Bookish Amy Leigh

The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book is thrilling, terrifying and full of science and medicine with a survival theme for YA. I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy this book when I started it because it's written like a journal. Kaelyn, our MC, is writing letters to her friend Leo. It actually works really well and didn't take away any anticipation or suspense. Th characters are all very well rounded and the cliffhanger ending is perfect. Kaelyn gets stuck on the island where she lives when it gets put in lockdown. There's a flu like virus outbreak and it's spreading so quickly that it's not long before it's at an epidemic level. Kaelyn has to go outside her comfort zone to befriend people who may be able to help, as a team, figure out what's killing off their neighbors and find a cure. The fear is very real and when symptoms first start popping up it started subconsciously making me wash my

The Emerald Circus by Jane Yolen My rating: 4 of 5 stars I was stuck between 3.5/4 stars so this is getting an odd 3.75 stars. This is an anthology of stories that you may be familiar with. They are twisted fairy tales and stories based on real people like Queen Victoria. The characters appear multiple times throughout different stories with Alice appearing the most. Dorothy and Alice share multiple instances including the twisted circus Dorothy gets transported to instead of the magical land of Oz and a different story where they share stories over tea. I was expecting this to wow me and I do think the cover is gorgeous but it was under whelming in the end. A good 2/3 of the stories I really enjoyed but that last 1/3 was boring. The ones I did like stuck with me though. Some of the poems were okay but I didn't care for most. The stories or people Yolen touches on that I remember are: Beauty and the Beast The Snow Queen Alice in Wonderland The Wi

The Romanov Empress: A Novel of Tsarina Maria Feodorovna by C.W. Gortner My rating: 5 of 5 stars This was a book I just couldn't put down. Most people have heard of Anastasia but this book is about her grandmother Maria from a poor royal family in Denmark. She marries young and becomes the tsarina of Russia and her sister marries Queen Victoria's son and ultimately becomes the queen of England. The author breathed life into a story I never knew I wanted to know. This is one of my favorite aspects of historical fiction because when it is done right, like this book, you want to research and learn more about real history. Maria has Nicholas who becomes the last Tsar of Russia. You see everything she goes through from switching to a regal lifestyle and having to command a household of employees to politics, assassination attempts and the rioting that ultimately leads to the Russian Revolution. I loved how strong and compassionate Maria was. She f

Geekerella by Ashley Poston My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book is so cute & a quick read! It's full of fandom, cosplay, and it's a fairy tale retelling of Cinderella. I thought it was well-written and executed well. With that being said if you don't like sci-fi or cons or cosplay you may not enjoy this. This is geek culture written in a way I've never personally seen. It encompasses what it's like to be part of an elite community and that feeing of camaraderie. How everyone else who is "normal" may not love what you do but there is a place you can go where the abnormal is normal. Elle is the classic Cinderella living with her nasty step mother and two twin nasty step sisters. She works out of a food truck and finds out about a cosplay contest with a prize so amazing her head might explode. Tickets to a Con Ball and a nest & greet with an actor from one of her favorite sci-fi fandoms. All she has is her dad's o

The Pirate Bride by Kathleen Y'Barbo My rating: 4 of 5 stars I read this book immediately following The Mayflower Bride since it is a series but they can be read as standalones. Maribel is the great granddaughter of Mary but that's the only real mention from the first book. This is a Christian/Young Adult/Historical Fiction book and I really enjoyed it. In fact I flew through it and liked it more than the first of the series. Thank you for not having that preachy feel with this book. Maribel is 12 when she loses her mom and grandfather and is forced to cross the sea to join her father. When privateers attack and her father is also killed she is left joining the crew to survive. She is fierce and passionate while still being innocent. I admired her bravery and strength to stick to her beliefs. Jean-Luc is surprised with how quickly the little redheaded Maribel has captured the hearts of his crew and does his best to get them safely across the

Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige My rating: 3 of 5 stars This story was cute but it had flaws along with the cuteness. The world building was really great but the characters needed some more oomph. This is a retelling of The Snow Queen but with a modern twist. I did enjoy the book so I will probably read the next one when it comes out next year. Snow was put in a mental institution eleven years ago when she and her friend tried to walk through a mirror and in the process shattered it leaving them both scarred for life. I don't know if that qualifies for such a long stay in a mental institution but yeah. One night her friend Bale gets spirited away and she is told to go through a portal to save him. When she enters the portal it is a land of eternal winter and she is their long lost princess. In the process of trying and failing to avoid the King, she winds up with three love interests which got frustrating. Make up your mind Snow! The twists are

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins My rating: 5 of 5 stars France, romance, history, food. I couldn't get enough of this book! I already miss Anna and Etienne. From what I read about their school and the Latin Quarter, I never would have wanted to leave. I loved the dynamics with the characters. Their group of friends felt so real that I laughed and cried with them. The family situations were very forthcoming and realistic. I don't feel like any review I write will do this book justice so please check it out if you haven't already if you love ya contemporary romance. I have to get my own copy (I checked this out from the library) so I can read it again! I'm nervous the next book won't live up to my expectations bc this book was so amazing... I'm probably gonna wait a bit before I pick up the next one. View all my reviews

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book was beautifully written and very dark. The atmosphere is perfect and it was hard not to like all the characters Laini created. I'm glad the second book was available and I already checked it out from my library bc I am hooked! Karou seems like any other high schooler. She like to hang out with her best friend Zuzana at a local eatery that has coffins for tables. Her hair naturally grows blue. She was raised by Chimaera and does favors for them in exchange for wishes. She draws the Chimaera in her notebooks and her friend thinks they are made up. Akiva is a Seraphim and he is on a mission to mark the Chimaera's portals with a handprint of ash that won't go away. Everything's going great til he gets a glimpse of Karou and without meaning to, follows her around. When he sees her go for a portal door he attacks her but when she fends him off he realizes she may

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book blew me away! It took me a couple hours to read it, I couldn't stop reading and I couldn't put it down! I wasn't expecting half of what happened and the ending was wow! View all my reviews

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling My rating: 5 of 5 stars First of all this book is gorgeous! It comes in the house theme of your choice and my fiancé got me Gryffindor. I'm part Hufflepuff- part Gryffindor and he's Gryffindor/Hufflepuff so as long as we get the Hufflepuff version of book two I'm good. So the house theme isn't just the exterior. There's all kind of info on the house you chose, famous characters from that house, gorgeous illustrations, and a fun quiz. The pages are color sprayed and the house crest is on the dust jacket with the house traits. The other copies of HP book #1 I read were the U.S. version and this one is the U.K. version and I thoroughly enjoyed every line. I'm not going to do a synopsis of the story but I will say this book is truly magical. It is a form of therapy that I just can't explain. If you haven't read this series I highly recommend giving it a chance. T

The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book was amazing! It did have a Hocus Pocus vibe but without all the humor. You can feel the magic radiating when you first start reading. It focuses more around Penny and Bo and wondering how to stop the sisters. I thought the author did a great job of keeping the reader on your toes. I also loved that the backstory of the Swan Sisters is included a little bit at a time at the beginning of each chapter or two. Very enjoyable read! Penny is seventeen and it's the end of her junior year. Tomorrow is June first, the start of Swan Season. Every year in Sparrow the Swan sisters return by possessing the bodies of teenage girls and luring boys to their death in the water. Penny likes to keep to herself on Lumiere Island, where she lives with her distraught mother. This year though there's an unknown variable. Bo. Who is this outsider and why is he in Sparrow the day before Swan Season? Bu

Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is a good discovery book about Bruce Wayne. He isn't Batman yet, he just turned eighteen and got access to his trust fund and the company. Some favorite characters make appearances, like Alfred is Bruce's caregiver and butler. Then Bruce goes for a drive to get away from the craziness of fake people and paparazzi but he runs up on a police chase. He decides he can catch this guy bc his car is faster and starts chasing him. (Dumb move? Maybe not?) He catches the criminal who is part of a gang called Nightwalker but the police arrest Bruce for interfering and now he has community service... not at a normal place you would expect but at Arkham Asylum. This part does not make sense to me bc it doesn't seem realistic. There he befriends an inmate who gives him info on Nightwalkers while he mops the dirty floor. An interesting formative story for the days before Batman but only 3.5 st

