhood from becoming unrecognizable.

When the wealthy Darcy family moves in across the street, Zuri wants nothing to do with their two teenage sons, even as her older sister, Janae, starts to fall for the charming Ainsley. She especially can’t stand the judgmental and artogant Darius. Yet as Zuri and Darius are forced to find common ground, their initial dislike shifts into an unexpected understanding.

But with four wild sistsers pulling her in different directions, cute boy Warren vying for her attention, and college applications hovering on the horizon – Zuri fights to find her place in Bushwick’s changing landscape or lose it all.

In this timely update of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, critically acclimaed author Ibi Zoboi skillfully balances cultural identity, class, and gentrification against the heady magic of first love in her vibrant reimagining of this beloved classic.

Thoughts

Pride and Prejudice is one of my absolute favourite classics. It’s the classic that I go to again anda gain when I want to reread something soothing. Actually, it’s the book I probably pick up about once a year when I need my fix. So when I found out that there’s a contemporary retelling of this story which features a Dominican-Haitian girl on the cusp of adulthood, applying for colleges… well, I bought it immediately.

It was completely impossible to put this story down. Even though I knew pretty much what was going to happen, I looked forward to finding out how Zoboi was going to adjust the storyline to suit her needs. Particularly when the greater issues of race, identity and the identity of the neighbourhood are all explored alongside a well-loved classic. It meant that I was sucked in as if this was an entirely new storyline – because, for me, an Australian with very few experiences of these issues, it was an entirely new world and story that I was being whisked away to.

 I was honestly expecting a story that explored some of the issues of racism. And, although this did in a slight way, it was more about pride in identity. Alright, Zuri’s pride almost gets her in a lot of trouble, but there is also an intense pride in who she is and where she comes from. Actually, this pride in identity and awareness of her cultural history inspired a little jealousy. I’ve never really had any awareness of my own family’s cultural history. Yet, this pride also bought up issues of first perceptions and stereotypes. The ways in which some people see a certain cultural way of being and decide that it is “wrong”. And this worked in both ways – not only towards Zuri, but also in her attitudes towards the Darcys.

This is the second book I’ve read in under a week that deals with the very cusp of adulthood. That moment when you are just about to leave high school and step out on your own for the first time. I loved the open ended-ness of this. Yes, Zuri and Darius look like they’ll get a happily ever after, but they are also only teenagers. And there is no moment of everything being set in stone – rather it is about the hope for the future and an acceptance of each other in a way that makes you think they might just make it when not many others do…

 <- Nigeria JonesPunching the Air ->

Image source: HarperCollins Publishers

What I Like About Me by Jenna Guillaume

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for what i like about me book cover

Title: What I Like About Me
Author: Jenna Guillaume
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Contemporary, Young adult
Dates read: 22nd – 25th July 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Pan
Year: 2019
5th sentence, 74th page: We couldn’t wait until we were both old enough.

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Synopsis

HERE LIES MAISIE MARTIN, DEAD FROM EMBARRASSMENT, AGED SIXTEEN.

The last thing Maisie Martin thought she’d be doing this summer is entering a beauty pageant.

Not when she’s spent most of her life hiding her body from everyone.

Not when her dad is AWOL for Christmas and her best friend starts going out with the boy she’s always loved.

But Maisie’s got something to prove. And she’s not going to let anything or anyone – including herself – hold her back.

Thoughts

I got this book in a book box from YA Chronicles. I had no idea what to expect. I’d never read anything from Jenna Guillaume. And I’m only just getting into contemporary young adult stories. But I absolutely loved it! This story is a bit like the movie Dumplin’ (I haven’t read the book yet), but with a more Australian and satirical spin. Which of course is why I loved it so much…. A sassy Australian novel about coming of age and loving yourself for who you are. Or at least finding a way to like yourself…

As a child, I was lucky to be slender, I won some good genetics. So I honestly don’t understand what it’s like to be a bigger girl. But. I do understand what it’s like not to like my own body. Not to feel 100% comfortable in it and not sure that I like what I see. This novel touches on that issue beautifully. I think it’s something that every woman goes through at some point. A desire to be more “something” something that our friends, family, celebrities are and we’re just not. And although everyone purports self-love, it really does start with self-care – learning to like oneself, before you decide to love yourself.

