Review: Buzz Books 2018: Fall/Winter: Exclusive Excerpts from Forthcoming Titles by Stephen Carter, Jude Devereaux, Leif Enger, Barbara Kingsolver, Sarah Perry and 35 More

Buzz Books 2018: Fall/Winter: Exclusive Excerpts from Forthcoming Titles by Stephen Carter, Jude Devereaux, Leif Enger, Barbara Kingsolver, Sarah Perry and 35 More by Publishers Lunch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a spectacular edition of Book Buzz by Publishers Launch. It is for the Fall/Winter edition. There are way too many books, good books at that, it is impossible to list them all here. Trying to go through the samples, one by one, would also take forever to discuss in this forum. Be assured that you will want to go through this book page by page, unless you don't want to add any books to your "To Be Read" list. Yes, mine increased dramatically. I just couldn't resist. Some of them were by well known authors like Michael Connelly, Sarah Pinborough, Jodi Picoult, Walter Mosley, Joe Ide, Khaled Hosseini, Anne Rice and Neil deGrasse Tyson just to name a few. There are a bunch of new authors are making their debut that look very exciting. There is a whole slew of non fiction political books that I personally will pass on but if that's your jam, there is lots of choice. The rest of the non fiction selections are varied and look so interesting. The book excerpts really introduced me to books that weren't on my radar, from authors I wasn't familiar with. Of course, some I already had on my TBR list but getting to read a bit is like having one square of chocolate. Can't wait to eat the whole bar! With the ones I wasn't familiar with I had a chance to get a sense of the author's writing style, a better feel as to whether or not I would enjoy the novel and too many of them were too good to pass up on. This will be an exciting fall/winter season if this is but a selection of what is being offered. Thank you to Netgalley and Publishers Launch for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Buzz Books 2018: Young Adult Fall/Winter: Exclusive Excerpts from Forthcoming Titles by Rebecca Hanover, Julie Kagawa, Kody Keplinger, Natasha Ngan, Courtney Summers and More

Buzz Books 2018: Young Adult Fall/Winter: Exclusive Excerpts from Forthcoming Titles by Rebecca Hanover, Julie Kagawa, Kody Keplinger, Natasha Ngan, Courtney Summers and More by Publishers Lunch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What an exciting line up for Young Adult books in Fall of 2018. It is amazing to see just the list of all the books that will be published not only to see the scope of how many books but also to see the breadth of subgenres within the YA umbrella. I didn't realize that this is something anyone can download for free from major booksellers. Now that I know I can recommend it to a lot of people. I get so excited to see what is upcoming, it is like a kid in a candy store. I put so many on my goodreads TBR list and that way I can keep track and not miss a thing. Reading the previews allows me a chance to really see what I am going to spend my money on. So much better than reading the blurb on the book jacket, this allows a real glimpse into story and a feel for the writing.

Some I was already excited for like "Sadie" by Courtney Summers which is a thriller but so much more. This has so much buzz I just can't wait. "The House of One Thousand Eyes" by Michelle Barker is set in East German before the Berlin Wall came down. Most YA's won't know about this time in history and should prove to be a eye opener. Julie Kagawa is starting another series. Most will know her from the Talon series. "Girls of Paper and Fire" by Natasha Ngan has been getting a lot of buzz for being an Asian fantasy novel and has a gorgeous cover. After reading the previews I will keep my eye out for "Mammoth" by Jill Baguchinsky, a plus size fashion blogger who is also interning as a palaeontologist in Texas with some romance in the mix. Roshani Chokshi from the Star Touched Queen series is starting a new series "The Gilded Wolves which everyone is anxiously awaiting. "The Similars" by Rebecca Hanover has six clones attending a fancy boarding school, made against the law, where the main character has to deal with the fact that one is made from the DNA of her best friend who died. "A Spark of White Fire" by Sangu Mandanna promises to build an exciting world where there are complicated family dynamics and kingdoms to be won told in the Indian tradition. Because I am a Sci Fi fan "Ignite The Stars" by Maura Milan promises to be another exciting action packed book where The Commonwealth tries to control the heroince of the story for their own evil purposes. They compare it to "The Lunar Chronicles" which I enjoyed very much.

