Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour

Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Nina LaCour novels (The Disenchantments, Hold Still, You Know Me Well) and Everything Leads to You was superb! Emi and best friend, Charlotte are working on a film together when they find a letter which has them following clues to locating a missing person. Who Emi locates is Ava, granddaughter of a cowboy film legend who has a whole lot going on in her homeless life. I loved Emi's excitement, her insecurities, and her expertise and passion in setting up rooms for films. As Emi befriends Ava, she learns so much about herself, so much about Ava, about giving and receiving. Each character was so real, likable, and their world of actors, films, and California was one that was exciting to plunge into as well as Emi's world of breakups with Morgan. A great beach read!

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The Serpent King by Jeff Zenter (audiobook)

The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to this stunning audiobook (since I had already read the book!!!) for a twitter chat with #2jennsbookclub on 8/8 at 8pm. Since I had already read the book and knew the whole plot; it was at times aching and at times haunting to listen to Dill, Travis, and Lydia as their lives unfold during their senior year of high school. Readers will continue to think about the confines of a small town, bullies, and three best friends who exist only for each other's friendship. Dill is mesmerizing as a poor, down trodden, teen with a disgraced father in prison with debt weighing on Dill and his mom. Travis's dad has become an abusive alcoholic toward Travis and his mom with his brother's death in Afghanistan. And Lydia has supportive parents, a wildly successful fashion blog and looks forward to college in New York. What is most sad is the torment Dill suffers as each day ticks by as senior year draws to a close and Lydia will leave him and never know he had been in love with her for a very long time. What lies in store for these three friends- will their dreams come true or will small town life decide their futures? A must read and listen to!!! Narrators Michael Crouch, Ariadne Meyers, Ethan Sawyer were awesome, with irresistible voices drawing the listener into their sympathetic characters' hearts, minds, and lives! A MUST READ!





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You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour and David Levithan

You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great audiobook! I loved narrators Matthew Brown and Emma Galvin as the voices of teens Mark and Kate who barely know each other and their paths cross one night in a gay bar as Mark takes the mic. What develops quickly is a very meaningful friendship when they realize their own friends maybe don't really understand them. I just loved both characters, Mark and Emma are real teens with insecurities, wants and needs. Teens will get the normal days and the drama filled days of these protagonists. They follow PRIDE week in San Francisco and attend their last days of school as Kate finally meets her crush, Violet and Mark is unsure of where he stands with Ryan. A wonderful book of friendship, bonding, and finding out who you are. Highly recommended!

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The Bitter Kingdom (Fire and Thorns #3) by Rae Carson

The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

LOVED this series and this 3rd book was such an adventure with heart stopping highs and lows; dazzling world building and such a strong cast of characters I will remember fondly for a very long time. Elisa just continued to impress me, astound me and make me laugh (with her self deprecation) and I rooted for her as she searched and claimed her true love for Hector. Hector was such a noble commander but could kill with skill. Elisa's team of Mara, Belen, Storm and Red were shrewd, stalwart and unfailingly loyal. Together they traversed deserts, underground mines, lands of ice and snow searching for Elisa's throne and her future. This trilogy is one of my favorites and A MUST READ!

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Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I always love Cassandra Clare's books about Shadow Hunters and this Midnight Lady certainly did not disappoint! Julian's family tore my heart apart and I loved Emma and Julian's parabati relationship. I did not like the Clave and their rules and laws; and I know this thread will continue through the next 2 books and I hope for change. There was mystery and drop dead action as Emma and Julian's family secretly help her investigate the murder of Emma's parents. The world building was once again glorious, beautiful and lush. I can't wait for the next book in the series!!!

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Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley

Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This audio book narrated by Robbie Daymond & Julia Whelan nailed the main characters of Lisa and Solomon. Lisa is a positive extrovert, involved in many clubs, dating Clark, and obsessed with the study of psychology and going to the 2nd best college with a full scholarship. All she has to do is nail her admission essay and that is where her "highly illogical behavior" cooks up the idea of "saving" Solomon who is agoraphobic and had not left his house in three years. Solomon is an especially lovable teen dealing with his mental illness with his very supportive parents and highly positive and honest grandmother. As Lisa becomes Solomon's friend, she is convinced she can cure him, even though her boyfriend, Clark is totally against her subterfuge. I loved and rooted for all the characters in this book; Whaley constructs such a stunning story about mental illness, friendship, and family. I still have many questions and would love to see a sequel - will Solomon make progress? will Lisa and Clark stay together? where will Lisa go to college? what will happen to Solomon's family?

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Don't Tempt Me by Lori Foster

Don't Tempt Me by Lori Foster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin and HQN Books for the ARC, Don’t Tempt Me by Lori Foster. I absolutely loved this romance; I could not stop reading it. Lori Foster created a lush love story romance with strong major and minor characters and a believable back story that shouts for a sequel and I for one can’t wait. Honor Brown is moving into a house she has just purchased. With best friend, Lexie, they arrive to see three very good looking men coming from the garage next door to meet their new neighbors. And so begins the immediate attraction between Honor and Jason, consisting of chemistry and sexual desire, so deftly rendered to the reader with their internal dialogue, thoughts, and conversations. Honor came from a very dysfunctional family and is determined to do everything on her own finding it very hard to accept help from Jason, Colt and Hogan Guthrie. The pacing in this romance is perfect and Honor and Lexie are treated on a daily basis to these great guys and their wonderful community that feels like “family.” As Honor and Jason fall for each other so do Lexie and another neighbor, Sullivan, click, quickly going on a date and into bed. Sexual encounters are many and detailed and I rooted for Honor and Jason as well as Lexie and Sullivan. There is plenty of sexual tension, drama, and action moving this lush story of love and romance forward to a very satisfying conclusion. Highly recommended!

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Arrowood by Laura McHugh

Arrowood by Laura McHugh
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group – Random House and Spiegel & Grau for the ARC, Arrowood by Laura McHugh. I was so unsettled as I read this dark mystery of missing twins. Since mystery is my favorite genre, I was excited once again to read another Laura McHugh book since I enjoyed The Weight of Blood so much. Arden Arrowood is 8 years old and playing with her beloved 2 year-old twin sisters when they are snatched from their yard. Fast forward to Arden as a 25 year-old adult who has never gotten over their disappearance, has inherited Arrowood now that her father has died and has returned to Iowa. Even though I could not put this book down (I wanted to know what happened!!!), I did not really like or feel empathy for Arden as the main character who suffers silently and lives in isolation. I know she is like this due to the devastating loss of her sisters but she has no depth, never sees a therapist, does not finish her thesis, and upon arriving at Arrowood, she sleeps all the time, walks around in her pajamas and it is only other characters (who are not fully fleshed either) getting her out and doing things. I rooted for Arden to become a strong character, find closure, and begin to live her life, will she find answers? For those who enjoy psychological thrillers, this book will be available September 2016.

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I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest

I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A fantastic book/graphic novel about the deep friendship of two young girls. Libby and May were best friends as youngsters but one rainy night Libby and her mom are in a fatal car accident. Now three years later, May is still sad about losing her best friend and their make believe world of Princess X who fights against evil. Imagine May's surprise when she begins to see Princess X stickers everywhere she walks. What does this mean? May befriends a computer nerd to help her locate more about Princess X and possibly, Libby? I loved the mystery, the web comic and fandom that has become legend for Princess X followers. I will be discussing this with #2jennsbookclub 7/7 at 8PM- Read this book and discuss with us!

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