Firstlife

Firstlife by Gena Showalter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I’ve been told history is written by survivors. But I know that isn’t always true. My name is Tenley Lockwood, and very soon, I’ll be dead. This is my story—but the end is only the beginning.

Tenley “Ten” Lockwood has spent the past thirteen months locked inside the Prynne Asylum. She’s earned her rep as the craziest of crazies, but that doesn’t stop the torture. Ten can leave, but only if she allows her parents to choose where she’ll live—after she dies.

There is an eternal truth most of the world has come to accept: Firstlife is merely a dress rehearsal, and real life begins after death.

In the Everlife, two realms are in power: Troika and Myriad, longtime enemies and deadly rivals. Both will do anything to recruit Ten, including sending their top Laborers to lure her to their side. Soon, Ten finds herself on the run, caught in a wild tug-of-war between the boy she’s falling for and the realm she wants to support. Who will she choose? Can she stay alive long enough to make a decision?

I am really torn about this book. On the one hand, I did enjoy most of it. It was a new kind of story for me and I thought it was quite original. The way Showalter described things made them feel really real for me. I didn't love the love triangle that seemed to form, but it got better as I continued listening. I will probably pick up book two, just to see what happens next.

This Shattered World

This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The second installment in the epic Starbound trilogy introduces a new pair of star-crossed lovers on two sides of a bloody war.

Jubilee Chase and Flynn Cormac should never have met.

Lee is captain of the forces sent to Avon to crush the terraformed planet's rebellious colonists, but she has her own reasons for hating the insurgents.

Rebellion is in Flynn's blood. Terraforming corporations make their fortune by recruiting colonists to make the inhospitable planets livable, with the promise of a better life for their children. But they never fulfilled their promise on Avon, and decades later, Flynn is leading the rebellion.

Desperate for any advantage in a bloody and unrelentingly war, Flynn does the only thing that makes sense when he and Lee cross paths: he returns to base with her as prisoner. But as his fellow rebels prepare to execute this tough-talking girl with nerves of steel, Flynn makes another choice that will change him forever. He and Lee escape the rebel base together, caught between two sides of a senseless war.

Freaking wow. It isn't often that I find a second book to be as good as the first. This was one of those. I loved These Broken Stars and loved This Shattered World just as much. When I started, I was a little confused that none of the same characters were involved, but later on some familiar names appear.

CHARACTERS- I loved the main characters of this book but the side characters really added to the story. You get the story from alternating viewpoints: between Jubilee Chase and Flynn Cormac. One a soldier, the other a rebel. I couldn't believe what happened between them. Not going to spoil it for you, read the book. There are also some chapters that have a third random voice (I listened) and whispering in the background. It really added some mystery to that part. Love, love, love the ending though!

PLOT- I thought the story was different then what I've read before. It didn't start right as book one ended, which I found interesting. I didn't even find the tie in until well into the book. The story moved along quickly and kept me going.

ENDING- This book had one, which I appreciate. There are still some unanswered questions, but I see a hope for the end of this series. Loved how book two wrapped. Still questioning but concluded enough to leave me feeling satisfied.


View all my reviews

Fox & O'Hare Series

I have been a Janet Evanovich fan for years. It's funny how I found her, I was at my local book store and the shop keeper was asking what kind of books I liked. After listening to me talk about a few of my favorites, he recommended I look at Evanovich's books. I started with One for the Money and was hooked.

This is another series with Evanovich along with Lee Goldberg. He is an author I hadn't read before, but I gave the books a try because a friend raved about them.

I read book one and laughed until my sides hurt. The characters that were created were so true, it felt like they could have been real people. O'Hare has an ex-special ops father who is obsessed with his rocket launcher. Anytime that Jake (the dad) appeared in the books, I knew it was going to be a laughable scene.

While Kate (O'Hare) isn't quite as amusing as Stephanie Plum (main character of the number books) she is smart and funny and so relate-able. I love reading (and listening) to these books. The narrator of the audio books is amazing. If you are looking for a book that will keep you reading and make you laugh, pick up one of the Fox and O'Hare series. There are five in the series so far and I cannot wait to see what Fox will get O'Hare into next book!

