Good Girls Lie, by J.T. Ellison

Tags

Adult Fiction, LGBT, Mental Health, Mystery, Suspense

Thanks to NetGalley and MIRA for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: December 31st, 2019

384 Pages

Synopsis: 

Goode girls don’t lie…

Perched atop a hill, in the tiny town of Marchburg, Virginia the Goode School is a prestigious prep school known as a Silent Ivy. The boarding school of choice for daughters of the rich and influential, it accepts only the best and the brightest. Its elite status, long-held traditions and honor code are ideal for preparing exceptional young women for brilliant futures at Ivy League universities and beyond. But a stranger has come to Goode, and this Ivy has turned poisonous.

In a world where appearances are everything, as long as students pretend to follow the rules, no one questions the cruelties of the secret societies, or the dubious behavior of the privileged young women who expect to get away with murder. But when a popular student is found dead, the truth cannot be ignored. Rumors suggest she was struggling with a secret that drove her to suicide. 

But look closely…because there are truths and there are lies, and then there is everything that really happened.

I love mysteries set at boarding schools, so naturally Good Girls Lie called out to me. Unfortunately after struggling to read this over the last week, I’ve reluctantly come to the conclusion this just isn’t for me. 

This is a tough review for me to write because I actually liked the plot. It’s dark and twisty and kept me guessing. However, there were a couple of things that drove me up the wall. First, I am 54-years-old so it’s been many years since I’ve a teenager, but I can say unhesitatingly that teens do not talk the way they do in this book. For example, there’s a scene where an adult is telling a 16-year-old girl that he approves of her not being an active user of social media. Her reply is: “Goodness no. I find social media a waste of time. Not to mention an invasion of privacy.” Or how about this: “Epochs of  instinct tells me this is an important moment.” Goodness no. No teen talks like or thinks this. I could bore you with the many other examples of this, but trust me. The teens consistently talk and think like 50+-year-olds. There are also sections where the author inserts an interactive narrative that directly speaks to the reader. Instead of coming across as clever, which I’m sure was the intention, to me it was grating and self-indulgent. And finally, without venturing into spoiler territory, there’s a mental health issue that’s a big part of the plot, and I vehemently disagree with the way it’s handled and discussed.

I need to be honest and say that Good Girls Lie is getting many 4 and 5 star reviews on Goodreads, so maybe I just wasn’t in the right mood for it and I’m being overly picky. This is why I’m not rating it. If you do decide to give it a try, please keep in mind that despite the boarding school setting and the age of some of the characters, this is not a YA book. 

#MurderFunding (#MurderTrending #2), by Gretchen McNeil ~ 3.5 Stars

Tags

Horror, Humor, LGBT, Mystery, Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Freeform for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: August 6th, 2019

336 Pages

Synopsis: WELCOME TO WHO WANTS TO BE A PAINIAC? the latest reality TV show on the hunt for the next big-hit serial killer. But don’t worry—no one is actually going to murder anyone, as real as the fake gore and pretend murder may appear…uh right?

Seventeen-year-old Becca Martinello is about to find out. When her perfectly normal soccer mom dies in a car crash, a strange girl named Stef appears to let Becca know that her Mom was none other than one of Alcatraz 2.0’s most popular serial killers—Molly Mauler. Soon, Becca ends up on Who Wants To Be a Painiac? to learn the truth about her mom’s connection to Molly, but things turn sinister when people are murdered IRL. Will Becca uncover dark secrets and make it out of the deadly reality game alive? Or will she get cut?

While I didn’t review last year’s #MurderTrending I really enjoyed the completely over-the-top storyline mixed with spot-on biting social commentary. The premise of the first book is that in the not too distant future, convicted murderers are sent to an island called Alcatraz 2.0 to be hunted down and killed gruesomely by costumed government sanctioned serial killers. And this is all broadcast for the masses as a bloody reality show. There’s even an app where the show’s legions of fans can comment and place bets. Of course, just as in real life, some of those convicted are actually innocent. Sound familiar? I’ve been looking forward to seeing where Gretchen McNeil was going to go with the sequel.

