It’s time for me to both bless and ruin your TBR pile’s life with some mini reviews!
I confess my entire blogging existence is in shambles at the moment due to someone’s book being published recently and that someone being wildly behind on everything because of it. nO CLUE WHY. I need to go eat a chocolate sandwich.
So even though I’m super behind on blogging and reading, I thought it’s high time I cobbled together some mini reviews of some of the books I’ve been really really really highly anticipating lately! Did they make me shriek happily? Sadly? Confusedly???? These are the questions we all need answers for.
Thank you to Netgalley and Edelweiss for this collection of eARCs!
ACE OF SHADES BY AMANDA FOODY
April 2018 |||| ★★★★★
WHY DID I WANT TO READ IT? Ohhh I LOVE Amanda Foody’s books!! Love them. I also have this claim to fame (like um it’s a 3% claim but hush, let me be) but I used to blog on a big teen-writer-blog with her and a bunch of others back In The Day.™ So like…I am a fan.
DID IT MEET EXPECTATIONS? UMMMM YESSSS!!! x 10000
DISLIKES? LITERALLY NONE, except that I don’t have the sequel!!
WHAT DID I LOVE?? Everything!! Look I only have 4 books on my best-of-the-year Goodreads shelf and this is on it, so that’s all you need to know OK?!! People compare it to Six of Crows a lot and like, hmm, a little? But this is con schemes, lavish cities and gang lords. It’s got card games and an interesting and complex magic system. The settings felt all like 1920s guns and casinos and it was lush and gorgeous. Enne is the badass proper young lady we’ve all bEEN WAITING FOR. (She starts off so prim and naive and then in the end STABS SOMEONE WITH HER SHOE.) Levi is the bi rainbow hufflepuff soft mum-friend crime lord to melt your heart. I LOVE EVERY PAGE OF THIS BOOK. #obsessed
ANGER IS A GIFT BY MARK OSHIRO
May 2018 |||| ★★★★☆
WHY DID I WANT TO READ IT? Definitely always keen to read more #ownvoices voices PLUS this is from Tor Teen and they just have A+ taste.
DID IT MEET EXPECTATIONS? YES and YES.
DISLIKES? Only that everyone was so functional with their communication. HA! I mean, this is a dumb peeve, because it can be just as annoying for a book to be built on miscommunication. But you give me a severely anxious teen and yet he’s 100% perfect at communication his needs/feelings?? WHAT MIRACLE WORLD IS THIS LMAO. (Also can I go there…)
WHAT DID I LOVE?? This is seriously one that slams you in the feels. SLAMS YOU. It’s about police violence, racial discrimination, anxiety, and PTSD. It has a cast of the softest beautiful queer teens, who will also FIGHT for their voices to be heard. Moss and Javier are so freaking sweet. We are blessed by their every page. And it also really shines light on the horrible things that happen in American schools??? I was blown away. I seriously can’t even (u guys aren’t ok) and I just think this book is SO IMPORTANT.
SALT BY HANNAH MOSKOWITZ
October 2018 |||| ★★★★☆
WHY DID I WANT TO READ IT? I really liked this author’s book Teeth! And also it featured siblings so like. Hi. I am here.
DID IT MEET EXPECTATIONS? I didn’t even go in with expectations? Just hoping for casual enjoyment…but wOW hello obsessed LOVE.
DISLIKES? Only that it was so so short that I felt it skimmed scenes that could’ve made it so much deeper.
WHAT DID I LOVE?? It’s basically the Supernatural Winchesters + but at sea + 4 siblings + hUNTING SEA MONSTERS! I’m totally in love ok. It was bloody and brutal, but also adorable and sweet. It focused on characters first. And Indi is just the actual sweetest boy you will ever meet. He kills monsters but also softly takes care of his little siblings and I JUST !!!! There’s complex family dynamics. SEA MONSTERS. Wounds and tragedy and trauma. Such a “me book” omg I loved it.
SUMMER OF SALT BY KATRINA LENO
June 2018 |||| ★★★★☆
WHY DID I WANT TO READ IT? I love this author! Her other books, Lost & Found and Everything All At Once are FAVES.
DID IT MEET EXPECTATIONS? Yessss!
DISLIKES? It is extremely BIRDISH and I actually got attacked by a bird when I was 8 and ever since I just feel it would be ok if they all bURNED. (Kookaburras. They’re vicious.) Anyway, so like an entire island obsessed with bird life had me like: “Get some help, friends.”
