Review: Verity by Colleen Hoover

Title: Verity 

Author: Colleen Hoover 

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Romance
Publisher: Hoover Ink, Inc. 

Publication Date: December 7th 2018

Summary: 

Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish. Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity's notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn't expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity's recollection of what really happened the day her daughter died. Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents would devastate the already grieving father. But as Lowen's feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife's words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue to love her. A standalone romantic thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover.

Verity is simply a thrill ride from the first page to the very last. I recently subscribed to Kindle Unlimited and downloaded Verity because I thought it sounded interesting, fast forward a few days and I watched a TikTok about the book that had me intrigued. Having been in book slump for a few weeks, I was nervous that Verity wasn't going to live up to its hype for me. I was wrong. I devoured Verity in a day, staying up way too late to finish those chilling final scenes. 

Verity is not a novel for the faint of heart. It discusses some very dark themes and content. (Trigger Warnings: Death, attempted self abortion,  attempted murder of a newborn, discussion of death) When Lowen discovered Verity's unfinished autobiography, I never imagined it would be as dark as it was. The autobiography paints the portrait of a woman who is prideful and intensely obsessed with her husband, doing anything in her power to make sure she remains at the center of his attention. 

I really enjoyed Lowen's character. She was relatable and felt real to me. She moved to New York and pursue her writing career when she can remain unknown. Early on in the book Lowen disclosures that she had previously had a relationship with her agent, and that it was missing something vital. When she meets Jeremey she is instantly intrigued by him, something about him drawing her in. We watch Lowen go from being decently level headed to someone who has reached their sanity's edge with in the length of Verity. 

Overall I really loved Verity and could talk about it endlessly if given the opportunity to do so. I know this review was super vague but there is so much that can be spoiled by discussing everything that happened. If you love romantic thrillers that will leave you craving more, Verity is the book for you. 

Mini Reviews: The Famoux by Kassandra Tate & The Last Secret You'll Ever Keep by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Title: The Famoux // Author: Kassandra Tate // Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian // Source: Wattpad Books via NetGalley // Publisher: Wattpad Books // Publication Date: January 19th 2021 // Add it to Goodreads

Summary: Fame can be deadly. Out of the wreckage of environmental collapse, the country of Delicatum emerged. Its most popular celebrities are the Famoux, uniquely beautiful stars of a reality TV show called the Fishbowl. In a world still recovering from catastrophe, they provide a 24/7 distraction. Sixteen-year-old Emilee Laurence is obsessed with the Famoux—they provide a refuge from her troubled home life and the bullies at school. When she receives an unimaginable offer to become a member herself, she takes it. Leaving behind everything she’s ever known, Emilee enters a world of high glamour and even higher stakes. Because behind their perfect image lies an ugly truth—an anonymous stalker has been dictating the Famoux’s every move, and being popular really is a matter of life or death.

I think it is safe to say the first thing that attracted me to this book was the cover to The Famoux and then when I read the synopsis I was sold. The Famoux was a fresh taste to the dystopian genre, that we haven't seen in so long. My only complaint is that I feel as if the pacing was off in some points and that the climax of the story sort of stemmed from something that could have been introduced earlier in the book. But other then that I did really enjoy The Famoux and I am eager to see what is next.  

Title: The Last Secret You'll Ever Keep // Author: Laurie Faria Stolarz // Genre: Contemporary,  // Source: Wednesday Books via NetGalley // Publisher: Wednesday Books // Publication Date: March 16th 2021 // Add it to Goodreads

Summary: Bestselling author Laurie Faria Stolarz returns with a thrilling novel where an eighteen-year-old girl's search for answers lands her in one of the most terrifying situations imaginable. Four days… Trapped in a well, surrounded by dirt, scratching at the walls trying to find a way out. Four days of a thirst so strong, that when it finally rains, I drink as much as possible from the dripping walls, not even caring how much dirt comes with it. Six months… Since my escape. Since no one believed I was taken to begin with – from my own bed, after a party, when no one else was home. Six months of trying to find answers and being told instead that I made the whole incident up. One month... Since I logged on to the Jane Anonymous site for the first time and found a community of survivors who listen without judgment, provide advice, and console each other when needed. A month of chatting with a survivor whose story eerily mirrors my own: a girl who’s been receiving triggering clues, just like me, and who could help me find the answers I’m searching for. Three days… Since she mysteriously disappears, and since I’m forced to ask the questions: will my chance to find out what happened to me vanish with her? And will I be next?

