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Matched (Matched #1)
Ally Condie | 2010 | Young Adult (YA)
6
8.0 (35 Ratings)
Book Rating
I hate getting involved in series. I don't like being forced into commitment. This book received 3 stars because it turned out to be better than I expected, but at the end it was still a bit unoriginal and relied too heavily on the ubiquitous love triangle. To be fair, the writing was pleasant, although the characters felt a little two dimensional. But YA is not my preferred genre. If I do decide to pick up the other two books, it won't be anytime soon.
  
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Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) created a post

Jan 31, 2023  
My January 2023 reads!

13 reads

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
2 ⭐️⭐️
0 DNFS

My favourite book of the month has
The Unadjusteds by Marisa Noelle it was just so well done a fab YA

My least favourite I can’t decide between Dorty Dom and Find Me they were both quite poor!

January was such a hard month I just struggled to read much.
I started my reading challenges hoping to read more in February!
     
Two for the Dough (Stephanie Plum, #2)
Two for the Dough (Stephanie Plum, #2)
Janet Evanovich | 1996 | Fiction & Poetry
10
7.7 (14 Ratings)
Book Rating
03-01-2009
09-03-2012

You've got mail! This is the first book I've ever read in which someone receives a penis by mail.
Stephanie is after Kenny Mancuso who shot his friend Moogey Bues. Then Kenny skedaddles and Moogey is shot again (only this time he goes to the morgue). The creepy undertaker Spiro Stiva enlists our heroine's help with tracking down 24 (count 'em) caskets.
This book is like the rest in the series: breezy, completely unbelievable, and ridiculously appealing. Seriously, Grandma Mazur is such a gem! I think a series with her as a main character would be a ball! More chemistry with Joe Morelli, more explosions, this book is hilarious and a bit unsettling... Stephanie is faced with a home invader who leaves body part and the aforementioned penis mailing. Oh, and former ho, Lula, begins her stint as a filing clerk. I read this book in less than a day. Hope I didn't spoil it for ya.
  
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Merissa (11805 KP) rated A Life, Freed in Books

Dec 17, 2018  
AL
A Life, Freed
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received this book from YA Reads as part of their blog tour in return for a fair and honest review.

This is the third book in the Rowan Slone set and you just know that things won't be going smoothly for her. Although on paper her life is going well, in actuality she is struggling to manage. Helping Jess with her fractious 5-month old son doesn't exactly help with her studying time. Also, Rowan is now with Shane and she enjoys his kisses, there doesn't appear to be any spark between them. When Mike appears back on the scene, it is no surprise that Rowan spends more time with him than she has done previously with Shane.

The book moves along at a fair pace as there is a lot to wrap up in this final book. It is all wrapped up though and leads to a very satisfying conclusion. This has been a wonderful, heart-wrenching series that has been enjoyable throughout.
  
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Erika (17788 KP) rated A Crash of Fate (Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge) in Books

Sep 28, 2019 (Updated Sep 28, 2019)  
  A Crash of Fate  (Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge)
A Crash of Fate (Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge)
Zoraida Córdova | 2019 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
5
6.3 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book was trying sooo hard to mimic @Lost Stars (Star Wars) , you can't help but compare them. This definitely hurt this book.
Firstly, the author did not develop the two main characters' childhood friendship enough to understand the bond they had. Therefore, I didn't understand or care about the romance that developed between the characters. The story line was tired and predictable. The characters just weren't developed enough.
The only thing I did like about the book was the description of Bantuu, and the Black Spire Outpost. It's good background for Galaxy's Edge, the new theme parks at Disney World and Disney Land.

Also, the book kept mentioning Hondo, but he never appeared. How old is he by now? His first appearance was the first season of @Star Wars: The Clone Wars . From pictures, I know he wanders around the park.

So, basically, this lame-o YA romance novel was only worth reading for details on Bantuu.
  