Caraval by Stephanie Garber My rating: 5 of 5 stars Caraval is a magical, mystical, gorgeous novel. It's dripping with fantasy. I loved this book so much and reading it so soon after The Night Circus just enhanced the whimsical for me. The world building and environment of the Caraval was perfect! Sometimes Scarlett drove me nuts bc she repeated herself too much but it was my only complaint. Scarlett has been writing to Master Legend of Caraval for years bc she wants to come to his Caraval so bad! She has an evil father who arranges a marriage for her and decides it will save her and her sister from him. She gets a letter from Legend inviting her to Caraval and tells her sister Tella to go instead bc she's getting married. Julian, a mysterious sailor, comes and whisks Scarlett off to Caraval anyway and she finds her sister Tella is the star of Caraval. She has to participate now, to save her sister's life and hope Julian will help her. Sh

A Week of Mondays by Jessica Brody My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book was cute! It was a quick read, only prolonged for me bc I am reading several books atm. It made me think of Groundhog Day. It was a different kind of coming of age story because she has to live the same day over & over to figure things out. Tristan was awful in my opinion. Ellison has a terrible, terrible day. Everything that could did go wrong. She wakes up after making a wish to get a do over to find out that it's Monday again. She does everything she can to change the outcome each Monday but in the end I think she learns a lot more about herself and what she wants to do with her life. Monday continues to repeat itself but she doesn't repeat everything. Will her outcome be the one she wants and can she stop her day from repeating? View all my reviews

Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick My rating: 5 of 5 stars This was a great ending to the Hush Hush Saga! I loved the action in this book. Nora grew up so much and her relationship with Patch was undeniable. I loved how new characters were introduced without it seeming awkward and how old enemies popped back up unexpectedly. I would definitely re-read this series! Patch and Nora have been through a lot. Now things are about to get much crazier. Hank screwed Nora over by making her swear an oath to lead his army or her mother would die. So of course she did it. Now she has to pretend break up with Patch to keep up appearances with the nephilims. She starts strength training with her number one lieutenant Dante, who is also her new pretend boyfriend. She gets kidnapped by three nephils who doubt her loyalty but they let her go with reluctance. Her oblivious best friend Vee is head over heels for Scott, their old kindergarten friend who happens to be nephilim

Sightwitch by Susan Dennard My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is more of a story for people who are already invested in the witchland series. It's a prequel book so it's not as long as the other two books but has great info about who they are and how they are created. I bought this book after reading this excerpt so I do recommend for fans of the series! The cover is gorgeous too! This definitely can be read before the other two books but it's more informative than story continuation so I would recommend reading it after the first book Truthwitch at least. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. View all my reviews

Slipper by Hester Velmans My rating: 5 of 5 stars What if Charles Perrault's story of Cinderella was based on a real story of a real girl he just happens to meet? That is the tale this book tells. It's definitely an adult book with rape, witch hunts, and abuse. It's written very realistically. There is still so much whimsical charm and it includes other fairy tales like mother goose, the frog prince, the emperors new clothes, and of course Cinderella. The emotional involvement with the characters was there for me and even though Lucinda can be childish, she experiences things in life that make her grow and become an adult. Do you remember the movie Ever After? I kept thinking of that movie as I read this book only change the rating to mature. I highly recommend to adults who live fairy tale retellings and historical fiction. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book for a fair and honest review.