My biggest issue in this book is with the pacing. While there’ a lot of build up, the action frustratingly doesn’t start until the second half of the book. Because of that, the action does kick in, everything seems extremely rushed. I also didn’t connect with the new characters as much as I did with the original “Death Breakfast Club.” Becca’s being an LGBT character is welcome, but without going into spoilers, her overall attitude about Alcatraz 2.0 really got on my nerves. The relationship between her and Steph also didn’t click with me. Steph remained a standoffish mystery until the last couple of chapters and because of this I never connected with her. I actually liked the secondary characters more, especially Coop and Fiona. The survivors from Alcatraz 2.0 also make some brief appearances which I was happy to see. There are a couple of welcome twists that caught me by surprise, and while everything for the most part is wrapped up at the end, the last sentence has me wondering if there will be a third book.

Although I don’t think #MurderFunding is quite as good as it’s predecessor, overall I still enjoyed it. Questions left at the end of #MurderTrending are answered and while there are a couple of loose ends left, they could be due to the rumored third book. Because of some pretty gory scenes in the second half of the book, I wouldn’t recommend this for anyone younger than high school age. That said, I think both these books could be used to introduce some interesting discussions about our increasing reliance of social media, our fascination with realty shows, and most importantly the negatives surrounding the death penalty.

Sword and Pen (The Great Library #5), by Rachel Caine ~ 5.0 Stars

Tags

Alternate History, Diversity, Fantasy, LGBT, Romance, Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: September 3rd, 2019

368 Pages

Synopsis: With the future of the Great Library in doubt, the unforgettable characters from Ink and Bone, must decide if it’s worth saving in this thrilling adventure in the New York Times bestselling series.

The corrupt leadership of the Great Library has fallen, but with the Archivist plotting his return to power, and the Library under siege from outside empires and kingdoms, it’s future is uncertain. Jess Brightwell and his friends must come together as never for, to forge a new future for the Great Library…or see everything it stood for crumble.

The Great Library is one of those series that’s improved with each book, and Sword and Pen perfectly brings to a conclusion one of the best YA series I’ve come across. When the series first started, Jess was the star, with everyone else cast as supporting players. But as in many fantasy stories, where would the main character be without his friends? Would Harry Potter have been able to defeat Voldemort without Hermione, Ginny, Luna, Neville, and okay, Ron? I think not. While Jess has all the qualities you look for in a hero, he also has flaws which have come to light as the series’ mythology has progressed, which is why it’s important that each of the other characters have taken on more responsibility with each new book. This last book is a true ensemble with everyone spread out across Alexandria and each chapter told from a different POV. One non-spoiler-spoiler: a favorite character dies. I’m not going to say who, but I felt I had to warn any Great Library fans who might read this. From beginning to end it’s a non-stop roller-coaster ride that builds to a thrilling finale. I finished this in about three hours and that was with me trying to read more slowly because I didn’t want to say goodbye. But gosh darn Rachel Caine! Just like with every other book she’s written, she just sucked me right in! 

In the end Pen and Sword has left me with mixed feelings. On the one hand it brings everything to a satisfying “couldn’t ask for anything more” conclusion. On the other, I loved the alternate history and characters that Rachel Caine created so much, that I’m having difficulty saying goodbye. But then, that’s the mark of a truly great writer isn’t it? I promise fans of this series that they’re going to love this entry. If you haven’t read any of the books, but you’re intrigued, I recommend you start at the beginning. Here are the books in order:

 

The Retreat, by Sherri Smith ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Child Molestation//Rape, LGBT, Mystery, Self-harm, Substance Abuse, Suspense

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Release Date: August 13th, 2019

 

352 Pages

Synopsis: Sherri Smith illuminates the dark side of the self-care and wellness industry in a thrilling ride of revenge perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty’s Nine Perfect Strangers. The Retreat is a twisting, bone-chilling suspense that asks: how well do you really know your friends?