When I learned that this was set in the same world as Jane Anonymous I was really excited to see how the two were going to have to do with each other, but I really love how Stolarz brought up the familiar elements of Jane Anonymous with a whole new story. 

This book is full of twist and turns, things you never saw coming and things that make you second guess yourself over and over again. Terra's story is told in the present and the before. Before being when she was abducted. Throughout the entire story everything that we learn and see Terra do makes you question if she is a reliable character or not (I am not spoiling anything, I am going to leave that up to you to find out!) 

But overall this was one of my favorite books of 2020 and I am excited to see what everyone else is going to think of it and if there will be more novels set in the Jane Anonymous world. 

ARC Review: Of Silver and Shadow by Jennifer Gruenke

Title: Of Silver and Shadow
Author: Jennifer Gruenke
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Flux via NetGalley
Publisher: Flux
Publication Date: May 26th 2020
Summary: 

Ren Kolins is a silver wielder—a dangerous thing to be in the kingdom of Erdis, where magic has been outlawed for a century. Ren is just trying to survive, sticking to a life of petty thievery, card games, and pit fighting to get by. But when a wealthy rebel leader discovers her secret, he offers her a fortune to join his revolution. The caveat: she won’t see a single coin until they overthrow the King. Behind the castle walls, a brutal group of warriors known as the King’s Children is engaged in a competition: the first to find the rebel leader will be made King’s Fang, the right hand of the King of Erdis. And Adley Farre is hunting down the rebels one by one, torturing her way to Ren and the rebel leader, and the coveted King’s Fang title. But time is running out for all of them, including the youngest Prince of Erdis, who finds himself pulled into the rebellion. Political tensions have reached a boiling point, and Ren and the rebels must take the throne before war breaks out.

Of Silver and Shadow is an almost 500 page book, (480 pages if we want to be exact) and I read this book in one sitting. One moment I was sitting down to start this book and then suddenly it was 2 a.m. and my kindle wouldn't flip to a new page. Gruenke's debut novel is not one to missed! Full of action, suspense and tons of plot twists Of Silver and Shadows will have you hooked from page one. 

Of Silver and Shadow alternates in POVs which gives us an all around view of this rebellion and what everyone's driving motive is. 

Ren - Ren posses Silver, a magic that was outlawed hundred of years earlier after the purge of all Silver wielders, leaving the magic strictly to those of the royal bloodline. A few years earlier Ren escaped a fire set to her house by the King, leaving her scared and her parents dead. Something she blames herself for everyday. On night she is cornered by Darek and his brother with the offer of a life time: Help them dethrone the King and in return they will pay her 700,000 coins. Ren doesn't care about this so called rebellion but the coins will free her from her debts, finally giving her the freedom she has been craving. Teaming up with these brothers Ren is thrown into a plan that is going to put an unexpected person on the throne if they win. 

Darek - Literally tall, dark and moody. Darek is leading the rebellion that he promised his mother he would finished when she was killed many years earlier. He never counted on Ren being the person who was going to end this rebellion for good. Ren is a thorn in his side, she is snarky, rude and doesn't know how to follow directions and not a challenge he was expecting to have to deal with as well. But soon Darek is warming up to the the street girl who tests his every very being. 

Kellen - Kellen is one of the Princes of Edris. He has a reputation of sharing the bed of many woman and when he can he keeps his head down and avoids his duties. Why act like a prince when his father looks down on him, his mother can't be bothered and his older brother Heath is next in line for the throne? Kellen runs one of the fighting rings with in the kingdom and one night meets Ren when she comes to fight in his ring. With his search for Ren and his involvement with Holland, another key player in the Rebellion, Prince Kellen has no idea what he is getting himself into, but he does know one thing. He is ready for change. 

