May 2019 – Jill's Book Blog

Review: We Are the Perfect Girl

Title: We Are the Perfect Girl
Author: Ariel Kaplan
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: May 21, 2019
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

She’s the beauty, I’m the bold one–together, we are the perfect girl…

Aphra Brown is bold and outgoing. Her best friend, Bethany, is achingly beautiful. Individually, they could both do a little better in the self-esteem department, but together? Together, they have what it takes to win over Greg D’Agostino, a proverbial “ten,” who happens to be fluent in six languages–seven if you count the language of smoldering gazes . . .
What begins as an honest mistake turns into an elaborate deception, wherein Bethany goes on dates with Greg while Aphra coaches her on what to say, and texts him in the guise of Bethany, trying and failing, all the while, to tamp down her own hopeless crush. It’s only a matter of time before things come crashing down. The question is: What will happen when Greg finds out? And can Aphra and Bethany’s friendship survive the fallout?
From the author of We Regret to Inform You comes a witty, warm-hearted exploration of love in all its forms, and a cris-de-coeur for self-acceptance when the pressure to be perfect is overwhelming.

Review:

This is a great new book about overcoming your insecurities. It is a modern retelling of a play called Cyrano de Bergerac. In that play, a man thinks he will not find love because of his large nose. Aphra has the same belief in this story. She goes as far as to impersonate her best friend, while chatting with her best friend’s boyfriend, to have the feeling of being loved by someone.

Aphra had to learn to deal with her insecurities in this book. She felt very self-conscious about her big nose, since her sister got a nose job and straightened her own nose. It made Aphra think that her sister must not think she is pretty, since she changed a feature they had in common. I felt so much sympathy for Aphra, because I was reminded about my own insecurities about my body. I could really relate to her.

This story also discussed allergies. Aphra’s brother develops an allergy to cats, which is upsetting to them since they have a cat. This made me realize that allergies aren’t discussed much in books, even though they are very common. I was glad to see this inclusion.

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First Lines Friday – May 31

This is a weekly meme hosted by Wandering Words, where you give the first few lines of a book to hook your readers before introducing the book.

Here are my first lines:

“Well, this was a first. ‘Deboarah?’ I said as I knocked softly, yet still with enough intensity to convey the proper urgency, on the door. ‘It’s Louna. Can I help you with anything?'”

Do you recognize these first lines?

…

And the book is… Once and For All by Sarah Dessen.

Goodreads synopsis:

As bubbly as champagne and delectable as wedding cake, Once and for All, Sarah Dessen’s thirteenth novel, is set in the world of wedding planning, where crises are routine.

Louna, daughter of famed wedding planner Natalie Barrett, has seen every sort of wedding: on the beach, at historic mansions, in fancy hotels and clubs. Perhaps that’s why she’s cynical about happily-ever-after endings, especially since her own first love ended tragically. When Louna meets charming, happy-go-lucky serial dater Ambrose, she holds him at arm’s length. But Ambrose isn’t about to be discouraged, now that he’s met the one girl he really wants.

Sarah Dessen’s many, many fans will adore her latest, a richly satisfying, enormously entertaining story that has everything—humor, romance, and an ending both happy and imperfect, just like life itself.

Have you read Once and For All? What did you think of it?

Review: The Rosie Result (Don Tillman #3)

Title: The Rosie Result (Don Tillman #3)
Author: Graeme Simsion
Genre: Fiction, Contemporary
Publisher: Text Publishing
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: May 28, 2019
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

I was standing on one leg shucking oysters when the problems began…

Don Tillman and Rosie Jarman are about to face their most important challenge.

Their ten-year-old son, Hudson, is struggling at school: he’s socially awkward and not fitting in. Don’s spent a lifetime trying to fit in—so who better to teach Hudson the skills he needs?

The Hudson Project will require the help of friends old and new, force Don to decide how much to guide Hudson and how much to let him be himself, and raise some significant questions about Don’s own identity.

Meanwhile, there are multiple distractions to deal with: the Genetics Lecture Outrage, Rosie’s troubles at work, estrangement from his best friend Gene…

And opening the world’s best cocktail bar.

Hilarious and thought-provoking, with a brilliant cast of characters, The Rosie Result is the triumphant final instalment of the much-loved and internationally bestselling Don Tillman trilogy.

Review:

This is the perfect final instalment in the Don Tillman trilogy. Don and Rosie move back to Australia with their son, Hudson. Don takes on the task of helping Hudson fit in at school. He worries that he is conforming to the behaviours associated with autism, so he tries to “fix” him. Don often reflects on his own childhood and the ways his father tried to make him fit in, but it didn’t always work.

Along with addressing the complex issues around autism, this story also discusses vaccinations. One of Hudson’s friends is not vaccinated because her father is a homeopath and doesn’t believe in vaccinations. However, once the girl learns more about science, she decides that she doesn’t have the same values as her father. Don gets a little too involved, which adds some tension to the story.