Book 1

Synopsis of The Heist: From Janet Evanovich, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum novels, and Lee Goldberg, bestselling author and television writer for Monk, comes the first adventure in an electrifying new series featuring an FBI agent who always gets her man, and a fearless con artist who lives for the chase.

FBI Special Agent Kate O’Hare is known for her fierce dedication and discipline on the job, chasing down the world’s most wanted criminals and putting them behind bars. Her boss thinks she is tenacious and ambitious; her friends think she is tough, stubborn, and maybe even a bit obsessed. And while Kate has made quite a name for herself for the past five years, the only name she’s cared about is Nicolas Fox—an international crook she wants in more ways than one.

Audacious, handsome, and dangerously charming, Nicolas Fox is a natural con man, notorious for running elaborate scams on very high-profile people. At first he did it for the money. Now he does it for the thrill. He knows that the FBI has been hot on his trail—particularly Kate O’Hare, who has been watching his every move. For Nick, there’s no greater rush than being pursued by a beautiful woman . . . even one who aims to lock him up. But just when it seems that Nicolas Fox has been captured for good, he pulls off his greatest con of all: he convinces the FBI to offer him a job, working side by side with Special Agent Kate O’Hare.

Problem is, teaming up to stop a corrupt investment banker who’s hiding on a private island in Indonesia is going to test O’Hare’s patience and Fox’s skill. Not to mention the skills of their ragtag team made up of flamboyant actors, wanted wheelmen, and Kate’s dad. High-speed chases, pirates, and Toblerone bars are all in a day’s work . . . if O’Hare and Fox don’t kill each other first.

A friend has been telling me to read this book for MONTHS and I had been putting it off. Forgetting. I am SO glad I finally remembered and checked it out from the library. Being a fan of Evanovich, I was a bit wary when I saw this was co-authored with another, but the wariness was for nothing, this book does not disappoint at all.

The characters: Kate is "dedicated and disciplined" in her job as an FBI agent. She is a "by the rules" kind of person. There is a definite fire in her and that is what makes her good at what she does. She has an former military dad and a home maker sister. From what little I picked up in this book, she has no interest in being part of any traditional family.

Nicholas Fox is the man she's been hunting for years. He is the con artist of all con artists and knows how to set up a con and live it. That's why he has eluded Kate so many years. When he is finally caught, he willingly exchanges a trial and probably prison for a job, working side by side with Special Agent Kate O’Hare.

Book 2 

The Plot: This book was incredibly fast paced. I finished it in two (long) sittings. Literally could not put it down. When compared with Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, this one isn't quite as comical but O'Hare and Fox certainly make an entertaining pair. When you add in the assortment of others they pull in to help, it is just awesome.

Overall this book gets five big stars from me. As a fan of Evanovich's other work, this one did not disappoint. Looking forward to reading more adventures with Fox and O'Hare.

Second read review: This is the first book in Evanovich and Goldbergs "Fox and O'Hare" series. This is my second time reading these books and I found them just as amusing the second time around. While they aren't quite as side splitting as Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, they come pretty close. Loved getting to know these two again, and the cast of characters that they are surrounded by. Almost as good as Lula and Grandma Mazur.

The Chase (book 2) My review: 5 stars

Synopsis: Internationally renowned thief and con artist Nicolas Fox runs daring cons, now teams undercover for FBI with agent who caught him, Kate O'Hare. 

Together they catch the world’s most wanted—and untouchable—criminals, next Carter Grove, former White House chief of staff, now ruthless leader of Black Rhino private security for a rare Chinese rooster from the Smithsonian.

Book 3

The Job (book 3) My review: 5 stars

Charming con man Nicolas Fox and dedicated FBI agent Kate O'Hare secretly take down world’s most-wanted and untouchable felons, next job Violante, the brutal leader of a global drug-smuggling empire. The FBI doesn’t know what he looks like, where he is, or how to find him, but Nick knows his tastes in gourmet chocolate.