WHAT DID I LOVE?? This book is a master at being cuteness that also dives into some darker and deeper topics that really wrings your emotions into a salty puddle of tears. It is GOOD. It says important things. It also has an island and a family of (maybe)witches with (little bits of)magic and sisters and sadness. Also Georgie meets Pru and they have the cutest f/f romance and we have been blessed. There’s cake and mysteries and the writing is gorgeous.
WHAT IF IT’S US BY BECKY ALBERTALLI AND ADAM SILVERA
October 2018 |||| ★★★★☆
WHY DID I WANT TO READ IT? UMMMMM only two of the best YA authors ever are writing it?!?!??! I love them both so much! I got so excited trying to say it that I accidentally renamed this book “by Adam Albertalli” and I’m ok with that.
DID IT MEET EXPECTATIONS? Yes and NO. I am sobbing.
DISLIKES? Okay the ending. Obviously I’m not going to spoil it (!!) and we are so far away from it still. But the ending ruined me and not in a satisfying way like the other Silvera books. I just felt letdown and mad at the end. Look I read this nearly a month ago and I’m still upset.
WHAT DID I LOVE?? If we can just…you know…move past the ending — THE REST WAS ADORABLE! It’s cute and quirky and soooo Becky and Adam. Like you know instantly who wrote which chapters. Ben and Arthur are cute, nerdy, relatable, and make a lot of mistakes. Ben literally is like “my life is Sims and writing fantasy books” and Ben is like “I AM AN EXPLOSION OF SPRINKLES INSIDE A RAINBOW CRUMPET”. These two. Also I laughed so much that I had to stop reading sometimes (!!) So you can imagine I am rUInAtION at the fact the ending pretty much fizzled the book for me. (sobbing)
*screams into the empty void that is my bank account* GIVE ME MONEY SO THAT I CAN BY ACE OF SHADES SKREEEEEEEEEEE!
I haven’t even read any of Amanda Foody’s other books! But for some reason I keep getting excited every time I see this one?!??!!
So?? Obviously the universe is telling me I need it!
SOOOOOOOOOON *evil cackling*
I might also need to purchase the Salty book (hehe)…. monsters. siblings. and wait…. SEA MONSTERS!!!!!! WHO KEPT THIS FROM ME?!?!?!?
Hehehe, ATPN is everywhere…. Taking over the world as we know it! HAHHAHAHAHA, I’m going to go see if my bookstore has it here in Wales (I live in a rural area so we don’t usually get all the good stuff ; _ ; ) if not I will probably have to take over the world or something idk….
TIME TO DIG A GOLD MINE AND BECOME RICH TO AFFORD ALLLLL THE BOOKS!! And honestly you should read ALL the Amanda Foody books (um, all two of them lmao hey but I’m excited here, none can stop me). But I and the Universe do approve of your goal to read them all ASAP. Also all the salt books! Apparently it is the year of salty books!
(Omg I hope your bookstore has it! I live really rural in Australia, so I don’t even have a bookstore. *suffering*)
Of course I wanna squeal about my intense love for What If It’s Us. I had no problem with the ending but I can see why you do?? BUT AHHH It’s so immensely cute and I have much hearteyes for it for all eternity. Also Anger Is A Gift is on my TBR and it is a priority but because I heard from you and a lot of people that it’s kind of emotionally intense, I’m waiting to be in the right mood to read it.
It was SO CUTE and honestly knowing my endings I probably shouldn’t be mad.😂 But like????? I just don’t understand when the WHOLE book was focused on getting them together and then…ya know…gah. I should DM you and cry hahah.😂
And yes Anger Is A Gift is VERY VERY emotional and intense and honestly it’s sickening at times what those kids have to go through. 😭😭 A real eye-opener. And holy heck, America is not ok.
I just finished Crooked Kingdom. At 4am in the morning. Like, a day and a bit after I started it. When I was supposed to be studying for exams…
#NoRegrets
Who needs an education when you can be destroyed by Crooked Kingdom, amirite?! *sobs with you*
Thanks for sharing your mini-review of “Anger is a Gift”. I need to add it to my tbr and it looks so interesting!
It is SO GOOD. Your TBR has been given a wonderful wonderful gift here.
I’m excited to read What If It’s Us, but now I’m also a little terrified? Sorry you didn’t love it as much as you thought you would. It’ll probably be a million years before I get around to reading it. Great reviews!
