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 The Two Lila Bennetts by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke.
Goodreads Synopsis:
Lila Bennett’s bad choices have finally caught up with her. And one of those decisions has split her life in two. Literally.
In one life, she’s taken hostage by someone who appears to be a stranger but knows too much. As she’s trapped in a concrete cell, her kidnapper forces her to face what she’s done or be killed. In an alternate life, she eludes her captor but is hunted by someone who is dismantling her happiness, exposing one secret at a time.
Lila’s decorated career as a criminal defense attorney, her marriage, and her life are on the line. She must make a list of those she’s wronged—both in and out of the courtroom—to determine who is out to get her before it’s too late. But even if she can pinpoint her assailant, will she survive? And if she does, which parts of her life are worth saving, and which parts must die? Because one thing’s for certain—life as Lila Bennett knew it is over.
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 Six Favourite Authors to Follow. I have so many favourite authors, so I’m just picking my top six young adult authors. Here’s my list:
1. Laura Sebstian @sebastian_lk (author of the Ash Princess Trilogy)
2. Angie Thomas @angiecthomas (author of The Hate U Give and On the Come Up)
3. Nic Stone @getnicced (author of Dear Martin, Odd One Out, and Jackpot)
4. Victoria Aveyard @VictoriaAveyard (author of the Red Queen series)
5. Victoria / V.E. Schwab @veschwab (author of the Monsters of Verity series, Shades of Magic series, and Cassidy Blake series)
6. Eric Smith @ericsmithrocks (author of Don’t Read the Comments)
Title: Queer Heroes: Meet 53 LGBTQ Heroes From Past and Present! Author: Arabelle Sicardi, Sarah Tanat-Jones (illustrator) Genre: Nonfiction, LGBTQ Publisher: Wide Eyed Editions Source: Publisher Format: Ebook Release Date: September 17, 2019 Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
This beautiful, bold book celebrates the achievements of LGBT people through history and from around the world. It features full-color portraits of a diverse selection of 52 inspirational role models accompanied by short biographies that focus on their incredible successes, from Freddie Mercury’s contribution to music to Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. Published to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, this title will show children that anything is possible.
Review:
This book is a great collection of inspiring queer people.
All of the people featured in this book are queer. Some are gay or lesbians, while others are bisexual or transgender. I knew that a few of the people were queer, such as Alan Turing. There were some people that I didn’t know identified as queer, such as Virginia Woolf. Most of the people in this book I had never heard of, so I learned a lot about queer activists.
Many of the people featured in this book are from countries where being gay is illegal. These people had to defy their governments, and sometimes even family, to fight for the right to express their own identity. They had to be incredibly strong to stay true to their beliefs, despite what their family and country said.
I loved the art in this book. All of the images are done in vibrant colours which give a positive feeling to these stories, which did not always have a happy endings.
I really enjoyed this book!
Thanks Wide Eyed Editions for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What to read next:
A Quick and Easy Guide to Queer and Trans Identities by Mady G., J.R. Zuckerberg
Grease Bats by Archie Bongiovanni
Have you read Queer Heroes? What did you think of it?
This is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and Reading Reality. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!
I was approved for a book on NetGalley from VIZ Media:
My Hero Academia, Vol. 1 by Kohei Horikoshi
I was approved for 4 books on NetGalley from Simon and Schuster Canada:
The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
The Brideship Wife by Leslie Howard
My Summer of Love and Misfortune by Lindsay Wong
Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From by Jennifer De Leon
Thank you VIZ Media and Simon and Schuster Canada for these books!
Title: The Other Windsor Girl: A Novel of Princess Margaret, Royal Rebel Author: Georgie Black Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: William Morrow Source: Purchased Format: Paperback Release Date: November 5, 2019 Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
If you love The Crown, then this is the book for you!
Diana, Catherine, Meghan…glamorous Princess Margaret outdid them all. Springing into post-World War II society, and quite naughty and haughty, she lived in a whirlwind of fame and notoriety. Georgie Blalock captures the fascinating, fast-living princess and her “set” as seen through the eyes of one of her ladies-in-waiting.
In dreary, post-war Britain, Princess Margaret captivates everyone with her cutting edge fashion sense and biting quips. The royal socialite, cigarette holder in one hand, cocktail in the other, sparkles in the company of her glittering entourage of wealthy young aristocrats known as the Margaret Set, but her outrageous lifestyle conflicts with her place as Queen Elizabeth’s younger sister. Can she be a dutiful princess while still dazzling the world on her own terms?