From Nashville to Lisbon back alleys, from Istanbul rooftops to Thames, they chase clues to lookalike thefts. Pitted against a psychopathic bodyguard Reyna holding Kate hostage and a Portuguese enforcer getting advice from an ancestor's pickled head, they again call driver Willie for ship, actor Boyd for one-eyed Captain Bridger, special effects carpenter Tom, her father Jake - retired Special Forces, and his talent - machete-wielding Somali pirate Billy Dee. This could be their biggest job - if they survive.

This, like any other of the Fox and O'Hare books, was quite amusing. I literally laughed out loud a few times. Great story that kept me going through it.

The Scam: Book 4 - My review: 5 stars

Book 4

The synopsis: Nicolas Fox is a charming con man and master thief on the run. Kate O’Hare is the FBI agent who is hot on his trail. At least that’s what everyone thinks. In reality, Fox and O’Hare are secretly working together to bring down super-criminals the law can’t touch. Criminals like brutal casino magnate Evan Trace.

Evan Trace is running a money-laundering operation through his casino in Macau. Some of his best customers are mobsters, dictators, and global terrorists. Nick and Kate will have to go deep undercover as high-stakes gamblers, wagering millions of dollars—and their lives—in an attempt to topple Trace’s empire.

It’s a scam that will take Fox and O’Hare from the Las Vegas strip, to the sun-soaked beaches of Oahu’s North Shore, and into the dark back alleys of Macau. Their only backup—a self-absorbed actor, a Somali pirate, and Kate’s father, and an ex-soldier who believes a rocket launcher is the best way to solve every problem. What could possibly go wrong?

The Pursuit: book 5 - my review: 5 stars

Book 5

Nicolas Fox, international con man, thief, and one of the top ten fugitives on the FBI’s most-wanted list, has been kidnapped from a beachfront retreat in Hawaii. What the kidnapper doesn’t know is that Nick Fox has been secretly working for the FBI. It isn’t long before Nick’s covert partner, Special Agent Kate O’Hare, is in hot pursuit of the crook who stole her con man.

The trail leads to Belgium, France, and Italy, and pits Nick and Kate against their deadliest adversary yet: Dragan Kovic, an ex–Serbian military officer. He’s plotting a crime that will net him billions . . . and cost thousands of American lives.

Nick and Kate have to mount the most daring, risky, and audacious con they’ve ever attempted to save a major U.S. city from a catastrophe of epic proportions. Luckily they have the help of an eccentric out-of-work actor, a bandit who does his best work in the sewers, and Kate’s dad, Jake. The pressure’s on for Nick and Kate to make this work—even if they have to lay their lives on the line.

The Big Kahuna: book 6: my review five stars

The synopsis: A stoner, an Instagram model, a Czech oligarch, and a missing unicorn. Nick Fox and Kate O'Hare have their work cut out for them in their weirdest, wildest adventure yet in this latest entry in the New York Times bestselling series by Janet and Peter Evanovich.

Straight arrow FBI Agent Kate O'Hare always plays by the rules. Charming Con Man Nicholas Fox makes them up as he goes along. She thinks he's nothing but a scoundrel. He thinks she just needs to lighten up. They're working together to tackle the out-of-bounds cases ordinary FBI agents can't touch. And, their relationship? Well, there hasn't been so much explosive chemistry since Nitro was introduced to Glycerin.
Next on the docket: The mysterious disappearance of the Silicon Valley billionaire, known as the Big Kahuna. Kate's been assigned to find him but no one seems particularly keen on helping. His twenty-six year old adult actress wife-turned Instagram model wife and his shady Czech business partner are more interested in gaining control of his company. For that they need a dead body not a living Kahuna.
The only lead they have is the Kahuna's drop-out son, who's living the dream in Hawaii - if your dream is starting your day with the perfect wave and ending it with a big bowl of weed. To get close to the Kahuna's son, Kate and Nick go undercover as a married couple in the big wave, bohemian, surfer community of Paia, Maui. Living a laid back, hippy-dippy lifestyle isn't exactly in Kate's wheelhouse, but the only thing more horrifying is setting up house with Nick Fox, even if he does look pretty gnarly on a longboard. If they don't catch a break soon, waves aren't the only thing she's going to be shredding (or bedding)

How To Be Brave

Although I was given an advanced copy of this book in return for my honest review, all opinions remain my own.

