Novel Review: Words We Don't Say by K. J. Reilly

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Genre: YA Contemporary, Romance

Publisher: Hyperion (Disney Book Group)

Release Date: October 2018

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Joel Higgins has 901 unsent text messages saved on his phone.

Ever since the thing that happened, there are certain people he hasn't been able to talk to in person. Sure, he shows up at school, does his mandatory volunteer hours at the soup kitchen, and spends pretty much every moment thinking about Eli, the most amazing girl in the world. But that doesn't mean he's keeping it together, or even that he has any friends.

So instead of hanging out with people in real life, he drafts text messages. But he never presses send.

As dismal as sophomore year was for Joel, he doesn't see how junior year will be any better. For starters, Eli doesn't know how he feels about her, his best friend Andy's gone, and he basically bombed the SATs. But as Joel spends more time at the soup kitchen with Eli and Benj, the new kid whose mouth seems to be unconnected to his brain, he forms bonds with the people they serve there-including a veteran they call Rooster-and begins to understand that the world is bigger than his own pain.

The Cover:

This cover is very fitting. It's a little simple, and not super eye-catching, but I like the usage of words and how it's blurring the background. It signifies how Joel is feeling really well, along with the hint of his unsent texts.

 

Review:

After losing someone, Joel doesn't really talk to people. He doesn't have many friends, he's mostly just going to school and volunteering at the soup kitchen. Wanting to talk to Eli, the girl from the soup kitchen, and yet never saying anything. Instead, he has drafts of texts he wanted to send, wanted to say, but hasn't.

Joel is a good guy, he just doesn't know what to do with himself. He feels alone now, and thus starts his collection of odd people. Eli, who's already there for him. The new guy at the soup kitchen, and the patrons of the kitchen. With the help of his new friend Benji, he starts to finally accept what happened, accept himself, and let himself open up.

There is a twist near the end of the book, and for a bit it felt like it was going in a tragedy direction. I'm happy to say that, while there are serious matters and a serious event, things mostly work out. Joel grows a lot, in good ways. His voice was nice to listen to, as well. He's thoughtful, alone and upset and processing everything still. His texts were fun to follow. And the romance, though not the main focus, was also really sweet.

This book feels like a bit of an underdog, and it kind of stands out for it, to me. It was a good book, and I'm glad I picked it up.

Novel Review: Starfall (Starflight, #2) by Melissa Landers

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Genre: YA Sci-fi Romance

Publisher: Hyperion

Release Date: 2017

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Starflight 1.

Goodreads Synopsis:

When Princess Cassia Rose fled her home world of Eturia to escape an arranged marriage, she had no idea her sudden departure would spark a war. Now after two years hiding as a ship hand, she is finally returning to her beloved home, but not in the way she imagined. Shackled by bounty hunters, she is violently dragged back to account for her crimes. Her only solace is that the Banshee crew managed to evade capture, including Kane Arric, her best friend...with occasional benefits.

Meanwhile, Kane and the rest of the crew of the Banshee plan a desperate rescue mission. But when they arrive on Eturia, Cassia isn't exactly in need of heroics—she's claimed her birthright as Eturia's queen, but has inherited a war-torn planet simmering with rebellion. Cassia must make alliances, and Kane, the bastard son of a merchant, isn't a choice that will earn her any friends. Kane knows he will never find someone to replace Cassia—and is certain she returns his feelings—but how can he throw away his own promising future waiting on a queen?

When the outer realm is threatened by the dangerous Zhang mafia, Cassia, Kane and the rest of the Banshee crew uncover a horrifying conspiracy that endangers the entire universe. In the face of unspeakable evil, Cassia must confront her own family's complicated legacy on Eturia and decide once and for all who her real family is.

The Cover:

I really like these covers. They're pretty, and I love the colors and shiny parts. I appreciate this one shows Cassia going back to her planet, too, since now they're not running away from anything. Since the story doesn't focus overly on the romance, I like that the covers don't, either.

Review:

This book takes place quickly after the first one, only now we're following Cassia and Kane. I was intrigued by their relationship in the first book, and I'm always a sucker for childhood friend/friends to lovers stories. They're a favorite of mine, so I was actually looking forward to this one more than the first.

