Arrowood by Laura McHugh

 Arrowood by Laura McHugh

Pages: 320

Rating 5 out of 5

This second novel, from Missouri author Laura McHugh is a gothic tale of family secrets in small town Iowa. A haunting novel from the author of The Weight of Blood about a young woman's return to her childhood home--and her encounter with the memories and family secrets it holds

After the death of her father, Arden Arrowood inherits the grand historical house, Arrowood, in her home town along the Mississippi River in southern Iowa. Searching to find her purpose and trying to finish her master's thesis she believes the quiet house and town are just what she needs. 

Dead in the Family (Sookie Stackhouse #10)

Dead in the Family (Sookie Stackhouse #10) by Charlaine Harris

Pages: 320

Rating: 4 out of 5

Everything is relative - or about your relatives, at least that's how life seems to Sookie Stackhouse. She is dealing with a whole host of family problems, a cousin wanting to live with her, another cousin who is learning how to use his talents, her brother wanting back in her life and Eric's father and brother showing up for an unexpected visit. Sookie also feels she must help her ailing neighbor, Vampire Bill Compton, by tracking down his vampire sibling, at the same time, his remaining human family has a crisis of their own and Vampire Bill has to decide if he should assist them. She really just wants some quiet, downtime, to recover from the trauma she endured in the recent war, but now even the werewolf pack of Shreveport wants a favor.  

Dead and Gone (Sookie Stackhouse #9)

Dead and Gone (Sookie Stackhouse #9) by Charlaine Harris

Pages: 320

Rating: 4 out of 5

While national governments are just adjusting to having vampires as citizens (or forbidding them on pain of death to be in their country), the weres decide to come out. The decision is lead by the werewolves but all weres know now is there chance to show their friends and family who they really are. The ordinary world at first is peaceful in Bon Temps, Louisiana but just as Sookie thinks her friends will be accepted, a mutilated body is found in the parking lot of the bar where she works. 

But while humans, vampires and weres are all distracted with this gruesome killing, an older, more powerful, and secretive group of supernaturals prepare for civil war in the human realm. 

From Dead to Worse (Sookie Stackhouse #8)

 From Dead to Worse (Sookie Stackhouse #8) by Charlaine Harris

Pages: 368

Rating: 3 out of 5

Picking up immediately where book 7 left off. Sookie is shaken by the effects of Hurricane Katrina followed closely by the manmade explosion at the regional vampire summit. Everyone in Louisiana and the surrounding states are feeling stressed and that there is a power shift underway. Adding to Sookie's personal stress, her boyfriend, Quinn has disappeared. Once again she wishes she could just be a waitress at Merlotte's and have an ordinary, boring life. But as a Friend to the Pack and being blood-bonded to a vampire Sookie is hardly ordinary. Trying to avoid all politics, human, vampire and werewolf completely doesn't work out and she is drawn into the changes all around her. 

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

A quick re-read before reading the sequel because I forgot what was going on. 
Wrath and his relationship with food. It's wonderful 

Anytime they start telling stories about Italy and grandma:

400 Pages

Counting Down With You by Tashie Bhuiyan

I like that religion isn't villainized.
Grandmaaaaaaaaaaa
soft boy.
....why is this book attacking me....
464 Pages

Descendant of the Crane by Joan He

I love this criminal. 
The mystery is cool.
It's the sibling relationships for me.
So like...the ending was open-ended, but like...satisfying...
416 Pages

Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S Olson

Alexa play "Never Enough"
Ok but the gender-swapped Phantom of the Opera and Hunchback of Notre Dame (the Disney version) vibes.
I love Emeric. He's too pure. 
The magic system and the descriptions of the setting were cool. 
Hey at least the music teacher was actually a good vocal coach...instead of just yelling "Sing"
Look at all the abuse and grooming. Cough. 
 ......So I'm going to go write some fanfiction...because of the last few pages.
I am unwell. I have a lot of emotions... I'm going to go lay in my bed for a week now.

368 Pages

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

So this is the second book to make me cry today..and it's the beginning of the book. 
As soon as I found out there was a school on Mars:

So like....am I the only one who's like....this has Attack on Titan training camp energy...just me...cool. I'll just listen to the soundtrack with this...
Ohhhh some of these things are sketch and problematic
Ok so more than some of these things are problematic....
Did my brain compensate for the gruesomeness and trauma by saying "God, it's brutal out here" yes.
Alexa play Teenagers.
If you can get past the violence and like...despicable things that are happening to the characters--it slaps. 
It's like Hunger Games but with less direct killing, and more violence/cruelty against women and scheming and some teamwork involved.
416 Pages

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

Screeeeeeeeeeeech
Even. More. Cameos. 
So let's talk about trauma and gaslighting. Do I wanna start a fight? Yes.
Soft boi. Big heart. Has tattoos and motorcycle... Perfection.
I'm not crying...
352 Pages