This book is a fictional young adult novel. It is from the viewpoint of Georgia, a high school senior who recently lost her mom, trying to figure out how to "be brave" as her mother told her to do. 

It goes back and forth between the story and memories. The memories are all in a more poetic format, broken short lines. I found it a refreshing break between the story of her senior year.

Set in Chicago, most of this story revolves around Georgia and best friend Liss and new found friend Evelyn. It also involves a bit with Georgia's father and classmates. I found the characters very relate-able and easy to understand. Being that Georgia had recently lost her mom, she became a character I was very attached to, able to relate to and understood what she was going through.

I think at it's core, this book is about making mistakes and learning from them and finding a way to live each day bravely.

As I mentioned above, having recently lost her mother, Georgia's story really got to me. There were parts of this book that were hard for me to read, it almost felt like the author was there when my mom died. This made the book really emotional to me.

There are a few parts of this book that I wanted to remember and also share, parts that really touched me. This is a part of Georgia's memory of her mom's final days.

And then, in the CCU that last time:
the glare of the cold white walls from the long fluorescent bulb that fell hard against her grey skin against the cold metal and plastic wires.
The mask on her face the steady, careful pulse of machines, monitors,
mechanical boxes that lived for her that sustained whatever was left.
Her body was broken.
She was like a butchered animal with her arms limp and her chest heaving with the push of the machine.
Her eyelids shifting, her feet trembling.
Automatic responses, they're called.
I wonder what was there, inside, the moments before her heart stopped.
I wonder if she could hear what I said how sorry I was just so deeply sorry.

This memory of Georgia's was so like my own that I actually had to stop reading for a while. The memories I have of that time with my mom were awful. Just thinking about another person going through that, made me feel a little less alone. Even though realistically I know that this is a fictional character. The author's insight was just so vivid. It was remarkable and a very life like story.

Life without mom is a little like that. At first, it was all pain and tears. Every day was hard. I'd wake up and the sun was there, still shining in the sky, but the world didn't make sense anymore. Then little by little... that pain faded even more. I cried only once a week instead of every day. And then I stopped crying. I moved forward.

Again, so much like my own experience that it gave me pause. Made me think of how much I have moved forward.

The book ends with this statement from Georgia:
I'm doing it all, mom. Even more than you could have ever imagined.
For me, and for you.

Again echos how I am feeling now. I want to live my life to it's fullest for me and for mom.

This book is a must read. Even if you haven't suffered a loss like me, I feel it gives you an insight into what grief really feels like. Georgia is forced to basically do it on your own. By reading this book, I feel like it gives you a little more of an idea of how someone might be feeling. There is so much more going on in people's lives, you need to stop and pay attention, give them grace. We all make mistakes, we also all need to learn how to move on and learn from them.

Adventures In Funeral Crashing

This book is from the viewpoint of 16 year old Kait, self proclaimed "weird girl." Since her mother's death the year before Kait has a weird hobby of crashing funerals but aside from that seems like a typical teenager. 

When she crashes the wrong funeral, she is found out by the most popular (and cute) guy in school. What follows is her trying to solve a murder mystery while staying out of danger herself. I found this book to be quite enjoyable. 

The final chapters ended the book almost too quickly. I would have liked to see more reaction of the "aftermath" at school. Seemed like no one cared what happened to Kait when it would have been a pretty big deal if it happened in my high school! 

Anyway, the only other thing that bothered me was the way Kait described her food, constantly describing it with "yum-yum" and other such nonsense. I would rather that just be left out, but maybe that's just my personal preference. 

I did purchase book 2, so that tells you a bit about how I liked book 1.