Four friends.

Four secrets.

A weekend that will change them forever…if they survive.

Kate Manning was a beloved child star until her mid-teens when her manager attacked her and permanently scarred her face, effectively ending her career and sending her on a path of all-too-familiar post-Hollywood self-destruction. 

Now twenty-seven, Katie wants a better answer to those clickbait “Where Are The Now?” articles that float around online. An answer she hopes to find when her brother’s fiancée invites her to a wellness retreat upstate. Together with Katie’s two best friends—-one struggling with crippling debt and family obligations, one running away from a failed job and relationship—-Katie will try to find the inner peace promised at the tranquil retreat. But finding oneself might just drudge up more memories than Katie is prepared to deal with.

Each woman has come to the retreat for different reasons. Each has her secrets to hide. And at the end of this weekend, only one will be left standing.

At about 50 pages in to The Retreat, I thought it was going to be a campy take on a familiar theme and that this was going to turn out to be a “meh” review. But then it took some twisty turns down the dark side, and I wound up enjoying this much more than I originally thought.

This is both a plot driven and character driven tale. No one here is very likable, at least at first. However, all the characters turn out to be much more complicated than they first appear to be. The story is told from former child star and scandal-ridden Katie’s POV, as well as those of her sister-in-law-to-be, Ellie-Rose, and her two best friends, Carmen and Ariel. All four women have secrets that they’re desperately trying to protect, and the way Sherri Smith teasingly reveals each backstory was mesmerizing.

The mystery itself was tantalizing and made for a true page turner with its shocking twists. While I was pretty sure who the villain was by the halfway point, I couldn’t figure out their motivation, so when the big reveal came I was caught by surprise. While the ending for the most part tied up Katie’s story, there were other loose ends that left me with some questions.

Overall, The Retreat is an entertaining and quick read that will make you think twice before going on a wellness retreat. There are several issues that come up that could prove a trigger for some readers. These include: child molestation/rape, substance abuse, gory violence (near the end) and self-harm. This is the first book I’ve read by Sherri Smith, but it certainly won’t be the last!

 

 

Swipe Right For Murder, by Derek Milman ~ 5.0 Stars

Tags

Contemporary Fiction, Homophobia, Humor, LGBT, Romance, Suicide, Terrorism, Thriller, YA Fiction

Thanks to JIMMY Patterson Books for providing an ARC in exchange for and honest review.

Release Date: August 6th, 2019

336 Pages

Synopsis:

On the run from the FBI.

Targeted by a murderous cult.

Labeled a cyber-terrorist by the media.

Irritated by texts from his best friend.

Eye contact with a nice-looking guy on the train.

Aidan has a lot to deal with and he’s not quite sure which takes top priority.

Finding himself alone in a posh New York City hotel room for the night, Aidan does what any red-blooded seventeen-year-old would do—-he tries to hook up with someone new. But that lapse in judgement leads him to waking up next to a dead guy, which sparks an epic case of mistaken identity that puts Aidan on the run from everyone—-faceless federal agents, his eccentric family, and, naturally, a cyber-terrorist group who will stop at nothing to find him. 

He soon realizes the only way to stop the chase is to deliver the object that everyone wants, before he gets caught or killed. But for Aidan, the hardest part is knowing who he can trust not to betray him—-including himself.

It’s only halfway through 2019, but I already know that Swipe Right For Murder is going to be one of my favorite books of the year. An ingenious ode to Alfred Hitchcocks North by Northwest and a poignant coming-of-age story, it tackles some serious issues such as: terrorism, homophobia, an inappropriate relationship between an adult and a teen, and suicide. At the same time it displays a wry sense of humor that had me laughing out loud several times. While Aidan is immature at the beginning, his personal growth expands by leaps and bounds as the story progresses. He’s someone you want to shake and hug at the same time. The plot itself is absolutely crackers, but it’s so much fun that it’s easy to suspend disbelief and just hang on for the wild ride. 

