Book Review: Dry

Title: Dry
Author: Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
Genre: Young Adult | Dystopia | Survival
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 2, 2018
Source: ALA Annual
Format: ARC

The drought—or the Tap-Out, as everyone calls it—has been going on for a while now. Everyone’s lives have become an endless list of don’ts: don’t water the lawn, don’t fill up your pool, don’t take long showers.

Until the taps run dry.

Suddenly, Alyssa’s quiet suburban street spirals into a warzone of desperation; neighbours and families turned against each other on the hunt for water. And when her parents don’t return and her life—and the life of her brother—is threatened, Alyssa has to make impossible choices if she’s going to survive (goodreads). 

Dry was hard to put down. 

Book Review: Always and Forever, Lara Jean

Title: Always and Forever, Lara Jean (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #3)
Author: Jenny Han
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary | Romance 
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: May 2, 2017
Source: Purchased 
Format: Physical

Lara Jean is having the best senior year. And there’s still so much to look forward to: a class trip to New York City, prom with her boyfriend Peter, Beach Week after graduation, and her dad’s wedding to Ms. Rothschild. Then she’ll be off to college with Peter, at a school close enough for her to come home and bake chocolate chip cookies on the weekends.
Life couldn’t be more perfect!
At least, that’s what Lara Jean thinks…until she gets some unexpected news.
Now the girl who dreads change must rethink all her plans—but when your heart and your head are saying two different things, which one should you listen to (goodreads)?

The was the perfect ending for such a sweet series. 

Book Review: The Empress

Title: The Empress (The Diabolic #2)
Author: S.J. Kincaid
Genre: Young Adult | Science Fiction
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 31, 2017
Source: Author
Format: ARC

It’s a new day in the Empire. Tyrus has ascended to the throne with Nemesis by his side and now they can find a new way forward—one where they don’t have to hide or scheme or kill. One where creatures like Nemesis will be given worth and recognition, where science and information can be shared with everyone and not just the elite.
But having power isn’t the same thing as keeping it, and change isn’t always welcome. The ruling class, the Grandiloquy, has held control over planets and systems for centuries—and they are plotting to stop this teenage Emperor and Nemesis, who is considered nothing more than a creature and certainly not worthy of being Empress.
Nemesis will protect Tyrus at any cost. He is the love of her life, and they are partners in this new beginning. But she cannot protect him by being the killing machine she once was. She will have to prove the humanity that she’s found inside herself to the whole Empire—or she and Tyrus may lose more than just the throne. But if proving her humanity means that she and Tyrus must do inhuman things, is the fight worth the cost of winning it (goodreads)? 

The Empress ended in a shocking twist, but I still think The Diabolic would have been better off as a standalone. 

Book Review: Scythe

Title: Scythe (Arc of Scythe #1)
Author: Neal Shusterman
Genre: Young Adult | Dystopia
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: November 22, 2016
Source: Library
Format: Physical

Thou shalt kill.
A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery. Humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now scythes are the only ones who can end life—and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.
Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe—a role that neither wants. These teens must master the “art” of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own (goodreads).

 

Wow. Scythe asks a lot of great questions and explores many shades of gray. 

Waiting on Wednesdays [#107]

 

Title: Always and Forever, Lara Jean (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #3)

Author: Jenny Han

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: May 2, 2017

Lara Jean is having the best senior year a girl could ever hope for. She is head over heels in love with her boyfriend, Peter; her dad’s finally getting remarried to their next door neighbor, Ms. Rothschild; and Margot’s coming home for the summer just in time for the wedding.
But change is looming on the horizon. And while Lara Jean is having fun and keeping busy helping plan her father’s wedding, she can’t ignore the big life decisions she has to make. Most pressingly, where she wants to go to college and what that means for her relationship with Peter. She watched her sister Margot go through these growing pains. Now Lara Jean’s the one who’ll be graduating high school and leaving for college and leaving her family—and possibly the boy she loves—behind.
When your heart and your head are saying two different things, which one should you listen to (goodreads)? 

Book Review: The Diabolic

Title: The Diabolic
Author: S.J. Kincaid
Genre: Young Adult | Dystopia | Space | Romance
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: November 1, 2016
Format: ARC
Source: BEA

A Diabolic is ruthless. A Diabolic is powerful. A Diabolic has a single task: Kill in order to protect the person you’ve been created for. 
Nemesis is a Diabolic, a humanoid teenager created to protect a galactic senator’s daughter, Sidonia. The two have grown up side by side, but are in no way sisters. Nemesis is expected to give her life for Sidonia, and she would do so gladly. She would also take as many lives as necessary to keep Sidonia safe.
When the power-mad Emperor learns Sidonia’s father is participating in a rebellion, he summons Sidonia to the Galactic court. She is to serve as a hostage. Now, there is only one way for Nemesis to protect Sidonia. She must become her. Nemesis travels to the court disguised as Sidonia—a killing machine masquerading in a world of corrupt politicians and two-faced senators’ children. It’s a nest of vipers with threats on every side, but Nemesis must keep her true abilities a secret or risk everything.
As the Empire begins to fracture and rebellion looms closer, Nemesis learns there is something more to her than just deadly force. She finds a humanity truer than what she encounters from most humans. Amidst all the danger, action, and intrigue, her humanity just might be the thing that saves her life—and the empire (goodreads).