My Grandmother Asked Me To tell You She's Sorry

Elsa is seven years old and different. Her grandmother is seventy-seven years old and crazy, standing-on-the-balcony-firing-paintball-guns-at-men-who-want-to-talk-about-Jesus-crazy. She is also Elsa's best, and only, friend. At night Elsa takes refuge in her grandmother's stories, in the Land of Almost-Awake and the Kingdom of Miamas where everybody is different and nobody needs to be normal.

When Elsa's grandmother dies and leaves behind a series of letters apologizing to people she has wronged, Elsa's greatest adventure begins. Her grandmother's letters lead her to an apartment building full of drunks, monsters, attack dogs, and totally ordinary old crones, but also to the truth about fairytales and kingdoms and a grandmother like no other.

While I didn't enjoy this as much as Backman's previous book, A Man Called Ove, I did enjoy this one very much. This one is from the viewpoint of a seven (almost eight) year old girl. You meet her and her grandmother and go through some time with the both of them. The dynamics of the family are fun. Elsa lives with her pregnant mother and step father in what seems like an apartment building. I find it funny, she calls her sibling-to-be "halfie" because it will be her half sibling. Anyway, Elsa and her family share the top floor with her grandmother.

She visits often with her father who is also remarried with step-children. The only two tenants on that floor. Throughout the book you get to meet all the tenants of the building and learn more about Elsa's wonderful eccentric grandmother.

Don't want to get into details and give it away. But this is a wonderful story and is quite emotional at times. Beckman has a way of bringing out the raw emotion in his books, very real.

Thirteen Reasons Why

You can’t stop the future.
You can’t rewind the past.
The only way to learn the secret . . . is to press play.

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker–his classmate and crush–who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah’s voice tells him that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he’ll find out why.

Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a firsthand witness to Hannah’s pain, and as he follows Hannah’s recorded words throughout his town, what he discovers changes his life forever.

TW: Suicide, minor alcohol consumption, sexual violence

I don't even know how to rate this... Suicide is a very real problem in this county (and the world). According to the CDC there is one death by suicide every 11 minutes. 

Even knowing all the signs, somehow everyone in Hannah's life didn't see what she was feeling. The further I got in the story, the more I saw the warning signs (often pointed out by the narrator, Clay) but it was all too late. 

You read Hannah's story through tapes. Tapes she recorded in the last days of her life, telling her 13 reasons why. Its easy to see how this teen girl felt so trapped by life that suicide felt like the only way out.

If you are experiencing difficult thoughts call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-8255

You can even text if phone calls aren't your thing, Text HOME to 741741 - available in the US anytime.

You can even contact the above if you are concerned about someone else. They have resources and can give advice.

I gave this four out of five stars on goodreads 

TW: cheating, death, family separation, forced pregnancy, hanging, oppressive government, prostitution, rape, sexism 

I don't know what I though this book was going to be, but this wasn't it. I guess I was thinking it was more "old timey" but this is like a look at a future possibility of the world. Scary! Not sure if I will continue this series or not. If I do, I think I will pick up the actual book versus listening. I didn't love the narrator's voice. 

I gave this book three stars on goodreads.

TW: I can't think of any, it does have cross-dressing in it. It brings up the question of gender identity. 

I loved this graphic novel. It is a classic story told in a beautiful new way. I borrowed this book from my local library but plan on buying a copy for my bookshelf at home. BEAUTIFUL! 

I gave this FIVE stars on goodreads.

TW: Rape, suicide, war, death, cancer. 

Although it is a work of fiction, you can sometimes lose yourself so much in the story that you forget. I can imagine this kind of story happens every day... It was so real I often had to remind myself it was a work of fiction. I wanted to know where are they now?? But, they aren't. They aren't real. 

I can see why this book is on the list. Some of the scenes are quite graphic, including the sexual assault of a child by other children. Still don't agree with the "decision" because it is the life some children are living. 

TW: Ableism, alcoholism, underage drinking, bullying, child abuse and marijuana use. 

I read Eleanor and Park in February of 2017. Here is my review from then: The ONLY thing I didn't love about this book was the ending. Felt like I was ripped off when I got so involved in the characters lives.