I’m sorry tooooo. And I love all of Silvera’s other endings so like?! I DON’T EVEN KNOW. I WAS UNSATISFIED. *cries*
Totally understand why you haven’t been blogging lately, I mean with a book out being a debut author is a lot so just do whatever. Unfortunately for me 2018 releases have had mostly 3 star books so… The only ones I’ve read so far that actually got above 3 stars are The Cruel Prince which got five stars, Blood and Sand which got five stars, and the sequel to Daughter of the Pirate King (can’t say the title because of spoilers) which got four stars. I’ve actually been more successful with more pre-2018 books but let’s hope this three stars curse will change. Also I love minireviews! Cause then I get to see multiple books instead of one! 😍
Also was that a Grisha Trilogy reference up there? I am ruination
I feel bad though for not having had time to blog! Gah. OR READ. My TBR is actually at murder levels and I’m kind of hiding from everything. (Don’t even ask me what I’ve been doing because I’m not even sure, but I swear I’ve been mega busy.😂) Ahem. Anyway….that sucks that 2018 isn’t wowing you!! I’m glad you loved The Cruel Prince and Blood & Sand though because I adored them too ahhhh.
(And mini reviews are so much win. 😂Faster + no need to put up with me rambling for 2000 pointless words.😂)
These books look amazingggg! Ace of Shades looks incredddible and I definitely need to add it to my (already very long) TBR list! Everyone’s been obsessed with Salt and reallyyy want to check out Teeth too! Lovely post as always Hun, have a lovely day 🙂
Grace Louise || http://www.gracelouiseofficial.blogspot.co.uk/
Omg people do like Salt?! GOOD. I haven’t seen anyone flailing about it yet and I know it’s early but ahhh it deserves ALL THE FLAILS.😂
I really want to read Ace of Shades but I’m waiting because I want to read Amanda Foody’s debut first. Both seem like really great reads and I can’t wait til I (finally) pick them up!!
So SO good both of them!😍Daughter Of The Burning City was one of my top reads of last year, so least to say: I’m obsessed. 😂
Dying to read Ace of Shades. AND GOODNESS GRACIOUS SO MANY AMAZING BOOKS HAVE BEEN COMING OUT THIS YEAR (including one in particular….XD)!!!!!
I’m assuming the One In Particular starts with A and ends with MEEEEEEEEE.
*thinks about how that doesn’t make sense*
*goes with it anyway*
lol yes. And I just know it’s going to be….perfect.
Ooh I’m glad you loved Ace of Shades! I really like it also and have been seeing mixed review :O I thought it was SO interesting and the Six of Crows comparisons sort of annoyed me also… (also you being on the same blog writer thing as Amanda Foody is super cool and you should totally brag about that because look at you both having so much author success!) And I have seen some awesome things about Anger is a Gift so I’m now super convinced to check it out myself! Salt is new to me but sounds really interesting also!
A book I recently read and loved was The Wicker King! I’d had it on my TBR for a while and my boyfriend got it for my birthday and then I saw your rave review for it and so I picked it up… and it was amazing! So I would like to credit you with a lot of that happiness because you helped convince me to pick it up, so yay! Great reviews!
It is SO GOOD. Ignore all the mixed reviews and believe meeeee! I’ms o trust worthy hehe. (And omg obviously that teen-blog back in the day was the key to all of our successes. 😂Although I believe we’re the only two of the group who have book deals now?? But it’s so cool haah.) And Anger Is A Gift is just phenomenal. I’m mad it’s not getting the love and praise THUG got, because it needs it too!!
THE WICKER KING IS LIKE THE BEST THING EVER, ISN’T IT?!? MY HEART IS IN PIECES. I HAVE READ IT TWICE THIS YEAR.
Almost all of these are on my TBR and I’m super hyped up for Ace and Shades and What If It’s Us. Seriously take my soul but give me these books 😭😭😭
I know right?! Who needs souls, we just need more boooooks.😍😍
Yes these books are definitely on my tbr (especially now that I’ve read your reviews for them!! 🙂 What If It’s Us is a book I’m super excited about (it sound so cute??) and since it’s being released in my birthday month, I’ll probably just gift it to myself haha. I actually haven’t heard of Summer of Salt but now I’m interested. I’ve also been meaning to read Ace of Shades but I just haven’t gotten around to it… A book I read recently that I was super excited for is Alice Oseman’s I Was Born For This and I cannot recommend it enough!! It’s such a good book and you should definitely check it out if you get the chance. 🙂
Eeep I’m glad you enjoyed these reviews! And What If It’s Us is SOOOO FREAKING CUTE. I really hope ou like it! Summer of Salt is just jafdksald…the aesthetics and the message and all the gorgeous fantastic amazing women!?😍 All the heart eyes.
