Category: Book Review

Book Review

This Book Kills

TheShelfLife

This Book Kills by Ravena Guron

Publication Date: September 2024 | Thanks NetGalleyfor an ARC

Overall Verdict: If you can get passed some too convenient coincidences, this is an entertaining boarding school murder mystery.

3.5/5 Stars

Book Summary: As one of the few scholarship students at an elite boarding school, Jess has tried to keep her head down and work hard. When one of her fellow classmates is murdered, it comes to light that it occurred exactly as one of Jess’s short stories she wrote for class. With her future on the line, Jess teams up with other students to figure out what happened all while receiving death threats from the murderer. As their investigation continues, secrets are revealed and everyone has the possibility of becoming a suspect…or the next in line to be murdered.

My Analysis: This one turned out much better than I anticipated after reading the synopsis and the first 20% of the book. It actually had me stumped on who was behind the murders, which is saying something. My biggest hang up with this one was how juvenile some of the writing was geared. It seemed unnecessary to me to have silly character names and to keep over using the same phrases (Er…) to the point it detracts from the story. I did appreciate that there were layers of complexity when it came to characters secrets and wasn’t quite as straight forward of a murder mystery as I had thought. There were of course some events that seemed like a little too much of a coincidence than it would be in reality, but if you can look beyond that it was entertaining. The characters were mostly interesting and the author did do a nice job of making everyone seem like a suspect. I was invested in wanting to know what happened next. If you like murder mysteries and/or boarding school stories, give this one a read.

Book Review

Under the Surface

TheShelfLife

Under the Surface by Diana Urban

Publication Date: August 2024 | Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: A gripping thriller that will keep you guessing from start to finish. Teens lost and fighting for survival and each other.

5/5 Stars

Book Summary: A group of high school students are on a trip to France. Ruby is an emerging travel vlogger, and is excited to see what the city has to offer. Plus, spending a week in Paris with her best friend and crush sounds like a dream. When Ruby’s friend Val sneaks off to meet a French boy though, Ruby tries to stop her from making a bad choice. However, she and a couple others from the trip get swept up into the idea of an exclusive party in the underground Paris catacombs. As they make their way through the catacombs, it becomes clear that they are never making it to the party. Flooding, cave-ins, and wrong turns aren’t the only things they need to survive from, there is also someone or something chasing them as they continue to try and find the surface.

My Analysis: This is Urban’s best work yet. I’ll admit I’m a bit skeptical because she tends to be very hit (and mostly) miss with me but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It was very suspenseful throughout and she did a nice job of letting you really get to know the characters on a deeper level. The friendships (both current and former) are very well done. It’s a dual POV with Ruby and someone above ground, so you really get to see what is happening on both sides of things which was interesting and makes you really invested. It is a story of survival, friendship, love and the belief of doing what you believe is right. I liked learning about the Paris catacombs from a historical perspective as well, and through this heart pounding story it made them come alive as the reader. I feel like I can’t say much more without giving away too many spoilers, so let’s just say that I didn’t want to stop reading this one. If you like thrillers then you definitely need to give this one a read!

Book Review

AdelAIDE Just Wants to Help

TheShelfLife

AdelAIDE Just Wants to Help by Melinda Salisbury

Publication Date: August 2024 | Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: A quick read that serves as a cautionary tale of when AI reliance goes too far. Solid thriller novella.

4/5 Stars

Book Summary: Freya is desperate to become a popular influencer, especially when her former friend has similar ambitions but is already very well known. When Freya’s stepdad brings home AdelAIDE, an AI robot assistant, she feels like her luck may be changing. AdelAIDE only wants to help, and Freya continues to seek out and adhere to her suggestions on how to make herself more popular. After awhile though Freya ends up making some radical choices, putting into question AdelAIDE and the morality of her input.

My Analysis: I adored Salisbury’s Hold Back the Tide (if you haven’t read it- do it!) so when I saw this one I was intrigued. This is a very timely cautionary tale of the influence of AI technology and how reliant one can become on it if we let it. I thought this was a solid thriller novella. Coming in at just under 100 pages, I read it in one sitting. It kept my interest all throughout and I was invested in how AdelAIDE would continue to interact with Freya and the fallout of everything that was happening. A few years ago I would have classified this as Sci-Fi, but with where things are today it’s actually more realistic fiction. I can definitely see this being of interest to a wide range of audiences.

Book Review

The Davenports: More Than This

TheShelfLife

The Davenports: More Than This by Krystal Marquis

Publication Date: November 2024 | Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: Worth the read if you enjoyed the first novel, but know going in you’re going to have to get to know the characters all over again. This novel shares impactful stories of an important historical group.

3.5/5 Stars

Book Summary: Sequel to The Davenports. Four Black young women from wealthy families living in the 1910’s share their stories. Ruby is newly engaged, but battling rumors that could ruin her reputation and her father’s campaign for mayor. Olivia is committed to change and social justice. She hopes to reunite with the traveling activist Washington DeWitt, until her parents suggestion of a suitor catches her interest. Amy-Rose is finally fulfilling her lifelong dream of owning a hair salon, but this puts her back in proximity of the dashing John Davenport. Helen is determined to bring the family carriage company forward by introducing a motorcar. Teaming up with the rake racer Swift, she puts a plan in motion.

