Hello! Can you guys even believe it is March already?! I can’t wait for the weather to get warmer and the spring flowers to show up! February was kind of a reading slump-y month for me. To be honest, I feel like I always read a super small amount in February. 🤔
BOOKS READ
I only completed 2 books in February!
– A Valentine Secret by Emily Murdoch \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
– Intermission by Serena Chase \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STANDOUT BOOK OF THE MONTH
Intermission by Serena Chase
BOOKS REVIEWED
Replica by Lauren Oliver \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Valentine Secret by Emily Murdoch \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
BOOK HAUL
I managed not to buy too many books this month! 😜 Plus, I found both Inland and Summer at Forsaken Lake at the dollar store. Also, a big thanks to the author for sending me The Auctor Trilogy!
MISCELLANEOUS
I had my one year blog anniversary! I had planned on hosting a giveaway, but I’ve been busy and haven’t actually had the time to organize it yet. So, I’ll still probably have the giveaway, it’ll just be late! 😜
Also, I participated in the A Valentine Secret blog tour! That was so much fun to be a part of. 🙂
I finally got back into Top Ten Tuesday, too!
That wraps up my February! Let me know how your month went!
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Hey everyone! I just wanted to let you all know that I’m participating in the Impromptu, Informal Readathon hosted by Dana from The Book Hoarder! The readathon takes place starting today (February 27) and ends on March 5th. This is a super lowkey readathon, and basically all you have to do is read whatever you want and as much as you can/want. There aren’t any challenges but there are Twitter sprints, and you can find the full schedule for those on Dana’s Twitter.
While I’m 99% sure I won’t get all these books read this week, I wanted to share with you all the books that I would like to read, and hopefully I’ll be able to finish at least a couple of them!
I’m about halfway through with Ebo by L. Lombard, and it is my goal to have this one finished up in the next day or so. It’s a YA/NA paranormal romance, and it’s a lot of fun. It’s giving me definite Twilight vibes which I’ve been enjoying.
Another book I’m currently reading, Black by Ted Dekker, is an action-packed fantasy. The main character, Thomas Hunter, is living in two different worlds. Every time he falls asleep he wakes up in the next world. This book is filled with so much adventure! I’m about halfway through this one as well, and I am enjoying it so much!
I realize I’m way late for the Eleanor and Park party (almost all of my Goodreads friends have read this one), but I finally got it for Christmas, and I’m excited to see what I think of this one. Honestly, I don’t know much about this book other than the fact that it takes place during the ’80s and it’s about these characters named…you guessed it, Eleanor and Park.
I’ve heard so many good things about Jennifer Niven’s books, and so when I saw Blogging for Books had Holding up the Universe, I had to request it! It’s a YA contemporary, and it has a very interesting premise too. It’s about Libby, who was once known as “America’s Fattest Teen,” and the unlikely friendship that forms with Jack, who has this disability that causes him to be unable to recognize faces.
Last but not least, I hope to get The Auctor Trilogy by T. R. Wolf. It’s about a girl named Addie and how her life gets turned completely upside down after her father murders her mother, and then she is sent to Initiation to this special school that is filled with magical creatures, danger and mystery. This one sounds super intriguing, and I’m looking forward to reading it!
Are any of you participating in the #IIReadathon? Let me know! Thanks for reading!! 🙂
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Hello! Today is Top Ten Tuesday – A weekly bookish list created by The Broke and the Bookish! This week’s topic is:
Top Ten Books I Liked More/Less Than I Thought I Would
Books I Liked More
1. Me Before You
I had a lot of problems with this book before starting it, and honestly, the issues I had with Me Before You are still there (I touch on those issues in my review). That being said this book was so well-written and I was just completely sucked into the story and I devoured every single page! I was so pleasantly surprised and despite it’s mixed reviews, I really want to read the sequel.