Adley - Part of the King's Children, an elite guard of the King, Adley's job is to hunt down the rebels. When the King offers the position of the King's Fang up to anyone who can bring the leaders of the rebellion in, Adley jumps on the chance. Adley has a secret though, she has fallen in love with her best friend and the King's Children are not allowed to fall in love, it is an act of treason. But after her service of Fang is over she will be allowed to leave and live a free life with Lesa by her side and not having to hide their love for each other. But soon Adley is in a position she never thought she would be in. 

There is a lot that happens in this book and for the sake of spoilers I am not going to discuss most of it because I want you all the find out for yourself. But the plot twists, the actions and the romance will have you on the edge of your seat. Though all of the characters are on different sides, each have redeeming qualities about them that make you love them, no matter how much you don't want to.

The one thing I will put out there is that I recommend this book for an upper YA audience. Darek is twenty two, making him the oldest in the cast of characters, which wouldn't necessarily bother me for it was easy for me to connect with characters because of their ages. But I can see this being a problem for younger readers. The romance aspect is a little steamy, (which I explain in the next paragraph) making the upper YA audience a better fit rather then a younger YA audience. This book doesn't fall into NA or adult though, it reads as a YA novel would, just with character who are slightly older.

The romance was one of my favorite aspects on this story. Darek and Ren start out hating each other and slowly through the pages we watch what starts out as their partnership in a rebellion turn into something much much more. The tension between these two characters is intense, though they both "hate" each other, they both face the feelings that they want each other and that the want more from the other person, whether they are going to admit it to each other or not. When they finally kiss? Damn. Gruenke did not disappoint on Darek and Ren's part as well as the reader. (I'm always here for a steamy scene though.) But more then just the kissing, watching Ren who is use to being on her own and not letting anyone in, let Darek in which was what made this romance so satisfying to me. The romance didn't take over the whole plot of the story, but it gave it the push it needed in those final scenes on the book. (Once you read you will know exactly what I am talking about!) 

Overall I loved Of Silver and Shadow and I am sad that it is over. I have't heard any news on a sequel but Gruenke did wrap up the story nicely if this book does end up being a stand alone, but I would love to see how their characters make do with the result their actions had given them. 

ARC Review: The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Title: The Ex Talk

Author: Rachel Lynn Solomon

Genre: Romance, Contemporary

Source: Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley

Publisher: Berkley

Publication Date: January 26th 2021

Summary: 

Public radio co-hosts navigate mixed signals in Rachel Lynn Solomon's sparkling romantic comedy debut. Shay Goldstein has been a producer at her Seattle public radio station for nearly a decade, and she can't imagine working anywhere else. But lately it's been a constant clash between her and her newest colleague, Dominic Yun, who's fresh off a journalism master's program and convinced he knows everything about public radio. When the struggling station needs a new concept, Shay proposes a show that her boss green-lights with excitement. On The Ex Talk, two exes will deliver relationship advice live, on air. Their boss decides Shay and Dominic are the perfect co-hosts, given how much they already despise each other. Neither loves the idea of lying to listeners, but it's this or unemployment. Their audience gets invested fast, and it's not long before The Ex Talk becomes a must-listen in Seattle and climbs podcast charts. As the show gets bigger, so does their deception, especially when Shay and Dominic start to fall for each other. In an industry that values truth, getting caught could mean the end of more than just their careers.

This Book. I am in love. I'm not sure what I expected when I picked up The Ex Talk since contemporary novels aren't typically what I read. But once I read the synopsis I was sold. Rachel's adult debut novel did not disappoint one bit. I was flying through the pages of Shay and Dominic's story wanting to know more and waiting for *that* moment. 

I LOVE Shay's character so much. I loved seeing her internal and external troubles with radio, how she is self conscious of her voice and how her ethics are compromised with the idea of The Ex Talk when she agrees to the idea. I also liked how Rachel took time to include the small details, the good and the bad about her father who passed away ten years earlier. Shay felt so incredibly real! I wish she wasn't a fictional character because I wish we could be best friends. 