Being a teenager is incredibly awkward. There is nothing about it that is easy and simple. And, as an adult, I look back on some moments with humour and a bit of wistfulness. But, as a teenager? I thought that everything embarrassing or silly was just the end of the world. That I was always going to be an ungainly, awkward girl-child with no sense of identity and self. Which meant that reading this story of someone going through the exact same thing made me laugh quite a bit. Alright, there were some moments that were way more embarrassing than anything I’d been through, but there were others that I could relate to FAR too well.

The only thing that I didn’t love about this book is the fact that I read it in winter. This is a fantastic beach read, summer story. But, I seem to have picked it up in some incredibly horrible weather. Weather that had me curling up inside on the couch, longing for the beach and beauty that Maisie is surrounding herself and her teenage dramas with.

<- More Australian authors reviewsMore Young adult reviews ->
Image source: Goodreads

Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

Book Review, , , , , ,
Overview
Image result for always and forever, lara jean book cover

Title: Always and Forever, Lara Jean
Author: Jenny Han
Series: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before #3
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Chic lit, Contemporary, Easy reading, Romance, Young adult
Dates read: 28th June – 24th July 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Publisher: Scholastic
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: We three probably won’t ever live in the same house together again.

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Synopsis

Life is good for Lara Jean.

She is head over heels in love, her dad’s finally getting remarried and her sister Margot is coming home for the summer.

But change is looming. And Lara Jean can’t ignore the big life decisions she has to make – where she goes to college for one. Because that would mean leaving her family – and possibly the boy she loves – behind.

When your heart and your head are saying two different things, which one should you listen to?

Thoughts

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the last book in this trilogy. P.S. I Still Love You annoyed me in a number of places, so I thought that I probably needed to take a break from Jenny Han’s writing. But, recently I felt that stirring on interest again and I picked up this book. I’m really glad that I did. There was a nice sense of completion in this story that you didn’t get from P.S. I Still Love You. And it was a nice way to send Lara Jean off to adulthood and college…

As someone who had a high school sweetheart at the end of school, I understand how confusing it can be to decide whether or not to stay together when you’re both going your separate ways. I did a bit of a Margot in that I decided that I wasn’t going to University with a boyfriend. But, I also wasn’t in love with him like Lara Jean is with Peter. She’s very realistic about their immaturity and the likelihood of surviving a long-distance relationship. But she’s also unwilling to give up someone she loves so dearly and truly. It was something that was relatable I think to anyone who experienced the first gleanings of love when they’re a teenager.

I’m not used to softer heroines in the stories that I read. Mostly they’re women who are incredibly tough, unwilling to let others in and really not willing to give up anything for the men that they love. So it was a very different change of pace to read about a young woman who was actually willing to alter her plans in life to suit a man. Although, as a wonderful redemption, she doesn’t actually do this in the end, but finds a nice compromise for both of them. It’s a nice way to finish up a series that is all about finding yourself and first love – it doesn’t have to end, and it doesn’t have to be all about the boy, you can find a compromise in everything.

If you’re looking for a feel good, easy read, then this is definitely the book and the series to pick up. There are moments when you really want to see what silly decisions the characters make next, but nothing immensely drastic and uncomfortable. Just enough spice to keep you turning the pages, but not enough that you can’t sleep at night if you have left the book unfinished. It certainly left me with plenty of comfortable, happy feelings when I turned the final page. And now I’m looking forward to picking up another of Jenny Han’s books to give my something the same comfortable feelings of contentment.

 <- P.S. I Still Love You ReviewTo All the Boys I’ve Loved Before Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for unaccustomed earth book cover

Title: Unaccustomed Earth
Author: Jhumpa Lahiri
In: Unaccustomed Earth (Jhumpa Lahiri)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Migration, Race
Dates read: 20th – 21st July 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: He had found his wife’s interest surprising; throughout most of their marriage it had been an unquestioned fact that visiting family in Calcutta was the only thing worth boarding a plane for.