The Darkling Bride by Laura Andersen My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book took me by surprise! I was thinking it would be a comfortable historical fiction novel I would enjoy and it was so much more. The atmosphere is very Victorian Gothic. The story was non-stop in a good way. I couldn't get enough of this book! I need this physically on my bookshelf! First of all everything is centered on a gorgeous 700 year old Irish castle. Then there's the legend of The Darkling Bride, a ghost who stirs up all kinds of trouble if the legends are true. Then there's the murder mysteries. They seem to line up every hundred years for the past three hundred years. Carragh gets caught up in it all by agreeing to catalog the extensive book collection at the castle and meets the son of one of the murder victims. Now she's trying to figure out everything and trying not to fall in love with Aiden. Will justice be served or will murder and mayhem strike again?

Legendary by L.H. Nicole My rating: 5 of 5 stars I loved this story! I love pretty much anything Arthurian and when I saw the synopsis for this book I knew I wanted to read it. The adventure is non stop and I adored the romance! I can't wait til the next book comes out bc there are some things that are left unexplained and I can't help but think there's a reason. Alaina is eighteen in London and on her own. Her parents died tragically two years ago in the US leaving her feeling incomplete. She has a dream that reignites her passion for Avalon and to pick up her father's research and dive in where he left off. On a photo shoot in the country she accidentally enters Avalon and meets the Lady of the Lake. She is the "destined one" and has to save King Arthur, reunite the knights of the round table, and save Camelot before Mordrid wins and destroys everything. Is she up to the task? Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for g

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is a 3.5 star book for me. I was excited to read more about Nora and Patch, especially after what happened in book one. Nora was very whiny and she kept doing the opposite of what she knew she should do and what her heart was telling her was right. She hurt people for dumb reasons and it wasn't until halfway through I really began to enjoy the book and the "Veronica Mars" part of the story really took hold. Vee wound up being the best part of this book. She was truly what a real friend should be. Always there for you, tells you what you don't want but need to hear, fun and adventurous, doesn't let you mope, and loyal to a fault. This book does have a major cliffhanger ending and I will read the next book. Nora and Patch are together but it doesn't take long for Nora to begin doubting his feelings for her and breaking things off with him without waiting for answers f

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is the penultimate book about friendship. It encompasses the good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful. It covers so much ground and the relationships are very well thought out and written. I didn't mean to but I flew through this book loving every minute of it. I adored every character in this book and loved the way Emily's story unfolds. Most of us have experienced all these friendships and learned from them. They shape who you are in good and bad ways. Remember people telling you guilt by association? It can be honor by association too. Emily lives in Connecticut and has just lost her best friend Sloane, and by lost I mean she has up and gone missing without telling Emily anything. This is the girl she has spent all her days with for the past two years. The girl she tells everything to and the girl who became a part of who she is. Emily is in a panic until she finds

The Chaos of Standing Still by Jessica Brody My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book is about grief. Everyone grieves differently and Ryn is no exception. I felt I had a personal connection with Ryn and that made me love this book even more. Xander was adorable and I hope there will be a second book where they reunite. I laughed and straight up bawled my eyes out throughout this book. Ryn is trying to mourn the death of her best friend Lottie, who was killed in a car accident while the drunk driver got away without injury. She hasn't been able to grieve and has prolonged her release by holding onto Lottie's last text message to her and leaving it unread. She gets stuck in a Denver airport due to a blizzard and chaos ensues. Xander bumps into Ryn and they happen to have the same phone case and accidentally grab the wrong phones. Now they are connected and have to find each other to exchange phones. This begins a fun escapade through a shut down airp

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker My rating: 5 of 5 stars This blend of historical fiction and fantasy was supremely amazing! I loved the backstory, mix of cultures, and how they learned to be human together. I would consider this an ultimate friendship novel. I really hope to read a sequel one day! Chava is a Golem and Ahmed is a Jinni. They both get trapped in human bodies and find themselves colliding with each other in turn of the century New York. Neither of them knows what to make of their situations and they wind up helping each other become more human than they could have ever wanted or dreamed. I've never read anything quite like this and I loved it! View all my reviews