I couldn't help but love Dominic. At first he comes off as a jackass, but slowly we get to learn the real him and I was quite literally swooning for him. Rachel did a good job about explaining his background too, his insecurities and making him feel just as real as Shay is. 

THE TENSION. The sexual tension in this book is something else. It is so obvious that they are into each other to everyone else but them and I loved that aspect so much. They don't have the traditional "boy meets girl and they fall in love" story but thats what I love the most. I also enjoyed that Shay is actually a few years older than Dominic, I feel like that is something that needs to be more normalized in romance novels is that the girl can be older in the relationship. 

Overall I loved The Ex Talk and I can't wait until it is out in the world so other people can love it as well! Rachel did not disappoint and I can't wait to read more from her soon! 

ARC Review: The Project by Courtney Summers

Title: The Project 

Author: Courtney Summers

Genre: Cults, Horror, Thriller 

Source: Wednesday Books via NetGalley

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Publication Date: February 2nd, 2021

Summary: "The Unity Project saved my life." Lo Denham is used to being on her own. After her parents died, Lo's sister, Bea, joined The Unity Project, leaving Lo in the care of their great aunt. Thanks to its extensive charitable work and community outreach, The Unity Project has won the hearts and minds of most in the Upstate New York region, but Lo knows there's more to the group than meets the eye. She's spent the last six years of her life trying--and failing--to prove it. "The Unity Project murdered my son." When a man shows up at the magazine Lo works for claiming The Unity Project killed his son, Lo sees the perfect opportunity to expose the group and reunite with Bea once and for all. When her investigation puts her in the direct path of its charismatic and mysterious leader, Lev Warren, he proposes a deal: if she can prove the worst of her suspicions about The Unity Project, she may expose them. If she can't, she must finally leave them alone. But as Lo delves deeper into The Project, the lives of its members, and spends more time with Lev, it upends everything she thought she knew about her sister, herself, cults, and the world around her--to the point she can no longer tell what's real or true. Lo never thought she could afford to believe in Lev Warren . . . but now she doesn't know if she can afford not to. Welcome to The Unity Project.The next pulls-no-punches thriller from New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-winning author Courtney Summers, about an aspiring young journalist determined to save her sister from a cult. 

It’s still been a few days since I finished The Project and all I can say is this: Courtney, why did you put me through such pain? I loved Sadie so when I heard news of The Project I was instantly interested. Especially that this book is centered around a cult was a selling point for me, something about these kinds of books just trap me in. I can’t give The Project enough praise, but I’m hoping this review is a little drop in the tons of love it will get.

I love Courtney’s writing style. It’s easy to follow, imaginative and leaves the reading sitting on the edge of their seat eager for more. She did not disappoint on the twists and turns in The Project. There would many times through out this book that I would have to stop and process what happened.

I loved Lo’s character and her dedication to finding her sister and finding is place in the world after something horrific happened to her. I especially loved seeing how as the story went on how Courtney subtlety shifted certain aspects of Lo’s beliefs and actions to meet those of The Project, it was masterfully done. This whole entire book is masterful.

The Project left me crying in my room at 1a.m. because the ending is unlike anything I predicted it to be, especially having read Sadie and knowing how that ended. But as much as it emotionally destroyed me I loved every moment of this book and I hope everyone else who reads it does too. As I said, this review won’t do The Project justice so You have to read it for yourself to see!

   

Review: Stop Surviving Start Fighting by Jazz Thornton

*Content Warnings: this memoir & review contains talks of suicide, sexual assault, anxiety, depression, borderline personality disorder, death, overdose.*

Title: Stop Surviving Start Fighting
Author: Jazz Thornton
Genre: Memoir, Self Help, Mental Health 
Publisher: Penguin Group
Publication Date: March 31st 2020
Kindle Edition, 272 Pages 

Summary: 

