We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Happy Friday friends! Today I’m sharing some of my thoughts about the book We Were Liars, which was my book club’s pick for the month of March. This review will be spoiler free.I originally read We Were Liars a few years ago when a coworker recommended it to me. I had no idea what the book was about, but I picked it up and read it so fast (because how can you not?) and the ending definitely caught me by surprise. I really enjoyed the book though and purchased my own copy because I thought I would read it again.And I did! Well, sort of.This time around I found myself not as interested in the story. I haven’t read many books like this, but I don’t read a lot of books that have a mystery in them more than one time. Why? Because I know what’s going to happen and the book isn’t nearly as fun to read. That’s what happened to me this time as I read We Were Liars the second time.As you read We Were Liars you know that something happened to Cadence but you don’t know what. You know from the beginning that she was in an accident but doesn’t remember any of the details. The first time I read it, I was captivated, eagerly turning the page so that I could find out what happened. I was so shocked by the ending that I bought the book because I thought it was so great.Reading it through the second time sort of changed my mind. I still liked the book, but I did end up skimming about 70 pages in the middle because I just wasn’t interested. I found Caddie annoying and honestly, I just wanted to get to the end. I did pick up on a lot more clues this time around (possibly because I knew what I was looking for).All in all, I’d say if you haven’t read this book before, it’s a fun mystery/thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat and wanting more. It’s a quick, short read that I feel like anyone can enjoy! I am excited to talk about it with my book club later today (join here if you haven’t already!) and see what everyone else thought. I guess my thoughts for We Were Liars come down to this. I really loved it the first time I read it, but I didn’t like it as much the second time around. It was the first time I’ve ever re-read a mystery/thriller though, so now I know what to expect if I ever do reread another.

About We Were Liars

A beautiful and distinguished family.A private island.A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.A revolution. An accident. A secret.Lies upon lies.True love.The truth.We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from New York Times bestselling author, National Book Award finalist, and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart. Read it.And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.

Add to Goodreads. Do you ever reread books? Have you reread a mystery/thriller? What was that experience like for you?

Categories: Book Review, Books

Clouds & Earth by Sayde Scarlett

I received a copy of Clouds & Earth in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.I’ve been trying to branch out of my usual genres this year. And when a publicist reached out asking if I’d like to read and review Clouds & Earth which is a futuristic sci-fi novel, I said yes! Clouds & Earth sounded fun, with espionage and a female lead! I was so excited to read it. And while some things did disappoint, it wasn’t terrible. I gave it 2.75/5 stars.

Things I struggled with:

When I first started Clouds & Earth, I really struggled with the writing style. We follow several different characters throughout the book and for the first 60 or so pages, it was really confusing as to how all of the POVs related to each other. After the 60 page mark though, things started coming together and the book started to make a lot more sense. I still struggled with the writing style though, and I’m struggling now to explain how this book was written. It felt like this was a compilation of scenes (which I know that’s what a book is) but I felt like this one really lacked good transitions, which made the book feel chopping and clunky as you jumped from one perspective to the next, or from one scene to the next. As I read, I did get used to the writing style, but I still wished that the book had flowed better overall.I also didn’t really like the main character, Sandy. The Long War, where she was a soldier, is now over and she’s bored with her life. She’s not working (which is why she accepts a job offer that could turn into treason if she isn’t careful) and while she has PTSD and lives with flashbacks I didn’t really feel for her. It’s hard to explain, but I didn’t feel any emotional attachment to her and when she was experiencing flashbacks I found it hard to empathize with her. Which is weird for me to say because I have PTSD and I still struggled to relate. It also felt like she didn’t have any internal story which also made it hard to root for her. What was she learning? Why was she going through all this? I have no idea! This is the first book in a trilogy, so I hope we will get answers to those questions in future books, but I felt like her character arc in this book was lacking.Also… what the heck even happened in this book? I often find myself reading like a writer, and as I read Clouds & Earth I struggled to find a plot. There were a lot of things that happened throughout the book, but I don’t know what the actual plot was. This may be because there were so many POV that you follow, but I couldn’t see a clear plot.