I also just bought I Was Born For This so I’m excited that you recommend it!!
I’m very excited to read What If It’s Us, but I think it’s still a while until it’s out. The Dutch website I pre-order books from, doesn’t list it yet (or rather, it keeps having it as unavailable). I’m planning on pre-ordering the book once I can. Shame about the ending though.
Ack! That must be frustrating it’s not up there yet! Although I usually buy from a little Aussie store and it’s not listed yet either.
Ace of Shades was so fun! Definitely loved it, especially Enne. I can’t wait to read the sequel! And I finished What If It’s Us and I was so disappointed with the ending? It just felt like the story stalled and wasn’t given what the boys deserved. I loved Arthur and Ben and thought they were the cutest, ever.
UGH YES ABOUT THE ENDING OF WHAT IF IT’S US. Honestly I felt like I’d just spent 400+ pages of emotional energy for nothing. It was a huge waste and after all Arthur’s pedantic whingeing that Ben wasn’t into him enough….Arthur turns around in the end and he’s the one who picks a college FOR THE POTENTIAL BOYS SO LIKE WHAT’S UP HERE, ARTHUR. I’M MAD. The rest of the book was so freaking adorable. 😭😭😍😍
I haven’t read any of these books (or have them on my TBR list), but Ace of Shades looks good. I’m adding it to my to-read shelf now 🙂
I recently read The Cruel Prince and loved it. I’m usually not a fan of dysfunctional relationships, but it really worked in this world!!
It is SO good and totally worth it!!😍I will flail about it forever tbh (is it too soon to reread?! hhaha). And omg agreed about The Cruel Prince.😍It was brutal and perfect.
Looking forward to it <3 It is NEVER too soon to reread a good book!! I'll probably reread The Cruel Prince sometime this summer!
I need Ace of Shades!!!
IT WAS TOTALLY MY EVERYTHING.😍😍
I loved Summer of Salt too!! It was so atmospheric and everything about it was so beautiful. Omg I can’t wait for What If It’s Us!! And Salt sounds super good, I just added it to my tbr.
Apparently it’s the year of Salt titles right?! Haha, but YES omg Summer of Salt had the most beautiful aesthetics ever.😍
I’m really looking forward to reading What if it’s us by Adam and Becky. Love them both so much. Specially Adam. He is one of my favorite author of all time. I’m stalking him on instagram and he is so sweet in real life <3
I hope you love it!! I laughed SO MUCH and the level of cuteness was off the charts. 😍
I love you. That’s it, got nothing really smart to say, aside for the fact I think you can write a post about your grocery list and I would love it. Also I am on a series ban (got to finish at least some of the ones I’ve started before I jump into new ones) but I am dying to read Ace of Shades because of your love to it…
AWWW YOU!! 😍 Although I should test that theory and honestly write a grocery list post. APPLES AND SOULS OF MY ENEMIES ON AISLE TWELVE.
Actually being on a series ban is super smart and I am super not good at doing that. 😂 I see a book, I read it, I have regrets later.
All of these are on my TBR with the exception of Ace of Shades, which I read and, um, kind of hated? >.< Sorry!
I've got What If It's Us and the beginning is so cute! I love these two. I'm a little afraid of the ending, knowing how Adam usually tends to wrap things up, so I'll see.
I hope you enjoy What If It’s Us!! 😂 I don’t think it’s the usual level of Adam Silvera ending (omg he’s so mean isn’t he?!😂) I was just frustrated.
YAY for Ace of Shades! It was honestly such an enjoyable book, and like you, I didn’t really have any qualms with anything about it. I honestly enjoyed it a lot and I am SO KEEN for the sequel because I think it will be even more badass? And I hope there’s some more exploration of the parts of the world that we didn’t get to see in Ace of Shades.
Anger is a Gift looks brutal and yet I need it in my life. Also, I am loving the colours on the cover?? They are just so gorgeous and already apply such an atmosphere to the book.
SALT, YES. I preordered it SO LONG AGO and it still feels SO FAR AWAY? WHY? I honestly am so keen because I love everything Hannah Moskowitz writes and this one sounds brilliant so *cheers*
Uhm, now I am reading the ending of What If It’s Us? THANKS, CAIT. I mean… endings really make or break a book for me so now I’m interested in what I’ll actually think of this book. *hides*
Yes yes it was so good! And just so nice not to have the main characters fall instantly in love and forget about the plot?!😂 I love Amanda Foody haha she’s such a good writer. And omg ENNE THOUGH. I just enjoyed her arc so much.