In the beginning there is a long list of what is coming out where you will find other books by favorite authors, sequels to series you might already be reading and although the section is small a list of nonfiction books. It is well worth taking the time to see what is coming up in Young Adult for the Fall/Winter season.

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Review: Sanctuary

Sanctuary by Caryn Lix
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, Simon Pulse and Caryn Lix for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Rating 4.5 stars.

Okay, so I was soooo into this book that I didn’t notice I was reaching the end. And there had better be a sequel because I had no idea the book was ending. I mean, come on, give a girl a head’s up! I literally thought I was missing chapters. I thought, hmmm I have an ARC where the author actually forgot to include the ending. But nope, that’s the ending I’m stuck with until Caryn Lix decides to write another book.

I knew it was great from the first sentence, first page, first chapter. I was reading something else when I received the ARC and I was so excited I would read a sentence here or there, a paragraph if I was lucky and then I would get pulled away. But it stuck with me and I couldn’t wait until I could just sink my teeth into it.

Here we have Kenzie, an Omnistellar company girl who tows the line. She is part of a team that includes both her parents and a small number of guards that protect the safety of a prison that houses humans with extra special powers. Not just any humans, but this prison is full of kids. Aliens visited Earth and when they left certain people were left with special powers. For those who abused their powers they were sent to a prison housed on a planet. Adults on one prison planet and kids on another. Both of Kenzie’s parents have brought her up to respect the company, be loyal and appreciate the life that working for the company has afforded them. Kenzie is a little lost because her parents are getting a divorce and her dad is returning to Earth. Her mother is especially strict and when they are at work, very impersonal. Kenzie is now a junior guard and the company expects a lot from their employees, including, if necessary, putting their life on the line. I mean, all of these kids are criminals. They have abused their powers, endangered humans, had a trial and were sentenced to serve until they are eighteen years of age. A safety drill turns into a prison break and Kenzie is taken hostage. They need her to help them break out and get off this planet. Kenzie starts to realize that not all is as it seems. Maybe the company hasn’t been as fair to these kids as she thought. They certainly weren’t these animals intent on hurting humans as she was led to believe. How much of a hardened criminal can a 9 year old be? Yes, their powers can be scary but soon Kenzie’s whole world starts to turn upside down as she begins to bond with them. Especially their leader Cage. It’s not only his super speed that is making her heart race. But getting off the planet becomes a real priority as they learn that they are not alone. There is something far more sinister and far more alien that is hunting them down.

In case I didn’t make it obvious I loved this book. The action was exciting, the monster scary and alien. The world that Lix created was so interesting. Why did the aliens visit Earth? Why did the leave people with powers? We never get to know much about the alien story. I assume we will get to know more in the upcoming books. But there is enough juicy bits that I want to know it all. And the powers that people have. They fly, they read minds, they meld with computers, they are invisible and they are fast like The Flash. I loved all of the characters, their relationships and their interrelationships. Yes, Kenzie and Cage! What a sweet romance. But I wanted to know more about all of them, their backstories, all of it. Kenzie is a strong female lead. She is smart, strong and arc of learning that the world is never as simple as it seems is handled so well. Don’t become too attached - characters will die so stay on your toes. This is making it into my classroom library because I think kids will love it. There wasn’t much I didn’t love except the ending. It was so abrupt it was like finishing in the middle of a sentence. Even if there are sequels shouldn’t you close off the first book? It just was a little unsatisfying, but I still can’t wait for the next book.

