Weekly Wrap-Up + Mini Reviews - #4

Today we are wrapping up for 4/6-4/12. This was another slow week for me but I still managed to read 4 books. I didn't watch any shows but I did watch Onward, 1917 and Ma.

Date Read: 4/6

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review: 

This book was the hardest book I have ever read. I read some pretty screwed up stuff since I love Horror but this book was a whole other level of effed up. I have read plenty of student/teacher relationship books before but this one was just VERY details and it showed a lot of angles that aren't usually portrayed in the books I have read.

Date Read: 4/7

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5

Review: 

It took me entirely too long to read this book which was weird because it wasn't bad, I was actually really invested in the story and the main relationship. So I am not sure what made me keep putting the book down. Maybe it was the unfairness of Rufus's life that just kept hitting me pretty hard, either way I enjoyed the way the story progressed and I truly was no expecting the murderer to be who it was.

Date Read: 4/8

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review: 

Holy mother of hype, Batman! This book has been getting so much hype that I was actually afraid to read it. But... I could only hold myself back for so long and I finally caved. I adored the story and the two main characters. Love to hate relationships are always welcome and the relationship in this book was one of the best I have read. I am so sad it's a standalone!

Date Read: 4/10

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review: 

As soon as I read the synopsis for this book I knew someone had tried to replicate the Gypsy/Dee Dee Blanchard case in book form. Only, the mother didn't die in the book. Oh no, her daughter made sure she suffered for what she did to her. The daughter made sure BOTH of her parents suffered. I really enjoyed the story and I give Rose Gold props for everything she managed to accomplish. She didn't care who she had to hurt, as long as she got her revenge on the people who hurt her.

Date Watched: 4/10
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review: 

I knew this movie would hurt my heart but that is what happens when you watch anything that has to do with Disney. I loved the journey these two brothers had and the love and sacrifice that was made at the end just destroyed my soul. Very beautiful story!

Date Watched: 4/12

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5

Review: 

So the rating for this movie isn't because of the content, it's more because I would prefer to see this as a tv show, like Band of Brothers. We spent over half the movie just following a soldier and there was hardly any other context and I just feel like this would be better suited for a tv show that portrays the lives of a different soldier in each episode.

Date Watched: 4/12

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Review: 

I truly thought this movie was going to scarier. I mean it was a fairly good revenge plot but the action didn't happen until the last maybe twenty minutes of the movie. 

Review: Time Bomb by Joelle Charbonneau - 4.5 stars

Title: Time Bomb

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary/Mystery

Author: Joelle Charbonneau

Publisher: HMH

Publication: March 13th 2018

Cover Rating: 3/5

Reading Format: Provided eARC + Owned Hardback

Goodreads | Amazon

Time Bomb is the story about a school bombing told through six students' perspectives who are trapped together during and after the explosions. Through the eyes of the six teens, we get to see what exactly each of them was doing at school, as it was the day before school started for the year, and we learn some pretty heavy secrets, too.

Usually, when you get a book or story about a school tragedy it comes in the form of a mass shooting. This book was unique in the fact that not only was the school bombed but there technically wasn't supposed to be anyone in the school when the bombs went off. Those two factors alone would have made an interesting enough plot but this is a Young Adult book so BAM, whoops there were people in the school

The suspense of the story really had me hooked. I couldn't figure out who the bomber was but once it was revealed it was very obvious and I felt pretty stupid.  Each of the students had a vendetta of their own and there were really only three of them that I was truly suspecting to be the bomber but still finding out who it really was and their motive behind it was like DUH! How did I not see that?

In the end,   If you are looking for a book to read after One of Us is Lying or All Your Twisted Secrets then I highly suggest picking this book up.

Overall, I have the book 4/5 stars.

Weekly Wrap-Up + Mini Reviews - #3

Today we are wrapping up for 3/30-4/5. I took it a little slow this week since I have been reading 40 books a month all of 2020. I watched some Netflix and just relaxed. So I only managed to read 6 items, 2 being novels and 4 being graphic novels. I also watched 2 whole seasons of a show on Netflix called The Sinner. So I think from now on I am going to wrap up what I watched each week, as well.

Date Read: 3/31

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review: 

Oh man, this book was fantastic. I usually don't go for paranormal stuff in my mystery/thriller books but this one worked out very well. I really enjoyed the back and forth between the past and present, aunt and niece. It was amazing to see the paths both women traveled and how similar they were. I just wish we got to know what happened to the aunt in the end.

Date Read: 4/3

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review: 

For some reason, it took me a lot longer than any of the other five volumes to read this one. Maybe I just didn't want the world to end but after finishing it it was still a five-star read. It was a lot less gory than I thought it would have been, though. 

Date Read: 4/3

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Review: 

Didn't really like this short addition to the series. And I don't like the little skits they do that have nothing to do with the Locke & Key world.

Date Read: 4/3

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review: 

This was a very good addition to the series. I enjoyed meeting one of the past Locke families that lived in the house and how they used the keys.