What I did enjoy:

I really liked Massi’s character. Massi is a cadet at the academy and he’s training to be a soldier. He’s also in love with Nat and that love makes him make some choices that he may not have otherwise made. I thought that Massi had the most character growth throughout the story. And I really enjoyed reading the parts when the story was told from his POV. Even though the book lacked a clear plot, I did like the story. It was interesting and kept me reading.And one last thought, there was one scene where Massi and Nat are making out (Nat kissed him) and they are caught. When they are explaining what happened, Nat essentially says that the kiss was unwelcomed and that Massi forced himself on her. Which isn’t what happened!! AHH. This made me mad at her character. I hope that this is taken care of in the next book. I don’t love the promotion of rape culture, especially when it wasn’t true. That bothered me. I hope she gets consequences for her actions.

Last thoughts:

Overall, Clouds & Sky wasn’t a terrible book, but it wasn’t the greatest book either. I’m interested to see what changes in the next two books (and I really hope that the plot will be clearer). I’d recommend this one if you like futuristic sci-fi novels. There wasn’t a lot of character growth or plot, but the story was fun.

About Clouds & Earth

The Long War changed everything. For Lt. First Class Sandy Attiyeh, the peace she helped create seems to be working for everyone but her. This new world is so…well, so dull.With her commanding officer keeping her at arm’s length, citing her rather unpredictable temperament, Sandy is willing prey for Lyndon Hamilton, CEO of Hamilton InfoSec, who needs someone to engage in a little corporate espionage. He offers good pay, interesting work, and excitement. Perfect.But when Sandy’s face starts to show up on activists’ pamphlets, and rumors begin to circle regarding her alleged war crimes, any hopes she had of a future in the civilian world begin to unravel. Unable to escape Hamilton’s twisted ambitions, Sandy, caught between her old comrades and her new employer, must find a way to save the peace she gave everything for. Clouds and Earth is the first installment in The Peace Outside trilogy and is a dark and thrilling tale of intrigue and espionage set in the data-driven world of tomorrow. Startling and prescient in equal measure, it is a must-read for fans of sci-fi and contemporary fiction alike.

Add on Goodreads.

Categories: Books

Books I Want to Read This Spring

This post contains affiliate links. You can read my full disclosure here.We had a huge snow storm last week and I’m crossing my fingers that it was the last snow of the season! Spring has been in the air for a few days though and I am sooo ready for warmer weather and more sunshine! I love this time of year, the grass is turning green again, flowers and trees are blooming and ah… it’s just the best! And there are a ton of great books that are on my radar for this season and today I’m talking about all the books I want to read this spring!

This is part of the Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

Romanov

Let’s start with some of my most anticipated releases of 2019! Romanov being one of those. I fell in love with Nadine’s writing in her book Fawkes which came out last year. Romanov is a retelling of Anastasia and I am so excited to read it. Romanov comes out in May.I will also say that any of these that are new releases and/or ones that I don’t own, they are all on hold at the library because of a shopping ban that I’ll be talking more about on Thursday.Preorder + add to Goodreads.

Defy Me

I LOVE the Shatter Me series. I just reread all of the books and I am ready (totally not emotionally ready) for Defy Me, which is the fifth book in this series. I’m ready to see what goes down between Juliette and Warner and the crazy world they live in. I need this book in my life. Defy Me is out in April.Preorder + add to Goodreads.

Wicked Saints

This book already has all the hype from everyone who has read an early copy. I think this one comes out in April. I’m not 100% sure but…… I got an eARC from NetGalley and am reading it currently and I am so in love with the world and the magic already and I’ll share all of my thoughts as soon as I’ve finished it!Preorder + add to Goodreads.

Again, but Better

Can I put a book that I’ve actually already read on this list??? I received an arc of Again, but Better from NetGalley and you can see all of my thoughts here. But I adored this book. It’s perfect for springtime and if you’re in the mood for a love story with a little bit of magic thrown in. Ah. I love this book. I’m ready to read it again. This one also comes out the beginning of May.Preorder + add to Goodreads.

