Natália

“While I'm gone," Gansey said, pausing, "dream me the world. Something new for every night.”

I enjoyed this book WAY more than I did the first one, although I felt like this was separate from the main series - I doesn't really follow directly the plot set in “The Raven Boys” and it suffers a bit from the middle book syndrome in the way that it's more of a development book and doesn't move the plot along. It's a Ronan focused book and, to my surprise, since he was one of my least favorite characters, I found myself enjoying his parts and wanting to know more about him and his secrets. It was one of the things I wanted the author to explore more after the first installment and she did exactly that! He turned out to be a more complex and layered character than I first thought and now he's one of my favorites, along with Noah, who is such a ray of sunshine it's impossible to dislike him, and Adam, who also got a major development in this book. Still, I can't quite understand his hatred for his brother...it's the only thing that felt off.

Like I said, I love Adam and his arc during this novel and how he grows and starts to realize who he is and what his role in everything is. And I like how Blue's mom and her sisters have a role in that - their scenes are always super entertaining and I like how they fit in the plot and how their individual arc is developed, especially Maura and Persephone.

Blue, unfortunately, was irritating and seemed more immature and less sensible than she did in The Raven Boys, which made me like her character a lot. I was glad she was not the main focus of this book, and honestly, the whole ‘I can't kiss my first love or he'll die'' debacle is starting to irritate me. Gansey is still my favorite character - he doesn't have any real motivation and comes across only as this spoiled rich kid who wants things his way always.

The only disappointing thing in this novel, though, was the plot twists. I'm still waiting for one that I haven't predicted a couple of pages before. It didn't surprise me at all, though they were good and were necessary to the story. Still, this was, in my opinion, a better, more solid and interesting book than the first one in the series and it actually left another good hook for the third installment, which I'll begin right away!

" You don't get to freeze the picture when you want it. It would have been living in the past and eventually, you just start doing the same jokes over and over again."

One of the things I love the most about Morgan Matson's writing is how she develops the relationships within the story – be it friendship, family or romantic. They are always natural and well developed and she always manages to work some important issue within their plotlines. I dare say that these bonds are always the protagonists of her books and I love it. And although there is some inevitable drama, the characters manage to communicate and solve their problems without elongating the issue to carry the story or that plotline through the entire book. The romances are always well developed as well and they evolve in a realistic, fun and light way, and I love how the couple compliments each other so well. Both novels I've read from her were a kind of ‘coming of age' story and though I'm not overly fond of those, they are always done in this very heartwarming and deeply relatable way. So, as I was going into this book, I was expecting all of the above things, with the bonus of this funny, rom-com feel, wedding-gone-wrong background – and thart's not what I found at all, so it was a little bit disappointing.

First of all, Charlies is super immature and irritating. She's so desperate to have her ‘perfect weekend' with her perfect family (that whole debacle got tiring and fast) that she not only treated a lot of people poorly, she completely alienated and forgotten her best friend (there go the strong, amazing friendships). SpoilerThe way she treated her own brother and her other brother's girlfriend (who was mostly uncomfortable and lost during the entire novel and was constantly pushed away and alienated by the entire family, including her boyfriend, even when she tried to help and participate) was just ridiculous and the fact that she defended how assholic her brother ways toward that girl until almost the end of the book left me very very angry. And the family relationships, who were supposed to be the focus of the novel, was not even that well developed and worked – mainly because there were so many characters that it was impossible to work through every relationship and develop the bonds, and it wasn't clear by the end why Charlie wanted that final perfect weekend and how strong their bond was, why this family was so special. So I didn't really get attached to any of the characters. They didn't resonate with me at all because everything was super shallow and just hinted at. And the fact that Charlie focused so badly in making everything run smoothly, she misses obvious stuff that is happening right under her face and are supposed to be the big ‘twists' of the book – except they are completely obvious to the reader from the start and when they are revealed, it's only surprising to the main characters.