2. The Importance of Being Earnest
I found this book under my mom’s bed while I was helping her organize one day. I had literally no idea what the book was about. I chose to read it because it was super short, and I was participating in a classics challenge, and it was the end of the month and I still hadn’t read anything that counted as a “classic” yet. So, I thought I’d read it. Oh my goodness, I loved this book! It was so much fun! It was witty and clever, and goofy and really funny. I want to read more from Oscar Wilde now, because The Importance of Being Earnest was just so light-hearted and refreshing, and I absolutely loved it!
3. The You I’ve Never Known
This book was the first (and so far only) Ellen Hopkins book I’ve ever read. Honestly, before I read this one, I was intimidated by her books due to their size and subject matter. After reading The You I’ve Never Known, though my opinion has completely changed! First of all, her books aren’t nearly as intimidating size-wise because she writes in free verse, so even though this book is over 600 pages, it doesn’t feel that way at all! Second, her writing and storytelling is absolutely so incredible, I’m not sure why I was so intimidated! I want to read more from her now. On a side note, which of her books are your favorites?!
4. The Program
I’m starting wonder if I’ll ever stop talking about how much I love The Program, because I feel like this book is all I talk about!😂🙈 Seriously, this book was one of my favorites of 2016, and it was one I was not planning to like very much at all. The only reason I read The Program was because I was participating in the #readthemallathon last summer, and it was the only book that I owned at the time that fit one of the badges. I planned on it being just okay, but OH MAN, it brought my dystopian book obsession back!!
5. The Lonely Hearts Club
I got this book at my library’s book sale for $0.25, and had it been much more, I probably wouldn’t have bought it. I’m so glad I decided to get this book though, because it was so fun, and after reading it, I definitely would have been willing to pay full price for it! I loved all the musical references, and I’ll be honest, I don’t know that much about the Beatles, but this book made me wish I did! It’s one of those books that are a bit predictable, but if you’re in the right mood, it has exactly everything you’re looking for in a fun, chick lit read!
Books I Liked Less
1. A Court of Thorns and Roses
Guys, I wanted to love this one, I really did, but I just could not get into A Court of Thorns and Roses. I really tried, but aside from the very beginning and the very end, I just had trouble connecting. I liked Feyre well enough, but I thought Tamlin and Rhysand were just okay. I know everyone loves this book, and everyone tells me A Court of Mist and Fury is so much better, but…I don’t know! I keep saying I’ll read the sequel, but I still haven’t gotten around to it. Maybe someday, but that day (or month…or maybe year) is not today!
2. The Rest of Us Just Live Here
While I did like The Rest of Us Just Live Here, I just didn’t love it. I wanted to love it, but honestly, it was a little boring at times. This story had a really great concept, but it just fell a little flat for me. It had some great, diverse characters, and I love the honest portrayal of OCD, but I just felt like this book was missing something!
3. Maybe Someday
Oh look! Yet another super popular book that I didn’t love! 🙃 So many people are obsessed with Colleen Hoover’s books, I especially see a lot of love for Maybe Someday, but while this book was good, I didn’t love it, either! I kept waiting to really fall in love with the story and Sydney and Ridge’s relationship, but I never did. I will say though, I really like how strongly music was incorporated throughout the novel – a Maybe Someday album was made based off of Ridge’s songs, which I thought was really cool. Despite that though, this book just wasn’t for me.
4. Ready or Not
I want to start by saying I love Meg Cabot’s books! She is one of my favorite authors, so it really pains me to put this book on my list, but honestly, Ready or Not was not her best work. It’s the sequel to All-American Girl, and that book was so fun, and Samantha actually reminded me a lot of Princess Mia. This book, however, did not feel as fun. Basically, Samantha spends the whole book thinking her boyfriend wants to have sex with her and she spends the entire time deciding whether or not she is ready for that. That is basically the entire storyline. The writing is great as always, but I just wish there was more plot! This one left me feeling quite disappointed.
5. Before I Fall
Lauren Oliver is another author that I adore, so this one was a difficult pick for me as well! While I did enjoy Before I Fall, I was very disappointed in the ending. I was loving the book, but because of that ending, the book ended up falling flat for me!