The Book Jumper by Mechthild Gläser My rating: 4 of 5 stars This was a creative and exciting read! It's a book about books with a magical island focused on books! I loved the characters and the idea of book jumpers and their ability to get to know the characters from stories we've grown up on. This book did leave me with some questions and I don't know how to feel about the ending yet, I'm still processing. Amy's mother had her young and left her home to move to Germany to start over. Now Amy is older and wants to go on a getaway trip herself but she has no idea just how far she will get to travel. They go to stay with her grandmother in Scotland where she insists Amy read more. Amy is delighted since she is a bookworm until she finds out her grandmother doesn't mean conventional reading. Amy is a book jumper. She has the ability to hold a book to her face and enter the world of that book. She has to moderate every story she e

American Panda by Gloria Chao My rating: 5 of 5 stars I loved this! It's well-written and engaging. I couldn't put it down! There are some laugh out loud moments and times you wish you could reach in and give Mei a hug or a high five. (Not that she would like that.) Mei is a Taiwanese-American seventeen year old who is starting her freshman year at MIT. She tries so hard to appease her very traditional parents while her mother constantly speaks negatively about her. She hides her Japanese crush turned boyfriend from her parents because that is the worst to them. She tries hard to hold on to her culture but to also be herself and understand that she needs to do what is best for her since it is her life. She has a very difficult roommate who becomes a much needed friend and Mei has a very genuine germ-phobia. Her older brother was disowned by their parents for not living up to their standards but she doesn't know what really happened until

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden My rating: 5 of 5 stars This story is so beautifully written! You can feel the magic and darkness woven through the story. It is a fairy tale within a fairy tale based on Russian culture and folk lore. This book is great for fantasy lovers who enjoy rich detail, world, and character building. Marina's childhood nurse maid has followed her to help take care of her own children, three boys and one girl. Where they live in Russia, the winter is harsh and long. Every night the nurse tells the children stories and one night Marina requests the story of Lord Frost the demon. That night she confides in her husband that she is pregnant again and insists that this baby girl will be special. Vasilisa never gets to know her mother and grows up being raised by her sister Olga and her nurse. One night she travels too far into the forest and gets lost. She happens upon two men and tells them who she is and asks w

Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo My rating: 5 of 5 stars I loved every second of this story. When Leigh Bardugo sets out to write something she definitely doesn't do it halfway. I really enjoyed being able to talk to my comic fanatic fiancé about what was going on in the book and him comparing it fondly to the comics he read. For me, this story is uplifting and inspiring, never letting go and taking a special spot in my heart. This one is going on my shelf as a favorite and I hope one day I have a little girl to pass it down to. Follow your dreams and stay true to your heart. The world building in this is perfect. Not too little and not too much. This book is perfect for anyone wanting to know more about Wonder Woman and enjoy another chapter in her life. I felt like the characters were very well written and the story was exciting with twists in Bardugo fashion. To say I want another one of these books about Wonder Woman by Leigh would b

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book is entrancing. This book is about and full of magic! It builds up so much anticipation you don't know what to do with yourself. There are some slow moments but overall it's a fantastic read. The romance isn't a focus here but a side note with the competition being the overall theme. Hector or Prospero, purportedly a magician who is really a wizard in the 1800s finds himself stuck with his 6 year old daughter Celia when her mother kills herself. He invites another wizard, Alexander, to his performance and asks him if he wants to "play the game". Celia is a natural born with magic and her father seizes that opportunity and she becomes his competitor. Alexander reluctantly agrees and goes off to find his competitor, Marco. Neither competitor knows about each other but they work together, sometimes side by side. The night circus is all magic unbeknownst to the hu

Pinnacle by Lynn Veevers My rating: 4 of 5 stars This was a very intriguing new author paranormal ya book about magic and Lycans. There is a ton of world building and a cliffhanger ending so I'm hoping there will be a second book? I would give this 3.5 stars and round up to 4 because Goodreads doesn't give me a choice. I liked and hated the main character at times. If this is the first in a series, I'm assuming it is, there is a lot of room to grow and it would explain why this book was written the way it was. There are editing mistakes but I easily read over them. Overall I enjoyed it. Kaya's parents recently died leaving her trying to figure out what to do with her life. She quickly discovers she had magical powers and is growing into them while she is thrown head first into a supernatural world of Mystics and Lycans. Her Aunt and boyfriend try to help her through this transition while danger is always looming around the corner. Tha

Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han My rating: 5 of 5 stars I finished this book a couple minutes after midnight on 4-5-18. Don't go into any book in this series while hungry! Seriously, don't do it to yourself. The food is amazing and talked about quite a bit. There is so much I want to say. This book really captures the turmoil of this age. Lara Jean is so loveable it's ridiculous. Now Lara Jean is a senior. She has a very stressful year with college stuff, senior trips, exams, and her sister is coming to visit soon with a special guest. Then there's the fact that she has a serious boyfriend who loves her so much it's adorable. Her dad isn't alone anymore and while her older sister may not like it, her younger sister is in heaven. Lara Jean has big plans. She has her future all planned out. First, go to the same college as her boyfriend. View all my reviews

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han My rating: 5 of 5 stars Why is this series so amazing! I just love everything Jenny Han has put into this series. The characters are amazing and she really captures the sister relationship so well. This book pick up right after book one so you don't feel like you are missing anything. Lara Jean feels like a real person and I wish I could read about her life all through adulthood. When Lara Jean comes back from Christmas break she decides to fix things with her guy. Everything seems to go well and she finally takes her sister's advice and finds a good activity for her college apps. Her guy's ex keeps popping up and she has some issues with that after the girl tells him she will get him back. Then one day out of the blue a new letter comes in the mail. View all my reviews

Play With Me by Piper Shelly My rating: 3 of 5 stars This is more like three and a half stars. I feel like this should have been book two in this series and book two should have been book one. I'm really glad I accidentally read book two first. I really enjoyed this story from Ryan's pov and the longer story. This is an enjoyable ya romance though and I will continue this series. Lisa is in love with her childhood friend Tony. They do everything together but she's almost seventeen and they have never even kissed. She's surprised when he comes back from soccer camp and everything seems off. Tony's friend Ryan, captain of the soccer team, pressures her to tryout for the new co-ed team and she gives in. When he offers to give her personal training she agrees too. For some reason she can't say no to Ryan Hunter. View all my reviews

Ryan Hunter by Piper Shelly My rating: 4 of 5 stars I'm so glad I accidentally read this book first. It had a much longer story and is Ryan's version of the events from book one. It's refreshing to read a ya romance from a guy's pov. His story was so honest and I really enjoyed it! Ryan has been crazy for Lisa as long as he can remember but he's never told a soul. Probably because she has always been head over heels for his best friend Tony. At soccer camp he finds out Tony is interested in a much different girl and finally sees his chance to make a move for Lisa. First he has to try to convince her to tryout for the new co-ed soccer team he coaches and just maybe he will get to spend more time with her. View all my reviews

The Art of French Kissing by Brianna R. Shrum My rating: 4 of 5 stars I didn't know going into this book that I would adore it as much as I did! This story is about following your dreams no matter what comes up to make you feel less-than, even romance. I need this beauty in hardcover please! The cover is gorgeous and I can't wait to re-read this as soon as it comes out! Carter Lane is seventeen and has been anxious ever since she sent in her application for a cooking competition where the prize is a full ride scholarship to Savannah's Culinary Institute. As soon as her acceptance letter arrives she is in an anxiety riddled frenzy. When she gets there it is like a dream until she meets Reid Yamada, her new number one nemesis. They both take turns sabotaging each other until the consequences are too much to bear. Thank you to NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing for this arc in exchange for a fair and honest review. View all my re