And I didn't even got started with the romance, one of the highlights of the previous novels by Matson. Charlie spends the ENTIRE book with someone and the real love interest...well, we only realized he was the main interest with 100 or so pages left and she barely interacted with him. So, that was lost in the story. It was more a hint of a possible future romance than something that was a real plotline. The writing here didn't help, though – the novel is set in a space of two days, so things couldn't be properly developed without cramming little scenes and interactions and making it unnecessarily longer than it already was. Things happened too quickly and felt super rushed and were resolved equally quickly, and everything that could go wrong DID, to a point that it stopped being funny and started being ridiculous and unreal. By the end, I felt like I've read a novelization of a bad teen movie.

Another thing that didn't work: the humor. There weren't that many funny scenes in the story BUT I loved how she inserted the comic strip and made parallels between what was happening in the story and in the comics, and it also made the Grand Central Station's end plotline more real. I also LOVED the cameo from characters from previous books (my shipper's heart DIED when Andie and Clark appeared!) and there were some funny scenes with them involved.

It wasn't a good year for my YA contemporary favs, which is a shame, because I always feel good while Reading both Morgan Matson and Kasie West's books. But I'll continue to wait ansiously for their next books, despite these two disappointments.

"Life doesn't need magic to be magical."

Zuzana was already one of my favorite characters since book 1 - I love her wit, humor, her fierceness, and protectiveness of Karou. And that only grew in book 2, when she, along with Mik, her now boyfriend and also a quick to become favorite (because of how sweet, kind and funny he is and also his relationship with Zuze and how amazing and cute it is), were one of the highlights of “Days of Blood and Starlight” for me. This is a short novella on what went down for them to be together a.k.a Zuze's masterplan to get woo Mik. It was cute, funny, romantic and magic like it should have been. I love their dynamic and how well they compliment each other - they are perfect together! Obviously a 5 star read!

“Either I'm changing very quickly, and everything is standing still, or I'm the one standing still and everything is changing around me. Either way, I'm out of joint with the world.”

I LOVE this web series as much as I love the original Pride & Prejudice, so obviously, I enjoyed getting back into Lizzie & co.'s world. The story is pretty much the novelization of the web series, with some extra scenes and a little bit of new information we haven't got to see onscreen. Still, it made me rewatch almost all the episodes again, as well as all the bonus content, and I had a lot of fun revisiting this! Also, it made me want to rewatch Emma Approved again - love me some modern Jane Austen!

This is a short addition to the end of “When a Scot Ties the Knot”, where we get to see how the characters are doing a few years after the end of the actual novel. It was cute and soft and I liked that everyone got a love story somehow, even those characters you never thought would end up together. My favorite has to be Grant - I like how nice and lovable he is, and his happy ending was adorable and made me so so happy! He was also one of my favorite characters in the novel and I felt for him a lot, so it was nice to know he ended up well.

“Now I'm in a king's cage. But so is he. My chains are Silent Stone. His is the crown.”

I really liked this book far better than the previous one. Yes, at first it's more slow-paced and it was more explanatory than Glass Sword or even Red Queen, but it was necessary - especially in terms of characters. We got to know a bit of how the Silvers came to power and Norta's history, as well as a little of how other Silver nations work, like Lakeland and Piedmont. But what actually made the book for me was Maven and Evangeline.

Maven was always a favorite of mine - his character is so complex from the beginning and after this book, we get to see more of the REAL Maven. Yes, he's a monster, he's twisted, but he wasn't always like that and what was done to him was horrifying. He's not just this cruel, heartless villain, he's much more than just that. He's just a boy with a broken, disturbed mind and I can't help but, like Cal, want some redemption, some kind of cure for him. It's the kind of villain you can't help but love and feel sorry for, as much as you hate what he's doing. I love that kind of characters, the one you can understand the motives and sympathize with. Evangeline was the big surprise for me - she was made since book one to be that mean girl kind of character, power hungry and manipulative, aiming for the crown and only that using any means necessary, but seeing through her POV gave me a new insight on her character and a much needed character development and likability as well. She may now be another favorite of mine. I love the Samos family dynamic displayed here and the relationship between Evie and Ptolomeus, as well as her and Elaine. Also, her POV brings us directly into the Silver court's schemes, which also gives the reader a more ample view of things.