Post-war Britain isn’t glamorous for The Honorable Vera Strathmore. While writing scandalous novels, she dreams of living and working in New York, and regaining the happiness she enjoyed before her fiancé was killed in the war. A chance meeting with the Princess changes her life forever. Vera amuses the princess, and what—or who—Margaret wants, Margaret gets. Soon, Vera gains Margaret’s confidence and the privileged position of second lady-in-waiting to the Princess. Thrust into the center of Margaret’s social and royal life, Vera watches the princess’s love affair with dashing Captain Peter Townsend unfurl.
But while Margaret, as a member of the Royal Family, is not free to act on her desires, Vera soon wants the freedom to pursue her own dreams. As time and Princess Margaret’s scandalous behavior progress, both women will be forced to choose between status, duty, and love…
Review:
This was an exciting story about a rebellious princess.
Long before Will and Kate and Harry and Meghan were born, Princess Margaret was the royal who made all the headlines. She was the Queen’s younger sister, who liked to party. She caused many scandals, such as dating her father’s equerry and marrying a photographer.
This book was told from the perspective of a fictional lady-in-waiting for Princess Margaret. Vera was the daughter of a lord, and she wrote romance novels under a pseudonym. She quickly learned how to please the Princess, and worked for her through some of the most important periods of her life.
This story shows what Princess Margaret’s life was like, through the eyes of someone who worked with her. I was familiar with many parts of the story. However, there were also some scandalous parts, which were shocking, especially for that time period.
I really enjoyed this story.
What to read next:
The Gown: A Novel of the Royal Wedding by Jennifer Robson
Lady in Waiting: My Extraordinary Life in the Shadow of the Crown by Anne Glenconner
Have you read The Other Windsor Girl: A Novel of Princess Margaret, Royal Rebel? What did you think of it?
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:
“You’ve probably seen this scene before: Ladies in black church dresses, old men in grey suits, and hood kids in white tees with some blurry picture printed on the front under the spray-painted letters RIP.”
Do you recognize these first lines?
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And the book is… Let Me Hear a Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jackson.
Goodreads synopsis:
In this standalone novel, Tiffany D. Jackson tells the story of three Brooklyn teens who plot to turn their murdered friend into a major rap star by pretending he is still alive.
Biggie Smalls was right. Things done changed. But that doesn’t mean that Quadir and Jarrell are okay letting their best friend Steph’s tracks lie forgotten in his bedroom after he’s killed—not when his beats could turn any Bed-Stuy corner into a celebration, not after years of having each other’s backs.
Enlisting the help of Steph’s younger sister, Jasmine, Quadir and Jarrell come up with a plan to promote Steph’s music under a new rap name: The Architect. Soon, everyone in Brooklyn is dancing to Steph’s voice. But then his mixtape catches the attention of a hotheaded music rep and—with just hours on the clock—the trio must race to prove Steph’s talent from beyond the grave.
Now, as the pressure—and danger—of keeping their secret grows, Quadir, Jarrell, and Jasmine are forced to confront the truth about what happened to Steph. Only each has something to hide. And with everything riding on Steph’s fame, together they need to decide what they stand for before they lose everything they’ve worked so hard to hold on to—including each other.
Have you read Let Me Hear a Rhyme? What did you think of it?
Title: Stephen Hawking (Little People, Big Dreams) Author: Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, Matt Hunt (illustrator) Genre: Children’s, Nonfiction Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: February 4, 2020 Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
New in the Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the life of Stephen Hawking, the genius physicist and author.
When Stephen Hawking was a little boy, he used to stare up at the stars and wonder about the universe. Although he was never top of the class, his curiosity took him to the best universities in England: Oxford and Cambridge. It also led him to make one of the biggest scientific discoveries of the 20th century: Hawking radiation. This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the brilliant physicist’s life.
Review:
Stephen Hawking was a physicist. He loved studying science when he was a kid. However, when he was a young adult, he developed a motor neuron disease, which caused his muscles to degenerate. He lost the ability to move and speak. He was able to overcome these challenges and become a success in the world of science.
Stephen Hawking died a few years ago, which generated more interest in his life. There was a popular movie made about his life before he died. He was an extraordinary man who defied expectations. He is an inspiration.
I think kids will love reading this book about Stephen Hawking.
Thank you Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What to read next:
David Attenborough (Little People, Big Dreams) by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, Mikyo Noh (illustrator)
Martin Luther King Jr. (Little People, Big Dreams) by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, Mai Ly Degnan
Have you read Stephen Hawking? What did you think of it?
