Book Review: Stay Sweet

Hello Everyone!

Today’s review is on Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian.

Summary:

Summer in Sand Lake isn’t complete without a trip to Meade Creamery—the local ice cream stand founded in 1944 by Molly Meade who started making ice cream to cheer up her lovesick girlfriends while all the boys were away at war. Since then, the stand has been owned and managed exclusively by local girls, who inevitably become the best of friends. Seventeen-year-old Amelia and her best friend Cate have worked at the stand every summer for the past three years, and Amelia is “Head Girl” at the stand this summer. When Molly passes away before Amelia even has her first day in charge, Amelia isn’t sure that the stand can go on. That is, until Molly’s grandnephew Grady arrives and asks Amelia to stay on to help continue the business…but Grady’s got some changes in mind…

My Thoughts: 

I’ll admit that I had a hard time getting into this one, but once I was about 75 pages in, I was hooked! I loved the whole idea of an ice cream stand run only by women.

I liked getting to know Amelia and her passion for Meade Creamery and how she tries to keep things going when Molly – the founder – died. Another character I really enjoyed getting to know was Grady. He was a cinnamon roll, even though he acted like a jerk at times, but it was also east to see that he wanted the business to succeed even though his motives were sometimes selfish. I also liked the journal entries from 1945 written by Molly because it gave her more character, and it also showed how the ice cream stand got its start.

The one character that I could not stand as Cate. I hated how she constantly tried to undermine Amelia and made her feel bad when she was trying to do everything in her power to save the ice cream stand, she deserves a better best friend!

This was the first Siobhan Vivian book I have read and I’m looking forward to reading more her works in the future. This is the perfect summer contemporary read, especially if you love ice cream with a bit of romance thrown in! 4/5 Stars.

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

 

Emoji-a-thon TBR (September TBR)

Hello Everyone!

Today’s post is my September TBR. So for the month of September I am going to be taking part in the Emoji-a-thon TBR. I’m still not completely sure which books I am going to read for the challenges, especially since I am not going to have as much freedom with what I choose to read because of one of the classes I am taking this semester. So instead of telling you which books I am going to read, here are the list of challenges for the Emoji-a-thon. Here  is all the infromation taken from the Google Doc that can be found on the Emoji-a-thon Twitter page.

Running from: 9/1/18 – 9/30/18

 

GOAL: To complete as many challenges as possible before the end of the month (doubling, tripling, etc on challenges is of course allowed).

 

HOSTS:

Dylan: (https://bit.ly/2OhHUXW)

Jay: (https://bit.ly/1kBpO36)

Spencer: (https://bit.ly/2smVQ9u)

Brittany: (https://bit.ly/2FJiO0S)

Bingo Board (100% optional!): (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CDfEusPaT4q99lkfK8O-_r7-QlMBOR5W/view?usp=drivesdk)

 

GROUP BOOK: I AM STILL ALIVE by Kate Alice Marshall

(Reading the group book isn’t necessary!!)

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2M8Pk2i

Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/2OjtUwT

Book Depository: https://bit.ly/2M3GMtj

 

CHALLENGES

 

 👯‍♀️   : Read the group book: I AM STILL ALIVE by Kate Alice Marshall
  📚       : Freebie! Read whatever you want.
     🌮      : Read LETTERS TO THE LOST by Brigid Kemmerer
     💓 : a book by a favorite author
  🍇  :Read VINYL by Sophia Elaine Hanson
  🔮   : read RADIO SILENCE by Alice Oseman
🥑     : Read OUT OF BEAT by Cassandra Giovanni

 🌈 : read a book with your favorite color on the cover
 😅  : read a book you said you were going to read but never did

  🤦‍♂️ : give an author a second chance
: read a diverse book
😱 :  read a scary book
 ⭐️: Read a 5 star predicted book
👀 : read a book you’ve been seeing everywhere
  🌎: read a book that takes place somewhere other than where you live

 ❄️ : read a book set in Winter
 🎵   : read a book that reminds you of a favorite song

 🌲 : Read a book that takes place outdoors
 🎧    : listen to an audio book
 ☕️ : read a book that takes place in college
    🔪 : read a thriller
 ✊🏽       : Read a book about a social justice topic
   💯 : read something that’s less than 100 pages

 🛥  : read a book that takes place on a boat

🕛   : read a book in under 24 hours

 

Book Review: My So-Called Bollywood Life

Hello everyone!