Cameron's POV was ok, and she's starting to grow on me, mainly because she is maturing and realizing that this ‘war' is not as black and white as it seems. I really liked how she is discovering where she belongs in all of this, how to control her powers and what she wants to do with them. And also how her friendship with Mare evolved - I would like more of their scenes together. Mare was a little annoying and whiny in this book and though her POV were the ones that brought the most of the needed information and action to the novel, she was my least favorite narrator. And MarexCal are definitely not convincing as a couple - their chemistry is so meh and they just don't fit well. There's always a drama between them and neither is willing to compromise. Cal in itself is a good, albeit predictable, character, but I think he would be better of without the whole Mare drama. Yes, I know that most of it is what moves the plot, especially the love-hate triangle between the Calore brothers and the lightening girl, but it could have been done differently and still work.

The ending was very anticlimatic, especially because we went in already knowing the big twist that was dumped on Mare and the Scarlet Guard, so when I saw that it ended there I was really mad. I mean, I was hoping for some big twist, like at the end of Glass Sword or Red Queen, something really game changing and that would leave me excited and anxious to War Storm. That didn't happen. Maven's threat seemed distant and not as remotely dangerous as it should have felt going into a final book. Still, I'm curious as to how Aveyard will wrap up the series and what's in store for these characters.

"No matter where I traveled, you were always what was missing."

I'm eating my words about period romance novels, because I'm finding new books to love within this genre and now Tessa Dare joined this very select list for me. This was a quick novella in the Spindle Cove series (I don't know why I started with this, because it spoils a lot of the series, but ok), a fast, fun and steamy read. I liked the premise of the story and the characters, and got really interested in reading more from this series and this author. The romance was SO good! Yes, it was cliché, but I liked how the characters compliment each other very well, and the chemistry is off the charts.

One of the things that made me enjoy this so much was the fact that the female character is this independent, strong-willed woman who is successful, with a career, in a time where women should aspire to any of this - and she is also inspiring others to do the same. And the male protagonist encourages her, doesn't want her to give that up for him (the same way he didn't give up his dreams and aspirations for her), and is proud of what she accomplished and wants her to be more than just ‘his wife' and lady of the house. If all the books by Tessa Dare, or at least the Spindle Cove series, has this undercurrent, I already know I'll love them all. I can't wait to pick up more books and find out!

“Is it truly so unfathomable, that an imperfect girl might be perfectly loved?"

Actual rating: 4.5 stars
So far, my favorite book by this author. Yes, I do know this is the second in the series, but the first one just didn't excited me as much...I'll probably give it a chance later. When I read “Lord Dashwood Missed Out”, I really liked Colin's personality and he reminded me a lot of Captain Thorne and OUAT's Captain Hook, so I decided to start out by his novel. And I was SO right! It was fun and adorable and steamy and I absolutely loved Colin's character. I liked how soft and charming and funny he is, but most of all, how he is really proud of Minerva and how he pushes her to do better and to put herself out there.

And Minerva is such an amazing girl! She's strong-willed, determined and fierce in protecting those she loves. She lacks a little confidence, especially after being told all her life that she wasn't pretty, or especial and she that she should give up the things she loves and be more of a lady and more like her sisters, but she slowly evolves and becomes more powerful and certain of her own decisions and ideas. And I really enjoyed watching her grow during the novel!

The only thing that made me withheld the last half star was the ending. Yes, I understand what Tessa Dare wanted with it, but it would be more of a good tie up if Spoiler Minerva did end up presenting her findings in the Society , especially since the plot and the character arc was focused on that the entire novel. But it didn't take from my great enjoyment while reading this. I'm really happy I decided to give this author and this series a chance.

“I think all women should be able to make it on their own,” Frankie said. “It's not about needing a man or not — it just means she knows she can do whatever she sets out to do.”

