HI there!
Long time, no blog post...I know, I know. Tis the season for all the holiday hubbub, and between getting things ready at home, surviving the chaos at work, my fur kid being in the hospital, etc...this Christmas didn't exactly turn out how I might have hoped. But I digress, one area that HAS been good is the READING, and so, I give you today's roundup of titles that are a great pick for your personal reading, gift giving/exchanging ideas, or an easy peasy way to spend those gift cards that you might have received! So wish 2023 adieu and welcome 2024 with a start on your MUST READ list.
Ready? Set? READ ALL ABOUT IT...
by
Carol Fisher Saller
9798986235349
Duckweed Books
Labeled for the upper-Middle-Grade crowd, this touching story tells the tale of Lainie Stanton and Madeleine, her infamous great grandmother. I won't go into details on the story itself as it definitely keeps its air of mystery throughout, but I will touch on a few factors that endeared it to me. I loved the family ties that were built into the story. From her many uncles to the echoes of the past, Lainie was not alone, and that's important to know at any age or stage of life. I appreciated the other side of the story presented when we were investigating Madeleine's past. True, it was touch and go because of the ghostly memories leading the way, but it reminded us that a story has more than one side, and what may have been presented as gospel truth could in fact be hiding something much bigger, much more important. I enjoyed the chance to uncover the truth alongside Lainie, never once feeling like we were kept in the dark. I admit I had my thoughts on how things would turn out, but it didn't lessen my enthusiasm for the moments of discovery as they occurred.
A great read with a touch of paranormal for the designated age group and beyond!
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by
Tessa Harris
9780008564445
HQ
Oh my word! My only regret with this one is not having had enough time earlier in the month to bring it to you. I quite literally finished reading this just the other night, and, if you're a Historical Fiction fan, you don't want to miss it! I find myself reading a lot of works in this genre that took place around WWII, and this one is no exception. The tale opens with a moment in the future with an immediate jump to the past to reveal how we ended up where we were; all because of a madman, and a notebook that could betray him. When I say I started this one and didn't want to put it down, I am not exaggerating. The characters come to life right off the page, the settings whisk you away to see them firsthand, and while the events transpiring are tragic to say the least, there is still beauty found, moments of hope, and pockets of resilience to fight for another day. I cried for Katja more times than I can count. I worried for Doctor Viktor and yet silently praised his delayed bravery. I took a shine to Daniel who was still trying to heal, and yet so ready to share the darkest corners of his heart. I befriended Sylvia because she was such a force, and yet a very good friend. My book's end, my emotions were raw from the seemingly endless roller coaster, and yet there were surprises STILL to come...but I wouldn't trade a moment of it!
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by
Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
9780063222649
Avon Books
Okay, so we're stepping away from the historical and right into Contemporary Romance, but, and I don't say this lightly, it comes with A LOT OF SPICE. We're talking cinnamon candy canes served with hot chocolate spiked with Tabasco sauce (if ONLY that!), so if you're strictly a closed door reader, do not embark on this read. Capisce? (Understand?) Good, good, now let's talk about a story that's a bit more naughty.
As I said, there is A LOT going on here, but despite the front and center "stuff", it's not JUST about that. There's so much more going on than who's riding in Santa's sleigh tonight (*ahem*). It's a story about family, and not just those related by blood because they don't always turn out to be the ones that have your back. It's about being comfortable being you, and not accepting the shame others put on you for being or doing something different than they think you should. It's about finding your own path in this world regardless of your upbringing. Let's face it, parents are winging it too, and Winnie really got the cream of the crop in that department, but once she fell from grace, so to speak, she was inadvertently freed from having to tow the line they laid out. Once she took a step in a direction that was of her own choosing, she experienced more of life, and love than she believed possible. Of course, we also get a bit of an education in the adult film industry, and see the unfortunate side effects of having one too many and dancing on a stage with "Santa's helpers", but even those moments have their place and time, and really a lot of those involved were better to her and for her than any of the "clean cut" crew she was formerly attached to. Basically don't judge a book by it's cover, or a person by their line of work. We all have multiple sides to us, and we all deserve to be loved for our whole selves.
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by
Shannon Messenger
Adapted by Celina Freen
Illustrated by Gabriella Chianello
9781534463363
Aladdin | Simon & Schuster
A young girl different from others at her school, and for most of her life, who is simply trying to fit in when she was meant to stand out, comes into her own in a world she didn't know existed, where her abilities are powers, and there are others like her, yet perhaps not as powerful...but the truth of why her past was hidden from her, might be the best kept secret of all...with unknown consequences if revealed.