Jazz Thornton first attempted to take her own life at the age of 12. Multiple attempts followed and she spent time in psychiatric wards and under medical supervision as she rode the rollercoaster of depression and anxiety through her teenage years – yet the attempts continued. Find out what Jazz learned about how her negative thought patterns came to be, and how she turned those thoughts – and her life – around. Who and what helped, and what didn't help. The insights she gives will help create a greater understanding of those grappling with mental illness, and those around them who desperately want to help. Jazz went on to attend film school, and to co-found Voices of Hope, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping those with mental health issues and show them there is a way forward. She creates online content to provide hope and help. Her first video Dear Suicidal Me has had over 80 million views all around the world. She went on to create Jessica's Tree, a web series that follows the 24 hours between a friend, Jess, going missing and the discovery of her body. It provides insights into Jessica's strug­gles, to help people better understand those suffering from depression. https-//www.youtube­.com/watch?v=7QFU_qg­7Msk Jessica's Tree was viewed more than 230,000 times in the two months following its release in March 2019 and immediately began winning international recognition and awards, including the Huawei Mate30 Pro New Zealand Television Awards 2019 Best Web Series, The process and the delicate decisions that had to be made to create Jessica's Tree have themselves been documented in a film about Jazz called The Girl on the Bridge, due for release early in 2020.

Your life doesn’t change based on the actions of others, but because of your own decisions. Your decisions have the ability to change everything.

I first discovered Jazz on Tiktok a few months ago where she openly talked about the years of her life where she struggled. She answers viewers questions, listens and creates content that helps many around the world. (Click here to check out her TikTok.) After following her for a while I followed her on Instagram (Click here to check out her Instagram.) and learned about Voices of Hope, an organization and charity she put together with the help of her friend for people struggling with mental health. (Click here to check out Voices of Hope.)

In the past couple of months I been struggling with my mental health to the point it has affected my day to day life, when I learned Jazz had published a memoir abut her struggles, how she beat her struggles and go to the root of them, I couldn't help but want to read it. Jazz has become a huge inspiration to me. Stop Surviving Start Fighting is not an easy read, the topics are heavy and for many can be triggering. I took breaks several times through out the novel to compose myself and then continued on, which Jazz advises you to do in the beginning of her memoir. 

This book is important for young adults who are struggling. Its a story of hope and how even in the darkest situations there is light at the end of the tunnel. Jazz and my story is similar in certain ways and in reading this I felt less alone. I also learned personal lessons on how I've just been surviving all of these years and not actually fighting. 

It’s important to remember that healing and retraining your brain doesn’t happen overnight and we are always learning. For me, identifying the underlying experiences and issues was key in allowing me to move forward and experience lasting change.

Jazz's story is important to those who feel like there is no hope, they want to seek help but don't know how or just want to understand more on what it is like to live with mental illnesses. I can't recommend this book enough, but also I would just keep in mind of the trigger warnings I posted at the top of the post.

ARC Review: Five Total Strangers by Natalie D. Richards

Title: Five Total Strangers
Author: Natalie D. Richards
Genre: Thriller, Mystery 
Source: Sourcebooks via NetGalley
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire 
Publication Date: October 6th 2020

Summary: 

A hitched ride home in a snow storm turns sinister when one of the passengers is plotting for the ride to end in disaster. When Mira flies home to spend Christmas with her mother in Pittsburgh, a record-breaking blizzard results in a cancelled layover. Desperate to get to her grief-ridden mother in the wake of a family death, Mira hitches a ride with a group of friendly college kids who were on her initial flight. As the drive progresses and weather conditions become more treacherous, Mira realizes that the four other passengers she's stuck in the car with don't actually know one another. Soon, they're not just dealing with heavy snowfall and ice-slick roads, but the fact that somebody will stop at nothing to ensure their trip ends in a deadly disaster.

Content Warnings: Death, stalking, talks about drug use, drugs, car accidents, near death experiences

I want to take a moment to appreciate the cover of this book. It is quite simple, but at the same time the contrast of the red font against the snowy background makes it stand out. The cover matches the vibe of Five Total Strangers perfectly. I know if I passed it in the bookstore, I would be inclined to pick it up. 