That’s my Top Ten Tuesday! Let me know which books you’ve read that have disappointed or surprised you. 🙂
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Hey everyone! Happy Valentine’s Day!! Today I’m teaming up with Writerly Yours for the blog tour for A Valentine Secret by Emily Murdoch. Be sure to check out Writerly Yours to learn more about them and this blog tour!
Title: A Valentine Secret by Emily Murdoch
Pages: 94
Genres: Romance, Historical
Published by: Endeavor Press (Jan. 21, 2016)
Summary
The course of true love never did run smooth…
Jonathan Brodie, the only son of Sir Roger and Lady Brodie, has lived in the village of Maplebridge his whole life.
Penelope, the daughter of the local florist, was adopted by the Baldwins when she was just a baby.
They could not be more different and yet, one blustery January morning, their paths collide in a chance encounter that is destined to change their lives forever.
Jonathan soon discovers that Penelope is far from the quiet wallflower that she first seems, but rather a beautiful rose just waiting for its chance to bloom. After spending more and more time together, it’s not long before their feelings for each other begin to blossom.
However, when Jonathan starts investigating Penelope’s past, in order to present her with the truth about her biological parents, his grand Valentines gesture threatens to destroy any hope of a future with the woman he has grown to love.
Penelope begins to doubt Jonathan’s motives.
Is he only concerned with placating his domineering father and convincing him that she is worthy of the Brodie name?
Despite his good intentions, will Jonathan’s Valentine Secret ruin everything?
Or are two people from opposite ends of society simply destined to remain poles apart forever?
A Valentine Secret is a charming regency romance novella about never giving up on true love.
What I Thought
This book was absolutely perfect for Valentine’s Day! It’s quite short coming in at just under 100 pages, so if you don’t have any plans tonight, this book would be great.
My favorite part of this story was definitely the setting! It had that lovely, 1800’s feel and took place in Great Britain during the Regency period (1811-1820). Valetine’s Day was just becoming a thing, and so it was really fun to read about how people were learning to celebrate. This book gave me classic lit feelings but it was written in a way that was simpler and easy to understand, which I, personally, enjoyed, because it allowed me to devour the book without having to stop and reread passages to gain understanding like I usually have to do with books originally written in the 1800’s.
The characters were all lovely, too. I fell in love with Jonathan and Penelope’s relationship! He always treats Penlope so well, and not only that, but despite his upperclass upbringing, he never treats those lower in society than him as anything less. I also loved that Penlope was able to stand up for herself, despite the time period she lived in. The fact that her and her family owned a flower shop was just so lovely to me. It just seemed to fit perfectly with the whole Valentine’s Day vibe and the sweet nature of Penlope and the Baldwins.
The story itself was also so enjoyable. I loved watching Jonathan and Penlope fall in love and all the drama (but not too much drama) that occurred because of it.
Overall, this was a lovely, novella. It was romantic but not over the top, fun and festive, and so sweet. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick, fun read this Valetine’s Day!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! A huge thanks to Writerly Yours and the author.*
About the Author
Emily Murdoch is a medieval historian and writer. She has authored a medieval series and a regency novella series, and is currently working on several new projects. To stay updated on her writing and upcoming books, follow her WEBSITE and on FACEBOOK, TWITTER and INSTAGRAM.
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Title: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
Pages: 470
Genres: YA, Contemporary
Published by: HarperCollins (Mar. 2, 2010)
Summary
With this stunning debut novel, New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver emerged as one of today’s foremost authors of young adult fiction. Like Jay Asher’s Thirteen Reasons Why and Gayle Forman’s If I Stay, Before I Fall raises thought-provoking questions about love, death, and how one person’s life can affect so many others.
For popular high school senior Samantha Kingston, February 12—”Cupid Day”—should be one big party, a day of valentines and roses and the privileges that come with being at the top of the social pyramid. And it is…until she dies in a terrible accident that night.
However, she still wakes up the next morning. In fact, Sam lives the last day of her life seven times, until she realizes that by making even the slightest changes, she may hold more power than she ever imagined.
What I Thought
I’m a huge Lauren Oliver fan. I’ve wanted to read Before I Fall for years now, but always ended up putting it off. After finding out about the movie though, I knew it was time!