Today’s review is on My So-Called Bollywood Life by Nisha Sharma.

Summary: 

Winnie Mehta was never really convinced that Raj was her soulmate, but their love was written in the stars. Literally, a pandit predicted Winnie would find the love of her life before her 18th birthday, and Raj meets all of the qualifications. Which is why Winnie is shocked to return from her summer at film camp to find her boyfriend of three years hooking up with Jenny Dickens. Worse, Raj is crowned chair of the student film festival, a spot Winnie was counting on for her film school applications. As a self-proclaimed Bollywood expert, Winnie knows this is not how her perfect ending is scripted.

Then there’s Dev, a fellow film geek, and one of the few people Winnie can count on to help her reclaim control of her story. Dev is smart charming, and challenges Winnie to look beyond her horoscope to find someone she’d pick for herself. But does falling for Dev mean giving up on her prophecy, and her chance to live happily ever after? To get her Bollywood-like life on track, Winnie will need a little bit of help from fate, family, and of course, a Bollywood movie star.

Like an expertly choreographed Bollywood dance scene, Nisha Sharma’s off-beat love story dazzles in the lime light. 

My Thoughts: 

I had been super excited for this book ever since I heard that it was coming out a few months ago. The description sounded interesting and I thought I would love it. However, it did not live up to my expectations.

It had a lot of potential, but the writing style was kind of weird – it should have been written in 1st person, but the author decided to use 3rd person, but it came out really choppy because it was all from Winnie’s point-of-view. All of the interactions and actions read as if it should have been told in the first person. This was one of the main things that annoyed me while reading this book.

I did enjoy the characters, Winnie was funny and I loved seeing her interact with the other characters, especially her family. Dev was also a cool characer and I like how he complimented Winnie and what lengths he was willing to go to win her heart.

I did like how each chapter started with one of “Winnie’s” reviews of a Bollywood movie and how it kind of served as a forewarning to readers about what might be about to happen in the following chapter. I also liked learning a bit more about the Indian culture, however there were some words and phrases that were used that were never explained, it would have been nice if there was a glossary or something to explain them so as not to have readers struggling to guess what they mean. 2.5/5 Stars.

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

Book Review: Since You’ve Been Gone

Hello Everyone!

Today’s review is on Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson.

Summary:

It was Sloane who yanked Emily out of her shell and made life 100% interesting. But right before what should have been the most epic summer, Sloane just…disappears. All she leaves behind is a to-do list.

On it, thirteen Sloane-inspired tasks that Emily would normally never try. But what if they could bring her best friend back?

Apple picking at night? Okay, easy enough.

Dance until dawn? Sure. Why not?

Kiss a stranger? Um…

Emily now has this unexpected summer, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected), to check things off Sloane’s list. Who knows what she’ll find? 

Go skinny-dipping? Wait…What? 

My Thoughts: 

I’ll admit that when I first picked up this book, I was skeptical about whether or not I would like it because some of Morgan Matson’s books have been pretty hit-or-miss with me. However, Since You’ve Been Gone has changed my mind – I LOVED IT!

At first I struggled to get into it because I was going through a minor reading slump when I started it, but once I got past the 100-page mark I flew through it! I loved the concept of the list of “challenges” that Emily has to complete – although I hated how Sloane just ditched her.

I enjoyed getting to know Emily and her family – I loved watching her grow as a person while the list. I also liked how in some ways she starts to find autonomy a part from Sloane. Then there is Frank Porter…he is such a cute character and I love him, he is an adorable cinnamon roll and I wish there were some actual guys like this in reality!

I also enjoyed getting to know Dawn and Collins and seeing how they, along with Frank, try  to help Emily on her quest. I liked Sloane, however I also disliked her because of how she basically drops out of Emily’s life without saying goodbye, but  the explanation that is given for this makes sense.

I really liked the playlists that appear throughout the book are awesome – I wish there were more. And I also liked how each chapter jumps back to the past to explain certain items on the list, or even just certain things that happen in the present day.