This book is such a unique experience and I loved every second of it. It's a collection of short stories about women figuring themselves out, breaking the rules and being generally badass. About women who don't fit the mold of what is expected of them, and how they found their own voice in a time where they were told they shouldn't have any. I love the research that each author put into their story - every time period and place was just accurate and the authors managed to transport me into the story and every single one of the protagonists resonated with me somehow.

I also enjoyed how there were mixed stories too - some were realistic and relied on the historical period and the struggles of women in that time and others had a touch of fantasy and focused on mythology and different cultures (like Mother Carey's table, Marie Lu's Inuit folklore story, El Destino and the mexican/Texas culture, and so on). This was a very empowering and heart-warming book for me and I'm excited to add it's ‘sequel' of sorts to my To-Read pile, as well as other anthologies who dwells on the same theme. It's a book I recommend to all girls and women out there and one I want all my friends and family to read.

“She'd declined to attend parties and balls, citing her devotion to the Highland hero of her dreams—but really because she'd preferred to stay home with a book.”

Out of all the others, the synopsis for this book is what made me pick up Tessa Dare's books and this trilogy especially. And although it was a quick and nice read, it wasn't as good as “A Week to Be Wicked”. Maddie started out as this shy but smart and strong-willed girl, who had a big dream and was happily working towards it. I liked how social anxiety and panic syndrome was addressed - it was a very faithful, careful portray, but at times it was put conveniently aside to move the plot along, which kinda ruined how good it was written at first. It was like it was only there while it was serving a purpose, not as a real issue. Logan, although supposed to be charming, actually annoyed me a lot with his alpha male attitude. And, though for the right motives, he was sometimes cruel to Maddie, for someone supposedly in love with her for years. I couldn't enjoy the main couple for almost the entire book up until the ending when Logan redeemed himself a little for me.

But what really made me not like this book as much as the others was the fact that, after ‘falling' for Logan, Maddie was willing to give everything she worked so hard for, her dreams and wishes, for the sake of a ‘happy ending' - like she couldn't do both, like she couldn't be both. The ending, especially, and how it was written, disappointed me a lot because it was working its way towards being the redeeming aspect of the novel and leaving me, if not totally in love with it, at least as happy as I was with the other series. I do understand what Tessa tried to do there, but it just wasn't convincing or as good as it could have been if she stuck with how things were drawing up. It felt too ‘period romance cliché', and I'm not fond of these tropes.

And yes, I realize that this was the third book and there were two previous installments that I should've read before, but they are, unlike the Spindle Cove series, independent and there's no mention of the other characters from the previous novels here, so they don't necessarily need to be read in order. I'm hoping to pick them up soon and, hopefully, enjoy them more than I did this one.

“There were two kinds of monsters, the kind that hunted the streets and the kind that lived in your head. She could fight the first, but the second was more dangerous. It was always, always, always a step ahead.”

This second book was such an amazing conclusion to this duology. I went in a little afraid because I've read some mixed reviews, but I shouldn't have worried. Schwab not only expanded the world she created in the first book but took things to another level. Our main characters are dealing with the consequences of what happened at the ending of the first installment and the events of it left their mark and influence their actions. Although I enjoyed knowing what happens in other cities, I thought that maybe we could have seen more than one city - do they also have monsters? How do they live and what do they think about what happened in Verity? I also thought that the author went to the trouble of introducing this new cast of very interesting characters to use them only as support for Kate, briefly, and then completely forget about them. It was one of the only things I wish it was done differently.

I loved how Kate & August's plotlines paralleled each other and they had to deal with their ‘humanity'. The entire novel was fast-paced and a rollercoaster of emotions. The ending was explosive and heart-wrenching but I could understand and even agree with the decisions Schwab took here. There was this one unnecessary death that left me super upset, but it was only one detail in the entire book. I also liked the open ending, it leaves room for possible other books in this world, maybe exploring the other cities. Can't wait to read more by Victoria Schwab, and maybe other urban fantasies, since I seem to enjoy the genre.