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Review: The Perfect Couple

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thank you to Edelweiss, Little, Brown and Company and Elin Hilderbrand for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Is anyone really the perfect couple? Well it seems like Celeste and Benji are the closest thing to it as they come. Everyone around them are so envious of how perfect they are, so in love. Celeste is a down to earth girl who values the important things in life and Benji is the rich, desirable bachelor whose heart Celeste has captured. Celeste is very close to her parents, Karen and Bruce, especially now that her mother is dying of cancer but has always had a hard time making friends. She didn’t grow up with money and has always had to watch her pennies. She is head of the zoo, preferring the company of animals over humans, with the exception of Merritt, her coworker and best friend. Benji is the polar opposite. He is sophisticated, knowledgable about fine wines and exotic dining experiences and the kind of rich that gives him access to anything his heart desires. He always had a party to go to, or some exclusive, flashy event, but now, he prefers to just spend time with Celeste, introduce her to the finer things in life and take care and protect her. Benji’s mom Greer is a famous author and his dad Tag has been having an affair with Merritt. On the morning of Benji and Celeste’s wedding, Merritt turns up dead on the beach. Who could have wanted her dead? Did Greer find out about her husband’s infidelity? What were Tag and Merritt fighting about that night? Why was Celeste’s overnight bag fully packed and at the front door the night before her wedding? These families have many secrets and only once they are revealed will we know why Merritt died that night.

Well, unfortunately, I couldn’t give a perfect score to this novel. I have read and enjoyed many of Hilderbrand’s novels before and was really looking forward to this one. They are usually a light read, perfect for summer and this one showed a lot of promise. What I love about Hilderbrand’s books is that the setting is always integral to the story, almost like an additional character. In this one Nantucket is the backdrop and I was left wanting more. I wanted to be swept away and I felt like I only got a taste of the island’s life. The characters were well drawn and at first I was invested in what was happening, but as the book progressed I just didn’t care about them any more. Like a pretty girl with little personality you date her but when it stops you are not that broken up about it. I made it to the end because it was an easy read and yeah, I wanted to know what happened. In this story every character has a secret. Main character, side character, I mean I was waiting for the dog to have a secret. So many of them weren’t even relevant to the story. What was the point? It didn’t enhance the mystery, there was no build up only to reveal that secret didn’t lead you to the answer. There has to be a craft to the story to make it super exciting and extra special. So, a solid three star - readable but I wanted more.

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Review: The Button War

The Button War by Avi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, Candlewick Press and Avi for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Meet Patryk and his buddies. They live in a small rural town in Poland, surrounded by a large forest. Their village has one schoolhouse, one church, and one bridge that leads into town. The nearest city is maybe a five hour walk. Nothing much ever happens in their town. The boys like to hang out at their favourite spot by the water pump in the middle of town. They play games, share gossip and race around getting into minor scrapes but what they love best is to dare each other. Most of the dares are harmless, more naughty than dangerous, just trying to one up each other in a constant competition. In this group of seven, each of the boys are different. One is rich, one is dirt poor, one follows the church and one is smart in school but as you get to know them it is their character traits that stand out and defines their status within their group. Jurek doesn’t have any parents and lives with his sister, who barely takes care of him. He has the most freedom to run about town, but has the biggest chip on his shoulder, always trying to prove he is the best. He has a mean streak and often pushes the group into doing things they aren’t comfortable with. Jurek claims that he is the king of the forest. Patryk would like to stand up to him, but often falls short of the mark. Once Patryk found a shiny button in their secret spot. Jurek got so mad, thinking someone had something better than he did, he took the button from Patryk and threw it into the forest. Patryk was really sad about losing his button.