My Analysis:I absolutely LOVED the first Davenports book, so as soon as I saw this was available I jumped at the chance to read it. Unfortunately I was a bit disappointed in it overall. The writing was good, as it was in the first novel, but the characters actually bothered me. Without giving too much away, there are not one but several characters that simply choose not to read letters they had and make very large assumptions which lead to some significant miscommunications. If you aren’t into miscommunication tropes, steer clear of this one. In the first novel there was a lot of character development and build up (particularly with love interests) and it almost seemed like I was getting to know new characters (with new love interests) instead. In the sequel I also felt as if the character development wasn’t as well done. I think it may have been the multiple POV’s this time around, even though that didn’t seem to interfere with the first. It was hard to really get to know any of the POV’s in a deeper level. I did however like the new character additions and the push for these Black female characters to strive for their goals and show that they are More Than This. That message is an important one, and you can tell this author did her historical research of this time period. There aren’t many novels out there (particularly YA) that share this specific viewpoint in this time in history, so it is definitely worth reading.

Book Review

The Wilderness of Girls

TheShelfLife

The Wilderness of Girls by Madeline Claire Franklin

Narrated by Rebecca Soler

Publication Date: June 2024 | Thanks NetGalley for an ARC | Audiobook Version

Overall Verdict: If you’re willing to put up with the very slow pace, this is an original concept that discusses some heavy topics.

3/5 Stars

4/5 Stars for Narration

Book Summary: Eden is placed with her estranged uncle after her father ends up in jail and her step mother runs off. Wanting to start fresh, she dawns a new name as Rhi, and tries to find some happiness in Happy Valley. While working for her uncle at a nature preserve, Rhi stumbles upon a group of girls who appear to have lived in the wilderness for quite some time. While trying to help them, the girls are forced into a world they have never known. They tell Rhi that they have been living with a man named Mother and that they are princesses from another land. Grappling with her own past and present, Rhi balances figuring out herself and the unique bond that she has established with the girls.

My Analysis: This is an original idea and an ambitious one. The story starts off strong, then slows down dramatically before picking up again at the tail end. Honestly a good quarter of the book couple probably have been cut out. If you’re willing to put up with such a slow pace and some ambiguity, it is an interesting read. It is important to note there are some trigger warnings including sexual abuse, suicide and cannibalism. Given those incidents, this is probably suited for older YA readers. The themes, although heavy, are very well portrayed. The characters and their relationships as sisters, friends and more is the cornerstone of this book. I really liked all the characters equally too, there wasn’t one that stood out among the others in terms of keeping my interest. Readers will grapple with fantasy vs reality with one, and a lot is left up to interpretation. This novel isn’t for everyone, but those who really buy into the parallels it presents will find value in the stories told.

Book Review

Witty In Pink

TheShelfLife

Witty In Pink by Erica George

Publication Date: August 2024 | Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: Fans of regency era romance will fall for these characters.

4/5 Stars

Book Summary: After an embarrassing incident that occurred when they were children, Blythe has actively avoided Briggs Goswick. When she spends the summer at her Uncles home next door to the Goswick estate, they encounter each other once more. Each needing to do something to save their family, they end up reluctantly striking a bargain. Briggs will introduce her to potential investors for her budding bee business, and in return Blythe will help Briggs win the heart of a cold woman with a large dowry. While working together, they realize there may be more to their witty banter than resentment.

My Analysis: If you are a fan of regency era settings, I recommend you pick this one up. It focuses more on those individuals that live outside the ton and gives a slightly different perspective than binging Bridgerton. You should know going into this that it is a romance novel, and that the plot very much revolves around that and the experiences of those characters. That being said, the characters are highly intriguing and even the secondary characters are well-developed. I liked Blythe’s independent and business natured mindset, even if she could also be insufferable at times. The romance was nicely done as characters skirted around one another. Historically speaking, I’m not exactly sure how accurate this is as a representation of the time period. It felt like there were several times where things didn’t historically make sense. If that’s not something that you would get bothered by though, it is worth the read for the entertaining story.

Book Review

The Return of Ellie Black

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The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean

Publication Date: May 2024

Overall Verdict: A solid thriller that will keep you guessing and make your heart wrench for the characters. An adult novel with YA crossover potential. Recommended!

5/5 Stars

Book Summary: Detective Chelsey Calhoun has been trying her entire career to help find missing girls, in hopes of finding closure for her sister who had gone missing when they were teens. When a cold case of Chelsey’s is suddenly active again with the reappearance of Ellie Black who vanished two years ago, she begins to dive deeper into what happened. As she questions Ellie however, it becomes clear that she is not sharing all the information about what has happened to her.