“My greatest wish for humanity is not for peace or comfort or joy. It is that we all still die a little inside every time we witness the death of another. For only the pain of empathy will keep us human. There's no version of God that can help us if we ever lose that.”

I wasn't sure, when I first started this book, if I was going to enjoy it, despite all the ravings and positive reviews. It took me a while to get into the world and the story, to connect with the characters and for the plot to pick up pace. But once it did, I found myself enthralled and I love how Shusterman reflects on human nature and humanity and death through this futuristic world. I liked that the ‘all seeing' power here for once isn't evil and doesn't want to destroy all humanity - the Thunderhead actually cares for the world and the human kind and only wants to do what's best, without judgment, only fairness. It's refreshing and different and offers a honest view on humans - we are capable of great evil and power truly corrupts. The political intrigues of the Scythe, the plot twists, how corruption still exists even in this ‘controlled' society, how things that started out with a greater purpose can spiral into something corrupted and bad despite the best efforts - every aspect of this book was a subtle social critique, and it was amazingly done. It made me reflect upon a lot of things even after I finished the book.

And it still had room for the typical YA tropes, with well developed and strong characters, who were realistic and complex, a nice romance and small doses of tension to keep the reader on their toes. Citra is my favorite character, although I enjoyed the changes Rowan went through and I like to see where they're going from here. Can't wait for book 2!

“Death may beget life, but oppression can beget nothing other than itself.”

After a slow start and lots of foot notes, I finally got engaged in the book and the story. I liked the duality in all things, the metaphors and the historical aspect of the novel. I also enjoyed the slow reveal of things until almost the very end, the way every character is connected somehow. Some plot twists were kind of obvious, but I liked them all the same and it was a nice change in the story. I might risk other novels by Dickens in the future, but I need a rest from classic novels right now.

“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.”

Another classic down! I came into this book hoping for a romance in the likes of Pride & Prejudice, this sweet, slow-burning thing with a happy, satisfying ending. That's not at all what I got here. First of all, the romance aspect was my least favorite thing in the novel. Honestly, I couldn't care less for it. The actual star of this was the main character herself: Jane is fierce, strong-willed, intelligent and most of all, independent. She doesn't bow down to anyone and know she deserves more than what people give her sometimes. For a romance novel in the 1800's, a female character this ‘defying' of social conventions and this strong and independent, who doesn't submit herself to the male figures in her life and a female author who dares to point out what jackasses men are (because there wasn't a single male figure in this novel who wasn't a total tool or conceited or decent...at all) is pretty bold and forward, and I daresay even feminist.

The thing that lowered the rating of the novel was the romance aspect of it - honestly, Jane deserved so much better than Mr. Rochester. I had a problem with his character: he's not only at times proud to a point of arrogance, but he mistreats his daughter and the people who cares and serves him (Mrs. Faurfax, for exemple), thinks himself superior and intellectual, and the way he tried to fool Jane and how he talked about his other girlfriends, and especially his wife, were just disgusting. He is extremely bitter and wants a woman who will bow down to all his wishes.

The way mental illness is treated in this novel is absolutely enraging as well, and the whole feel that everyone who is not english is somehow beneath in some way also irritated me. But that's more of period thing, so I kind of let it slide. Mr. Rochester and the other men in this novel, though, it's difficult to forgive.

I'm glad I'm finally done with this book, I really really enjoyed it and can't wait to read more by the Brontë sisters!

“Sometimes love and chaos are the same thing.”

Actual rating: 3.5 stars
YAS, I can't believe I am finally done with this book! I started this October last year and for some reason I couldn't pick it up again...until now. I enjoyed it, it reminded me a little of a futuristic Gossip Girl. Some characters shined for me and I really cheered for them, like Rylin (her fling with Cord was just so cute and I love how protective of her sister she is), Wyatt (I like him and I love Nadia's sarcasm. I wanted him to be with Avery) and most of all Eris (my strawberry-blond queen deserved BETTER). Avery is nice and all, but her whole drama didn't connect with me and at times she was bitchy without motive and got on my nerves. She also reminded me a lot of Serena van der Woodsen from Gossip Girl. And Leda...at first I felt sorry for her, but after everything that happened, I just want her to suffer a lot. She's bitchy without reason, jealous ans spiteful and thinks the world should revolve around her and her wishes. I absolutely detest her.

