Year: 2019

Review: Bury the Lede

Title: Bury the Lede
Author: Gaby Dunn, Claire Roe
Genre: Graphic Novel, Mystery, LGBT
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: October, 8, 2019
Rating: ★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Twenty-one-year-old Madison T. Jackson is already the star of the Emerson College student newspaper when she nabs a coveted night internship at Boston’s premiere newspaper, The Boston Lede. The job’s simple: do whatever the senior reporters tell you to do, from fetching coffee to getting a quote from a grieving parent. It’s grueling work, so when the murder of a prominent Boston businessman comes up on the police scanner, Madison races to the scene of the grisly crime. There, Madison meets the woman who will change her life forever: prominent socialite Dahlia Kennedy, who is covered in gore and being arrested for the murder of her family. The newspapers put everyone they can in front of her with no results until, with nothing to lose, Madison gets a chance – and unexpectedly barrels headfirst into danger she never anticipated.

Review:

This graphic novel follows a reporter investigating a high profile murder in Boston. Dahlia Kennedy is suspected of killing her husband and kidnapping her son. For some reason, Dahlia would only speak to Madison, the intern for a newspaper. Madison springs to fame with her reporting on the murder, but it comes at a cost to her personal life.

This was an exciting story. There was a lot of depth to the story. There were many different aspects of Madison’s life that were shown, including her work and her family life. It often conflicted because her brother was a politician. The murder story was complicated, which kept me guessing until the end.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel.

Thank you BOOM! Studios for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to read next:

I Hate Everyone But You by Gaby Dunn, Allison Raskin

Have you read Bury the Lede? What did you think of it?

‘Waiting on’ Wednesday – October 9

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 The Toll (Arc of a Scythe #3) by Neal Shusterman. The expected publication date is November 5, 2019.

Goodreads Synopsis:

From New York Times bestselling author Neal Shusterman comes the thrilling conclusion to the Printz Honor–winning series Arc of a Scythe.

It’s been three years since Rowan and Citra disappeared; since Scythe Goddard came into power; since the Thunderhead closed itself off to everyone but Grayson Tolliver.

In this pulse-pounding conclusion to New York Times bestselling author Neal Shusterman’s Arc of a Scythe trilogy, constitutions are tested and old friends are brought back from the dead. 

What books are you waiting on this week?

Blog Tour Review: Naked Mole Rat Saves the World

Title: Naked Mole Rat Saves the World
Author: Karen Rivers
Genre: Middle Grade
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: October 15, 2019
Rating: ★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Can Kit’s super-weird superpower save her world?

Kit-with-a-small-k is navigating middle school with a really big, really strange secret: When she’s stressed, she turns into a naked mole rat.

It first happened after kit watched her best friend, Clem, fall and get hurt during an acrobatic performance on TV. Since then, the transformations keep happening—whether kit wants them to or not. Kit can’t tell Clem about it, because after the fall, Clem just hasn’t been herself. She’s sad and mad and gloomy, and keeping a secret of her own: the real reason she fell.

A year after the accident, kit and Clem still haven’t figured out how to deal with all the ways they have transformed—both inside and out. When their secrets come between them, the best friends get into a big fight. Somehow, kit has to save the day, but she doesn’t believe she can be that kind of hero. Turning into a naked mole rat isn’t really a superpower. Or is it?

Review:

This book had a lot of mental health representation that isn’t common in children’s books. Kit’s mom has anxiety and doesn’t like to leave the house. Clem is depressed as a result of an injury in a talent show. Kit has alopecia universalis, which means that she doesn’t have any hair. I would have liked to see kit’s bald head accurately represented on the book cover, because that was an important part of her character.

There were some strange magical realism aspects to the story. When kit would get upset, she would turn into a naked mole rat. It was unclear whether this would actually happen or if it was the result her hallucinating during a panic attack. I found those parts a little confusing because I didn’t know if it was actually happening or not.

This is a good story for young readers to see different kinds of representation.

Thank you Algonquin Young Readers for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to Read Next:

A Possibility of Whales by Karen Rivers

The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden

Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers for letting me participate in this blog tour.



Top Ten Tuesday – Character Traits I Love

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 Character Traits I Love. Here’s my list:

1. Resilience

2. Creativity

3. Loyalty

4. Wit

5. Bravery

6. Devotion

7. Sincere

8. Cunning

9. Persistence

10. Charismatic

(All photos taken from Goodreads)

What’s your list of Character Traits You Love?

Review: An Anonymous Girl

Title: An Anonymous Girl
Author: Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: January 8, 2019
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

The next novel of psychological suspense and obsession from the authors of the blockbuster bestseller The Wife Between Us.

Seeking women ages 18–32 to participate in a study on ethics and morality. Generous compensation. Anonymity guaranteed.

When Jessica Farris signs up for a psychology study conducted by the mysterious Dr. Shields, she thinks all she’ll have to do is answer a few questions, collect her money, and leave.

Question #1: Could you tell a lie without feeling guilt?

But as the questions grow more and more intense and invasive and the sessions become outings where Jess is told what to wear and how to act, she begins to feel as though Dr. Shields may know what she’s thinking… and what she’s hiding.

Question #2: Have you ever deeply hurt someone you care about?

As Jess’s paranoia grows, it becomes clear that she can no longer trust what in her life is real, and what is one of Dr. Shields’ manipulative experiments. Caught in a web of deceit and jealousy, Jess quickly learns that some obsessions can be deadly.

