Beast by Donna Jo Napoli

Beast by Donna Jo Napoli
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I confess that the start was really rough, but I loved the setting and diversity of this story. So I stuck it out, and I'm mostly glad I did. I don't think this improved upon Beauty and the Beast, but it was an acceptable retelling.

I've read far better Beauty and the Beast retellings, including:
BEAST by Brie Spangler
CRUEL BEAUTY by Rosamund Hodge
BEASTLY by Alex Flinn

And obviously, A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES by Sarah J. Maas was originally intended to be a Beauty and the Beast retelling but emerged into something even greater. So pick that one up, for sure, just because it's amazing.

Now, back to this book, which may be of interest to some, but probably not to all. My least favorite parts included the long and wandering start and the extremely abrupt ending, but the whole middle section was a bit more interesting. I did get caught up in the story, after initially wondering if I might want to quit reading this book.

I definitely don't regret reading this book. I know that doesn't sound like high praise, but I think that readers may need to be willing to accept a few flaws to be able to take something out of reading this one. Also, I listened by audiobook, and I think that helped. I'd recommend that format, if you decide to give this one a try.

Pages: 272

Lab Girl by Hope Jahren

Autobiography of geobiologist Hope Jahren. She has had a lifelong curiosity about, and love for, all things growing from the soil, and for the soil itself.  Her father was a scientist, and she grew up playing in his lab as he worked. She went on to get a Ph.D. in geology at the University of California.

She is one of four scientists, and the only woman, to have been awarded both of the Young Investigator Medals given within the Earth Sciences. She has been the recipient of three Fulbright Awards and in 2005, Popular Science named her one of the "Brilliant 10" young scientists in the United States.


 This very readable autobiography goes into great details about dirt (and trees), but also about begin a scientist who is also a woman.



306 pages

A Cupboard Full of Coats by Yvvette Edwards

When Jinx is 16, her mother moves a man into the home where the two of them have lived alone since her father died when she was a small child. It changes the dynamics of their relationship, and when he begins to abuse her mother, then beats her, too, she begins to hate him, and eventually to hate her mother.

Every time he beats her mother, he buys her a beautiful new coat, until she has a cupboard full. The story moves slowly and inexorably toward a tragic ending that is predictable, but nevertheless haunting and leaves the reader feeling helpless.

275 pages

Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes by Denise Grover Swank

Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes by Denise Grover Swank
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I randomly purchased this on sale, several years ago, and I expected it to be a fluffy book. It kind of is, but in a very good way.

I really enjoyed it, despite the fact that some of the mystery was pretty obvious. It didn't bother me, because I don't think everything was intended to be a secret from the reader, just from the MC. So I felt in on it, and it was interesting to wait and see when Rose would catch up. She had this delightful naivete that amused me to no end. Plus the whole visions thing kept it interesting.

When I picked this up, I didn't expect to continue the series, but if the second book landed in my lap, I'd open it.

Pages: 374

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What plagues the white working class of Hillbilly Elegy is the same behavior that keeps many humans regardless of race or socio-economic status from advancing in their lives - a propensity to withdraw from or fight against rather than to engage with the outside world. Vance believes that home-life is a large contributor to this. He cites research that shows that adverse childhood experiences are more prevalent among members of the white working class above other groups, resulting in a cycle of fear, anxiety, and withdrawal from conflict. For Vance, "being a hillbilly means sometimes not knowing the difference between love and hate."

As an expectant mother (and someone with determined and loyal "hillbillies" in the family tree) this book was a good reminder about how the actions of parents can profoundly impact children - for better and for worse.

264 pages

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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

The escape of Sirius Black, an infamous mass murderer imprisoned in the fortress of Azkaban, has put a damper on Harry Potter's third year at Hogwarts. Black is supposedly after Harry, and now the grounds of Hogwarts are patrolled by dementors, vile creatures who fill those nearby with feelings of hopelessness and despair. But still, life goes on. Harry continues to dominate on the Quidditch field and a cute fourth year has caught his eye. All the while, he never doubts Ron and Hermione, his best friends, have his back. Despite all this, Black's threatening presence continues to loom over Hogwarts and Harry. But if Hogwarts has taught Harry anything, it's that things are not always as they seem.

Book 3 in the Harry Potter series. 435 pages.

Retribution Rails by Erin Bowman

Retribution Rails by Erin Bowman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I LOVE THIS SERIES! Book two is excellent!

We definitely need more YA Westerns in the world.

Pages: 374

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Coraline by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This was not for me. I spent the whole story feeling disconnected and frustrated, despite the unique concept. Something about the execution failed to capture and maintain my attention. I rewound the audiobook for a while, until I couldn't stand to anymore. Then I just powered through, but I can't say I enjoyed the experience, even though I wanted to.