Risen by Cole Gibsen My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book was unexpected. There are no slow moments. The author wrote this like a rollercoaster ride. I did feel like the book could have been a bit longer to help give more backstory and character development. I gave this four stars because the story had me hooked and I will definitely be reading the next book when it comes out. Charlie is a seventeen year old living in seclusion with her aunt Rachel and her dog Jax. She feels stuck without social interaction and barely being able to leave their farmhouse. Her aunt makes oil scented soaps and sells them with the toxics they grow to keep them self sufficient. Everything changes one night when a subspecies of vampires called Mentis kidnap her aunt and a young Mentis named Sebastian is told to get rid of Charlie. I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley and Entangled Teen for a fair and honest review. View all my reviews

I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon My rating: 4 of 5 stars This cover is gorgeous but that isn't even what attracted me to this book. It was Anastasia. I first fell in love with Anastasia when I saw the animated movie about her. I love reading anything about Anastasia and this historical fiction wasn't just intriguing, it was impossible to put down! There is, of course, some brutality when you read about what happened to the Romanov family. If you've never read anything about Anastasia I would highly recommend this book and then deep dive into historical fact. This book follows the life of Anastasia in chronological order all the way from political undermining to the brutal end to the Romanov royal family and Anastasia's disappearance. The in reverse chronological order it follows Anna Anderson, the girl who claimed to be Anastasia all the way to her death and the struggles she endured. When the stories meet it is amazing! Thank you to N

Perfect World, Vol. 1 by Rie Aruga My rating: 4 of 5 stars This romantic drama is amazing! It's so emotional and shows the real life struggles of being in a relationship with someone who is handicapped. I love the art style and feel like the writer really conveyed the emotions behind each character really well. I got so sucked into this manga and can't wait for volume 2! Kawana is 26 years old and works for an interior design company called Cranberries. She shows up for a collaborative meeting with an architecture company called Sakuragaoka and unexpectedly sees her childhood friend and secret school crush Ayukawa. She fumbles awkwardly through the meeting, focusing more on how handsome her old crush is and doesn't realize until it's over that Ayukawa is in a wheelchair. She doesn't know what to think except that she doesn't understand disability and doesn't think she could ever date someone in that circumstance. They go o

Manga Classics: Romeo and Juliet by Crystal S. Chan My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is a brilliant adaptation of William Shakespeare's work of genius. The artwork is gorgeous and fits seamlessly in with Shakespeare's original text to form a breathtaking view of Romeo and Juliet. This has always been a favorite classic of mine and I adore the adaptations I have come across like the movie that stars Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCarprio. This manga enthralled me and fully captivated the essence of the original work. I highly recommend this version to anyone studying this literature in school for a better understanding or to anyone interested in Shakespeare. This story is about two star crossed lovers. There is a long running feud between the wealthy families Montague and Capulet. What happens when the two young adult heirs of each family happen across each other and fall in love? They know their relationship could be doomed but what if their union c

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas My rating: 5 of 5 stars This continuation of A Court of Thorns and Roses does not disappoint. I think I may have loved this one even more than the first one. Everything builds on multiple twists and I really didn't see some coming. The plot thickens and the book ends on a cliff-hanger that made me pick up the next book immediately. I'm glad I waited to read these until several had been published because the wait would have been torture. It's impossible to review this without mentioning book one so here is my disclaimer: Warning: do not read further if you haven't read book one!!! If you HAVE read book one this review is spoiler free. Feyre has been through many trials in Under the Mountain to battle for her friends, family and the Lord she loves. She has to adjust to her new life and learn if she can ever get through the torture and torment she endured from Amarantha or if she will be broken a

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas My rating: 5 of 5 stars I adored this book! There is so much to say in this review but I do want to leave it spoiler free. I do think it's for ages 16+ due to some language and some sexual content. This is a Faerie story that captivated me like a fairy tale and hasn't let go yet (I'm on book 3). I love how this story was written and the twists that the MC had to endure. Feyre is young when her family loses their wealth. Her father and two older sisters depend on her to hunt and provide food for them. One day Feyre is on the brink of starvation when she spots a deer in the cold snowy forest. She is not alone with the doe, there is another predator waiting to pounce on it and she has to decide where her arrows will go. She kills the unnatural wolf and the deer because feeding her family is life or death. She has no clue there will be consequences to her actions. View all my reviews