First of all, I just have to talk about the writing! I love, love, love Lauren Oliver’s writing style. I think she just has such an incredible way with words. She makes the simplest of sentences sound so beautiful. Before I Fall was her debut novel, and I especially loved reading her early writing style, and seeing how it was still so good!!
Now, for the characters. Honestly, aside from Kent, I didn’t love them. I get that they were supposed to be mean girls, so I think Lauren Oliver actually wrote the characters how they were supposed to be, but I, personally, just couldn’t relate. I did grow to love Samantha though. Aside from the beautiful writing, her character growth was probably my favorite thing about this novel.
One other thing I really loved about Before I Fall was its message. It conveys such a meaningful message on how deeply our words and actions affect people. This book was a great reminder on how important it is to think before you act and to live each day as if it were your last.
This book was going to be a solid 4 star read, but then there was the ending. I am not going to spoil anything, but I wanted more! I felt like the book was building into this big ending, and for me it just let me down. Because of that, it lost a star.
Overall though, aside from the ending, it was a highly enjoyable book. It’s very thought provoking, and I would recommend it to fans of contemporary YA. Warning: It’s a tearjerker!
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Hello! Today is Top Ten Tuesday – A weekly bookish list created by The Broke and the Bookish! It has been way too long since I’ve participated in TTT! It feels good to be doing it again. 🙂 This week’s topic is:
Top Ten Books I Wish Had More Hype
1. A Great and Terrible Beauty
While there is quite a bit of a following for this series, A Great and Terrible Beauty is still worthy of so much more. There is so much magic, adventure, and intrigue! Also, there was going to be a movie but from what I heard, apparently it was cancelled because it was too female and there wasn’t enough romance?? 🙄 Seriously, these books would have made great movies! Everyone should go read this series. 💁
2. On Pointe
On Pointe is such an absolutely gorgeous book! I don’t know if it touched me so much because I love ballet, but this book was just so meaningful and beautiful to me. I’ve never met anyone else who has read it, but I can’t recommend this one enough!
3. House of Dark Shadows/Dreamhouse Kings series
The Dreamhouse Kings series is filled with so much action, adventure, and time travel! It’s one of those series that once you start reading you do not want to stop. Plus, the chapters are super short, which I, personally, love!
4. The Future of Us
I know this book has received somewhat mixed reviews, but for me, I loved it! I found the plot to be so unique, and I just really enjoyed The Future of Us, and I feel like it definitely deserves to be talked about more. 🙂
5. Jane of Lantern Hill
Everybody loves Anne of Green Gables, myself included, but LM Montgomery wrote so many other wonderful books as well! I found Jane of Lantern Hill to be just as lovely as Anne, and it is never talked about. It deserves so much more hype and attention than it has now!
6. Gathering Blue, 7. Messenger, 8. Son
I am a huge fan of The Giver! It’s one of my favorite books. The rest of the series is just as good, too, but unlike The Giver, nobody talks about them! Gathering Blue is more of a companion novel than a direct sequel, but both Messenger and Son are more sequel-y (I making up words now, y’all 😂). I love how all 4 books tie-in together so perfectly!
Check them out on Goodreads!
Gathering Blue | Messenger | Son
9. The Program
I read The Program last fall, after it sat on my shelf for over 2 years, and I am so glad I did! This book is such a unique and gripping dystopian novel. I devoured it! I still need to read the sequel, but I don’t understand why more people aren’t talking about this book?! It must have gotten lost in the dystopian craze a couple years ago, and it’s a shame, because it is one of the best I’ve read in a while!
10. Marvelous
One last under-hyped book is Marvelous. It is a fantastic mystery, that is heart-pounding and filled with adventure! It really makes me sad this book series is so under-appreciated; the author is actually self-publishing the last two books in the series due to lack of sales which is a shame! This book series is so well-written and I highly recommend it!
What are some of your favorite, under-hyped books? Let me know in the comments!