This is a book series that I've always been curious about. That being said, this is my first venture into it, and while I appreciated the grand scale of the artwork as well as the storytelling, I'm not certain that it was my best choice for giving this one a chance. I liked it, I truly did, but I think I needed the details that a novel tends to have, and a graphic novel tends to drop. There's nothing bad about the latter option, but this reader needed a little more "meat" to get by. So, if you're a fan of the series, I say GO FOR IT. If you're a Graphic Novel lover, take a chance! If you're interested in the series, but new to it, and only dabble in the visual side of reading, I think you'd best stick with me and go for the full length novel first.
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by
Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton
Illustrated by Elly MacKay
9781419763199
Abrams Kids
In this GORGEOUSLY illustrated storybook, we gain visual clarity of the loss we suffered as a people across the world when COVID-19 struck its mighty blow. It shut the world down in portions at a time, and made gathering impossible for the sake of saving lives, and while that hurt us on a personal level, we still had electronic ways to connect...but what about those that made their living performing. What about those that gave of themselves to bring joy, entertainment, and moments of escape to our lives? True, you can tune into a recorded performance, download a movie, or listen to a collection of songs, but the impact of experiencing those live and in person, sitting/standing alongside others ensconced in the moment...there's nothing quite like it. Whether you're listening to the masters of the age, seeing an on Broadway or way off Broadway performance, or collectively viewing the latest Hollywood has to offer, the moments are much different when experienced first hand. COVID-19 stole those moments, and the livelihood of those that put them on display for us...but accepting defeat was like turning the lights off on the stage, or drawing the final curtain. We had to hold on. We had to have hope. This story tells of the efforts of an artistic director in Barcelona, and the celebration they threw in honor of the arts...to an audience of plants. Sounds absurd? Well, so does having everyone in lock down 24/7, but it still happened and the world was better for it. A tale to be shared with the young and young at heart, today and always.
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by
Julie Tieu
9780063245198
Avon Books
It's an opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine romcom that doesn't exactly end as brilliantly as I would have liked, but it stays true to characters just the same. Elise and Ben are not the most obvious pair, and, quite honestly, I had a hard time picturing them together with the amount of time they spent apart, but I enjoyed getting to know more about each as the story progressed. She had dreams and aspirations while being unable to say no to her friends, to the point that she was putting her own business on the line. He had dreams, but the plans kept changing, and with his family in the political spotlight, it was pretty hard to catch a break away from that arena. They both wanted to make it on their own, and oftentimes got in their own way, but the good, the bad, and the ultimately ugly they go through, brings them closer to the reality they both are reaching for.
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by
Nashae Jones
9781665949279
Aladdin | Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
RELEASE DATE: 01/02/24
This one is just getting ready to hit bookstore shelves, so I'm SO HAPPY to bring you the scoop pre pub! (*yay me!*) Cue the hearts and arrows aiming at mere mortals just looking for a connection...but get ready to change your mind about the diapered baby supposedly firing them! This Middle Grade Fiction title is bringing the house and hallowed school halls down on the myths of old, as cupid turns out to be dear old mysteriously not around dad, and apparently his offspring get a bit of the power side of things as a kickback from that parentage. I mean, it's the perfect time to unleash emotionally charged magic on a kid, right? I mean who wouldn't want to throw the fate of happiness and love into the hands of a potentially angsty THIRTEEN YEAR OLD?! Oye, I'm face palming here if only you could see me.
The thing is...this book not only brings the diversity in books readers are looking for, but the FUN too! It may not appear to be relateable, but check this out...embarrassing parental units, uncontrollable feelings, uncertainty in love, unwanted face offs with friends, frenemies that shouldn't have been, and all while simply trying to navigate this one righteously individual life we've been given....am I right? Are you feeling Erin's "pain" yet? Don't worry...we all share it, in some fashion, and she's a smart cookie. She'll figure it out in the end...it just might take a little extra embarrassment on her part, a little more truth shared with others as well as her self, and a bit of admitting she may not have been totally right (in using those powers without reading the handbook!). Fans of the genre, make this the top of your list!
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Many many thanks to all the publishers, publicists, and authors that contributed to this final 2023 review roundup. (THANK YOU!) For more information on any of the titles listed, feel free to click through the links provided above. All are available now with the exception of CUPID, but it's just about to join the others on a bookstore shelf near you. I'd also like to thank my readers for sharing in this bookish journey with me. We're sending 2023 off with a bang, but there's plenty more in store come 2024.
Until NEXT YEAR 😉, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