Still, at times this was too much teenage-y, and I rolled my eyes a lot with all the drama going on. The ending left me so so mad, because it felt like everything just went to hell and everyone was powerless to do anything and things will be left like that. I do hope that the author will fix it in the next 2 books!

“Why be the sheep when you can be the wolf?”

I absolutely LOVED this book! The whole idea of a convent devoted to the god of Death where the nuns are assassins is just so cool and the world building, as well as the mythology surrounding the religion of the time, was so well made. It reminded me a little of Phillipa Gregory's book, with all the court intrigues and political plots, but with a little fantasy thrown in the mix, so it was perfect for me.

Ismae became an instant favorite - she's smart, driven, loyal, fierce and independent, as well as compassionate, and I loved her growth during the novel, as well as how she fights for what she believes is right, not letting anyone walk over her, no matter who they are. I enjoyed her friendship with the other novices and with Anne (yay for amazing female friendships). I wish there were more of her interactions (and maybe a friendship as well) with Duval's friends, I would have liked to see them work together after everything and their banter and unite to tease Gavriel. I don't think we'll get to see much from her in the next books, though. The romance was not too much, it was built naturally and in a way that made me root for the characters to be together and it didn't dominate the plot - on the contrary, it only complimented it. Gavriel was another favorite, he is such a good, noble and loyal person, is difficult not to like him when he does literally everything for the people he loves and it's so very honorable.

I am excited for the next book, especially because it's Sybella's book and she's such a mysterious character! I really want to know how the author will explore her mental illness, her explosive personality and what the plot will be, since the main plot point was pretty much resolved after the end of this book. Maybe we will see the convent take up new missions? A new threat to Anne's duchy? We'll see!

“You love the fight more than you love what you are fighting for.”

I really like how this novellas adds some world building to this series, as well as background for both the characters and the plotline. It's slowling creating the back story for the main series and giving the readers insight in how Oz turned into what we see in the first Dorothy Must Die book. My favorite was the Lion's story - how he used his courage, how loyal and caring he is with his friend, how he saw past Glinda's artifices and his friendship with Ozma made him a very relatable, easy to like and compelling character. I felt sorry for the Tin Man and his unrequireted love for Dorothy and how people used that to control him, but his novella didn't add much to everything ...unlike Scarecrow's story, although his was my least favorite story, mainly because Scare was already quite corrupted and kind of mean and egoistical before the big turning point. Still, in his novella we finally know how Ozma came to the throne, where she was before and who got her back, as well as one of the possible reasons for her fallout with Scare and Glinda.

Ozma is possibly one of my favorite characters in all this, she's sweet and kind, but smart and commanding when needed be, but also compassionate and mysterious. I really want to get to her novella, but I think the final set will be best read if after the second main novel. Which I'm anxious to dive into, so off to Oz again I go!

“Seriously, just find yourself a rebound.” Dean whips up his arm. “I volunteer as tribute.”

Dean's book was such a surprise for me! I was not expecting to like his character so much or for it to be such an emotionally charged book, especially at the end. I like how Dean, although a declared manwhore, is always straightforward and sincere in his relationships and how he is so much more once you get to know him - he's loyal, kind, smarter than what you give him credit for, a good adviser, caring and even kind of nerdy (his book & nerdy stuff references are the best, hence the quote!). I also LOVED his family and can't wait to have to read a novel with Summer as the main character, she seems awesome! I like how Elle Kennedy weaves some serious issues and realistic situations into her books, making the plot into more than just the romance and steamy scenes. I loved Allie, along with Hannah she may be my favorite female protagonist in this series. She's fiery, independent, strong and although I had some issues with her at the about how she handled some events, I think she's really caring and just.