Anger Is A Gift is a MUST read. I swear. It wrecked me and it’s such an important story…I can’t even imagine what it’s like for these Americans sometimes holy heck.
SALT WAS SO GOOD. I’ve only read two of her books so far but I want more??? Must get onto this.
(I’m SO curious to know what you’ll think of What If It’s Us…😂)
I JUST READ ACE OF SHADES YESTERDAY AND I’M CRAZY FOR IT. it’s my second favorite 2018 released book so far (i haven’t read ATPN tho) and is a close second to The Cruel Prince. I really love Ace of Shades and I promise I’m going to read Daughter of the Burning City like tomorrow. WHERE IS THE SECOND BOOK I NEED IT NOW.
I was really excited to read Schwab’s books because I’ve been procrastinating to read her books for a while. I just finished reading Shades of Magic and Monsters of Verity and I AM IN LOVE. I read her books so fast because they’re the type of books that will never let you go until the last page. I don’t even like dystopians but I loved Monsters of Verity. My eyes are set on Vicious next since Vengeful will be out in September.
Also, it’s so good to have internet again! I missed your blogposts because I visited my grandparents and they live in a place where there is absolutely no signal. I still need to read ATPN.
It’s so so SO FUN, RIGHT?!? I’m obsessed!! I love Levi and Enne so much and that ending aHHHHHH. My heart explodes. And The Cruel Prince was just perfection. *sobs because that cliffhanger* Also I’m so glad you’re a Schwab fan too ahh! Isn’t she an amazing wizard?! I can’t even. 😍😍
(And I haven’t actually been blogging much lately so you didn’t miss much. 😂)
I was originally ridiculously excited for What If It’s Us, but you’re not the first who didn’t like something about it, and a bad ending (aka one I don’t like lol) can ruin the whole reading experience for me. I might still pick it up, but I’m becoming more and more unsure about it. Ace of Shades, though, I can’t wait to read! I’ve seen so much love for it, and it sounds amazing. Great reviews!
PS: I’ve recently read your book, and it’s SO GOOD! Can’t wait for The Boy Who Steals Houses!
Yeah honestly the ending DID ruin it for me…I mean I Love both the authors so much so I feel so guilty?! It’s still 4-stars though, so you can imagine how good the rest is haha. And ACE OF SHADES IS JUST A POCKETFUL OF PERFECTION.
omggggg Veronika!! Thank you so so much for reading my book. 😍😍 I’m so happy right now!!
Ace of Shades. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK! Wasn’t it just fabulous and slightly stabby and I know KNOW how much you love those as well. Such an awesome run of great reads, I love Adam Silvera but not particularly his coauthor so not sure how I’d go with that one. I’ve only read one other title by Hannah Moskowitz, Marco Impossible and absolutely loved it.
My goodness, how do you even have time to read, never mind blog with since the release of A Thousand Perfect Notes? I honestly can’t remember a more widely celebrated book since I started blogging. How are you holding up my darling girl?
IT WAS THE ABSOLUTE BEST THING AND JUST SUCH A “ME” BOOK. AHHHHH. *falls in love with it 930 times* And ajfdksl Adam Silvera is amazing, but how have you not read any Becky Albertalli books?! KELLY!! You have to read Simon Vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda!!
And trust me…I’m like 29 years behind on everything right now.😭I’m probably up to read the least amount of books this year than I’ve read in the last 3 years gahhhh.
Ohhhh you’ve read so many great books lately Cait! Lots of contemporary here that I haven’t heard of. I wasn’t keen on Ace of Shades after the mess that was the Daughter book :p But great to hear that What if it’s us was good! Except sad to hear about the ending!
Awww no really?! I loved Daughter of Smoke and Bone.😂 I don’t know if it’ll be the same problems for AoS for you then? But haha I love her storytelling!
The next on my pile is Ellie Marney’s White Night.
I am kind of fascinated by the cult aspect so am really looking forward to reading it 🙂
OOh I hope you enjoy it! I loved that one!
Me: *her TBR is over control*
Me: Let’s just… add some books, shall we?
Yeah, but anyway, I love mini reviews! Yours are always amazing <3
YOU’RE WELCOME FOR THIS SUFFERING. 😂😂