Date Read: 4/3

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review: 

This was a very sad but good addition to the series. I love seeing how each family uses the keys to their advantage and we got the see two of the families in this one. 

Date Read: 4/4

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review: 

This was my 4th reread of this book and it is still a five-star read for me. I am progressing through the series again so I can read the last 2 books since I never read Defy Me last year.

Date watched: 3/31-4/2

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review: 

Netflix started me on Season 2 and I didn't notice until I was halfway through Episode 2. I kept asking myself, 'Where is Jessica Biel??. Yeah, oh well. I switched to season one and really enjoyed it. Every time I thought I figured something out... NOPE EFF YOU HAHAHAHA. I really love Detective Ambrose and how he fights for the truth instead of just accepting the easiest answer. This season was about a mother who was at the beach with her son and husband, enjoying herself, then she just snaps and repeatedly stabs someone sitting a few yards in front of her. 

Date Read: 3/30 & 4/3

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review: 

This season was a little bit more intense. It seems like the first and second season both have a religious undertone to the story. Julian is our main character and he is a murder suspect at thirteen years old. Detective Ambrose, once again, refuses to accept this story at face value. Julian is from a religious cult-like community called Mosswood and this story gets really deep and is VERY interwoven into the lives of the people in the town. Detective Ambrose isn't actually assigned this case, he is asked to come assist by the daughter of an old friend who happens to be on the case. I can't wait to watch Season 3, but I have a feel it won't live up to this season.

Weekly Wrap-Up + Mini Reviews - #2

Today we are wrapping up for 3/23-3/29. I managed to read 12 total items. Of the 12 items, 4 were full books and 8 were graphic novels.

Date Read: 3/23

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review: 

This was ADORABLE. I now have to go buy a physical copy. I keep telling my husband that these little comics are so us.

Date Read: 3/23

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review: 

I really enjoyed the meaning behind all of the little comics and I feel like parents should check this out. I didn't really like the art style and it made it a little hard to focus on the chat bubbles sometimes.

Date Read: 3/23

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review: 

Perfection. I laughed so hard at some of these. I have always loved crude humor so this was definitely a good choice for me.

Date Read: 3/23

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review: 

Oh no!

Date Read: 3/23

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Review: 

I wanted to love this but some of the skits didn't really make sense to me or I just didn't find them funny.

Date Read: 3/23

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review: 

Being able to enjoy and laugh at mental health issues portrayed by a pigeon was something I never thought would happen in my life. But, alas, it has happened. I can die happy.

Date Read: 3/23

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review: 

I really loved the author's webcomics so an entire book with his work just seemed like a dream. Such cute and funny skits and I enjoyed the entire book.

Date Read: 3/24

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

Review: 

Holy crap. I received this book as an eARC back before it came out but sadly that was around the time when my depression took over and I could barely function. I am so sad that I couldn't read this book back when I got it because DAMN. This was such a ride. School shootings are what we usually hear about but a school bombing? Dang. I really loved how this book was so much more than just a school bombing. It showed the lives of 6 students who were in the school the day before school started and what they were doing there. It showed racism, mental health, sexuality and so much more. I am so happy I decided to reach into my Netgalley backlog, otherwise, I might never have picked this up.

Date Read: 3/24

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review: 

I have seen Adam's art all over Facebook but I never knew who was behind it until I saw this book pop up on my libraries app. I grabbed it, read it in like 10 minutes and loved it. I could connect to so many things that were portrayed in the book and I love the fact that things were brutally honest.

Date Read: 3/25

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review: 

I had to sit down after finishing this book and really ask myself, did I really enjoy the book or was it just okay and I want to give it 5 stars because it's Marie Lu? Sadly, I came to realize that I didn't really LOVE this story. It was really good, don't get me wrong, but I felt like it was boring. If I hadn't read this as an audiobook I have a feeling my rating would be lower. 

Date Read: 3/27

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review: 

This book was exactly what I expected it to be. I am a little upset about the fact that its a book about teenagers yet it was sold as an adult book. There was a lot of information to take in as you read the book and I think, if I find the time, I will be rereading this because I KNOW I missed some stuff. The end of the book just had me sitting here like who? what? where? when? Are you there God? It's me, Jenn.

Date Read: 3/29

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review: 

I knocked off an entire star because the beginning of the book was kind of dull and had me saying wtf to myself? But after some progression, the book wasn't boring anymore but it DID keep saying wtf until the very end, I think I might have said it a few times after finishing the book, as well. You know how people say, you think you know but you have no idea? Yeah, that should have been the real title of this book. 

Review: All Your Twisted Secrets by Diana Urban - 4 stars

Title: All Your Twisted Secrets

Genre: Young Adult Mystery

Author: Diana Urban

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication: March 17th 2020

Cover Rating: 4/5

Reading Format: Provided ARC

Goodreads | Amazon

All Your Twisted Secrets by Diana Urban is the story of six teens who were offered a wonderful scholarship that they are supposed to attend a dinner to accept but this dinner ends up becoming an escape room from hell scenario.