This is another of the books that jumps back and forth viewpoints between Eleanor (awkward, poor new girl) and Park. At first, it is just the story of the two of their lives and how they circled around each other. From the first pages, I had a feeling there was something deeper then Eleanor was letting out, but that info wasn't revealed until late in the book.

Loved this story. Love that it wasn't a perfect "love story" or even a perfect story. Love almost every page of this book.

Gave this book four stars on goodreads. 

This post partially inspired by: 

Malice

While I received a copy of this e-book from Netgalley, all opinions remain my own. 

In the kingdom of Briar, the Grace's are held in high esteem, their golden blood the key to magical charm-granting elixirs.

Then there is Alice, the only Dark Grace in the kingdom. He blood flows an ugly green, and she is called on for the dark-charms, hidden away from the public eye.

The princess Aurora has only one year left to break the curse, find her true love's kiss so that she can continue living...

I thought I knew where this story was going... I so didn't. This is one book you have to read. 

It isn't like the other fairy tales. 

It is a non-fairy tale I think. 

Most defiantly putting this author on my "to follow" list. She has quite the way with words on how to voice this unforgettable character.

I cannot wait until book two comes out!! 

If you want to read it, the book is available at retailers nationwide today (goodreads has all the links here) 

Review: Mockingbird in Mark Twain's Hat

"Mockingbird in Mark Twain’s Hat, is an adventure story full of animals that talk. Wynne is a precocious mockingbird born in the rural south in the late 1800s. His whole family are singers, but at four days old, he wants to be a novelist just like his hero, Mark Twain. When crows attack his nest, he’s swept away on an epic adventure along the Mississippi River. Wynne learns to read and write, makes new friends in surprising places, and is mentored by Mark Twain himself. Full of delightful quotes from Mark Twain, this novel for children ages 8-12 shines with important lessons of character, perseverance, love, and the importance of friendship."

As you see in the blurb, this story is a "coming of age" tale with a mockingbird as the main character. You follow Wynne through her adventures and even meeting a famous someone! The story included several quotes that I found the need to highlight in my pdf version (wish I could share them here, but you will have to read for yourself and see if you can guess which ones!)

There is a part of the book that mentions slavery and follows a man who was a slave briefly. I love that this author didn't try to skirt around the problem of slavery that existed in the 1800s. It gives you the opportunity to discuss this issue with your children.

I felt like the end came too quickly and really wanted to read more about Wynne's journey but overall this was a wonderful book. I would have no problems sharing this with my girls.

While I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review, all opinions remain my own.

The Forgotten Secret

I finished a book last night that I have to tell you about! The Forgotten Secret. I read it as a member of the Amazon Prime Reading (not a sponsored post, but a great program if you are an avid reader like me).

The synopsis from Goodreads: Can she unlock the mysteries of the past?

A country at war - It’s the summer of 1919 and Ellen O’Brien has her whole life ahead of her. Young, in love and leaving home for her first job, the future seems full of shining possibility. But war is brewing and before long, Ellen and everyone around her are swept up by it. As Ireland is torn apart by the turmoil, Ellen finds herself facing the ultimate test of love and loyalty.

A long-buried secret - A hundred years later and Clare Farrell has inherited a dilapidated old farmhouse in County Meath. Seizing the chance to escape her unhappy marriage she strikes out on her own for the first time, hoping the old building might also provide clues to her family’s shadowy history. As she sets out to put the place – and herself – back to rights, she stumbles across a long-forgotten hiding place, with a clue to a secret that has lain buried for decades.

For fans of Kate Morton and Gill Paul comes an unforgettable novel about two women fighting for independence.

My thoughts: First of all, I loved how this author chose to go back and forth between viewpoints. You got to see Ellen O'Brien set in the early 1900's Ireland. Then you get a contemporary viewpoint from Clare. Both stories are completely different, but the way they come together is just beautiful.

A few trigger warnings for this book. It does mention child/infant death and adoption (it was a part of the Irish history). Spousal abuse is also quite a prominent theme in this book. One last one is descriptions of war times. The Ellen part of the story is set during the war in Ireland for its independence.