The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan

Sooooooo is this a reference to Jesus in the desert and when he was tempted by Satan...because like...
"It is always better to choose greatness than to be forced, because a man who is forced is never completely his own master"ehhhhhh. I mean... I guess. but also like....
Why are we trusting strangers. Don't trust her just cause she's pretty.
Why are boys stupid. Boys are stupid. Idiots. 
Alexa play "Carrying the Banner" from Newsies.
....I really hope all the women are just like...nah...because I don't want women fighting over a guy...
Do I want to make a list of all of the things that give me LOTR vibes...yes...but I shall be chill. 
672 Pages

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang

I'm melting
The cameos.
Also I live for clueless smitten boys. Iconic.
Why do I feel very seen by this....
Khai is great.
I really liked that the author made the characters who were on the spectrum into people, instead of a robotic stereotype, and even when they fit that stereotype, they still cared about people (Surprise, people have emotions). I liked that the other characters treated them like human beings...like....

320 Pages

Steelstriker by Marie Lu

Did I completely forget what happened in the first book. Yes
If Marie Lu hurts me again like last time...like I'll be ok with it, but also
I'm screeching for many reasons
I love my children and the yearning
416 Pages

Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

Inserts a very sarcastic "How touching" with Maleficent vibes
The cameos.
When a character has a fun hair color it really reinforces the idea in my brain that I should have purple hair.
You know who else is a prince. anyways.
Nicodemus. Really? That's the name we're giving him. Ok. 
All the Cinderella and Frozen vibes
THAT'S where you end it?!?! But but but.
And I have a conspiracy theory and y'all are making it difficult to confirm or deny. 
416 Pages

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Summary: "August 1983. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their baby sister, Kit. The siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over-- especially as the offspring of legendary singer Mick Riva. It's the day of Nina's annual end-of-summer party, and she's the only person not looking forward to it after being abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Hud needs to confess something to the brother from whom he's been inseparable since birth. Jay is counting the minutes until the girl he can't stop thinking about promised she'll be there. And Kit has a couple secrets of her own. The alcohol will flow, the music will play... and by morning the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames."

Taylor Jenkins Reid is an extraordinary author. She makes you feel things in ways you never see coming. 

I loved the setting, the time period, the surfing, the family. I look forward to what she comes up with next!

"Every day of your life feels like you're climbing up the mountain. And then you get there and you stay for a bit. And it's nice at the top. But then you start sliding down the other side."

P.S. Maybe in Another Life was my first and will always be my favorite of hers.

369 pages

goodreads | MOBIUS

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

So I thought this was going to be like Mr. Lemoncello's, and it's not. It's so much better and I'm super glad because like...It's clever, and on a higher level and my brain doesn't get upset. 
The sass. Iconic. In character. Incredible.
512 Pages

Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray

ExCuSe mE. I did not come here to have all the things I'm learning in therapy be reinforced. 


y'all can't mention honeydew and expect me to be mature.....don't look at me. 
.....Anyone else hearing the Tangled soundtrack
Just. The way they interact. I'm fine. 
OH THANK GOD IT'S NOT A STANDALONE.
496 Pages

The Diviners by Libba Bray

Me whenever anyone does anything occult:

 "Who died?" my brain:

"Welcome to New York" my brain:

Am I counting the number of boys/girls and like...matching them up...yes
"Charity begins at home. So does mental illness."
siiiiiiiiigh. and now there are going to be copy-cat killers

When they try to do Momma Mary dirty:

I'm here for Jericho.

Transubstansiation...please don't do the Eucharist dirty. 
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaas my ship. I have two but yessss I wanted this one.
Das awkward
He's a Marvel character
I CAN SEE ALL THE EQUATIONS.

496 Pages

Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

So there were some "What We Do in the Shadows" vibes.
The vampire mythology and the different types of vampires. Slaps.
Ok like...but...I want..why...like the ending is satisfying, but it's not my kind of ending, so I'm mildly upset. Like character-wise it fits, but still. 
272 Pages

The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

I love Xander. Excited little nerd.
...How did I not guess that. 
 Ok so that mom is toxic and I'm going to strangle her with my bare hands.
but but but. How dare y'all give me feelings. 
368 Pages

edit: 10/13/2021: THERE'S A THIRD ONE?!?! WAT

Troy by Stephen Fry

Troy by Stephen Fry

A retelling of the founding and fall of Troy, including the kidnapping of Helen and the Trojan War, and complete with Fry’s signature dry wit in the footnotes.

432 pages.

Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer

...secret identities.... hello Ladybug and Chat Noir vibes.
Sees who second narrator is...concerned. 
There's two ways this can go and I'm like...hoping she goes with the predictable one....
Me: invents crack theory because reasons. Crack theory is correct.
Slaaaaaaaaaaaaaaps
496 Pages