One day Patryk is walking to school when he hears a horrible clatter and sees a strange mechanical bird in the air. Before you know it, a bomb drops on the schoolhouse. This is the first time he has seen or even heard of an aeroplane. It is also the first time he witnesses someone dying right in front of him. Soon, the Russian soldiers come into their small town disrupting normal life. Jurek has procured a button from a soldier’s uniform trying to say how much better his is than Patryk’s was. This gives him a great idea. He announces to the group that they will have a dare, a contest - who can get the best button. It is dangerous because they are not allowed to ask for it, they must steal it. So starts the button war. When the German army invades their town, the stakes for new buttons are raised. But war has come to the small town and the boys have bigger problems than hunting for buttons. They want to stop but can’t. If Jurek wins he will make all of their lives miserable. What the boys don’t realize is that the hunt for the buttons will create a turn of events that none of them are prepared for.

Avi has done it again. He has written an exciting novel that will pull you in and keep you reading right to the end. I really enjoyed it and I think that middle schoolers will really love reading this novel. I won’t say “boys” because although I think males will really respond to this book, I am a girl and I loved it and when I was that age, I would also have loved it. It has so much drama. First you have the button war and how the stakes are raised as each new army comes through their town. The backdrop of the war ripping through their home and seeing how it affects the boys’ lives, who are so removed from civilization and lead a simple life, gives a sense of how devastating war can be without getting too graphic. Oh, but don’t worry, lots of gross stuff to keep kids interested. Of course, the relationship between the boys is the most relatable. It is something every child can understand. You have seven different characters, leaving lots of entry points for kids to jump in to. Patrick’s struggle is real. He want to challenge Jurek the bully, doesn’t like to be called a coward, and gets suckered into doing things he doesn’t want to do. How many times was I, as a kid, talked into doing things I didn’t want to do, especially when I hung around kids who my parents didn’t approve of. Patryk also feels a moral obligation towards the rest of the group not wanting them to be at the mercy of Jurek. He knows he is the strongest and has the best chance to beat him. When real bad things start happening it is interesting to examine people’s behaviour - when do you stop listening to your inner voice, what happens when you ignore it and go against your better judgement, how far will you be pushed before you make a stand, I mean there are millions of interesting questions that come up with the themes Avi puts forth. A very well written, action packed read with drama and unexpected events, one I really enjoyed.

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Review: Convenience Store Woman

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, Grove Press and Sayaka Murata for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Rating 3.5 stars

This is a gem of a novel. It might be small in page numbers but it is big on pleasure! It is quirky and offbeat just like the main character. Her name is Keiko and she is an odd duck. She doesn’t understand the world in the same way that most people do. She has to learn how to behave by observing those in her environment and these are things that don’t come easily for her. Keiko watches videos and copies people’s facial expressions and tone of voice but doesn’t understand the feelings behind them. Her logic, however, is impeccable, if not always appropriate. When she was small, two boys were fighting in the school playground. Everyone was telling them to stop, so Keiko picked up a shovel and smashed it over the boy’s head. She thought she solved the problem and expected people would be happy but was surprised her parents were called into the school and she got into trouble. Her parents are so sad for her. They had high hopes that she would be more like her sister but as Keiko got older she never changed. In high school Keiko found a job at a convenience store. She made an excellent employee, a hard worker, alway on time, never missing a day. Here she is today, at age 36, not married, no children and still working at a job most people would have left behind years ago. Keiko is very happy with her life, but is starting to feel pressure from those around her to succumb to societal pressures and be more “normal”. Should she upend her life just to fit in. Who is to say what is the right way to live? Is there only one right way? Set in Japan, where there is a stricter code of what is acceptable in society, Keiko is faced with a real dilemma.

I really enjoyed this book and I thought it raised a lot of provocative questions. The story is told simply and doesn’t delve deep, never giving us too many answers. Rather, it allows the reader to think for themselves. It is a slice of life with some humour mixed in. I found the style of writing interesting because it reads in almost a broken English. It reminds me of the way a person who speaks Japanese might speak if English was their second language. All the characters in this story are delightful even when don’t root for them. We never learn why Keiko is different. She is never labelled with, for example, autism, which I think is awesome. She just is who she is. People exist on a spectrum with a wide range of emotions and behaviours. Who are we to interfere with anyone’s right to live the life they choose. Dropping in on Keiko’s life reminds us that everyone has their own definition of happiness and if you are brave enough you can live your best life.

