Category: Book Review

Book Review

Better Left Buried

TheShelfLife

Better Left Buried by Mary E. Roach

Publication Date: August 2024 |Thanks Netgalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: A cool premise that falls short. The secrets long buried don’t make up for the journey to discover them.

1/5 Stars

Book Summary: Lucy’s spring break takes a drastic detour when her private investigator mother brings her along to one of her cases. When they come across a body at the abandoned amusement park, she knows they’re going to be staying awhile. What Lucy doesn’t expect however is the connection her mother has to this town and just how many secrets are buried. Swept up in the investigation herself, Lucy partners with Audrey, a local with a personal vendetta, to figure out what exactly is going on in this creepy small town.

My Analysis: I feel like I have been hit with letdowns lately when it comes to ARC’s. I wanted to like this one based on the premise, but it fell woefully short. I thought this was going to be more about the mom/daughter relationship, but the mom barely confides anything in her daughter and they’re at odds for the most part. The whole novel is this huge build up to a secret that her mother can’t bring herself to talk about, while also investigating a murder that you’re trying to unfold the details of. The ENTIRE thing is build up. And the conclusion was a let down. Honestly the only thing that kept me going was thinking I was going to find out something crazy, but I personally didn’t think it made up for powering through the book. The relationship between Lucy and Audrey is cute, almost a little too cute, but they offer each other a nice balance. That being said, this book is dual POV of the two of them, and for characters that are supposed to be so different, I sometimes forgot whose perspective I was in the middle of reading. I think it would have been better served all from Lucy’s perspective or even having a dual POV with Lucy and her mother. I unfortunately don’t have much positive to say about this one other than the cover is awesome.

Book Review

Heiress Takes All

TheShelfLife

Heiress Takes All by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

Overall Verdict: An over the top and unbelievable story, but one that has some entertaining characters.

3/5 Stars

Book Summary: Olivia Owens is not thrilled about very wealthy father getting re-married, yet again. Especially when he had cheated on her mom, kicked them out of the house and took away her inheritance. Now all she wants is revenge, and plans to take advantage of a busy wedding to make it happen. Putting together a detailed plan for a heist and recruiting those who can aid in her purpose, Olivia seeks to break into her fathers safe to steal the codes necessary to transfer funds to her and her crew.

My Analysis: If you know going in that this one is going to be way over the top and have events that are way too unbelievable or convenient to be realistic, then you can get some enjoyment out of this book. The best part about it is the characters. I really liked her mis-matched crew and the relationships they develop throughout. It is a quick and easy thriller and the author does put in a lot of road blocks to the heist that make you curious to see how things will come together in the end. Ultimately though there were just too many questions I had about the plot that made it hard to buy into. If you like heist stories this one is worth checking out, but beyond that you can probably skip it.

Book Review

A Family of Killers

TheShelfLife

A Family of Killers by Bryce Moore

Publication Date: August 2024 |Thanks Edelweiss for an ARC

Overall Verdict: Sometimes tedious, this is an interesting take on a combination of historical fiction and horror. May be better suited for older YA audiences.

2/5 Stars

Book Summary: Warren has been growing increasingly concerned about the voice in his head that is urging him to be violent. At the same time, a number of people have gone missing in Kansas. When Warren’s father goes to investigate but doesn’t return, Warren sets out to prove to himself and his family that he is stronger than his impulses. As he makes his way through Kansas, he stumbles upon the Bender family. Warren becomes suspicious of them and believes they may be responsible for the missing people. Torn between becoming the person he wants to be and avenging those he holds dear, Warren must choose whether or not to give into the voice in his head.

My Analysis: This book was…odd. I’m honestly not even quite sure how to describe it. It was nothing like I was anticipating, but after finishing it and going back to the summary, it all matches up. I liked that this is based on the true story of the Bender family. Included at the start of each chapter is a real quote. It is important to note that this all takes place within the 1800s, which I had not realized going in. It does make for a very intriguing setting however. It took me a lot to get through the first half, the super slow build up took far too long. Halfway through though things pick up and I was interested in Warrens interactions with the Benders and others he encountered on his journey. I wish that there had been a focus on another character in addition to Warren. Although it was interesting to get his perspective, it got tedious after awhile. Also, I feel like the whole violent voices in his head thing was totally contradictory to his actions. He has a voice telling him to commit these heinous acts, yet when faced with even the smallest incidents of violence he gets nauseous at the thought. That didn’t really make sense to me. It’s one thing to want to fight the urges, but to have such opposing thoughts and actions was weird. In the beginning it also seemed like Warren may have OCD, but that was never really touched on again. I think I would have appreciated seeing more of the Benders perspective to break up Warren’s story. This may be better suited for older YA audiences, and not just because of the inter dispersed gore. I’m not sure some YA readers would be pulled in enough to make it through. Overall it was an interesting combination of historical fiction and horror. Readers just need to be aware that it may be a little harder to get through at some points.