I loved Derek Milman’s first book, Scream All Night, and honestly wondered if his sophomore effort would live up to his debut. I’m thrilled to say that I think it actually surpassed it! Both books blend the world of classic film, with contemporary coming-of-age themes, sympathetic and relatable main characters, and over-the-top (in a good way) storylines. I can’t recommend this author highly enough to both teens and adult fans of YA fiction, and fans of classic films in general. I can’t wait to see what this incredible author comes out with next!

Reverie, by Ryan La Sala ~ 5 Stars

Tags

Fantasy, LGBT, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: January 1st, 2020

384 Pages

Synopsis: Inception meets The Magicians, except with better wigs and a maniacal drag queen sorceress attempting to unravel the reality of Connecticut (yes, the state) and replace it with something…well something better than Connecticut. 

Ryan La Sala’s debut fantasy is a #OwnVoices story following Kane Montgomery, a gay teenager piecing his life back together after an attack robs him of his memories. As Kane searches for who he was, he uncovers a war for the creative rights to reality itself, each battle played out in an imagined world turned real: a reverie.

Reveries are worlds born from a person’s private fantasies, and once they manifest they can only be unraveled by bringing their conflicts to resolution. Reveries have rules and plots, magic and monsters, and one wrong step could twist the entire thing into a lethal, labyrinthine nightmare. Unraveling them is dangerous work but it’s what Kane and The Others do.

Or did, until one of The Others purged Kane of his memories. But now Kane is back, and solving the mystery of his betrayal is the only way to unite his team and defeat reality’s latest threat: Poesy, a sorceress bent on harvesting the reveries for their pure, imaginative power. 

But what use might a drag queen sorceress have with a menagerie of stolen reveries? And should Kane, a boy with no love for a team that betrayed him, fight to stop her, or defect to aid her?

Reverie is about the seduction of escaping inwards, about the worlds we hide within ourselves, and the danger of dreams that come true.

Oh. My. Goodness! I don’t even know where to begin. I’ve read some pretty amazing books during my lifetime, but Reverie is one that I don’t think I’ll EVER forget!

I knew as soon as the synopsis mentioned a maniacal drag queen sorceress, that this book was going to be different than anything else I’d read before and I wasn’t disappointed. The world building is unsurprisingly phenomenal, but underneath all the glitter and glam is the unflinching exploration of how the world views and treats those who aren’t heterosexual. 

At the center is Kane, who was outed at a young age. As a result, he’s encased himself in a tough exterior shell, but inside he’s a marshmallow who’ll do anything for his friends or anyone else who needs help, as long as they respect him. The members of Kane’s team, The Others are equally intriguing and all have their own roles in regards to the reveries. There’s plenty of teen angst, but this never takes away from the story. And last but certainly not least, there’s Poesy, the dynamic villainous sorceress, who more than lives up to the expectations set by the premise and perfectly rounds out this diverse cast of characters.

The fun and entertaining storyline itself is complex yet easy to follow, and I finished it in two sittings. I actually found myself purposely slowing down because I didn’t want to come to the end. 

In essence, Reverie is a magically flamboyant tale that brilliantly mixes the fantastical with reality. It’s a book that I highly recommend to teens and adults who are looking for something extraordinary and unforgettable. While this is listed as a planned standalone, the ending and its epilogue have me hoping for a sequel!

 

 

 

 

 

The Diminished (Untitled Duology #1), by Kaitlyn Sage Patterson ~ 4.5 Stars

Tags

Fantasy, LGBT, Romance, Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Teen for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: Available Now

384 Pages

Synopsis: In the Alskad Empire, nearly all are born with a twin, two halves to form one whole…yet some face the world alone.

The singleborn.

A rare few are singleborn in each generation, and therefore given the right to rule by the gods and goddesses. Bo Trousillion is one of those few, born into the royal line and destined to rule. Though he has been chosen to succeed his great-aunt, Queen Runa, as the leader of the Alskad Empire, Bo has never felt equal to the grand future before him.

The diminished.