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Synopsis

Ruma lost her mother a year ago. Now her father is coming to visit. Is it time for the patterns of the past to be healed and a new reality to set in?

Thoughts

This is my first Lahiri story, and it’s making me wonder where her writing has been all my life. Her style of writing is incredibly accessible and open. And, although she’s dealing with a culture and people that I’ve had next to no experience with, the themes and issues are still prevalent in my life. Issues of growing and changing, seeing parents as their own grown entities.

There are many stories which talk about coming of age and reaching adulthood. There aren’t so many stories of almost the second coming of age. That point in our lives when we start to change our opinions of our parents because they are beginning to seem smaller and more elderly in our lives and start our own families with children of our own. This short story perfectly investigates this point. The added stressor of losing a parent and a readjustment of priorities created an amazing story which I found hard to put down. And one that I am probably relating a little more to than I would have expected.

This was quite an enjoyable and easy read. The open-endedness of the story meant that you could imagine Ruma and her family living long into the future. Constantly renegotiating and figuring out where they stand with each other. Her son growing to be an old man and experiencing the same reconfigurations of self and being.

 <- Unaccustomed Earth Collection ReviewHell-Heaven Review ->
Image source: Bloomsbury

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for adventures of huckleberry finn word cloud classics book cover

Title: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Author: Mark Twain
Series: Word Cloud Classics
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Classics, Contemporary, Race
Dates read: 15th – 10th July 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Publisher: Word Cloud Classics
Year: 1884
5th sentence, 74th page: That’s a Frenchman’s way of saying it.

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Synopsis

No home library is complete without the classics! Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a keepsake to be read and treasured.

One of the most popular books of all-time, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been both venerated and vilified since it was first published in 1885. The story of a young abused boy on the run and his friendship with a runaway slave is about loyalty, compassion, and doing what is right, and it remains one of Mark Twain’s greatest achievements. Now available as part of the Canterbury Classics series, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a must-have addition to the libraries of all classic literature lovers.

Thoughts

This is my first ever Mark Twain, and it certainly makes me glad that I have more of his books on my shelves. There was something fun and easy about his writing. Which I don’t often find in classics. For something which was published many, many, many years ago, this was kind of amazing. The meandering storyline was something that I would have loved as a child – living on a river free of every kind of responsibility, living on the land… that’s the kind of childhood that I would have loved.

One thing I tend to struggle with when reading is storylines that don’t have a clear beginning, middle and end. Tales that are a little more meandering and random I find a little harder to get hooked into. They don’t grab and keep my attention as well as stories which you need to keep reading to find out exactly what happens. Although this did follow that meandering trend, I didn’t find myself putting the book aside as frequently as I usually would. It still took me a little while to finish this considering how much I loved the writing style and language.

For a fantastic kids’ journey, the issues of racism and class are touched upon beautifully in this tale.  Huck’s original feelings towards Jim are those of someone who feels entitled and with power over someone who is almost four times his age. But, as the tale evolves, he begins to see Jim as a fellow person. One with his own desires, needs and wishes. Whilst there is no outright commentary on slavery, the underlying message felt strongly skewed towards this ideal. And it was one that I loved dearly.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is the kind of story that drops you in a world any child would be happy in. Or at least, any child that was a bit of a ratbag like me. I would have loved travelling down the Mississippi on a raft, choosing my own life, dinner and making all of my own decisions. Alright, as an adult I’m well aware of how non-idyllic this would actually be. But as a child, this would have been wonderful.

<- Walden and Civil DisobedienceThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer ->

Image source: Amazon

Life in Outer Space by Melissa Keil

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for life in outer space book cover

Title: Life in Outer Space
Author: Melissa Keil
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Easy reading, Young adult
Dates read: 14th – 15th July 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Hardie Grant Egmont
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: I unpack my bag and stack my books in order of size.

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Synopsis

Sam Kinnison is a greek, and he’s totally fine with that. He has his horror movies, his nerdy friends, World of Warcraft – and until Princess Leia truns up in his bedroom, he doesn’t have to worry about girls.