What could six seemingly random teenagers have in common besides being invited to a scholarship dinner? Well, for one, most of them are or have been friends. Two, a few of them had a hand in damaging some of the lives of the others. Three, they all have secrets that lead someone to lock them in a room with no choice but to murder one of them or they all die. What would you have to do to someone to make them angry enough to kill?

This story was very interesting. There were so many layers and histories that it was very fun having them unravel before you. The plot goes back and forth between past and present and it leads us up to the inevitable end where everyone's secrets are left out in the open but it turns out even the person who locked them in the room had it all wrong. Well, maybe not ALL wrong.

It was around the halfway point when I started to realize who the 'bad guy' was but the motive still wasn't entirely clear. By the end of the book, I still didn't fully put it all together and was very shocked by the conclusion. So many lives potentially ruined because of bullying and revenge and the worst part is... Bullying. Happens. Every. Day. 

In the end, this story was very suspenseful even though some of the secrets weren't all that big. But the plot ran a lot deeper than just some forced escape room shenanigans. I enjoyed all the layers to the story and I'm glad it wasn't just a face value plot. I am also glad the book managed to be like One of Us is Lying without being a replica.

Overall, I gave the book 4/5 stars.

REVIEW: The Skin Factory by Lucas Pederson - 4 stars

Title: The Skin Factory

Genre: YA Sci-Fi/Horror

Author: Lucas Pederson

Publisher: LVP

Publication: December 24th 2019

Cover Rating: 5/5

Reading Format: Provided eBook

Goodreads | Amazon

The Skin Factory by Lucas Pederson is the story of Chase and how he must overcome being a bodiless soul working in a factory in some twisted form of an afterlife to save his sister, mother and the girl he loves.

Chase is dead. Well, not DEAD, his soul still lives on, but his human body is very much dead. And if losing his human body wasn't bad enough, he was plucked off his path on his way to heaven to work in a twisted factory creating these robot type bodies for souls/creatures to inhabit in order to integrate themselves into life on earth.

When Chase finds out the bodies he and his fellow souls are creating are going to be used for the nefarious purpose of something called the Obsidious he decides that he must escape the factory in order to protect his sister and mother. 

With the help of Bal, the soul who removed him from his path after death, Chase jumps into one of the bodies he helped manufacture and warps back to earth. The problem is, Chase might have taken the wrong body. But no matter what vessel he is in he still has to save the people he loves and maybe even all of humanity if he is feeling up to the task.

One aspect of the authors writing that I really enjoyed was the fun 'cuss words' and phrases he made up for Chase to use. A few of my favorites being, fruitbatty, cheese'n'rice, thank the gods and crunchy peanut butter and, floundernuts of purgatory. These definitely added to Chase's smartassed attitude/behavior.

In the end, this was a very solid book and I just found out it's going to be in three parts so I can't wait to see what happens next. The only complaints I really have about the book are one, I wish it was longer and two, I wish his mom being in the asylum was more prevalent, I love asylums so I was hoping we would get a little more time there. Other than that, the book had minor spelling/grammar errors that you tend to find in self-published/indie books but they weren't insane like some of the ones I have seen that took away from the story. 

Overall, I gave the book 4/5 stars.

Mini-Review: Reverie by Ryan La Sala - 4 stars

Title: Reverie

Genre: Young Adult LGBT Fantasy-ish

Author: Ryan La Sala

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Publication: December 3rd 2019

Cover Rating: 5/5

Reading Format: Provided ARC + Finished Copy

Goodreads | Amazon

Reverie by Ryan La Sala is a hybrid of a book. We get to follow Kane one his journey to get his memory back but along the way, we are shown some pretty epic fantasy worlds and some killer powers. This book really tested my imagination and I loved that.

Kane was recently in a pretty bad accident. An accident that caused the burning of a pretty important historical building, caused him to end up in a coma and caused him to lose his memory. But what if the accident wasn't what caused him to lose his memory? What is Kane has the ability to do something... magical? What if the life Kane remembers is just a ruse?

After the accident and Kane has had time to heal, he goes back to school only to realize that his memories are jumbled. Why does it feel like he knows some people when his memory is telling him that he hates or steers clear of them? Ursula, a girl he remembers not being friends with, ends up helping him out and that just opened up a floodgate of even more confusion and doubt.

This book is Magical Realism, at least by my definition. But when I went to check Goodreads, Magical Realism wasn't even remotely one of the genres listed for this book so that confused me. But I am keeping this review short because I feel like this is a book that needs to be experienced personally.

What I first picked this book up, I could not get into it. I have no idea what the problem was, maybe the fact that it was contemporary and I might not have been in the mood at the time but once I got past 100 pages I flew through the story. It was a wild ride about people's dreams/fantasies turning into something called a reverie which means it kind of comes to life but if it's not stopped it could end up destroying the people in the reverie. You know what, just read the book. 

In the end, I thought this book had a really solid storyline and plot but some things could have been written/portrayed better and there were some mistakes that transferred over to the finished copy of the book. I can't wait to see what the author writes next.

Overall, I gave the book 4/5 stars.