When one twin dies, the other usually follows, unable to face the world without their other half. Those who survive are considered diminished, doomed to succumb to the violent grief that inevitably destroys everyone whose twin has died. Such is the fate of Vi Abernathy, whose twin sister died in infancy. Raised by the anchorites of the temple after her family cast her off, Vi has spent her whole life scheming for a way to escape and live out what’s left of her life in peace.

As their sixteenth birthday approaches, Bo and Vi face very different futures—-one a life of luxury as the heir to the throne, the other years of backbreaking work as a temple servant. But a long-held secret and the fate of the empire are destined to bring them together in a way they never could have imagined.

The Diminished is a fabulous beginning to an as of yet, untitled duology. The chapters alternate between the two main characters, both who I found equally fascinating. I loved the way Bo being gay was depicted so matter of factly. There is no bigotry in this world regarding sexual identity. It’s an accepted part of society. Neither is there any racism. Unfortunately there is bigotry toward the “diminished”, those who have lost a twin. So, not only do they go through the heartbreak of losing their other half, but then they’re treated with abject cruelty. This is most detailed in Vi’s chapters and it can be tough reading at times. While it seems as though Bo and Vi have nothing in common, as the story continues their lives converge in the most interesting ways. 

The world building is rich in detail and I loved how the Alskad Empire shares societal issues that mirror those found in the real world. Between that and the characters, I was completely enthralled throughout the entire story. I’m looking forward to seeing where the next book takes things. I highly recommend The Diminished for older teens and adults who are looking for a fantasy that’s unique and exciting.

Ace of Shades (The Shadow Game #1), by Amanda Foody ~ 3.0 Stars

Tags

Fantasy, LGBT, Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Teen for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: April 10th, 2018

Synopsis:

Welcome to the City of Sin, where casino families reign, gangs infest the streets…and secrets hide in every corner.

Enne Salt was raised as a proper young lady, and no lady would willingly visit New Reynes, the so-called City of Sin. But when her mother goes missing, Enne must leave her finishing school—-and her reputation—-behind to follow her mother’s trail to the city where no one survives uncorrupted.

Frightened and alone, her only lead is a name: Levi Glaisyer. Unfortunately, Levi is not the gentleman she expected—-he’s a street lord and a con man. Levi is also only one payment away from cleaning up a rapidly unraveling investment scam, so he doesn’t have time to investigate a woman leading a dangerous double life. Enne’s offer of compensation, however, could be the solution to all his problems.

Their search for clues leads them through glamorous casinos, illicit cabarets and into the clutches of a ruthless mafia donna. As Enne unearths an impossible secret about her past, Levi’s enemies catch up to them, ensnaring him in a vicious execution game where the players always lose. To save him, Enne, will have to surrender herself to the city…

And she’ll need to play.

Ace of Shades has been a much buzzed about books or months and while I didn’t think it quite lived up to the hype, there were aspects of it that I did enjoy.

New Reynes aka the City of Sin, is a magical version of Las Vegas. Underneath its glitzy exterior lies a far more dark and gritty world filled with violence and danger. The main character, Enne, is an interesting character, but she transforms too quickly from a prim and proper ballerina who makes some incredibly stupid mistakes, to a lethal assassin. And Levi, as a young bisexual man of color and leader of a gang, should have been so much more interesting than he was. It took most of the book for me to get a sense of who he is and what his motivations are. I did wind up really liking him towards the end though. The secondary characters definitely need more development as well if they’re to progress from mere silhouettes in the background.

The world building left me with mixed feelings. There were some parts I liked such as the lethal Game of Shadows, and the history of the families, but there was quite a bit of info dumping and for the first half of the book I found it very slow going. 

Despite my issues with Ace of Shades, I do think it has potential. The pace picked up considerably in the second half of the book and the ending was exciting enough that I’ll definitely be trying the sequel. There are plenty of readers who love this so if you’re a fan of YA fantasy and like plenty of political intrigue I’d recommend giving this a try.