Pages: 162

Still Alice by Lisa Genova

Still Alice by Lisa Genova
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I confess that in the past, when I found out someone was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease, I tended to feel the most sorry for the family members, rather than the actual sufferer. This book has definitely changed that perspective.

Pages: 292

Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick

Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoy everything by Sonnenblick. He just has a way of making readers feel really connected and invested in his characters and stories. Plus, the stories all take you through a full range of emotions, with enough humor to break up the heavy moments.

I did this backwards, because I read the 2nd book years, without realizing it was part of a series. It worked out fine, but I'm glad I finally swung back around to this one. There's something to be said about a story that captures your attention right from the start and propels you forward.

Pages: 273

Shimmer and Burn by Mary Taranta

Summary: "To save her sister's life, Faris is tasked with smuggling magic into a plague-ridden neighboring kingdom." 

The magic and plot-lines of this story are astonishingly convoluted. I didn't understand how the magic worked in the slightest, which made most of the plot murky and confusing. The confusion led to a disinterest in the characters, as well as minimal reactions to "exciting" events or reveals because I didn't get it. At all. 

Would not recommend. 

330  pages

Daughter of the Burning City

Sorina is next in line to rule over Gomorrah, a traveling carnival city both vilified and exalted for its vices.  Born without eyes and possessing the power to create illusions so real they seem alive, Sorina and her freak-show family take little notice of the political maneuverings Gomorrah must navigate for survival.  However, the murder of one of her family forces Sorina to explore the darker side of Gomorrah and the darker side of herself.

This debut novel is as intriguing as it is twisted.  The illusions Sorina creates are unique, although one in particular - an old man covered in fingernails where there should be hair - turned my stomach enough that I actively skipped sections about him.  While the villain was predictable, the 'twist' was not, and while Sorina is often unlikable, petulant even, the supporting characters were worth the overdone teenage angst.

Read this book if you like your YA fiction just a little dark, a whole lot strange, and character driven.  4 out of 5.

384 pages

Bitter River by Julia Keller

Bitter River by Julia Keller


Bitter River was more suspenseful and perhaps more far-fetched than the first book in the Bell Elkins series. In this installment, Julia Keller expands her vivid descriptions of Acker's Gap and its people and reveals that the town is not so isolated after all.

400 pages

My Name is Not Easy by Debby Dahl Edwardson

My Name is Not Easy by Debby Dahl Edwardson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really love the setting and diversity of this story, especially as I have an interest in Barrow, Alaska and the Inupiat (for various reasons), and therefore, I have done quite a bit of research on that region and the people who live there.

The format of the story itself just never really came together for me, so I don't love the storyline, even though I really was interested in the characters, setting, and history. I stuck around for the unique setting and diverse perspectives, not the meandering plot and random story structure.

Pages: 248

History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera

History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of those books that is beautiful in a painful sort of way. I would definitely reread this, as it approaches grief in a way that feels so honest, and some of the perspectives are refreshingly different from other YA Contemporary stories centered around grief and loss.

The writing is excellent, and I adore the characters. There was even something that took me by surprise, because I was so buried in the story that I didn't even bother making predictions or assumptions while I read. I was just completely along for the ride on this, and I think that was the right way to experience it. Because, after all, grief itself is rather unpredictable.

Pages: 320

Without Merit by Colleen Hoover

Without Merit by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a good story overall, and I read it straight through. However, it's my least favorite Colleen Hoover book and the only one I'm not sure I would ever reread. Now, this isn't meant as an insult, as I obviously still gave the book 4 stars. I just didn't connect with it as well as I have others.

It's a compelling, fast paced read, and it is full of interesting characters, unexpected situations, and a variety of different strained relationships. One minor complaint that I have is that some major/traumatic issues and moments were just brushed over under the philosophy that not all mistakes deserve a consequence. And that's probably true, however it overlooks the fact that even though a mistake might not deserve a consequence, it still may have been harmful and had consequences for others. It may still require more resolution than a mere apology, especially if the mistake went unresolved and unexplained for years and affected the lives of others.

What was fascinating about this book is that it dealt with the amount of harm that people can do to the ones they love when they fail to successfully communicate, whether that's through being the one to speak up, or being the one to actively and patiently listen without judgment. The characters definitely learn a lot across the length of the story, so that was interesting, even when it was uncomfortable.

There's a lot of the drama, and obviously some of the drama is there to keep the plot moving forward. I get that, but it did make some of the drama seem unnecessary, like overkill. The story just didn't sit as well inside the drama as I wanted, I guess.

Overall, I still enjoyed the story enough that I stayed up until 3 AM on a work night to finish it. It's well-written as is everything that comes from CoHo. I'm happy I read it, even if it won't be one that I return to.