I really enjoyed reading about Don. He’s a fun character. He misunderstood a lot of things in the world in the previous books. In this book, he made more jokes and understood the sarcasm much better, and he was still very funny.

I really enjoyed this story!

Thank you Text Publishing for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

TBR Thursday – May 30

TBR Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly Faye Reads, where you post a title from your shelf or e-reader and find out what others think about it.

My pick this week is The Hating Game by Sally Thorne.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Nemesis (n.) 1) An opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome.
2) A person’s undoing
3) Joshua Templeman

Lucy Hutton has always been certain that the nice girl can get the corner office. She’s charming and accommodating and prides herself on being loved by everyone at Bexley & Gamin. Everyone except for coldly efficient, impeccably attired, physically intimidating Joshua Templeman. And the feeling is mutual.

Trapped in a shared office together 40 (OK, 50 or 60) hours a week, they’ve become entrenched in an addictive, ridiculous never-ending game of one-upmanship. There’s the Staring Game. The Mirror Game. The HR Game. Lucy can’t let Joshua beat her at anything—especially when a huge new promotion goes up for the taking.

If Lucy wins this game, she’ll be Joshua’s boss. If she loses, she’ll resign. So why is she suddenly having steamy dreams about Joshua, and dressing for work like she’s got a hot date? After a perfectly innocent elevator ride ends with an earth-shattering kiss, Lucy starts to wonder whether she’s got Joshua Templeman all wrong.

Maybe Lucy Hutton doesn’t hate Joshua Templeman. And maybe, he doesn’t hate her either. Or maybe this is just another game.

Have you read this book? What did you think of it?

Review: Bridal Boot Camp (Little Bridge Island #0.5)

Title: Bridal Boot Camp (Little Bridge Island #0.5)
Author: Meg Cabot
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Source: Purchased
Format: Ebook
Release Date: May 28, 2019
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot comes the first story in her Little Bridge Island series—which also includes an excerpt from her forthcoming new full-length novel No Judgments!

Looking for a tropical escape?
Welcome to Little Bridge, one of the smallest—and most beautiful—islands in the Florida Keys, home to sandy white beaches, salt-rimmed margaritas, stunning sunsets, and some of the quirkiest—but also kindest and most resourceful—people you’ll ever meet.

Physical trainer Roberta “Rob” James moved to Little Bridge hoping she’d found paradise, but things haven’t turned out quite as she’d hoped. The closest Rob has come to her “happily ever after” is happy hour at the Mermaid Café with her buddy Bree, the bartender slash waitress who’s got romance problems of her own.

But Rob’s situation suddenly changes when sheriff’s deputy Ryan Martinez accidentally enrolls in her bridal boot camp class. Turning mush into metal in time for the big day is Rob’s passion (because even the happiest bride could use a little toning).

But what happens when a guy who’s all mush meets a girl who’s all metal?

They discover they have a lot to learn . . . about each other, themselves, and the island paradise they’ve come to call home.

Review:

I was so excited to see this short story! I loved reading Meg Cabot books when I was younger, and I still read her YA books today. This is the first adult story by her that I’ve read.

This story was unique because it has been released before the full novel. This is a short story that takes place in the same town as her upcoming novel No Judgements. It has different main characters, but I’m guessing that these characters will make an appearance in the novel. In this story, they talk about a hurricane that is coming, which appears to create the tension in the novel.

The plot was very fast-paced, because it was so short. The romance between Rob and Ryan moved quickly, spanning just a couple of days. This makes sense for the short length of the novel, but it wasn’t very realistic.

This was a fun teaser for Meg Cabot’s upcoming book, which I can’t wait to read this fall!

‘Waiting on’ Wednesday – May 29

This is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. In this post we highlight a book that’s highly anticipated.

The book that I’m waiting on this Wednesday is Eve of Man by Giovanna and Tom Fletcher. The release date is June 18, 2019.

Goodreads Synopsis:

AGAINST ALL ODDS, SHE SURVIVED.
THE FIRST GIRL BORN IN FIFTY YEARS.
THEY CALLED HER EVE.

THE WORLD HAD WAITED FOR HER ARRIVAL WITH BATED BREATH.

She is the last girl on earth, and all her life Eve has been kept away from the opposite sex. Kept from the truth of her past.

SHE’S THE ANSWER TO THEIR PRAYERS. THEIR FINAL HOPE.

But at sixteen it’s time for Eve to face her destiny. Three potential males have been selected for her. The future of the world is in her hands. She’s always accepted her fate.

EVE IS THE SAVIOUR OF HUMANITY.

Until she meets Bram.

Eve wants control over her life. She wants freedom.

I AM EVE.

How do you choose between love and the future of the human race?

What books are you waiting on this week?

Top 5 Wednesday – Books Featuring Mental Health

This meme is hosted by Lainey from Thoughts on Tomes. The Goodreads Group for Top 5 Wednesday can be found here.

This week’s prompt is Books Featuring Mental Health. Here’s my list:

1. The Agony of Bun O’Keefe by Heather Smith

2. Backlash by Sarah Darer Littman

3. Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

4. The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn

5. Find You in the Dark by Nathan Ripley

What are your favourite Books Featuring Mental Health?