Book Review

The Prisoner’s Throne

TheShelfLife

The Prisoner’s Throne by Holly Black

Publication Date: March 2024

Overall Verdict: A satisfying end to the duology, full of everything fans of Holly Black love about her work.

4.5/5 Stars

Book Summary: Prince Oak is imprisoned for his betrayal to the new Queen Suren. High King Cardan and High Queen Jude will do whatever is necessary to retrieve Oak, even if that means war. Faced with impossible circumstances Oak must decide where his loyalties lie while also using his charm and wit to prevent catastrophe.

My Analysis: This was a very satisfying end to the duology, and I liked how things wrapped up. She also left things open plot-wise for her to continue with another supplemental series if she wishes. I’ll admit it did take me until about halfway through to really get into this one, it was a little slow moving to start with. But I really love the characters Oak and Wren and their relationship with one another, and that alone was enough to keep going. Once things started picking up though, there were some interesting twists and turns! Fans of the Folk of the Air original series will appreciate the appearances of Jude and Cardan throughout this one. Overall, if you love this world Holly Black has created, you need to read this one as well.

Book Review

Dead Girls Talking

TheShelfLife

Dead Girls Talking by Megan Cooley Peterson

Publication Date: June 2024 |Thanks Netgalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: A fast-paced thriller with an interesting crime solving duo, but that may not leave readers fully satisfied.

3/5

Book Summary: Bettina has grown up in the spotlight, since her father was convicted of murdering her mother. The town of Wolf Ridge gets turned upside down however, when years later more murders that match too many similarities to her mothers case begin happening. Bett is forced to question her fathers innocence with these additional murders. Teaming up with an unlikely ally, the morticians daughter Eugenia, they work towards discovering the truth and questioning the motives of people that live in their small town.

My Analysis: This novel definitely moves quickly, with a fast-paced narrative. A little mystery and a little thriller with some (perhaps unsurprising to some) twists I can see YA readers going for this one. I did NOT care for Bert’s attitude a majority of the time- like, I get it she’s a teenager with past issues- but come on. It was a little annoying to read sometimes. I liked the relationship that was built between Bett and Eugenia, however. The unlikely friendship angle worked for this novel and I appreciated their banter. Suspending disbelief that these two are working on solving a crime outside the police, I still found it a little too convenient sometimes what they were able to uncover. That aspect aside, it was interesting enough to keep me wondering what the truth was going to be. I did find the overall wrap up a little unsatisfying, but that could be me just being a little overly critical and wanting more out of the story. If you’re looking for a quick YA thriller, check this one out.

Book Review

Break To You

TheShelfLife

Break To You by Neal Shusterman, Debra Young, Michelle Knowlden

Publication Date: July 2024 |Thanks Netgalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: A surface level look into the experiences of a teenage detention center, which may appeal to younger YA readers.

2.5/5 Stars

Book Summary: Adriana is sentenced to seven months at the Compass Juvenile Detention Center. As she adjusts to this new life, she continues to write in her journal, the one way she is able to fully express her emotions. One day though, she can’t locate her journal. Adriana discovers is some time later only to realize that someone else has written back to her. A boy, who she is not allowed to see on the girls-only side of the center. Adriana and Jon (who has been at Compass for a long time) begin a correspondence to help them work through their time there. Giving them hope in a challenging circumstance.

My Analysis: I am a HUGE Shusterman fan, so when I saw this coming out I jumped on it immediately. But I was disappointed in this one. It really didn’t feel like his voice was in the story at all. I suppose that is what happens when you have three minds working together to author a novel. I think this is a much needed look into the teen experience of a juvenile detention center. I wish it has dived in deeper though. I feel like I didn’t really get to know all of the characters as well as I would have liked to. And I’ll admit- I found it hard to root for Adriana. I much preferred reading about Jon. The focus was much more on a budding romance than anything else, and I would have appreciated more depth. Something else that stood out to me in this one were the glaring inconsistencies. I know this is an ARC and that a final copy may have these things adjusted (I hope!), but they were noticeable. I did like how the story wrapped up and the ending was satisfying. Overall I think this may appeal more to younger YA readers.

Book Review

Girls Like Her

TheShelfLife

Girls Like Her by Melanie Sumrow

Publication Date: June 2024 |Thanks Netgalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: Heart wrenching story of a young girl on trial for murder, and the trauma she has faced from childhood. Excellent representation of this topic.

4/5 Stars

Book Summary: Fifteen year old Ruby Monroe is on trial for murder. She has no one who she can count on her entire life, until she meets her court appointed social worker Cadence. With her trial drawing nearer and life in prison on the line, Cadence must work with Ruby to determine exactly what happened the day a rich philanthropist died. Ruby’s past has been one challenge after another, and she must work to convince a jury that this trauma has impacted her and make them hear her truth.

