Tag: YA

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.

Book Review

The Reappearance of Rachel Price

TheShelfLife

The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson

Publication Date: April 2024 |Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: Even though some plot points are bit far-fetched, this fast-paced story shares a unique perspective on a mystery/thriller. This one will keep you guessing every step of the way – recommended!

5/5 Stars

Book Summary: Sixteen years ago, Bel’s mom Rachel Price disappeared. She has been presumed dead since, and Bel just wants to try and move beyond living in the shadow of this case. When her dad agrees to film a true-crime documentary about Rachel’s disappearance, emotions run high and the past is dredged up. In the middle of filming, something miraculous happens- Rachel reappears. She comes back with an unbelievable story and Bel is determined to track down the truth.

My Analysis: I don’t give out 5 stars lightly, but this one got me. I found it to be an incredibly entertaining mystery/thriller. The pacing of this book was its biggest asset. There were a lot of twisty plot points that keeps the reader guessing. I also appreciated that the idea was pretty original, there aren’t a ton of YA titles out there that have shared this perspective. Were there moments where things got so far-fetched that it seemed implausible? Absolutely. However, to me it did not diminish how highly entertaining this book was. I was a little reluctant as I was not a huge fan of A Good Girls Guide to Murder (even though it got so much hype) and I did not care for Five Survive, but Jackson redeemed herself in this one for me. I also really enjoyed the documentary aspect of this story. I thought it was a unique and interesting way to dive into the characters further. The one thing that did bother me was the amount of swearing throughout. I definitely don’t mind whatever language if it adds to the story or character development, but this felt forced and unnecessary. Overall though I definitely recommend this one! If you are a fan of mystery/thrillers, you have to read this.

Book Review

Tender Beasts

TheShelfLife

Tender Beasts by Liselle Sambury

Publication Date: February 2024 |Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: Intense psychological thriller that shows the intricacies of family and how far they will go to support one another.

4/5 Stars

Book Summary: Sunny has 4 siblings, one of whom is being charged with murder. Her mothers dying wish was for her to be the leader of the family, but her older sister takes on the role before she could even start. When an increasing number of murders rock the private school that her family owns and attends, Sunny dives deeper into uncovering the killer. Working with her accused brother who she barely knows, they look to discover family secrets that have long been buried.

My Analysis: This is a solid psychological thriller/horror book. The focus is definitely on the Behre family, their secrets, and how far they will go to better themselves and protect one another. Even though this book is filled with murder, not a ton really happens throughout, but at the same time it still works well in keeping you guessing and interested. There is an entity that is worshiped, and the author does a nice job of making the reader question reality vs supernatural elements. On that note, the author does provide a list of triggers at the beginning of the book that people may find helpful. My favorite part of the novel was the deceased mothers journal entries from when she was a teen that are dispersed throughout. It was a nice way to give some necessary background information and helped to keep any reveals well-timed. If you liked Delicious Monsters, you’ll definitely like this one as well. It has a very similar vibe, although a very different story. If you’re into psychological thrillers and family drama, this one is for you.

Book Review

Medici Heist

TheShelfLife

Medici Heist by Caitlin Schneiderhan

Publication Date: August 2024 |Thanks NetGalleyfor an ARC

Overall Verdict: Historical (heavy on the fiction) story set in Florence. Multiple POV’s share their expertise in attempting to rob the Medici Family.

3/5 Stars

Book Summary: Set in 1517 in Florence, when the Medici Family reins supreme, people recall the freedoms of being a Republic. Rosa Cellini has her own plans for the Medici’s and The Pope. Recruiting a team of the best, they plan a heist like no one has ever seen. Working through all of the pieces of their robbery, each character grapples with their motivations in going against the Medici Family.

My Analysis: I have mixed feelings about this book. I LOVE that is was set during this time period, there needs to be more historical YA that share Renaissance stories. It was definitely more heavy on the fiction than the historical, but that didn’t really detract from the overall plot. In terms of the heist part of the novel, I think it was very well thought out by the author. There were a lot of moments of “how are they going to pull this off?” I did however feel that it was WAY too reminiscent of Oceans Eleven. Like, there were too many plot points that matched up that it actually annoyed me a little bit that it was not more original in that sense. The characters were interesting, even if all of their stories dragged a bit in the middle. I particularly appreciated the relationships among the characters that were involved in the heist. Overall, if you like historical fiction and don’t mind it taking some liberties while also sharing a bit of a thriller plot, give this one a go.

