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 Books Guaranteed To Put a Smile On Your Face. Here’s my list:
1. In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
2. Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto
3. Misfit in Love by S.K. Ali
4. From Little Tokyo, With Love by Sarah Kuhn
5. Talk Bookish to Me by Kate Bromley
6. A Taste for Love by Jennifer Yen
7. Megabat is a Fraidybat by Anna Humphrey, Kass Reich (illustrator)
8. Candy Hearts by Tommy Siegel
9. Cone Cat by Sarah Howden, Carmen Mok (illustrator)
10. Take It Away, Tommy by Georgia Dunn
(All book covers from Goodreads)
What’s your list of books on your Top Ten Tuesday?
Title: The Bennet Women Author: Eden Appiah-Kubi Genre: Contemporary, Romance, LGBT Publisher: Montlake Source: Thomas Allen and Son (book distributor) Format: Paperback Release Date: September 1, 2021 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
In this delightfully modern spin on Pride and Prejudice, love is a goal, marriage is a distant option, and self-discovery is a sure thing.
Welcome to Bennet House, the only all-women’s dorm at prestigious Longbourn University, home to three close friends who are about to have an eventful year. EJ is an ambitious Black engineering student. Her best friend, Jamie, is a newly out trans woman studying French and theater. Tessa is a Filipina astronomy major with guy trouble. For them, Bennet House is more than a residence—it’s an oasis of feminism, femininity, and enlightenment. But as great as Longbourn is for academics, EJ knows it can be a wretched place to find love.
Yet the fall season is young and brimming with surprising possibilities. Jamie’s prospect is Lee Gregory, son of a Hollywood producer and a gentleman so charming he practically sparkles. That leaves EJ with Lee’s arrogant best friend, Will. For Jamie’s sake, EJ must put up with the disagreeable, distressingly handsome, not quite famous TV actor for as long as she can.
What of it? EJ has her eyes on a bigger prize, anyway: launching a spectacular engineering career in the “real world” she’s been hearing so much about. But what happens when all their lives become entwined in ways no one could have predicted—and EJ finds herself drawn to a man who’s not exactly a perfect fit for the future she has planned?
Review:
Bennet House is a women’s dorm at Longbourn University in New England. EJ is a resident advisor and an engineering student. Jamie is a trans woman, who is studying theater and French, and is best friends with EJ. Tessa is a Filipina astronomy major with a terrible boyfriend named Collin. At the start of the fall semester, EJ starts hearing whispers about a new student, Lee Gregory. He’s a charming guy who immediately falls for Jamie. EJ ends up hanging out with Jamie, Lee, and his best friend Will. Will is an actor who’s trying to hide out after a very public breakup. EJ has big plans for her post-graduate future, but she’s attracted to Will, someone who doesn’t seem to fit into her plans.
This is the most diverse story I’ve ever read. Each of the characters were either BIPOC or queer. Though there was this diverse representation, their diversity didn’t define the characters. They all went through relatable experiences throughout their university year. These diverse characters also fit in perfectly with the regency story of Pride and Prejudice.
I love retellings of Pride and Prejudice. I’ve read so many though, that it’s difficult to find a unique spin on the classic. This was a great, original take on the story. The Bennet women weren’t related, but they had a close bond from living together in their dorm. Though the characters didn’t face the same challenges as the ones in the original story (such as needing to find a rich husband to secure their future), they had more modern challenges (such as deciding on what post graduate programs to take). I loved this modernization of the story.
The Bennet Women is a great retelling of Pride and Prejudice!
Thank you Thomas Allen and Son for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What to read next:
Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev
Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
Have you read The Bennet Women? What did you think of it?
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 The Bennet Women by Eden Appiah-Kubi.
What I’m currently reading:
I’m currently reading Blood and Honey by Shelby Mahurin.
What I’m reading next:
Next I will be reading Dark and Shallow Lies by Ginny Myers Sain.
What are you guys reading this week? Have you read any of these books?
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 Bennet Women by Eden Appiah-Kubi.
Goodreads Synopsis:
In this delightfully modern spin on Pride and Prejudice, love is a goal, marriage is a distant option, and self-discovery is a sure thing.
Welcome to Bennet House, the only all-women’s dorm at prestigious Longbourn University, home to three close friends who are about to have an eventful year. EJ is an ambitious Black engineering student. Her best friend, Jamie, is a newly out trans woman studying French and theater. Tessa is a Filipina astronomy major with guy trouble. For them, Bennet House is more than a residence—it’s an oasis of feminism, femininity, and enlightenment. But as great as Longbourn is for academics, EJ knows it can be a wretched place to find love.
Yet the fall season is young and brimming with surprising possibilities. Jamie’s prospect is Lee Gregory, son of a Hollywood producer and a gentleman so charming he practically sparkles. That leaves EJ with Lee’s arrogant best friend, Will. For Jamie’s sake, EJ must put up with the disagreeable, distressingly handsome, not quite famous TV actor for as long as she can.
What of it? EJ has her eyes on a bigger prize, anyway: launching a spectacular engineering career in the “real world” she’s been hearing so much about. But what happens when all their lives become entwined in ways no one could have predicted—and EJ finds herself drawn to a man who’s not exactly a perfect fit for the future she has planned?
Title: Hush-A-Bye Author: Jody Lee Mott Genre: Middle Grade, Horror Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: August 24, 2021 Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
A delightfully creepy story perfect for the middle school set! Hush-a-Bye is an old, broken doll found by Lucy and her sister in the woods. It seems to possess extraordinary powers, but will it use them for good or evil?