My Analysis: I started reading this one expecting a mystery/thriller but what I got was more realistic fiction. Not to say that is a bad thing, it just wasn’t what I anticipated based on the synopsis. I also actually thought this was the authors debut book based on her writing, but it is not. Not to say the writing was bad! But I would have expected a little more from a seasoned author. I really liked the fact that the author was a lawyer in the Texas court however and drew this character together based on her experiences. She has a nice authors note in the beginning which explains this, as well as the fact that this book does contain mention of trauma and some trigger warnings for readers. This novel was a combination of court transcripts, letters and narrative, which I thought was a great way to present Ruby’s story. I did find the narrative a little repetitive though, until things really picked up toward the end. This was a heart wrenching story and I think it is a needed representation of the girls like Ruby who find themselves in a cycle of trauma and can’t navigate their way out alone.

Book Review

The Brightwood Code

TheShelfLife

The Brightwood Code by Monica Hesse

Publication Date: May 2024 |Thanks Netgalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: Solid YA historical fiction that shares a unique female experience during WWI. A quick read!

3.5/5 Stars

Book Summary: Edda was on the front lines of WWI as a “Hello Girl,” one of the female switchboard operators recruited by the US Army. Spending her time in France memorizing code to connect calls of life or death matters, she worked tirelessly. Then one day everything went wrong. Now, the war is over and she is back in Washington D.C. working for the Bell Telephone company. Right as her shift is about to end, she receives a mysterious call with the code word ‘Brightwood’ from the war. As Edda begins to investigate this unknown caller, she uncovers truths about the past.

My Analysis: This is an engaging read for YA historical fiction fans. I enjoyed the perspective of the “Hello Girls” angle of WWI and a little bit into the scope of their experiences. I actually wish it dived into the day to day just a little bit more than it did, but can understand the author not wanting to get too bogged down beyond the main plot. I did find the main character Edda to be a little annoying, but overall I enjoyed her story. This shares newly post-WWI Edda and her story in France from months earlier through flashbacks. Readers may find themselves slightly more interested in one view than the other, but it does pull together nicely in the end. I read through this one super fast, which may appeal to YA audiences who like historical fiction but don’t want something that will take a long time to get through.

Book Review

Stay Dead

TheShelfLife

Stay Dead by April Henry

Publication Date: April 2024 |Thanks Edelweiss for an ARC

Overall Verdict: More survival suspense than a traditional murder mystery, but will keep you on the edge of your seat nonetheless.

3/5 Stars

Book Summary: After her Senator fathers car accident six months ago, Milan is still trying to find her place in the world, while also getting expelled from yet another boarding school. Her mother, who has taken over as Senator, picks her up in her private plane. While flying over remote mountains, a bomb goes off and their plane crashes. In her final moments, Milan’s mother tells her that she had uncovered a secret and that people have died for, and gives her her fathers keys that hold answers. Milan must survive the wilderness and get back to civilization, all while on the run from those who want to silence her to keep this information secret.

My Analysis: This was a super quick read, as most of Henry’s works are. It is definitely heavy on survival suspense even though it was marketed as a murder mystery. It was still very thrilling however, through the plane crash, Milan’s survival, and those who are chasing her down. If anyone has any aversion to plane crashes, they may want to steer clear of this one. The writing of the crash and its aftermath was very well done and extremely tense. I honestly think that was the most well written part of this novel. I also appreciated the different POVs that were presented. I hadn’t expected that, but getting some background into the characters and the story through this way really added to the plot overall. I don’t want to spoil any other aspects of the secrets, but I thought it was a pretty original topic. The one thing that was a little less appealing was the fact that everything worked out perfectly and all the loose ends were tied up. This again is typical of Henry’s style, but everything was just a little too convenient. Overall though it did not take away from the entertainment in reading it. If you like survival stories, I recommend this one!

Book Review

Kill Call

TheShelfLife

Kill Call by Jeff Wooten

Publication Date: February 2024 |Thanks Edelweiss for an ARC

Overall Verdict: A unique premise with promise, but that doesn’t deliver. Any suspense is off-set with plot points that don’t make sense.

1.5/5 Stars

Book Summary: Jude was born with the ability to see murders before they happen, just like his father before him. Seeing murders happen through the eyes of the killer, Jude has trained to do as those with the Dream must do- kill the killer. When Hanna rescues herself instead of letting Jude take care of her murderer, everything begins to go wrong. Together Hanna and Jude begin to unravel the mystery of the killers motivations.

My Analysis: I was really excited about the premise of this book, and for the first 25% of it I was really into it. Around that point in the novel though, the story began to fall apart. There are too many plot points that didn’t make sense or seemed very forced. Had the author kept this a father and son duo and even included the idea of a mystery to find the killer I think it would have worked, but unfortunately he didn’t. Adding in an overarching entity was way too over the top. I think overextending the story was to its detriment. There were a couple things that I did like about this book. I really enjoyed the character Coop. I thought he was witty, likable and a good addition to the cast of characters as he is introduced. I also liked that this novel included the element of football. This is something that is very important to Jude, and I thought it was weaves into the plot nicely. I think those readers who also play football would find themselves drawn to those moments. So in conclusion, really cool and unique concept but poorly executed.