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 Royal Runaway by Lindsay Emory.
Goodreads Synopsis:
For fans of The Princess Diaries and The Royal We comes a fun and daring novel about a modern-day princess who teams up with a spy to find out what happened to the fiancé who left her at the altar—and who just might get her own fairytale in the process.
Princess Theodora Isabella Victoria of Drieden of the Royal House Laurent is so over this princess thing.
After her fiancé jilted her on their wedding day, she’s finally back home after spending four months in exile—aka it’s back to press conferences, public appearances, and putting on a show for the Driedish nation as the perfect princess they expect her to be. But Thea’s sick of duty. After all, that’s what got her into this mess in the first place.
So when she sneaks out of the palace and meets a sexy Scot named Nick in a local bar, she relishes the chance to be a normal woman for a change. But just as she thinks she’s found her Prince Charming for the night, he reveals his intentions are less than honorable: he’s the brother of her former fiancé, a British spy, and he’s not above blackmail. As Thea reluctantly joins forces with Nick to find out what happened the day her fiancé disappeared, together they discover a secret that could destroy a centuries-old monarchy and change life as they know it.
Funny, fast-paced, and full of more twists and turns than the castle Thea lives in, The Royal Runaway is a fresh romantic comedy that will leave you cheering for the modern-day royal who chucks the rulebook aside to create her own happily-ever-after.
Have you read this book? What did you think of it?
Title: Foul is Fair (Foul is Fair #1) Author: Hannah Capin Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Publisher: Wednesday Books Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: February 18, 2020 Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Elle and her friends Mads, Jenny, and Summer rule their glittering LA circle. Untouchable, they have the kind of power other girls only dream of. Every party is theirs and the world is at their feet. Until the night of Elle’s sweet sixteen, when they crash a St. Andrew’s Prep party. The night the golden boys choose Elle as their next target.
They picked the wrong girl.
Sworn to vengeance, Elle transfers to St. Andrew’s. She plots to destroy each boy, one by one. She’ll take their power, their lives, and their control of the prep school’s hierarchy. And she and her coven have the perfect way in: a boy named Mack, whose ambition could turn deadly.
Foul is Fair is a bloody, thrilling revenge fantasy for the girls who have had enough. Golden boys beware: something wicked this way comes.
Review:
This story is a modern retelling of Macbeth. I only read the play once, years ago, but I was surprised at how much I remembered while reading this book.
This story has a modern twist, with Jade seeking revenge. She was assaulted by a popular group of boys at St. Andrew’s school. She reinvents herself and orchestrates a plot to take them down.
This story is told from the perspective of Jade, who is the Lady Macbeth character. It took me a while to catch on to who she was meant to play. She uses her friends, the witches, to influence Mack to murder his friends.
There were a lot of characters in this book, and I got them mixed up sometimes. A few boys had names starting with D, so I got them mixed up. They were sometimes called their first name, and other times their last name. It was confusing when there were scenes with many characters because they were all moving and doing things, like they would in a play, but it made the scene really drawn out in the book.
I enjoyed this story. I’m curious to see what will happen in the next book.
Thank you Wednesday Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What to read next:
The Dead Queens Club by Hannah Capin
Killing November (Killing November #1) by Adriana Mather
Author Info:
Hannah Capin is the author of Foul is Fair and The Dead Queens Club, a feminist retelling of the wives of Henry VIII. When she isn’t writing, she can be found singing, sailing, or pulling marathon gossip sessions with her girl squad. She lives in Tidewater, Virginia.
Have you read Foul is Fair? What did you think of it?
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 Thorn by Intisar Khanani. The expected publication date is March 24, 2020.
Goodreads Synopsis:
A princess with two futures. A destiny all her own
Between her cruel family and the contempt she faces at court, Princess Alyrra has always longed to escape the confines of her royal life. But when she’s betrothed to the powerful prince Kestrin, Alyrra embarks on a journey to his land with little hope for a better future.
When a mysterious and terrifying sorceress robs Alyrra of both her identity and her role as princess, Alyrra seizes the opportunity to start a new life for herself as a goose girl.
But Alyrra soon finds that Kestrin is not what she expected. The more Alyrra learns of this new kingdom, the pain and suffering its people endure, as well as the danger facing Kestrin from the sorceress herself, the more she knows she can’t remain the goose girl forever.
With the fate of the kingdom at stake, Alyrra is caught between two worlds and ultimately must decide who she is, and what she stands for.
Jill's Book Blog 