Similar to the first book, the romance takes a backseat compared to the action and main plot lines. For this book, it's that Cassia's home planet is looking for her. Only for her to find out that some big things have changed, and she actually needs to go back to try and settle things.

I really liked the idea behind Cassie being a runaway princess and going back to her kingdom to take her place back and make things right again. Some of it just didn't play out as well.

I think Cassia played it well, for the most part. She played it smart and did what she needed to in the moment, trusted who she thought she could and fought when needed. Cassie and Kane were actually separated for most of the book, and then there were clear conflicts, since Cassie and Kane grew up on very different sides of the kingdom. She was a princess, and he was a merchants son.

The way it played out wasn't terribly surprising—who was behind what, who was secretly and openly against her. And it was a fun story, for the most part. But certain parts went in odd directions, and some story lines got dragged out or seemed unnecessary. But I think part of that might be that this reads almost more like an adventure novel, more than a sci-fi or romance story.

All this to say, it was all right. I didn't mind it, but it wasn't as good as I hoped it would be. The romance was rather subtle and not very intense, like I hoped it would be. I'll probably try another of Landers' novels at some point, but I'll have different expectations, I think.

Novel Review: Starflight (Starflight, #1) by Melissa Landers

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Genre: YA Sci-fi Romance, Space

Publisher: Hyperion

Release Date: 2016

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Solara Brooks needs a fresh start, someplace where nobody cares about the engine grease beneath her fingernails or the felony tattoos across her knuckles. The outer realm may be lawless, but it's not like the law has ever been on her side.

Still, off-world travel doesn't come cheap; Solara is left with no choice but to indenture herself in exchange for passage to the outer realm. She just wishes it could have been to anyone besides Doran Spaulding, the rich, pretty-boy quarterback who made her life miserable in school.

The tables suddenly turn when Doran is framed for conspiracy on Earth, and Solara cons him into playing the role of her servant on board the Banshee, a ship manned by an eccentric crew with their own secrets. Given the price on both Doran and Solara's heads, it may just be the safest place in the universe.

It's been a long time since Solara has believed in anyone, and Doran is the last person she expected to trust. But when the Banshee's dangerous enemies catch up with them, Solara and Doran must come together to protect the ship that has become their home-and the eccentric crew that feels like family.

The Cover:

I really like this cover. It definitely caught my attention, as it's simple but eye-catching, and the colors are very pretty. The gold stands out really nice. I think it gives the right idea of what the book is about, too; to expect the sci-fi, spaceship travel aspect.

Review:

I've been wanting to try out Landers' stories since she debuted years ago, even though I'm not typically a sci-fi reader, and just never got around to it. Her stories just sound light and fluffy, with some space travel included, and I was intrigued.

I'm hesitant to compare this to Firefly, just because that's the only sci-fi series I've actually watched, and I'm sure there are other similar shows and movies. But, it did remind me a lot of Firefly, in a very good way. This is set mostly on a spaceship, traveling from planet to planet and dealing with pirates a few times and running from the government. It's also much more action-based than romance-focused, though.

The romance is rather sweet. Solara and Doran start out hating each other; they competed in school, and Doran has always bullied Solara. Solara is an orphan but a good student and a very good mechanic, but she's always been looked down on and gotten scraps. Doran is the son of a billionaire, the man who discovered and sells fuel. They're forced together when, at first, Solara needs Doran's help to leave Earth, and then Doran gets framed for conspiracy and has to hide from the government with her help.

They've got chemistry, and they form an understanding that grows to accepted attraction, and then a real relationship. It's sweet, but it's not all that intense. And, mostly, I mean that it's not given too much attention, it falls more in the background. I would have enjoyed more romance, but I actually didn't mind, since it made it less dramatic. This story focused more on the action. They join a crew of misfits, and they all get into quite a bit of trouble, several times during this book.

I really liked the crew they join. There's Renny, who pickpockets without realizing; their tiny sugarglider mascot; then Kane and Cassia, who constantly banter but actually seem closer than they let on. Then the older, part metal, captain, who sees more than he lets on and has been through a lot in his years.