The Price Guide to the Occult, by Leslye Walton ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Child Abuse, Contemporary Fictio, LGBT, Self-harm, Supernatural, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Candlewick for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: March 13th, 2018

288 Pages

Synopsis: The Blackburn women are cursed. Ever since the extraordinary witch Rona Blackburn landed on Anathema Island centuries ago and was shunned by the eight “original” settlers, Blackburn witches have been doomed to carry out a brief whirlwind affair with a descendant of the Original Eight. The vengeful curse, however, had unintended side effects: it diluted the Blackburns’ supernatural powers. That’s perfectly all right with seventeen-year-old Nor Blackburn. All she wants is a quiet, unremarkable life—-her powers are blissfully unexceptional, her love life pretty much nonexistent. Nor hopes the curse has played itself out through enough generations that she’ll finally be spared the drama. But when a mysterious book comes out promising to cast any spell for the right price, Nor senses a dark storm headed straight for Anathema—-and straight for her.

I loved Leslye Walton’s glorious debut, The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender, so I’ve been looking forward to The Price Guide to the Occult for the last year. While I didn’t think it was quite as magical, I think it’s a solid sophomore book.

What I loved about the previous book was the author’s exquisite and lush style of writing and storytelling and that’s definitely on display here. The protagonist, Nor, is someone many readers will relate to with her mix of vulnerability and steely determination. A word of warning, though it’s handled with care and sensitivity, self-harm is part of her story, so this could be a trigger for some. It’s an understandable outcome to a trauma in her past, and it’s written very realistically.

Some of the secondary characters aren’t quite as well-rounded. I loved Nor’s gruff yet loving grandmother, and her quirky best friend Savvy. The others, though, I just got to know enough, to want more, especially Nor’s sweet love interest.

The setting of the rainy Pacific Northwest is the perfect backdrop in terms of atmosphere, and the mythology behind Nor’s family as well as the plot is well written, albeit a little slow at times. To be honest, I wasn’t thrilled with the ending and found it a little vague, but after reading the epilogue, I’m hopeful there may be a sequel.

Despite a few issues, I thoroughly enjoyed The Price Guide to the Occult and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that there will be a second book.

 

People Like Us, by Dana Mele ~ 3.5 Stars

Tags

LGBT, Mystery, Psychological Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to Edelweiss and G. P. Putnam’s Sons for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Release Date: Available Now 

384 Pages

Synopsis: Kay Donovan may have skeletons in her closet, but the past is the past, and she’s reinvented herself entirely. Now she’s a star soccer player whose group of gorgeous friends run their private school with effortless popularity and acerbic wit. But when a girl’s body is found in the lake, Kay’s carefully constructed life begins to topple.

The dead girl has left Kay a computer-coded scavenger hunt, which, as it unravels, begins to implicate suspect after suspect, until Kay herself is in the crosshairs of a murder investigation. But if Kay’s finally backed into a corner, she’ll do what it takes to survive. Because at Bates Academy, the truth is something you make…not something that happened.

As soon as I laid eyes on People Like Us, the cover and the premise of a killer loose at a boarding school, immediately grabbed my attention. Add in a twisted scavenger hunt left by the deceased girl, and I knew I had to read it. While the theme isn’t unique, the author added in enough of her own original flourishes to make it stand out from the somewhat crowded field.   The main character, Kay, was deeply flawed, yet still garnered my sympathy. I also liked that she was bisexual which gave some welcome diversity to the story. The secondary characters weren’t quite as well developed though and there were a couple in particular that I wished I had gotten to know more. While I guessed the identity of the killer early on, I wasn’t completely sure what their motivations were. There were also some additional twists that kept me guessing. And finally, the big reveal concerning the killer at the end was a bit of a letdown, but there was one related to Kay that did take me by surprise.

Overall, despite having a few issues, I still enjoyed People Like Us, and I will definitely try Dana Mele’s next book. 

*For another perspective, please take a look at my lovely friend Dani’s 5 star review over at https://touchmyspinebookreviews.com