The ending left a helluva cliffhanger for the final book (that I found out was not so final, because the author is doing a spin-off series with the younger Briar players YAY) and I can't wait because I really like Tuck since book 2!

“Looking at her is like waking up.”

This is the scene from Divergent where Four throws the knife at Tris during the knife-throwing practice from Four's POV. It doesn't add much to the story, but it's an interesting view into Four's mind. I didn't know some facts we're presented here about Four and how he viewed Tris from the start. I think I enjoyed his POV here more than I did in the final book of the trilogy.

“Wield your assets like a blade, Cousin. No man has invented a corset for our brains. Let them think they rule the world. It's a queen who sits on that throne. Never forget that.”

This was such an quick, entertaining read! I love me some mystery and one set in the Victorian Era with a Jack the Ripper retelling with a nice spin is just my cup of tea. I really liked Audrey Rose, our main character - she's strong, fierce and definitely ahead of her time! Although she's different from the other girls her age and believes in equality of gender (you go girl!), she doesn't look down on the other women and is compassionate towards the victims. I also LOVED Thomas and their banter - the whole dynamic has some Sherlock Holmes vibe I like very much and the romance developed there was natural and well developed. Thomas also respects her as a colleague and admires her intelligence. Her Uncle, though...I don't know, I kind of imagined he would have a larger role in the investigations and would be some kind of mentor to Audrey Rose, but he's somehow distant and even cold with her. I didn't feel like an uncle at all, more like just a professor of sorts. And I think Audrey Rose lacked a little of protagonism - almost all the solutions, especially the final one, was presented to her without much effort on her part and it was almost too easy.

Speaking of the mystery, I really liked how well researched this book was. Most of the facts were accurate and even the liberties taken added to the story and the whole creepy, dark feel. But I would have liked more if the case didn't have anything to do with the MC at all. And even though the solution was interesting and it felt right for the narrative as it was, I pretty much guessed with 100 pages to go and thought the actual motives was kind of lame and left a lot of other ‘clues' presented during the novel without explanation. Still, I was satisfied with how everything worked out and I can't wait to continue with the series! I want more of Audrey Rose and Thomas and now that she's away from home, I expect she will have to take charge of things and have a more active role in things!

“We should definitely be nicer to people. You should think about that.”“Nice is subjective.”

I do love me some mean girls stories, and add to that a good mystery/thriller and I'm all in. That's what happened here. Kay is such an interesting and complex character - she is a mean girl through and through, but she also tries to do what's right, especially with all the guilt she carries with her. She's smart and driven, and very resorceful. I also love how all the girls in the school are queer and how that's not a big deal - they don't make it the focus of the narrative, there is no drama around the subject, it's just a part of the character's personalities, it's how they are and that's it. Yes, some romance is an important part of the plot, especially the tense relationship between Kay and Brie, but it's not the main focus of the entire thing.

I also enjoyed the complicated dynamics between the Bate's girls. It's something I like about Mean Girls-kinda books, how twisted and strategical their friendships are, and how unhealthy, but totally relatable that is. This was also a very pshicological book - it dealt a lot with mental issues, the messed up dynamics and relationships Kay has in her life - and also a very dark and atmospheric one. The writing is fluid and compelling and the final plot twists was kind of unexpected. I mean, I did figure out the whodunnit, but not why or how. Honestly, the who left me a little disappointed, because I thought it would be more interesting if someone else (another very likely suspect but with a deeper connection with Kay) would be the killer - motivationally, it would have made even more sense. But I liked how it played out, how everything unraveled slowly and I was pulled in into Kay's head and heart.

There were some plot holes and some loose ends that weren't dealt with by the end, but it was a very enjoyable book with all the elements of a good YA mystery. I look forward to read more of Dana Mele in the future!

“Maybe part of falling in love with someone else is also falling in love with yourself.”