This was a really fun book. The romance was subtle, but the action was exciting. I'm really looking forward to reading the next one and seeing what happens with Cassia.

Novel Review: The Cresswell Plot by Eliza Wass

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Genre: YA Contemporary, Suspense, Family, Cult-like

Publisher: Hyperion

Release Date: 2016

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Goodreads Synopsis:

 The woods were insane in the dark, terrifying and magical at the same time. But best of all were the stars, which trumpeted their light into the misty dark.

Castella Cresswell and her five siblings—Hannan, Caspar, Mortimer, Delvive, and Jerusalem—know what it’s like to be different. For years, their world has been confined to their ramshackle family home deep in the woods of upstate New York. They abide by the strict rule of God, whose messages come directly from their father.

Slowly, Castley and her siblings start to test the boundaries of the laws that bind them. But, at school, they’re still the freaks they’ve always been to the outside world. Marked by their plain clothing. Unexplained bruising. Utter isolation from their classmates. That is, until Castley is forced to partner with the totally irritating, totally normal George Gray, who offers her a glimpse of a life filled with freedom and choice.

Castley’s world rapidly expands beyond the woods she knows so well and the beliefs she once thought were the only truths. There is a future waiting for her if she can escape her father’s grasp, but Castley refuses to leave her siblings behind. Just as she begins to form a plan, her father makes a chilling announcement: the Cresswells will soon return to their home in heaven. With time running out on all of their lives, Castley must expose the depth of her father’s lies. The forest has buried the truth in darkness for far too long. Castley might be their last hope for salvation.

The Cover:

The cover I have is the one above, which I really like. I think it focuses on the creepy aspect, and I like the dead leaves and the font of the title. I really like it, and it's largely what caught my attention. There's a new cover now, which I think is okay, and perhaps focuses on the brightness of the ending, but I think I prefer the first one.

Review:

Castella lives with her five brothers and sisters, in a house with her father and mother, and they live under God, as their father dictates. They were home-schooled until recently, when they were discovered and forced into public school. At school, they're the freaks, who aren't really allowed to socialize or join anything, and are under strict rules at all times.

Lately, Castella has started wondering about what's beyond, about what it would be like if she were free. And once a person starts thinking that, there's no going back. Especially when their father starts getting more strict and more crazy.

It's obvious there's something wrong with their father, and mother, from the very beginning. And craziness like that bleeds, it spreads, and when you're being forced to accept something as truth, it's hard to distance yourself from it.

This was a very disturbing story, from the very beginning. We discover what their fathers rules are, how they're supposed to live and be with each other only, and the things they do every day and are punished with. It's all very cult-like and disturbing.

I think the way it played out made a lot of sense. Castella was seeing other options, but when you're brainwashed like that, abused like that, it's hard to move beyond it. Her siblings weren't quite seeing what she was, and the secrets they discover, are what forces them to. I think her interactions with the other kids at school made sense, too. They were all freaks, and even though she starts getting along with a boy there, it was actually good he didn't end up being her hero. It would have been unrealistic, but also, she needed to learn that she had to do these things on her own. She was the only one who was going to save herself.

I really enjoyed this book. It was dark and disturbing, and frustrating at times, but it was rather realistic. And the ending was really sweet, I'm happy with how it seemed to have turned out.

Teaser Tuesday[263]: The Cresswell Plot by Eliza Wass

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

------------------------------------

The Cresswell Plot by Eliza Wass

Genre: YA Suspense

Publisher: Hyperion

Release Date: 2016

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Goodreads Synopsis:

The woods were insane in the dark, terrifying and magical at the same time. But best of all were the stars, which trumpeted their light into the misty dark.

Castella Cresswell and her five siblings—Hannan, Caspar, Mortimer, Delvive, and Jerusalem—know what it’s like to be different. For years, their world has been confined to their ramshackle family home deep in the woods of upstate New York. They abide by the strict rule of God, whose messages come directly from their father.