My Analysis: This is an adult novel, but absolutely has the ability to be of interest (and appropriate where applicable) for older YA readers. Content warning there is non-graphic depictions of sexual abuse. You are given both the detectives perspective as well as the teen who had been missing, so YA readers can still make a connection. It is a fast-paced thriller and I like how the author connected the dots through multiple perspectives. There are some interesting twists (one of which I wasn’t totally a fan of, but it worked) that really keep you wanting more. I do wish that the ending had been expanded upon. I get where the author wanted to cut things off, but I wanted to know more about the aftermath of things. Overall if you are a fan of thrillers, particularly missing persons/kidnapping plots, you need to read this one.

Book Review

I Wish You Would

TheShelfLife

I Wish You Would by Eva Des Lauriers, Narrated by Max Meyers & Victoria Villarreal

Publication Date: May 2024 | Thanks NetGalley for an ARC | Audiobook Version

Overall Verdict: A little cliche in its story, but readers really get to know some fascinating characters deeply in a short amount of time.

4/5 Stars – Novel

4/5 Stars – Narrators

Book Summary: Kicking off their last year of High School at Senior Sunrise, a group of teens find out more than they bargained for about themselves and their fellow classmates. The Seniors follow a tradition of writing private letters describing what they would do if they were braver. When Natalia second guesses what she wrote and attempts to take it back, some of the secrets are scattered in the wind along the beach. Drama ensues, secrets revealed, connections made and romances ignite.

My Analysis: This is a cute realistic fiction story, seeped in friendship and romance drama. I liked that this whole book takes place within two days, and even with the short time frame you’re really able to see character growth. Even the secondary characters are well thought out and have depth. Basically the entire story is a miscommunication plot, so if you aren’t into that sort of thing I’d avoid this one. For the most part I didn’t mind it, but sometimes it did get a little old. There were also a lot of cliche moments, but if you can be accepting of them it was ultimately a nice coming of age novel with a heavy dose of romance. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook version of this. The narrator for Natalia was spectacular. I was less impressed by the narrator for Ethan. His voice was a little aged for the character and his intonation of female characters I found to be a bit grating. If you are looking for a cute summer read with some friendship drama and romance, I recommend this one.

Book Review

Grief in The Fourth Dimension

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Grief in the Fourth Dimension by Jennifer Yu

Publication Date: July 2024 |Thanks Netgalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: Speculative fiction that dives deep into grief and the process of healing from a loved ones death.

3/5 Stars

Book Summary: After their deaths, Kenny and Caroline find themselves together in a mysterious white room. They come to realize that they are able to view their families and friends as they work through the process of grieving their losses. In addition, there are small ways in which Kenny and Caroline can influence the events that are currently happening to others back home. As the two connect further in the room, they realize their connection to one another and their deaths extended beyond coincidence.

My Analysis: The uniqueness of this plot made me want to pick this one up instantly. There are a lot of heavy themes within this one- content warnings for discussions of death and suicide. Yu does a nice job of making the topics of death and grief and their impact very accessible. If it weren’t for the depth of the topics, I would almost say this reads a little younger. The characters are interesting and I liked the connections that were made both in and out of the white room. The depictions of Kenny’s family restaurant were my favorite scenes. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, so I’ll just say that I’m not entirely on board with how things wrapped up for this one. I get where the author was coming from in how she had some characters react to certain situations, but I’m not sure if I totally agreed with some of it morally. That though is definitely something that could be subjective, based on the opinions of the reader. I was also able to figure out one of the bigger twists early on (which was a good one but I wish I hadn’t seen it coming) and another which I had not and was interestingly revealed. If you’re into speculative fiction and want an introspective look into grief, give this one a try.

Book Review

The Bitter End

TheShelfLife

The Bitter End by Alexa Donne

Publication Date: October 2024 |Thanks Netgalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: A closed circle mystery that is not at all plausible or strongly written, but provides an entertaining series of events that make you question each character.

3/5 Stars

Book Summary: Eight teens get stuck with a last minute change to their Senior trip, and find themselves in a remote ski cabin for a long weekend. With the intend of being a ‘digital detox’ retreat, they are cut-off from the outside world, and when a blizzard strikes they become even more isolated. Survival becomes paramount when not only are they trapped, but people start dying. With secrets revealed and constant betrayals, everyone becomes suspect.

My Analysis: I enjoy a closed circle mystery, and wanted to give this one a try. The premise of teens trapped in a snow storm always has merit. This book is based on Agatha Christies And Then There Were None, which was interesting and overall it does keep you guessing on who is responsible. It is told in dual time lines and multiple POV’s which can get a bit tricky to understand but still works. And ultimately is very necessary to the plot. You can definitely tell though that this is an adult writing what they think teens talk and act like. I didn’t find it to be very realistic, based on my experiences. I do think Donne is getting stronger with her writing, but to me she’s just not quite there yet. If you can look past that though it is a decent thriller. There is casual alcohol and drug use throughout, in case you need to be aware of that. Ultimately it’s a quick thriller that I can see some YA readers get into if they enjoy a murder/survival story.