Book Review

Silent Sister

TheShelfLife

Silent Sister by Megan Davidhizar

Publication Date: August 2024 |Thanks NetGalleyfor an ARC

Overall Verdict: An immersive thriller that dives into sisterhood and self-worth

4/5

Book Summary: Sisters Grace and Maddy go on their traditional Senior Sabbatical Trip. Both sisters are balancing their feelings about their upcoming futures and the trauma of their past. Learning “life lessons” on their trip will either help their relationship or drive them farther apart. When Grace is found bloody and with no memory of the recent trip, she battles more questions as she tries to find answers. With her sister Maddy still missing, Grace races to regain her memories and determine what she is blocking out.

My Analysis: This was a solid read that will keep you invested throughout. Wanting to uncover what happened to these characters definitely drives the plot. It is told in alternating past and present perspectives, which was nicely done and helps share character growth. I also liked the addition of Maddy’s poems that were inter dispersed. The author does well sharing the characters inner feelings and how it impacts their lives and the relationships with those around them. She doesn’t shy away from the hard realities either, which I appreciated. Although there is a missing person and there is mystery involved, this is really more of a story of sisterhood and taking a look at one’s self-worth.

Book Review

The Invocations

TheShelfLife

The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland

Publication Date: January 2024 |Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: A beautifully written but ultimately unsatisfying story revolving around witches and the occult.

3/5

Book Summary: Zara Jones will do anything to bring back her murdered sister, even if that means partaking in the occult to raise the dead. Jude Wolf is cursed after a deal with a demon went horribly wrong, and she has been suffering the consequences ever since. Emer Byrne is a cursewriter, helping desperate women exchange part of their soul for power. As these three paths cross, the more each realizes they must work together for their goals to succeed. When Emer’s clients start to be murdered, they turn to one another for answers.

My Analysis: Sutherland’s writing is beautiful. The imagery she provides is outstanding. The story however- absolutely boring. I had hoped this one would be an improvement over House of Hollow, but to me it wasn’t. Both written elegantly but the plots just aren’t interesting enough. I’m not sure if she’s just trying to hard to make it this gruesome story that has shock value and is failing, but the overall story is not satisfying. The characters she portrays are well developed, and I did appreciate their relationships with one another. Especially given the fact that these characters are pushed together as strangers who become friends. If you’re really into witches and the occult, it’s worth a read, but if not I say it’s one to skip.

Book Review

The Kill Factor

TheShelfLife

The Kill Factor by Ben Oliver

Publication Date: April 2024 |Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: A unique idea for a dystopian society that will appeal to most teens in the age of social media influences. Geared toward a younger YA audience

3/5 Stars

Book Summary: In a dystopian future where brand currency that is gained through social media followers reigns supreme, Emerson finds herself at the bottom of society. When she is arrested while trying to provide for her family, Emerson is met with an offer. A new reality TV show has been created for teens facing criminal charges. The winner will be released with no consequences. Contestants must complete mental and physical challenges and are put up to a public vote. The more followers someone has, the more advantages they have on the show. Emerson knows this isn’t going to be good, but she had no idea that she would also be fighting for her life along with her freedom.

My Analysis: I really like the concept of such a strong influence of social media on this dystopian society. It honestly isn’t too far off of what could happen in terms how it impacts financials and relationships. I can really see this idea appealing to teens who are so surrounded by social media in their everyday lives. I do think a younger YA audience would appreciate this more as the writing is more surface than depth. Is it a bit far fetched in terms of the TV show? Sure, but it’s interesting. It’s a bit of The Hunger Games meets #murdertrending. I thought at first that the challenges that the contestants were facing were a bit lacking in creativity, but I think upon further reflection that it was done that way purposefully by the author. There was one twist I didn’t see coming, but appreciated. Oliver definitely set the ending up for a potential sequel or series as well.