Slowly, Castley and her siblings start to test the boundaries of the laws that bind them. But, at school, they’re still the freaks they’ve always been to the outside world. Marked by their plain clothing. Unexplained bruising. Utter isolation from their classmates. That is, until Castley is forced to partner with the totally irritating, totally normal George Gray, who offers her a glimpse of a life filled with freedom and choice.

Castley’s world rapidly expands beyond the woods she knows so well and the beliefs she once thought were the only truths. There is a future waiting for her if she can escape her father’s grasp, but Castley refuses to leave her siblings behind. Just as she begins to form a plan, her father makes a chilling announcement: the Cresswells will soon return to their home in heaven. With time running out on all of their lives, Castley must expose the depth of her father’s lies. The forest has buried the truth in darkness for far too long. Castley might be their last hope for salvation.

Excerpt:

“All day at school my ears were perked, listening for any hint of a fire, but I didn't hear a thing.” (Hardback, pg. 82)

What are you reading?

Teaser Tuesday[252]: Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

-------------------------------------

Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone

Genre: YA Contemporary

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Release Date: 2015

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository.

Goodreads Synopsis:

If you could read my mind, you wouldn't be smiling.

Samantha McAllister looks just like the rest of the popular girls in her junior class. But hidden beneath the straightened hair and expertly applied makeup is a secret that her friends would never understand: Sam has Purely-Obsessional OCD and is consumed by a stream of dark thoughts and worries that she can't turn off.

Second-guessing every move, thought, and word makes daily life a struggle, and it doesn't help that her lifelong friends will turn toxic at the first sign of a wrong outfit, wrong lunch, or wrong crush. Yet Sam knows she'd be truly crazy to leave the protection of the most popular girls in school. So when Sam meets Caroline, she has to keep her new friend with a refreshing sense of humor and no style a secret, right up there with Sam's weekly visits to her psychiatrist.

Caroline introduces Sam to Poet's Corner, a hidden room and a tight-knit group of misfits who have been ignored by the school at large. Sam is drawn to them immediately, especially a guitar-playing guy with a talent for verse, and starts to discover a whole new side of herself. Slowly, she begins to feel more "normal" than she ever has as part of the popular crowd . . . until she finds a new reason to question her sanity and all she holds dear.

Excerpt:

“'Yeah. Definitely good strange.'” (Hardback, pg. 99)

What are you reading right now?

Novel Review: Goddess of the Night (Daughters of the Moon, #1) by Lynne Ewing

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Genre: YA Paranormal

Publisher: Volo (Hyperion/Disney)

Release Date: 2000

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Teaser Tuesday.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Vanessa, who has always had the special power to become invisible, discovers that she and her best friend Catty, a time-traveler, are goddesses of the moon who must fight together to overcome the evil Atrox.

The Cover:

I do not like this cover at all. The font and the set-ups I don't mind, but the image is terrible. The idea is okay, but the way the girls looks all shiny and wet from the bad makeup drives me crazy. It just looks cheap and weird and I hate it.

Review:

This was an average book for me.

Vanessa is an average heroine, wanting to be normal and not become invisible at times. Her best friend can time travel, and Vanessa gets worried when she disappears. This leads to Vanessa meeting some other girls who have magical powers.

The whole set up of it reminded me of Sailor Moon, which made me want to like it more. But the writing is very blah, went by fast but didn’t really keep me interested. I didn’t care for any of the characters, or their problems. They felt very one-dimensional, which made Catty’s disappearance that much more unexciting.

I was bored through most of the book, and was happy to be done with it.

Teaser Tuesday[180]: Goddess of the Night (Daughters of the Moon, #1) by Lynne Ewing

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

--------------------------------------------

Goddess of the Night (Daughters of the Moon, #1) by Lynne Ewing

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Volo (Disney/Hyperion)

Release Date: 2000

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

                     

Goodreads Synopsis:

Vanessa, who has always had the special power to become invisible, discovers that she and her best friend Catty, a time-traveler, are goddesses of the moon who must fight together to overcome the evil Atrox.

Excerpt:

“ ‘You sure?’ Vanessa said.

‘Yeah, go.’

That was the last time she saw Catty.” (Hardback, pg. 148)

What are you reading right now?