A few quotes I need to share that I loved (no spoilers, don't worry!)

• Why was it always the case that you left these things too late? All those memories, buried with the last generation. (location 17%)
  
  
• When we're young, we're more interested in the future than the past. (location 34%)
  
  
• 'Watch for the use of language,' she said 'and remember one man's "terrorist" is another man's "freedom fighter".' (location 35%)
  
  
• No one is truly dead until there's no one left to remember them, she told herself. (location 88%)

My thoughts: OMG this book. I literally stayed up THREE HOURS (or so) past my bedtime to finish this book. I love when a book gives you both a history lesson and an incredible story at the same time. This book let me learn about Irish history and read the stories of two incredible women. As above, this book keep me up far later then I should have been just to finish it and see what happened.

The How & The Why

A poignant exploration of family and the ties that bind. 

Today Melly had us writing letters to our babies…

Cassandra McMurtrey has the best parents a girl could ask for. They’ve given Cass a life she wouldn’t trade for the world. She has everything she needs—except maybe the one thing she wants. Like, to know who she is. Where she came from. Questions her adoptive parents can’t answer, no matter how much they love her.

But eighteen years ago, someone wrote Cass a series of letters. And they may just hold the answers Cass has been searching for.

Alternating between Cass’s search for answers and letters from the pregnant teen who gave her up for adoption, this voice-driven narrative is the perfect read for fans of Nina LaCour and Jandy Nelson.

First of all, trigger warnings for this book: family life, adoption, abortion, illness, LGBTQIA, racism and teen pregnancy. Some are more prominent then others, but all are touched on, at least. I think all of the issues were addressed very tactfully and honestly. I think I would be comfortable with my teenagers reading this.

 

I've been putting off reading this book because I didn't want to cry. While that didn't happen (me not crying) it wasn't nearly as sad as I expected. I love how real everything felt. Considering the author herself was adopted, I think many of Cass' questions probably were ones that Hand had to answer for herself as well. The characters are all so real, and some of the issues that come up are so hard but it completed an amazing story. 

I really enjoyed that Hand used a Boise local school for the setting. The birth mom is a student at the Booth School for Pregnant and Parenting Teens. This is a real program that is in partnership with my church, The Salvation Army. The program is still running today, in partnership with Cardinal Academy. It is no longer a live in school though. I actually saw the building from the cover weekly for over a year. You can see more about the school building here and the charter school that is now in our NEW building here. 

PS I Like You

Signed, sealed, delivered…

While spacing out in chemistry class, Lily scribbles some of her favorite song lyrics onto her desk. The next day, she finds that someone has continued the lyrics on the desk and added a message to her. Intrigue!

Soon, Lily and her anonymous pen pal are exchanging full-on letters—sharing secrets, recommending bands, and opening up to each other. Lily realizes she’s kind of falling for this letter writer. Only, who is he? As Lily attempts to unravel the mystery and juggle school, friends, crushes, and her crazy family, she discovers that matters of the heart can’t always be spelled out…

My review: 4 of 5 stars

I received a signed copy of this book in my August UpperCase box. At first, I wasn't too excited. Really slow to start with but once I got about a third of the way in, I was hooked. This is a high school romance as told through letters between two students, unknown (at first) to each other.

The Characters: Lily was a character I found easy to like. She has a big crazy family and spends a lot of time helping with her younger brothers (babysitting). A music lover, who isn't all that in to the mainstream, she marches to the beat of her own drum. This book is from her viewpoint. Lily constantly writes in her notebook. Doodling, writing her own song lyrics, just writing. Anyway, I just love Lily.

The Plot: While predictable at times, this story was just original enough to keep me reading. What starts out as Lily writing on her desk, a few song lyrics, turns into a pen-pal type relationship. Her and another person exchange letters, hidden in the underside of the desk of her chemistry class. The pace in this was quick enough that I didn't get bored. Also there were parts of the book that were the actual letters. I love it when they do that in books!

Overall I thought this book was adorable. My mom would have called it popcorn reading. Nothing too hard to think about, nothing to weird or scary, just light an fluffy and fun.