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Title: Replica by Lauren Oliver
Pages: 520
Genres: YA, Science Fiction
Published by: HarperCollins (Oct. 4, 2016)
Summary
Lyra
From a distance, the Haven Institute, tucked away on a private island off the coast of Florida, looks serene and even beautiful. But up close the locked doors, military guards, and biohazard suits tell a different story. In truth, it is a clandestine research facility where thousands of replicas, or human models, are born, raised, and observed.
But when a surprise attack is launched on Haven, two of its young experimental subjects—Lyra, or 24, and the boy known only as 72—manage to escape. As they make their way through a new and menacing environment, they meet a stranger named Gemma, who has embarked on a perilous quest of her own. And as Lyra tries to understand Haven’s purpose, she uncovers earth-shattering secrets that will change the lives of both girls.
Gemma
Gemma has been in and out of hospitals her whole life. A sickly child, she has grown into a lonely adolescent whose life is circumscribed by home, school, and her best friend, April.
But after she is nearly abducted by a stranger claiming to know her, Gemma starts to investigate her family’s past and discovers her father’s mysterious connection to the secretive Haven research facility. Hungry for answers, she travels to Florida, only to stumble upon two human models, or replicas, 24 and 72—and a completely new set of questions. As Gemma tries to unravel the mysteries of Haven, she learnes terrible truths about herself and her family that will threaten to destroy everything she loves.
Two girls, two stories, one novel.
What I Thought
While the stories of Gemma and Lyra mirror each other, each contains revelations critically important to the other story. Their narratives can be read separately or in alternating chapters.
First of all, you can read this book several different ways. You can read Lyra’s side and then Gemma’s, you can read Gemma’s side and then Lyra’s, or you can read their stories in alternating chapters. I started with Gemma’s story, and then I flipped and read Lyra’s afterwards. I, personally, am really glad I read the book the way I did. For the sequel I may read it in alternating chapters though! I love how creative this style made the story. Depending on which way you read it, I think it really affects the way you, as the reader, perceive the story; it’s a different experience for each person depending on the way you decide to read it. There’s so much going on in each individual story, each side has its own secrets and discoveries, and yet they tie together so seamlessly.
The characters in this novel, just like all of Lauren Oliver’s novels, were so good! I feel like already so much character growth occurs in this novel and it’s only book 1. I love how fierce Lyra is! So far, I think Gemma is my favorite character, though (that’s not to say I don’t love Lyra, or Pete, or anyone else though. Like I said, all the characters were so good). She just felt very relatable. Also, I love that despite her character being overweight, her whole story did not revolve around that! I recently saw on Twitter a discussion talking about how so many books that feature a heavy protagonist make their weight the entire focal point of the story. That really had me thinking about how true that actually is. Then, I read Replica, and it actually featured a story where her weight wasn’t the main focus! It felt very refreshing.
I found myself really like the romance forming between Gemma and Pete. I admit, while it wasn’t insta-love, it did feel like it happened a little fast. Despite that though, they really had good chemistry. Also, I love how Pete wasn’t the typical “cool guy.” I look forward to seeing their relationship grow in book 2!
There is so much action and mystery in this book as well. I never wanted to stop reading. Replica is one of those books where you plan on just reading a few pages, and then before you know it you’ve read over 100. I’d classify this book as science fiction, but it reads much more like a contemporary, and I loved that mixture!
Overall, this book was incredible. I would highly recommend it to anyone look for a great, unique story. It was such an adventurous, action-packed read, and I cannot wait for the sequel!
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Hello! Once again, I’m combining December and January’s wrap up, because it just felt silly to write a separate one for December and then January. I want to start fresh and stay on track next month, and honestly, if I wrote them separately, I probably wouldn’t get January’s wrap-up up until the middle of February…So, here we are!
BOOKS READ
December
– Letters from Father Christmas by J. R. R. Tolkien \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
– The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
– The Angel of Forest Hill by Cindy Woodsmall \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
– What Light by Jay Asher \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
– The Christmas Shoppe by Melody Carlson \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
January
– The You I’ve Never Known by Ellen Hopkins \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
– A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
– Replica by Lauren Oliver \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STANDOUT BOOK OF THE MONTH
December
The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury
January
It’s a tie between A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness and Replica by Lauren Oliver. They’re both such different books from each other, and I thoroughly loved both of them SO much!
