The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen Genre : YA Stand alone About the Book  : Emma Saylor doesn’t remember a lot about her mother, who died when she was ten. Now it’s just Emma and her dad, and life is good… until Emma is unexpectedly sent to spend the summer with her mother’s family. When Emma arrives at North Lake, she realizes there are actually two very different communities there. Her mother grew up in working class North Lake,...

The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf Genre : YA, Historical fiction Stand alone About the Book  : Melati Ahmad looks like your typical moviegoing, Beatles-obsessed sixteen-year-old. Unlike most other sixteen-year-olds though, Mel also believes that she harbors a djinn inside her, one who threatens her with horrific images of her mother’s death unless she adheres to an elaborate ritual of counting and tapping to keep him satisfied. But there...

Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian Genre : Fantasy, YA Series : Ash Princess, book 1 About the Book  : Theodosia was six when her country was invaded and her mother, the Fire Queen, was murdered before her eyes. On that day, the Kaiser took Theodosia’s family, her land, and her name. Theo was crowned Ash Princess–a title of shame to bear in her new life as a prisoner. For ten years Theo has been a captive in her own palace....

I don’t review all the books I read – and too often, I end up not reviewing some of my favorite reads, too worried I won’t be able to do them justice. But really, it’s never too late to talk about your favorite books! And so, with a new summer beginning, I wanted to talk about three very different books I read and adored last summer. If you are looking for a great read this season, maybe one of these will work for you! *...

Sadie by Courtney Summers Narration : Full cast Genre : YA, mystery Stand alone About the Book  : Sadie hasn’t had an easy life. Growing up on her own, she’s been raising her sister Mattie in an isolated small town, trying her best to provide a normal life and keep their heads above water. But when Mattie is found dead, Sadie’s entire world crumbles. After a somewhat botched police investigation, Sadie is determined to...

Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones Genre : Fantasy Series : Wintersong, book 1 About the Book  : The last night of the year. Now the days of winter begin and the Goblin King rides abroad, searching for his bride…. All her life, Liesl has heard tales of the beautiful, dangerous Goblin King. They’ve enraptured her mind and spirit and inspired her musical compositions. Now eighteen and helping to run her family’s inn, Liesel can’t...

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black Genre : Fantasy Series : The Folk of the Air, book 1 About the Book  : Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King. To...

The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas Genre : Mystery, YA Stand alone About the Book  : There are no more cheerleaders in the town of Sunnybrook. First there was the car accident—two girls gone after hitting a tree on a rainy night. Not long after, the murders happened. Those two girls were killed by the man next door. The police shot him, so no one will ever know why he did it. Monica’s sister was the last cheerleader to die. After her...