Question #3: Should a punishment always fit the crime?

From the authors of the blockbuster bestseller The Wife Between Us comes an electrifying new novel about doubt, passion, and just how much you can trust someone.

Review:

This was a chilling thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat!

There were two narratives in this story: Jessica and Dr. Sheilds. Jessica’s narrative was from her first person perspective, but Dr. Sheilds’s perspective was second person, speaking to Jessica. This second person perspective, with her speaking directly to “you,” brought me right into the story. It felt like she was talking to me, which was so creepy.

This story kept me guessing until the end. It was very hard to put down because I wanted to know what was going to happen. I had no idea how it would end, and I was thoroughly surprised!

I loved this thriller! I highly recommend it for a fast-paced read!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to read next:

The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

Have you read An Anonymous Girl? What did you think of it?

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? – October 7

This blog meme is hosted by Book Date. It is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It’s a great post to organize yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment, and er… add to that ever growing TBR pile!

What I just finished:

This weekend I finished An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen.

What I’m currently reading:

I’m currently reading Naked Mole Rat Saves the World by Karen Rivers.

What I’m reading next:

Next I will be reading The Last Seed (The Forbidden #0.5) by Mould Adel.

What are you guys reading this week? Have you read any of these books?

Jill’s Weekly Wrap-Up – October 6

Here are my reviews for the week with my ratings:

I did 9 weekly blogging memes:

How was your week? What did you guys read?

Sundays in Bed With… An Anonymous Girl

The meme that dares to ask what book has been in your bed this morning? Come share what book you’ve spent time curled up reading in bed, or which book you wish you had time to read today! This meme is hosted by Midnight Book Girl.

This Sunday I’m reading An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen.

Goodreads Synopsis:

The next novel of psychological suspense and obsession from the authors of the blockbuster bestseller The Wife Between Us.

Seeking women ages 18–32 to participate in a study on ethics and morality. Generous compensation. Anonymity guaranteed.

When Jessica Farris signs up for a psychology study conducted by the mysterious Dr. Shields, she thinks all she’ll have to do is answer a few questions, collect her money, and leave.

Question #1: Could you tell a lie without feeling guilt?

But as the questions grow more and more intense and invasive and the sessions become outings where Jess is told what to wear and how to act, she begins to feel as though Dr. Shields may know what she’s thinking… and what she’s hiding.

Question #2: Have you ever deeply hurt someone you care about?

As Jess’s paranoia grows, it becomes clear that she can no longer trust what in her life is real, and what is one of Dr. Shields’ manipulative experiments. Caught in a web of deceit and jealousy, Jess quickly learns that some obsessions can be deadly.

Question #3: Should a punishment always fit the crime?

From the authors of the blockbuster bestseller The Wife Between Us comes an electrifying new novel about doubt, passion, and just how much you can trust someone.

What book are you in bed with today?

Six for Sunday – Books With Leaves on the Cover

This meme is hosted by Steph at A little but a lot. The weekly prompts for 2019 can be found here.

This week’s prompt is Books With Leaves on the Cover. Here’s my list:

1. Seeing Red (Whatever After #12) by Sarah Mlynowski

2. The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouth

3. Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol

4. Swing it, Sunny (Sunny #2) by Jennifer L. Holm, Matthew Holm

5. The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay

6. Kill Shakespeare – Past is Prologue: Juliet by Conor McCreery, Corin Howell

Did you write a #SixforSunday post? What was your list of Books With Leaves on the Cover?

(All book cover images from Goodreads)

Review: Justice League/Aquaman: Drowned Earth

Title: Justice League/Aquaman: Drowned Earth
Author: Scott Snyder, Dan Abnett
Genre: Graphic Novel
Publisher: DC Comics
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: April 16, 2019
Rating: ★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

An alien army has returned… and they’re not coming alone. With an aquatic army ready to destroy the Earth, the only thing standing between the planet and total annhilation is the King of Seven Seas, Aquaman, and the Justice League. 

Unfortunately, the World’s Greatest Superheroes don’t stand a chance.

In the aftermath of the Justice League’s battle with the Legion of Doom, an armada from the stars has come to plunder the Earth and its seas. With powers beyond comprehension, even Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman and the rest of the League’s combined might can’t stop these invaders. With nowhere left to turn, these heroes will have to turn to an ancient power to help them, one that even Arthur Curry fears unleashing.

Comics titan Scott Snyder masterminds his first major event of his Justice League run, in this epic graphic novel that will change the status quo for the League and Aquaman forever! Collects Justice League/Aquaman: Drowned Earth #1, Justice League #10-12, Aquaman #40-41, Titans #28 and Aquaman/Justice League: Drowned Earth #1.

Review:

This was the first Justice League and Aquaman book I’ve read. I really enjoyed it.

I liked the way the flooding of the earth involved all of the superheroes. From Atlantis to Metropolis, everyone was fighting against the diseased the water that turned anyone who touched it into a fish monster. It even claimed a few superheroes along the way, which limited their numbers.

It was fun to see all of the characters working together. The story mostly focused on Aquaman, since it was an enemy in the water. Even a bunch of the villains were working together to beat the superheroes, including the Joker and Cheetah. I loved seeing so many familiar characters.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel!

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

What to read next:

Justice League, Volume 3: Hawkworld by Scott Snyder, Jorge Jimenez

Aquaman/Suicide Squad: Sink Atlantis by Dan Abnett, Rob Williams

Have you read Justice League/Aquaman: Drowned Earth? What did you think of it?