Like most kids with younger siblings, Lucy loves her sister Antonia, but is all too frequently annoyed with her as well. The two spend most of their time together since their mother works so hard, but without friends Lucy can’t help but feel lonely anyway. She’s always tried to ignore the bullying and teasing at school about her family being poor—it’s always best to keep her head down and do nothing.
When the girls find an old, muddy doll head in the river, Antonia claims it as her newest treasure. At night Lucy hears her talking to Hush-a-Bye—and does she hear the doll talking back? Soon, Hush-a-Bye seems to be protecting Antonia by making bad things happen to others, and it isn’t long before Lucy asks for its help against her tormentors, too. Slowly Hush-a-Bye’s influence forms a wedge between the sisters, and Antonia’s dependence on it becomes frightening. The doll has a mind of its own, and soon it will have Antonia’s as well. Can Lucy solve the mystery of Hush-a-Bye to stop its evil plans?
Review:
While seventh grader Lucy and her younger sister Antonia are exploring a river next to their trailer, they find a dirty old doll’s head. Antonia insists on bringing it home, despite Lucy warning her that they’ll get in trouble for bringing home garbage. That night, they hide the doll in the closet and Antonia starts talking to it. Then, Lucy thinks she hears the doll speak back. They name the doll’s head Hush-a-Bye after a song their mother sang to them as children. Antonia brings Hush-a-Bye to school, where she believes the doll is protecting her and doing things she tells it to do. However, Antonia begins acting differently and becomes obsessed with the doll. Lucy has to figure out how to stop Hush-a-Bye before she becomes too powerful.
This story is perfect for the spooky fall season. A doll’s head without a body can be creepy enough, but when it starts to behave on its own and control a child, it becomes even scarier. The doll was able to communicate with Antonia and Lucy, and also caused conflict between the sisters. It was such a disturbing toy.
There were some serious subjects in this story. Lucy and Antonia had an abusive father, who was mentioned but didn’t appear in the novel. Their mother moved them away from him, but she had to work constantly to make enough money for them to live. This meant that Lucy and Antonia had to look after themselves a lot, which led to them finding the possessed doll’s head. Though Lucy and Antonia had faced many tough challenges in their young lives, the ending was hopeful.
Hush-a-Bye is a creepy middle grade novel!
Thank you Viking Books for Young Readers for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What to read next:
The Hiddenseek by Nate Cernosek
Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia
Have you read Hush-A-Bye? What did you think of it?
I’m so excited to announce that I’m now a Brand Rep for @inkedillusions.co
Some even better news is that she’s having a sale for this long weekend! Right now, you can get 25% off storewide, $20 off lounge sets and 10% off her next bookish box! The sale is on right now and ends September 6 @ 11:59 PM.
I love her products. The apparel is well made and the bookish accessories are so adorable! I highly recommend picking up some of her merch during the sale this weekend!
Also, don’t forget to use my exclusive discount code: JEMMETT10 for 10% off!
An illustrated adaptation of Emily Bronte’s classic – at an easy-to-read level for readers of all ages!
Many years ago, a young homeless boy was taken in at Wuthering Heights. Older now, Heathcliff is set on revenge, and destroying everybody around him. And there is a lonely ghost roaming the moors, who is determined to be reunited with her lover …
About The Complete Brontë Sisters Children’s Collection From the haunted Yorkshire moors to the towering battlements of Thornfield Hall, experience the Bronte sisters’ famous stories of love, self-discovery and family feuds. Adapted and illustrated for children aged 7+.
Review:
This children’s adaptation of Wuthering Heights tells the tragic love story of Catherine and Heathcliff. Heathcliff was brought to Wuthering Heights as a child, after Mr. Earnshaw found him on the streets. Cathy and Heathcliff quickly became friends and fell in love. However, many things drew them apart. Now, years later, Heathcliff is devastated by Catherine’s untimely death and is waiting for the day that he can join her again.
This was a great, condensed version of Wuthering Heights. When I first read the original in high school, I had a difficult time figuring it out. I’ve read it many times since then, and I know the story very well. This simpler version could help modern readers, either adults or children, to understand the story.
I liked the illustrations that went along with the story. The only part that I found inconsistent with the original story was that Heathcliff had the same skin colour as the other characters. Multiple times throughout the story he is described as having dark skin, so I wish this was depicted in the illustrations of the story.
This Wuthering Heights adaptation is a great way to learn this classic story.
Thank you Sweet Cherry Publishing for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What to read next:
Charlotte Brontë: Jane Eyre by Stephanie Baudet, Arianna Bellucci
Anne Brontë: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Stephanie Baudet, Arianna Bellucci
Other books in the series:
Charlotte Brontë: Jane Eyre
Anne Brontë: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
Have you read Wuthering Heights? 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 Broken Wish (The Mirror #1) by Julie C. Dao.
Goodreads Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Elva has a secret. She has visions and strange powers that she will do anything to hide. She knows the warnings about what happens to witches in their small village of Hanau. She’s heard the terrible things people say about the Witch of the North Woods, and the malicious hunts that follow.
But when Elva accidentally witnesses a devastating vision of the future, she decides she has to do everything she can to prevent it. Tapping into her powers for the first time, Elva discovers a magical mirror and its owner-none other than the Witch of the North Woods herself. As Elva learns more about her burgeoning magic, and the lines between hero and villain start to blur, she must find a way to right past wrongs before it’s too late.
The Mirror: Broken Wish marks the first book in an innovative four-book fairy-tale series written by Julie C. Dao, Dhonielle Clayton, Jennifer Cervantes, and L. L. McKinney, following one family over several generations, and the curse that plagues it.
Have you read this book? What did you think of it?
Jill's Book Blog 