8 Things I Learned from UNBECOMING by Jenny Downham

Daughter: Do you sometimes feel like your mom doesn’t understand you? Mother: Are you curious, worried, afraid (all of the above) of what goes through your daughter’s head? Do you wish she would open up more or at the very least update you on her life? Grandma: Have you ever tried telling your daughter or your granddaughter to just listen to one another? Solution: READ THIS BOOK When I was growing up, I was the master at begging, pleading, and bargaining my way […]

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10 Everything, Everything Quotes to Help You Say, “I Love You”

I highly suggest you join a book club if you aren’t in one already. Because what’s better than reading a book? Reading a book and discussing the heck out of it. Which leads me to EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING by Nicola Yoon. We read this book in one of the many book clubs I attempt to actively participate in (I won’t reveal the actual number, but let’s just say it’s more than two. #booksarelife The increase of my book club participation is […]

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Anne & Henry by Dawn Ius

A blend between the GOSSIP GIRL series and a YA version of FIFTY SHADES OF GREY, ANNE & HENRY is filled with lust, desire, and teenage hormones. This modern retelling of the tragic love story between Anne Boleyn and Henry Tudor while no doubt has several hot and heavy scenes that leave little to the imagination, the novel also leaves very little room for character development. Anne is not a sympathetic character. Her background story about her sister Mary is […]

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Court of Fives (Book #1) by Kate Elliot

COURT OF FIVES is an epic adventure similar to THE HUNGER GAMES series and SALVAGE. The novel is both plot and character driven involving complex themes of loyalty, family, and sacrifice. Elliot creates a rich, detailed world with just the right amount of tension that will leave the readers begging for the next installment. Dive into the book: Jessamy and her sisters find themselves caught in the middle of a world divided by the royal and privileged Patrons and by the lower […]

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Faceless by Alyssa Sheinmel

FACELESS is a poignant novel about Maisie, a girl coping with the loss of her face. Like the beloved DAWN ROCHELLE series, FACELESS is quite the emotional roller-coaster. Readers will cringe at the graphic description of Maisie’s face transplant, tear-up when Maisie hits rock bottom, and laugh out loud over the jokes she makes about her situation. Sheinmel digs deep into the human core and teaches us that no matter our trials, life is what we make of it. Dive into the book: Maisie’s […]

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A Little Bit of Spectacular by Gin Phillips

A sweet, coming-of-age story about the strength of friendship and the magic of love. Phillips writes a heartfelt, easy-to-read novel about an eleven-year-old and her newfound friend unraveling a mystery, helping them understand that sometimes spectacular things come from the most ordinary stories. Phillips avoids the clichés and creates a believable eleven-year-old with depth and heart. A LITTLE BIT OF SPECTACULAR is a wonderful, albeit cheesy, read that cleverly young readers and adults will appreciate. Dive into the book: After Olivia’s mom gets […]

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