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Review: The Favourite Sister

The Favourite Sister by Jessica Knoll
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Netgalley, MacMillan and Jessica Knoll for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.


Kelly’s sister, Brett, is dead and she is somehow responsible - or, at least in her own words, not innocent. So, by jumping from present to past, in alternating chapters, through different characters points of view, we find out what happened. Not only has there been a murder, but practically everyone has a vested interest in lying. Is it just to protect Brett’s image or is it for more selfish reasons on their part? The women in this story are all part of a TV reality show called Goal Diggers. They must be young and successful in their own right to qualify. Each woman has secrets to hide and uncovering them might lead to the answer of who killed Brett. You have Jessie, the producer of Goal Diggers, who controls whether or not you will get asked to come back for another season and seems to be willing to do anything to create an exciting storyline. She knows what happened to Brett and is complicit in keeping the truth a secret. Her underling, Lisa, does all of her biding and is known to manipulate the cast members. Lauren is the dumb blond who has a drinking problem and Jen is the vegan health guru whose empire would crumble if her fans knew she chowed down on bacon in private. Stephanie is a famous author and Brett’s best friend. She is married to Vince, a beautiful man who loves to live off of his rich wife. Is their marriage as fairy tale as it seems? Once inseparable, Stephanie and Brett had a feud at the end of last season that has divided the loyalties of “The Diggers”, as the girls are known. Brett’s sister, Kelly, is the latest cast member and Brett isn’t too happy. They are business partners but their sibling rivalry runs deep. As each chapter unfolds, you realize no one is who they seem, especially off camera. Each has their own set of secrets that, if discovered, could lead to their ruin and each of them has a reason for wanting Brett dead.

So, a little while ago I read “Bachelor Nation” by Amy Kaufman. (find my review here:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...). One of my complaints was that I didn’t feel like I got enough reveal of what it was like behind the scenes. I admit it, I am a reality TV junkie. I watch all the Housewives and was always curious how scripted these shows actually were. Were they really fighting? Were producers feeding false information to rile them up? Did they behave in outrageous ways because they know if they don’t have a hot storyline, they will be fired? I think that I learned more of what it is like to be on a reality TV show from “The Favorite Sister”, a book of fiction, than I did from Kaufman’s non fiction, supposed tell-all. (Yes, I know Kaufman’s is about The Bachelor but there are similarities) For me, this was the most interesting and exciting part of the book. You really got to see how they shape storylines, how they retake “spontaneous” conversations four times and how production will interfere to get cast members riled up. Oh, and yes, the alcohol flows!

The murder mystery held its own and I wanted to read to the end to see what happened. The characters were well developed and complex. There were two major issues, in my opinion, that weakened the story. First at those junctures when the plot would start to move along, you would be inundated with tons of extra information that took you in different directions. At first, I would reread these parts, thinking that there was some important clue that I needed to know, or that I was missing something, but nope, it was just a bunch of junk. This really detracted from the any kind of suspense build up or sequential storytelling. Also, sometimes there would be these rantings about women’s plight in society and it felt like the author’s voice bleeding through rather than that of the character’s. This, for me, took me out of the story, making the characters sound disingenuous, and I personally don’t like being preached to, even when it is something I happen to agree with. My other issue was with the characters’ big reveals. I am all for surprises, unexpected twists and turns and being led down a path, just to have the rug pulled out from under you. I enjoy it! These didn’t seem that clever, well thought out, or even true to the character. It was just opposite. So I’ve told you all these facts and I’ve spent all this time building these characters but actually just forget it - here is something out of left field. After a while I became fatigued and just started to not believe anything I was reading. I just waited until the reveal. This is dangerous because you lose your investment in the characters. You pull out emotionally of the story.

That being said, I still enjoyed the story, it held my interest and the ending was a surprise.

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