BOOKS REVIEWED
Letters from Father Christmas by J. R. R. Tolkien \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Angel of Forest Hill by Cindy Woodsmall \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What Light by Jay Asher \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The You I’ve Never Known by Ellen Hopkins \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
BOOK HAUL
Between Christmas, review copies, a contest (I won a SIGNED & PERSONALIZED copy of Wayfarer!! 😍), and honestly, just pure lack of self-control on my part, I have acquired quite a few books these past two months! 🙊
*Thank you to B&H Publishing for Detours by Tony Evans, Blogging for Books for Holding up the Universe by Jennifer Niven, and to Sullivan Entertainment for The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O’Conner McNees!*
e-books recieved
Intermission by Serena Chase (Thanks to Candent Gate LLC and Netgalley!)
A Thousand Salt Kisses Later by Josie Demuth (Thank you to Wise Ink and Netgalley!)
She Reads Truth by Raechel Myers and Amanda Bible Williams (Thank you to B&H Publishing and Netgalley!)
The Angel of Forest Hill by Cindy Woodsmall (Thank you to Netgalley, Blogging for Books, and WaterBrook & Multnomah!)
Ebo by L. Lombard (Thank you to the publisher!)
The You I’ve Never Known by Ellen Hopkins (Thanks to JellyBooks!)
MISCELLANEOUS
I finished up my Countdown to Christmas series.
I shared with you all my reading & blogging goals for 2017 as well as my top ten books of 2016!
That wraps up December and January! My goal for February is to really stay on track with my blogging, because I have been really lacking lately. Let me know if you have any goals for February!
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Title: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Pages: 216
Genres: YA, Middle Grade, Contemporary, Magical Realism
Published by: Walker Books (Sept. 27, 2011)
Summary
The monster showed up after midnight. As they do.
But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting. He’s been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming…
This monster is something different, though. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.
It wants the truth.
What I Thought
A Monster Calls was only the second book I finished in 2017, and I’m just going to go ahead and say that this book will be on my list of top 10 books read in 2017. I read this book because of the hype, and thankfully, the hype for this book is so deserving. A Monster Calls did not let me down!
Title: The You I’ve Never Known by Ellen Hopkins
Pages: 608
Genres: YA fiction, Contemporary, Verse
Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books (Jan. 24, 2017)
Summary
How do you live your life if your past is based on a lie? A new novel in both verse and prose from #1 New York Times bestselling author, Ellen Hopkins.
For as long as she can remember, it’s been just Ariel and Dad. Ariel’s mom disappeared when she was a baby. Dad says home is wherever the two of them are, but Ariel is now seventeen and after years of new apartments, new schools, and new faces, all she wants is to put down some roots. Complicating things are Monica and Gabe, both of whom have stirred a different kind of desire.
Maya’s a teenager who’s run from an abusive mother right into the arms of an older man she thinks she can trust. But now she’s isolated with a baby on the way, and life’s getting more complicated than Maya ever could have imagined.
In bestselling author Ellen Hopkins’s deft hands, Ariel’s emotionally charged journey to find out the truth of who she really is balances beautifully with Maya’s story of loss and redemption. This is a memorable portrait of two young women trying to make sense of their lives and coming face to face with themselves—for both the last and the very first time.
What I Thought
*I received a e-copy of this book through JellyBooks in exchange for collecting my reading data. A huge thanks to them!*
First of all, I want to say that the summary I included in this post is not the full Goodreads summary. I found it to be rather spoiler-y, and I, personally, think it’s better to go into this book not knowing everything.
This was my first Ellen Hopkins book. Actually, when I selected this book, I didn’t even realize it was written by her until I started reading. In fact, if I’m being honest, had I realized who had written this book, I probably would have picked a different book. While I’ve never read any of her books before, I know the reputation her books have: dark, heavy, and written in verse. Plus, all her books are like, 600 pages. That being said, I am so glad I gave this book a chance!
the calico books 