I really loved it, and it made me want to pick up her latest release, Save the Date, right away. 5/5 Stars.

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

Book Review: Once and For All

Hello Everyone!

Today’s review is on Once and For All by Sarah Dessen.

Summary: 

As bubbly as champagne and delectable as wedding cake, Once and for All, Sarah Dessen’s thirteenth novel, is set in the world of wedding planning, where crises are routine.

Louna, daughter of famed wedding planner Natalie Barrett, has seen every sort of wedding: on the beach, at historic mansions, in fancy hotels and clubs. Perhaps that’s why she’s cynical about happily-ever-after endings, especially since her own first love ended tragically. When Louna meets charming, happy-go-lucky serial dater Ambrose, she holds him at arm’s length. But Ambrose isn’t about to be discouraged, now that he’s met the one girl he really wants.

Sarah Dessen’s many, many fans will adore her latest, a richly satisfying, enormously entertaining story that has everything—humor, romance, and an ending both happy and imperfect, just like life itself

My Thoughts: 

Sarah Dessen has a way of making readers feel all the feels in almost all of her books and Once and For All was no exception.

I like how we, along with Ambrose, were kept in the dark about Louna is so cynical when it comes to true love – the reason made sense and was very fitting with today’s current events and when it is revealed it is hard not to cry!

I liked all of the characters, although I found Louna to be a bit too mopey at times, although it did make sense. Ambrose was also interesting, although his way of trying to win Louna is ridiculous. I also enjoyed the side characters: Natalie (Louna’s mom) and William and their whole wedding planning business.

As I mentioned before, Sarah Dessen has a way of writing books that have readers tear up at some point, and there was scene towards the end of the book that had me in tears because of the build up to it, and Dessen makes the reader think that something similar happens to Ambrose that happened to Louna’s first love.

This was a good contemporary read that has  a lot of perfect fluffy moments, but yet still has scenes that are tear-jerkers, which is a perfect reminder that life isn’t all rainbows and unicorns, and that bad things do happen. 3.5/ 5 Stars.

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

Book Review: From Twinkle, With Love

Hello Everyone!

Today’s review is on From Twinkle, With Love by Sandhya Menon.

Synopsis: 

 Aspiring filmmaker and wallflower Twinkle Mehra has stories she wants to tell and universes she wants to explore, if only the world would listen. So when fellow film geek Sahil Roy approaches her to direct a movie for the upcoming Summer Festival, Twinkle is all over it. The chance to publicly showcase her voice as a director? Dream come true. The fact that it gets her closer to her longtime crush, Neil Roy—a.k.a. Sahil’s twin brother? Dream come true x 2.

When mystery man “N” begins emailing her, Twinkle is sure it’s Neil, finally ready to begin their happily-ever-after. The only slightly inconvenient problem is that, in the course of movie-making, she’s fallen madly in love with the irresistibly adorkable Sahil.

Twinkle soon realizes that resistance is futile: The romance she’s got is not the one she’s scripted. But will it be enough?

Told through the letters Twinkle writes to her favorite female filmmakers, From Twinkle, with Love navigates big truths about friendship, family, and the unexpected places love can find you.

My Thoughts: 

Even though I liked When Dimple Met Rishi, I enjoyed this one a lot better, especially the ending. I loved getting to know Twinkle and how the format of this book is setup like her diary (I am a sucker for books like this). I also liked how her entries are written to different female movie directors that she looks up to. I  also loved how this read as  a good classic romantic comedy and it is the perfect summer read.

Sahil is the typical (but still awesome) hero of this rom-com. I loved how he was always trying to push Twinkle to be the best she could be, while also letting her figure out stuff on her own.

It was also interesting to see that in order to truly grow as a character, Twinkle had to become her worst self and realize that she had to change. It was also interesting to see all the different family dynamics that take place in the novel: Sahil and his inferiority to his twin brother Neil; Twinkle and her grandma, Twinkle and her parents who seem disinterested in her life. I also liked how it dealt with friendships and relationships in general: Maddie and Twinkle; Maddie and Hannah; Twinkle, Victoria and Francesca. I also liked how it dealt with some of the issues that people that immigrants face when they leave their home countries behind.