Four Dead Queens

This book just hit the shelves this month and my copy from the library is ready and I need to run to get it! I honestly have no idea what this book is about, but several booktubers I watch read early copies and loved it (even the ones who don’t read much fantasy) and I knew I needed to add it to my list! I’m gonna guess that it’s about four dead queens, but I guess we’ll find out!Buy + add to Goodreads.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely

I’m in the mood for some good fantasy novels. Which is funny, because springtime usually = light, fluffy romances but I am really craving fantasy. I got A Curse So Dark and Lonely in the January SpearCraft book box (get 10% off your first box with the code BOOKISH10) and I can’t wait to dive in and read this one. I’ve heard so many good things about this retelling of Beauty and the Beast (which is one of my favorite stories) so I am excited about this one.Buy + add to Goodreads.

Girl, Stop Apologizing

I just started listening to Girl, Stop Apologizing and I LOVE IT even more than I liked Girl, Wash Your Face. So far I’m relating to this one a lot more and I can’t wait to finish it!Buy + add to Goodreads.

Daisy Jones and the Six

I’ve read a few books by Taylor Jenkins Reid and have loved them. Everyone seems to be talking about Daisy Jones and the Six and I can’t wait to read it. It may not be this season though since I’m number 78 in line for the library book, but I’ll get to it sometime! I may also see if I can get it on audiobook sooner, but the hold line for it may be just as long!Buy + add to Goodreads.

The City of Brass + The Kingdom of Copper

Two more incredible fantasies that I need to read/finish. I started The City of Brass in December and then got distracted by Christmas and other books, but I loved the world and can’t wait to get back into it. I was also sent a copy of the second book, The Kingdom of Copper from the publisher and I can’t wait to read that one as well!Buy + add to Goodreads.Those are all the books that I’m looking forward to reading in the next few months! I’m sure there will be others, but these are at the top of my list! What books are you hoping to read this spring?

Categories: Books

Review: Again, but Better by Christine Riccio

This post contains affiliate links, for more details see site disclaimer.

I’ve been in the mood for a really great contemporary lately! When I saw Again, but Better by Christine Riccio on NetGalley I knew I had to request it! I haven’t been using NetGalley as much but when I got the email that I’d received an ARC (advanced readers copy) of this book I actually squealed!

Again, but Better is one of my most anticipated books of 2019 (I already pre-ordered a finished copy!) and I was so excited to be able to read it early. The author, Christine, is a really popular Booktuber. I only recently started watching her videos, but I did know who she was. I know that you can never know what to expect going into a book that was written by someone who is already internet famous, but Again, but Better DID NOT disappoint.

We follow Shane who’s on a study abroad for a creative writing program. She lied to her parents and told them she was there for the pre-med program which doesn’t actually exist. She’s planning to be a doctor because that’s been her parent’s dream for her for as long as she can remember, but Shane really wants to be a writer.

She starts making friends right away and falling for Pilot who is also in the study abroad program.

This book was super fun, fast-paced, and really enjoyable to read. There was a little twist of fate that included some magic which I actually really found fun. Like every book, there were a few flaws with this novel. This book takes place in 2011 and 2017 and for some of the 2011 parts, it felt a little forced, like there were things added (like playing Angry Birds) that didn’t necessarily add to the story but would remind you what year it was taking place. That bothered me a little, but it was such a page-turner that in the end, I didn’t mind too much.

Again, but Better reminded me slightly of Anna and the French Kiss and Fangirl, both books I liked but didn’t love. I did love Again, but Better. If you’re in the mood for a fun and romantic contemporary, I definitely recommend! Again, but Better is officially out on May 7th and you can preorder here! What’s the last 5-star book you read?

About Again, but Better

Shane has been doing college all wrong. Pre-med, stellar grades, and happy parents…sounds ideal — but Shane’s made zero friends, goes home every weekend, and romance…what’s that?

Her life has been dorm, dining hall, class, repeat. Time’s a ticking, and she needs a change — there’s nothing like moving to a new country to really mix things up. Shane signs up for a semester abroad in London. She’s going to right all her college mistakes: make friends, pursue boys, and find adventure!

Easier said than done. She is soon faced with the complicated realities of living outside her bubble, and when self-doubt sneaks in, her new life starts to fall apart. Shane comes to find that, with the right amount of courage and determination one can conquer anything. Throw in some fate and a touch of magic – the possibilities are endless.

Add on Goodreads | Buy on Amazon | Buy on Bookshop.org