A Court of Wings and Ruin
A Court of Wings and Ruin
Sarah J. Maas | 2017 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
9
8.8 (113 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is the third book in the series about Freya and her sisters who have been turned into Frae by the cauldron as Freya and her mate and some friends continue their battle against the courts Lords to stop them destroying the human lands and being humans and Fae together. Freya discovers that destroying the cauldron doesn't stop the deaths and destruction happening and ends up forging the pieces back together. They lose their father in this part of the series though they find out that their father loves them even though they are now Fae. Not sure if there is going to be any more in the series. Very enjoyable YA book.
  
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Underworld (Abandon, #2)
Meg Cabot | 2012 | Young Adult (YA)
6
7.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
I'm not sure about this series.

Not much seems to happen in the 300 odd pages of this book; it seemed like--maybe it did?--everything happened in the space of a few hours, which equally made it seem like an easy read and like I couldn't be bothered to read it because it seemed to drag.

The best bit for me happened around the 270pg mark. John became really...hot and forceful-ish with Pierce and I was actually kinda giddy, but of course this being a YA book no details are given. Boo!

I haven't decided yet whether I'll finish the trilogy, though it does seem a shame to read only 2/3's of the series.
  
BA
Breathe, Annie, Breathe
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I picked it up on a total whim (having received an ARC) and really enjoyed it. First, I have to state that apparently this is part of Kenneally's "Hundred Oaks" YA series, which I didn't know. It definitely can stand alone, however.

Annie is finishing up high school and training for a marathon. She's never been a runner - in fact, she hates it. However, Annie is running in honor of her late boyfriend Kyle, who never had a chance to run the marathon for which he was training.

Annie is a very mature kid, which took a bit of getting used to. She was definitely in a very developed relationship early in life and she came across older than her years. However, we learn that she's been on her own a bit - her dad was never around and her Mom has been busy working multiple jobs to keep the family afloat. So her maturity works, overall.

Annie is struggling with guilt over Kyle's death. She starts to find relief in her marathon training. She also starts to find relief in Jeremiah, the brother of her training coach. Jeremiah is unlike anyone Annie has ever known.

This was a simple, YA love story. You pretty much know where it's going to go. But it was surprisingly sweet and touching and well-done. Annie is an extremely likable character. Her maturity lends her some credence not always found in YA characters. I also found myself quite swept up in Jeremiah (not unlike Annie), who was also different from the typical YA beau.

Finally, the running element was a fun add to the book. As someone training for a 5K (nowhere near a marathon, but I like to pretend, ha), it was enjoyable to watch Annie progress toward her goal.

Overall, this is probably really a 3.5 star novel, but I just enjoyed the story so much, I bumped it up to 4.

<i>(Note: I received an advanced copy of this book via Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.)</i>
  
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing
Hank Green | 2018 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
9.3 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
remarkable
did i expect hank green to be a great writer?
no.
was he?
i suppose so.
and did he live up to the expectations i set on this book?
yes.

this book was genuinely an amazing observation on fame and culture. it accurately depicted how change in terms of popularity can affect a person regarding both their relationships and how they percieve themselves. starring a queer lead, this book was quite frankly incredibly well done. i've gotta say, i didn't expect this level from a debut novel. I feel like the only reason i took off some points was because the story dragged a bit or sped up too much at points. there was never a constant, perfect pace to this story, though maybe that just added to the peculiarity of this novel.

also, gotta say;
certainly not YA
  
Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit
Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit
Jaye Robin Brown | 2016 | LGBTQ+, Romance, Young Adult (YA)
10
8.2 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book was randomly found by my wife who does not read lesbian fiction but she suggested it to me. We live in Georgia so it was really a no brainer. The struggle to come out in the South is real for most kids. This is not the most accepting region especially when you throw religeon into the mix. Brown did an amazing job of showing that struggle in a funny and compassionate way. Her characters were amazing and their relationships did not seem contrived. Everything developed as it should. It was an well written and thought out coming of age/coming out book that left me wanting more. I even messeged the author and asked if there would be more. So, obviously, I highly recommend this book. Also it is YA so safe for younger people.