I am looking forward to seeing what Sandhya Menon writes text. 4.5/5 Stars.

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

Book Review: Fat Girl on the Plane

Hello Everyone!

Today’s review is on Fat Girl on a Plane  by Kelly deVos.

Synopsis:

Fat.

High school senior Cookie Vonn’s post-graduation dreams include getting out of Phoenix, attending Parsons and becoming the next great fashion designer. But in the world of fashion, being fat is a cardinal sin. It doesn’t help that she’s constantly compared to her supermodel mother—and named after a dessert.

Thanks to her job at a fashion blog, Cookie scores a trip to New York to pitch her portfolio and appeal for a scholarship, but her plans are put on standby when she’s declared too fat to fly. Forced to turn to her BFF for cash, Cookie buys a second seat on the plane. She arrives in the city to find that she’s been replaced by the boss’s daughter, a girl who’s everything she’s not—ultrathin and superrich. Bowing to society’s pressure, she vows to lose weight, get out of the friend zone with her crush, and put her life on track.

Skinny.

Cookie expected sunshine and rainbows, but nothing about her new life is turning out like she planned. When the fashion designer of the moment offers her what she’s always wanted—an opportunity to live and study in New York—she finds herself in a world full of people more interested in putting women down than dressing them up. Her designs make waves, but her real dream of creating great clothes for people of all sizes seems to grow more distant by the day.

Will she realize that she’s always had the power to make her own dreams come true?

My Thoughts: 

Before I get started with my thoughts I am grateful to have received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

This year there seems to be quite a few novels dealing with weight and body-positivity for teens, which I think is great! However, I honestly didn’t read through the synopsis thoroughly so I found the events that unfolded to be a surprise, which I guess is a good thing.

I found it weird that there were two story lines – the past when Cookie was fat and when she is skinny in the present. I liked how it explored some of the misguided reasons for losing weight. I liked how Cookie discovered that life doesn’t become all sunshine and roses when she is skinny.

In some ways I found “fat” Cookie to be relatable especially with the emotions she goes through when she starts her journey. I loved watching her pursue her dreams in fashion and comes to realize that no matter what size she is, it is still a cut-throat industry.

I hated her relationship with Gareth Miller, especially since she was 19 and he was 35…it was just weird – I found this to be one of the pitfalls of the novel. I also wanted to love Tommy, her ex-best friend and crush, but he kept messing up and was just an idiot.

I loved her grandma, her parents were just awful. I loved her best friend Piper and how she deals with Cookie and her antics.

I liked the ending although I wish there was more resolution with her parents. And I also wish there were not quite as many F-bombs. 3/5 Stars.

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

Book Review: Katie in Waiting

Hello Everyone!

Today’s review is on Katie in Waiting by Erynn Mangum.

Synopsis: 

Katie McCoy has spent her whole life waiting for the right guy and he isn’t coming. After relocating to Carrington Springs, Missouri, Katie finds herself getting more and more frustrated. Can’t God see that she’s trying her best to meet someone? Doesn’t He care that she’s lonely? What is she doing that is making Him not bless her with this? With two new friends, Eliza and Ashten, by her side, Katie starts to realize that maybe God has bigger plans for her life than she could have ever imagined.

My Thoughts: 

There were so many jokes that were said in this novel that I feel like explain me to a “T”! Some of the things that Katie goes through, such has having become stagnant in her walk with the Lord is something that I myself have struggled with myself.

I liked how even though there was a possibility of romance it still ended up with Katie coming to terms with her singleness and finding contentment with the Lord. I also enjoyed getting to know Eliza and Ashten and I can’t wait to read each of their stories very soon. 4/5 Stars.

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

Book Review: Love Amid the Ashes

Hello Everyone!

Today’s review is on Love Amid the Ashes by Mesu Andrews.

Synopsis: 

Readers often think of Job sitting on the ash heap, his life in shambles. But how did he get there? What was Job’s life like before tragedy struck? What did he think as his world came crashing down around him? And what was life like after God restored his wealth, health, and family? Through painstaking research and a writer’s creative mind, Mesu Andrews weaves an emotional and stirring account of this well-known story told through the eyes of the women who loved him. Drawing together the account of Job with those of Esau’s tribe and Jacob’s daughter Dinah, Love Amid the Ashes breathes life, romance, and passion into the classic biblical story of suffering and steadfast faith.