Review: The Missing Season

Title: The Missing Season
Author: Gillian French
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Thriller
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Indigo Summer Preview
Format: Paperback
Release Date: May 21, 2019
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Whenever another kid goes missing in October, the Pender kids know what is really behind it: a horrific monster out in the marshes they have named the Mumbler.

That’s what Clara’s new crew tells her when she moves to town: Bree and Sage, who take her under their wing; spirited Trace, who has taken the lead on this year’s Halloween prank war; and magnetic Kincaid, whose devil-may-care attitude and air of mystery are impossible for Clara to resist.

Clara doesn’t actually believe in the Mumbler. But as Halloween gets closer and tensions build in the town, it’s hard to shake the feeling that there really is something dark and dangerous in Pender, lurking in the shadows, waiting to bring the stories to life.

Review:

There was some beautiful imagery in this book. The woods were described vividly. It felt like I was right there. One recurring image that stood out to me was the moths. They’re really harmless to people, yet they can be destructive to clothing if they invade. They can also seem scary when they are in large swarms. This was a great image in the story.

I thought that the missing kids would play a larger part in the story. Someone goes missing about halfway through. The first half of the story was about Clara getting to know the people in town and forming relationships with them. I was a little disappointed that the real mystery of the story started so late.

I was surprised at the ending, which was the conclusion to the mystery of the Mumbler. There was no way I could have guessed it. I wish there had been clues as to what was really happening throughout the story, so I had an opportunity to solve the mystery.

This was a good story, but not as suspenseful as I thought it would be.

Thank you Indigo for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Top Ten Tuesday – Favourite Books Released in the Last Ten Years

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and it is now hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s theme is Favourite Books Released in the Last Ten Years. Here’s my list:

1. Restore Me (Shatter Me #4) by Tahereh Mafi

2. The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

3. Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1) by Leigh Bardugo

4. Fairest of All (Whatever After #1) by Sarah Mlynowski

5. Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus

6. Lady Smoke (Ash Princess Trilogy #2) by Laura Sebastian

7. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #1) by Michelle Hodkin

8. A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic #1) by V.E. Schwab

9. Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

10. My Lady Jane (The Lady Janies #1) by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows

(All photos taken from Goodreads)

Review: Deposing Nathan

Title: Deposing Nathan
Author: Zack Smedley
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ
Publisher: Page Street Publishing
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: May 7, 2019
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

For sixteen years, Nate was the perfect son—the product of a no-nonsense upbringing and deep spiritual faith. Then he met Cam, who pushed him to break rules, dream, and accept himself. Conflicted, Nate began to push back. With each push, the boys became more entangled in each others’ worlds…but they also spiraled closer to their breaking points. And now all of it has fallen apart after a fistfight-turned-near-fatal-incident—one that’s left Nate with a stab wound and Cam in jail.

Now Nate is being ordered to give a statement, under oath, that will send his best friend to prison. The problem is, the real story of what happened between them isn’t as simple as anyone thinks. With all eyes on him, Nate must make his confessions about what led up to that night with Cam…and in doing so, risk tearing both of their lives apart.

Review:

This book begins at the end. Nate and Cam get into a fight right at the beginning. Cam is charged with stabbing Nate, yet it’s hard to see why when they become friends. Nate recounts their relationship as part of his deposition following the fight. Cam insists that Nate tell the whole story of what happened in their fight during his deposition, which seemed strange since he is the one who was charged.

The ending was a complete shock to me. I had no idea what would happen at the end of the deposition. However, when I look back on the story, there were hints at what would happen throughout it. My jaw dropped open when I read it. It was an amazing twist!

I found this story so compelling and hard to put down. I loved it!

Thank you Page Street Publishing for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Review:

What to read next:

We Regret to Inform You by Ariel Kaplan

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Review:

What to read next:

The Best of Adam Sharp by Graeme Simsion

Two Steps Forward by Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist

Goodreads Synopsis:

Goodreads Synopsis:

Review:

What to read next:

Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot

Airhead by Meg Cabot

Goodreads Synopsis:

1. The Agony of Bun O’Keefe by Heather Smith

2. Backlash by Sarah Darer Littman

3. Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

4. The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn

5. Find You in the Dark by Nathan Ripley

Goodreads Synopsis:

Review:

What to read next:

Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus

The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman

1. Restore Me (Shatter Me #4) by Tahereh Mafi

2. The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

3. Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1) by Leigh Bardugo

4. Fairest of All (Whatever After #1) by Sarah Mlynowski

5. Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus

6. Lady Smoke (Ash Princess Trilogy #2) by Laura Sebastian

7. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #1) by Michelle Hodkin

8. A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic #1) by V.E. Schwab

9. Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

10. My Lady Jane (The Lady Janies #1) by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows

Goodreads Synopsis:

Review:

What to read next:

We Contain Multitudes by Sarah Henstra

Love and Other Curses by Michael Thomas Ford