THIS BOOK! I ended it with a huge smile on my face and a light heart. It's so cute! I'm not a huge fan of contemporary YA romances, but this one won me over. I like the way Nicola Yoon tells the story, alternating the POV's between Natasha and Daniel, but also inserting bits of other background characters stories or some facts about especial things to the story and the characters. It makes for a quicker read and it makes everything more interesting. The author also deals with topics like prejudice, racism and others that are so in tune with society now in a way that makes you think and you're left at the end reflecting upon a lot of things. Her writing is beautiful and has this poetic quality without being too deep or heavy - it flows and has this easy, young-like quality to it that makes for a fast read. I also love the way she plays with coincidences and the concepts of fate and destiny and love. Also the way some things we do have an effect on others, even if we don't see it - we touch other people with a word or a gesture. The epilogue was the cherry on top this beautiful book! I do hope there's a movie adaptation after the success it was “Everything, Everything”, because I would love to watch this movie on-screen and I really want to see who they would cast for these characters!

“You can't stop the futureYou can't rewind the pastThe only way to learn the secret...is to press play.”

I liked this book but it wasn't the mindblowing book I was expecting. Yes, it was sad and I enjoyed the approach to depression, suicide and other important themes - it shows that it's tiny little moments that undermines someone's mind and will, and your actions have consequences, no matter how unimportant you think they are. I felt for Hannah so many times during this book and my heart broke for her. There were times when she was clearly crying out for help and no one ‘cared' or listened. Clay just annoyed me a lot, though. He was constantly mulling over his feelings for Hannah, how HE was feeling and a little bit judgmental of Hannah and her decisions & thoughts. I really want to check out the tv series, though, because I watched the first episode and enjoyed it a lot (also, I liked Clay better in that version).

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

“It'd be fun, you know. Just once. To wake up Christmas morning with snow on the ground and stockings full of presents that no one had to steal and a house that's really home.” She reclaimed the teapot and slowly slipped back into the con. “That would be nice. Maybe, someday, we'll steal that.”

Such heart-warming, quick and light novella from the world of Heist Society. This novella takes place in Christmas and it had the feeling of the first books in the series, which I love. I really like when the crew is all together! For a short story, there were many twists and turns and interesting plot twists, and I couldn't figure out who stole the egg before the end and I really enjoyed the plan they concocted. This novella also revolves a lot about family and the feeling of Christmas.

Gabrielle is one of my favorite characters in the series and here we see a side of her that it wasn't in the previous novels, so I enjoyed it a lot. I'm glad her characters is being more developed, instead of focusing solely on Kat and Hale. Speaking of them, the whole drama with them that annoyed me a lot in book 3 is slightly present here, but it resolves in a cute, satisfying way at the end.

"That book was wrong. The devil doesn't wear Prada. I'm pretty sure she wears Channel."

This book was such a good surprise! I was expecting this clichéd romance novel, a light, quick read, but I got so much more than that! The romance in itself is realistic, well developed and natural. I like the whole ‘i hate you to i love you' trope and it worked amazingly here. I also love the chemistry between the characters and how well they compliment each other - they are the best versions of themselves when they're together!

The author also deals with some pretty heavy topics surprisingly well - both characters have this complicated background and some things also happen to them during the novel. Veronica is such a badass, strong woman! We can understand where she comes from and why she's the way she is, and though she doesn't deal with her issues the best way, she still carries on and try to move on and hold on. Her development through the book is also amazing. Baxter is my new literary crush! He's genuinely good and has a huge heart. He really wants to help people, no matter the cost to him and it's beautiful. He cares so much! And he also grows a lot during the novel, in a more discreet way than Veronica.

The ending was nice, though a little predictable, but still so satisfying! Yes, there were some things at the end that made me feel like ‘really, the author is going there?' and that felt like so romantic comedy-like and not in a good way, so maybe that's why I didn't give it 5 stars, but I didn't take from my enjoyment of this book. Highly recommended for fans of romance with a dash of drama e sexy bits.