The Diabolic was a delightful read with a helping of humanity on top!

Book Review: Unwind

Title: Unwind (Unwind Dystology #1)
Author: Neal Shusterman
Genre: Dystopia | Young Adult | Thriller
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: November 6, 2007
Format: Physical
Source: Purchased

The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state, is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive (goodreads). 

Unwind is brutal. Downright brutal. I just wish that the characters spoke more to me. 

Book Review: Lock and Mori

Title: Lock & Mori (Lock & Mori #1)
Author: Heather W. Petty
Genre: Young Adult // Contemporary // Murder // Mystery // Romance
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 15, 2015
Format: Physical
Source: Library

In modern-day London, two brilliant high school students—one Sherlock Holmes and a Miss James “Mori” Moriarty—meet. A murder will bring them together. The truth very well might drive them apart.
Before they were mortal enemies, they were much more…
FACT: Someone has been murdered in London’s Regent’s Park. The police have no leads.
FACT: Miss James “Mori” Moriarty and Sherlock “Lock” Holmes should be hitting the books on a school night. Instead, they are out crashing a crime scene.
FACT: Lock has challenged Mori to solve the case before he does. Challenge accepted.
FACT: Despite agreeing to Lock’s one rule—they must share every clue with each other—Mori is keeping secrets.
OBSERVATION: Sometimes you can’t trust the people closest to you with matters of the heart. And after this case, Mori may never trust Lock again (goodreads).

Lock & Mori was a fun reimagining of two classic characters, with some pretty mature themes. 

Book Review: P.S I Still Love You

 Title: P.S. I Still Love You (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #2)
Author: Jenny Han
Genre: Young Adult // Contemporary // Romance
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date:  May 26, 2015
Format: Physical
Source:  Purchased (Amazon)

Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter.
She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever.
When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

In this charming and heartfelt sequel to the New York Times bestseller To All the Boys I've Loved Before, we see first love through the eyes of the unforgettable Lara Jean. Love is never easy, but maybe that’s part of what makes it so amazing (goodreads).

P.S. I Still Love You isn't as sugary sweet as To All the Boys I've Loved Before, but Jenny Han will definitely make you feel a gambit of emotions and definitely delivers a satisfactory ending. 

Book Review: Dead of Winter

 Title: Dead of Winter (The Arcana Chronicles #3)
Author: Kresley Cole
Genre:  Young Adult // Romance // Dystopia // Magic
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication: January 6, 2015
Format: Physical
Source: Borrowed (Library)

Can Evie convince her rival loves to work together? Their survival depends on it in this third book of #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole’s Arcana Chronicles, a nonstop action tale of rescue, redemption, and a revenge most wicked.
Heartbreaking decisions Evie was almost seduced by the life of comfort that Death offered her—until Jack was threatened by two of the most horrific Arcana, the Lovers. She will do anything to save him, even escape Death’s uncanny prison, full of beautiful objects, material comforts…and stolen glances from a former love.
Uncertain victory Despite leaving a part of her heart behind with Death, Evie sets out into a perilous post-apocalyptic wasteland to meet up with her allies and launch an attack on the Lovers. Such formidable enemies require a battle plan, and the only way to kill them may mean Evie, Jack, and Death allying. Evie doesn’t know what will prove more impossible: surviving slavers, plague, Bagmen and other Arcana—or convincing Jack and Death to work together.
Two heroes returned There’s a thin line between love and hate, and Evie just doesn’t know where she stands with either Jack or Death. Will this unlikely trio be able to defeat The Lovers without killing one another first...(goodreads)?

End of Winter took away everything I loved about the second book and introduced the inevitable love triangle.

Book Review: To All the Boys I've Loved Before

Title: To All the Boys I've Loved Before (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #1)

Author: Jenny Han

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: April 15, 2014

Genre: Contemporary // Romance // Young Adult

Format: Physical Copy

Source: Library

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all (goodreads).

To All the Boys I've Loved Before is sweet. Cotton candy sweet. A sweet that makes you smile hours after you finish the novel.