What happens when you are stranded at an airport on Christmas Eve, desperate to get home in time to spend the holiday with your grieving mother? Mira is desperate to get home, the kind of desperate that she takes up an offer from her seatmate Harper and her "friends" to travel home by car in a snowstorm with them. But not everyone is who they seem to be and soon Mira is in a fight for her life. 

I really want to call Mira stupid for accepting the ride with people she barley knew, but desperate times call for desperate measures. A year ago her aunt Phoebe passed away, who happened to be her mother's twin. Mira's mom hasn't handled her death well and with the anniversary approaching and their favorite holiday happening Mira is desperate to be there. I understood Mira's desperation, Harper had given her a sense of security and she felt as if she took this ride it would get her to her mother quicker. She never expected to storm to thicken and for the events that would unfold to happen. I enjoyed that the story takes place in such a super short time frame. 

Five Total Strangers was a quick read, it flowed nicely and it had enough surprises and thrills to keep you wanting more. As a thriller lover, the story didn't stand out as different, but it was entertaining nonetheless. 

ARC Review: Throwaway Girls by Andrea Contos

Title: Throwaway Girls 
Author: Andrea Contos 
Genre: Mystery, Thriller,
Source: Kids Can Press via NetGalley
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Publication Date: September 1st 2020

Summary: 

Caroline Lawson is three months away from freedom, otherwise known as graduation day. That's when she'll finally escape her rigid prep school and the parents who thought they could convert her to being straight. Until then, Caroline is keeping her head down, pretending to be the perfect student even though she is crushed by her family and heartbroken over the girlfriend who left for California. But when her best friend Madison disappears, Caroline feels compelled to get involved in the investigation. She has her own reasons not to trust the police, and she owes Madison — big time. Suddenly Caroline realizes how little she knew of what her friend was up to. Caroline has some uncomfortable secrets about the hours before Madison disappeared, but they're nothing compared to the secrets Madison has been hiding. And why does Mr. McCormack, their teacher, seem to know so much about them? It's only when Caroline discovers other missing girls that she begins to close in on the truth. Unlike Madison, the other girls are from the wrong side of the tracks. Unlike Madison's, their disappearances haven't received much attention. Caroline is determined to find out what happened to them and why no one seems to notice. But as every new discovery leads Caroline closer to the connection between these girls and Madison, she faces an unsettling truth. There's only one common denominator between the disappearances: Caroline herself.

*Content Warnings: Talk of suicide, conversion camps, disappearance of a loved one, implied sexual assault, anxiety attacks*

It's been a few days since I've finished Throwaway Girls and I still can't form a coherent sentence on much I loved this book and its characters. I read 75% of this book in one sitting because I just had to know: What happened to Madison? It takes a lot for a book to hit me on a personal level and Throwaway Girls did just that. 

Caroline is so close to freedom that she can taste it. She can't wait to get away from her parents who can't accept who she is, the fancy prep school that is smothering her and trying to forget the girl who ran off to California and broke her heart. Everything changes when Caroline's best friend Madison goes missing. Not trusting the police herself Caroline takes matters into her own hands and learns that she didn't know as much about Madison as she thought she did. In her search, Caroline comes across multiple missing girls who aren't from good parts of town and are assumed to be "runaways." But Caroline learns pretty quickly that there is a common denominator between all these missing girls: herself. 

I think my favorite aspect of this book is that we get occasional POV chapters from an unknown character who isn't revealed until the end, when all the huge secrets are beginning to unfold. I spent most of the book thinking that this POV was one character, when it really wasn't a character I was expecting at all. I think in Cantos doing this is added a lot more depth to this character that we might not have gotten to see otherwise. 

There is so much to talk about but so many ways this book can be spoiled at the same time. But I will give it this: It makes you think. It makes you think about all the missing girls you see in the news and how they are assumed to be runaways because they aren't from the ideal situations. The stigma that is surrounding girls who don't come from middle class or upper class families and them gaining justice.

Cantos debut novel is a strong one and I am excited to see what she is going to have in store for her readers next. Throwaway Girls left me on the edge of my seat for the whole story, desperate to know how it was going to end. Throwaway Girls is perfect for fans of Sadie and other books that fall under that genre.