Then Sam meets Camilla. She’s beautiful, friendly and completely irrelevant to his life. Sam is determined to ignore her, except that Camilla has a life of her own – and she’s decided that he’s going to be part of it.

Sam believes that everything he needs to know he can learn from the movies… but now it looks like he’s been watching the wrong ones.

Thoughts

I have been hanging out for this book to arrive in the post. And then it did. When I had about 1,000 things to do… so it took me an extra week to open it and sink my teeth into it. But then I did. And I was deliriously grateful for the awesomeness that I am beginning to associate with Melissa Keil. It kind of helped that I was down sick when I finally got to read this, so the feel good, sweet storyline made me feel a heck of a lot better. And actually made me smile… which I hadn’t really been doing on account of you know… sick.

Most of the books I read feature a strong, independent woman. Which this one does. But they also tend to be written either from their point of view, or something very close to it. There are very few books that I have read in recent years which are written from the point of view of the boy. And now I’m kind of wondering why this is missing so much from my shelves and reading. I absolutely loved the change of pace and the different POV. Not only was it a nice change, but it worked brilliantly well, and I can’t imagine it being so engaging having been written from Camilla’s viewpoint.

Although I tend to watch a lot of TV, I’m not what I would consider a movie buff by any shape of the imagination. Yet, the movie quotes and references that were peppered throughout this story still worked really well. They were obscure enough that it wasn’t repetitive and frustrating, but also obvious enough that I picked up on many of the aspects and things that they were talking about. The fact that Sam is so obsessed with horror also made me pick up a horror book not long after finishing this, simply because I felt intrigued by the genre.

Boy meets girl and falls madly in love stories, especially in YA can feel incredibly contrived. As an adult, I know that there are very few people who met someone when they were fifteen and stayed with them forever. And the few who did had to work at it. It’s not that roses and rainbows feeling that a lot of books and TV shows like to emphasise. This story isn’t like that, it’s realistic. Yes, it’s still got a love at first sight feel. And the entire book you want to smack them both over the head because your pretty sure they’re meant to be together forever. BUT. Most of the story and relationship is about creating a friendship. About supporting one another through tough times and truly getting to know one another. To me, that is what makes this such a great romance. It’s a love built on friendship and trust, one that is so cute and supportive. ❤

 <- The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl ReviewThe Secret Science of Magic Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

The Kitchen Witch by Annette Blair

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for the kitchen witch annette blair book cover

Title: The Kitchen Witch
Author: Annette Blair
Series: Accidental Witch Trilogy #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Chic lit, Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Dates read: 3rd – 12th July 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2004
5th sentence, 74th page: You never told me what a delicious sense of humor your mother had.

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Synopsis

Is she a good witch or a bad witch?

With a flip of her raven black hair, a flash of her topaz eyes, and a shake of a stick, rumored witch Melody Seabright has cast a spell on single dad Logan Kilgarven. What else can explain what’s happening to him? Logan, a television producer, can’t seem to concentrate on anything since he met his enchanting new neighbor…

Logan hopes she is bad, VERY bad.

When Logan agrees to help Melody find a job at his TV station, he never expects the culinary-challenged siren to land her own cooking show. Her charisma keeps things bubbling on the set, and behind the scenes, things are starting to steam up between them. Logan knows he can’t resist her charms – but is there more to their attraction than the here and now? If only he had a crystal ball to show him…

Thoughts

I can’t believe how much I loved this story. It was a fantastic journey. So incredibly sweet and beautiful. The cuteness of the storyline was balanced by the humour, fun and wit that was peppered throughout. It made it almost impossible to put down and forget about. And now I have to wait a month until the next story in this incredibly adorable series to arrive…

From the title of this book and the shelving on Goodreads, I was expecting a cute, chic lit romance with a paranormal spin. It wasn’t like this at all. In fact, other than the fact that it was set in Salem and Melody likes to dress as a witch, there was nothing paranormal about this story at all. Which kind of made it all the more perfect and relatable. It was much, much, much easier to picture falling across a guy like Logan when he is actually a normal, human male…

Lately I feel more and more intrigued by stories of blended families and step-parents coming on the scene. Or really, just the beginning of any family. Partly because these stories tend to be about people my age (mid-twenties) and I think partly because it’s something new and different. An experience that I haven’t had, so I want to read about it. The fact that Melody first falls in love with the boy, and then the father is kind of the perfect version of one of these stories.