Pages: 384

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

All Harry wanted to do was get back to Hogwarts. But just as he's happily preparing to leave his aunt and uncle's house, he receives a warning from a strange creature named Dobby, who tells Harry he must not return to school. Soon after his arrival, it becomes clear Harry should have heeded Dobby's warning, as disaster seems to be in the air. There are the usual minor annoyances: the unwanted attention of Ron's younger sister, Ginny; the obnoxiously arrogant new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Gilderoy Lockhart; and a morose ghost named Moaning Myrtle, who hides out in the girls' lavatory. All of these pale in comparison to the sudden attacks that leave many of Hogwarts' Muggle-born population petrified. Who could possibly be behind the vicious attacks? Is it the kind but monster-obsessed Hagrid? What about Draco Malfoy, whose family could easily be related to Salazar Slytherin? Or is it the very person most students suspect---Harry Potter himself?

Book 2 in the Harry Potter series. 341 pages.  

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this years ago, but when I saw it on Audible, I knew I wanted to buy it and listen. It's a great story for listening, because it's so honest in the kind of way that can be both charming and completely uncomfortable. Bryan Cranston is an excellent narrator.

I highly recommend this in any version, but be aware that this story does not in any way romanticize war or the life of a soldier. It's not a feel good story, more like a feel everything story.

Pages: 259

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

When Harry Potter, an 11-year-old orphan, discovers he is a wizard and is whisked away to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he is elated to escape his neglectful aunt and uncle. Even within the Wizarding community, Harry is famous, albeit for something he cannot recall: As a baby, he mysteriously managed to defeat Lord Voldemort, the Darkest wizard ever to haunt the Wizarding world. Not everything is perfect, however. The walls of Hogwarts contain secrets of their own, including an object known as the Sorcerer's Stone. But Harry is determined the Stone will not fall into the wrong hands, and in his desire to protect the Stone and those he loves, Harry comes face to face with terrifying forces beyond his wildest dreams.

Book 1 in the Harry Potter series. 320 pages.  

These Vicious Masks by Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas

Summary: "In 1882 England when her beloved sister Rose vanishes, Evelyn, bored with society and its expectations, embarks on a search for Rose, encountering the reclusive, young gentleman Sebastian Braddock, who is also looking for Rose and claiming that both sisters have special healing powers."

I wanted to love this book. I started out loving it, as it was a mysterious take on a Jane Austen-type setting, filled with good humor and fun. But then it spiraled into confusion and lost its spunk.  

298 pages

Some Day You'll Thank Me for This: The Official Southern Ladies' Guide to Being a "Perfect" Mother by Gayden Metcalfe and Charlotte Hays

I found this book after reading the authors' tongue-in-cheek article on Thanksgiving etiquette in November's issue of Southern Living Magazine. Some Day You'll Thank Me is filled with Southern recipes that for better or worse remind me of my grandmother's cooking - sherry, mayonnaise, lots of cream cheese. It inspired me to make Country Captain Chicken. It was delicious, but I don't think Metcalfe or Hays would appreciate that I opted for the NEW YORK TIMES recipe over theirs. Audiobook. 234 pages.

Roar (Stormheart #1) by Cora Carmack

Summary: "As the sole heir of Pavan, Aurora's been groomed to be the perfect queen. She's intelligent and brave and honorable. But she's yet to show any trace of the magic she'll need to protect her people. To keep her secret and save her crown, Aurora's mother arranges for her to marry a dark and brooding Stormling prince from another kingdom. At first, the prince seems like the perfect solution to all her problems. He'll guarantee her spot as the next queen and be the champion her people need to remain safe. But the more secrets Aurora uncovers about him, the more a future with him frightens her."

I'm conflicted by my feelings about this story. It is unique, interesting, and magical, but also confusing and ultimately disappointing. It has potential, but was not quite executed the way that I wanted. The storm magic was wonderful, ultimately the book's saving grace. 

380 pages

The Titled Americans by Elisabeth Kehoe

The Titled Americans by Elisabeth Kehoe

The Titled Americans offers a glimpse into the lives of three privileged and glamorous sisters who married into the British aristocracy. When Leonard Jerome arrived in New York in 1850, he would go on to become a successful Wall Street speculator, whose fortunes rose and fell throughout his life. When his wife, Clarissa, took their three daughters, Jennie, Clara, and Leonie, to Europe in the 1860s, the girls would make quite a splash within the British upper class. Jennie married Lord Randolph Churchill, becoming the mother of Winston and the most famous of the three Jerome daughters. Jennie's marriage would launch her sisters into the highest circles of society, resulting in marriages for both. Titles do not guarantee happiness, however, but deep affection united the Jerome sisters so that they could weather life's sorrows and joys, in a bond only broken in death.

452 pages.