My mood runs the gambit of stories. But, lately, with having a lot of study to do and being down sick for the past week, I’ve been immensely glad to sink my nose into some gorgeous contemporary romances. This is the exact fit for these tales. It’s cute and sweet, there are troubles, but you know that they will be overcome and there will be a happily ever after. It’s the perfect kind of story for when you’ve had a stressful day / week / month and just need to restore your faith in humanity…

<- Never Been Witched ReviewMy Favorite Witch Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Always the Same Story by Elizabeth E. Wein

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for coyote road book cover

Title: Always the Same Story
Author: Elizabeth E. Wein
In: The Coyote Road (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Circus, Contemporary, Tricksters
Dates read: 11th July 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Firebird Fantasy
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: He knew they could not hear him.

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Synopsis

Gus grew up on the trains, travelling around with his circus family. When he gets kidnapped, his unusal upbringing comes to his aid.

Thoughts

Growing up, I always wanted to be part of the circus. There was something that just seemed so romantic and worldly about being a part of such a family that I couldn’t help but imagine how fun and adventurous my story would be. As an adult, I kind of realise that it’s probably not that romantic and perfect. And I kind of like the upbringing and life that I’ve had, but this short story still manages to encompass some of that fun and intrigue that drew me in as a young child.

You would expect a circus child to be one that could do tricks, be like a strong man and just be generally quirky. The last thing in the world that you would expect would be for such a child to be a nerdy little book worm who wears glasses. Which, considering this short story is in a collection of trickster tales, worked perfectly. As did the idea that his unique upbringing is not only what gets him in trouble, but also what gets him out of it.

There are a few people in my life who are a little obsessed with trains, and the entire time I was reading this tale, I mostly thought of them. And clowns. But I hate clowns, so I focused on the trains aspect. I really enjoy the idea of travelling over country on a train and this helped to further romanticise that idea. I just won’t be as confident as Gus was during his adventures.

 <- Honored Guest ReviewThe Senorita and the Cactus Thorn Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Sleeping with the Spirit by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for love is hell book cover

Title: Sleeping with the Spirit
Author: Laurie Faria Stolarz
In: Love is Hell ( Melissa Marr, Scott Westerfield, Justine Larbalestier, Gabrielle Zevin & Laurie Faria Stolarz)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Easy reading, Ghosts
Dates read: 10th July 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Novella
Publisher: Harper Teen
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: “Hello, Brenda.”

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Synopsis

Brenda can’t sleep at night, she’s being haunted by a specter in her dreams. But, when she realises what he actually wants, she decides that sleep might not be the worst thing after all.

Thoughts

I’ve obviously been reading much too much paranormal romance stories of late. Just by reading the title of this novella, I was expecting something far more erotic and a lot less… innocent. And kind of cute. It was a surprise, but it was a nice one.

This story made me really want to pick up tales of necromancy and ghost-speakers. The idea of a young girl seeing ghosts, not only her own sister, but also a boy who had been killed twenty years before hand was just a little too fun and close to other, similar stories on my shelves. But, I digress…

Brenda is a nice female lead, she’s scared by her past, unsure of her future and just generally confused. And, I mean, what teenager isn’t? The fact that she’s being haunted just seems to make it that much worse. Yet, in the end, she finds a way to heal, do the right thing and embrace the new life and reality that she wants in her world.

I was kind of expecting a bit of a murder mystery / thriller to this story. Especially when the fact that Brenda lives in a “blood bath” house was revealed. But it wasn’t even remotely about that. This story was about forgiveness and moving on. Finding hope in love, in whichever and whatever form that takes. Which is why I found it so sweet.

 <- Love is Hell ReviewStupid Perfect World Review ->
Image source: Harper Collins Publishers