My Thoughts: 

I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting to see how Andrews combined two pieces of biblical history together into a work of fiction. She puts together Job and Dinah, Jacob’s daughter who’s brothers killed an entire city for her honor. It definitely provided some insights into that text that I never thought of before. Plus, recalling a couple of lectures I listened to from Dr. Chou,  professor at my alma mater, mentioned that Job was a descendant of Abraham.

I liked how this book was a constant reminder of God’s love and mercy and how when we are truly repentant He forgives us, as in the case of Dinah, and even Job. I also enjoyed the reminder of how once we have confessed our sin and asked for forgiveness, we need to let go of the past and move on, which is something I struggle with.

I loved getting to know Dinah and Job besides just what is written in Scripture, even if it is just fiction. I also liked how Job’s affliction was given a human dimension, which is also possible. I enjoyed watching Sitis’ (Job’s wife) redemption through the novel, I also enjyoed getting to know Aban, Elihi, and Neghlahu. The one character that I’m not sure I liked the direction the author took was Jacob, I felt like he came across as bitter and harsh towards Dinah.

I loved the author’s note explaining why she did what she did with the characters and attempting to tell Job’s story in fiction. I had also just finished reading Genesis when I read this and I loved seeing a possibility of what happened beyond the text, even though it was fictional.

Overall I loved that this book was that it dealt with not just romantic love, but also God’s love amidst the trials of life. 4/5 Stars.

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

July Wrap-Up

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to my July Wrap-up! So I’ll admit that I read more books than I thought I would this month because it started out as a slow reading month. But I managed to read 16 books this month, which is great (any amount of reading is great, but this exceeded my expectations). Also, if you remember my July TBR, my friend Allison picked out 6 books for me to read this month and I am proud to say that I managed to read 5 out of the 6 books she picked for me! Here are the books I read this last month:

1. Forgiven by Karen Kingsbury 

Another good installment in the Firstborn series. I appreciated how the author dealt with tragedy and how to move past it as a Christian. 4/5 Stars.

2. The Way the Light Bends by Cordelia Jensen

This was an okay novel told in verse. I felt like it took a while for it to get to the main conflict in the novel and I wish it hadn’t been brushed over/explained away. 3/5 Stars.

3. Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson

I really enjoyed this book! It is the perfect summer YA read that follows a girl whose best friend disappears and leaves a list of things for her to do. I loved getting to know Emily and following her on her adventure as she tries to complete the list and make new friends along the way. 4/5 Stars

4. Found by Karen Kingsbury 

Another good installment in the series. 4/5 Stars.

5.My So-Called Bollywood Life by Nisha Sharma 

This book did not live up to my expectations but was still decent. 3/5 Stars.

6. Family by Karen Kingsbury

Another good installment in the Firstborn series, however not as good as the previous book. 3/5 Stars.

7. Honey So Sweet Volume 1 by Amu Meguro 

This was really cute and I loved the accurate depiction of how awkward crushes can be! 4/5 Stars.

8. Forever by Karen Kingsbury 

A good conclusion to the series! 4/5 Stars.

9. Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian

This started out slow, but once things started to pick up about 50 pages in I flew through it. A perfect summery read about an ice cream stand that has traditionally only been run by women – however the founder dies and her grand nephew is left in charge and things start to change. 4/5 Stars.

10. Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West 

A cute but predictable story. 3/5 Stars.

11. Eliza and Her Monsters by Franscesca Zappia 

A YA contemporary novel dealing anxiety, depression and fandoms. I really enjoyed it! 4/5 Stars.

12. Milk and Honey by Rupi Kuar 

This was a meh read for me. This is the second collection of poetry I have read from this author and it wasn’t great. 2.5/5 Stars.

13. The Dating Disasters of Emma Nash by Chloe Seager 

I was really looking forward to this book, but it ended up falling flat for me. I loved epistalory writing style, however there was too much sexual humor for my taste. 2.75/5 Stars.

14. The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin 

It took me a while to get into this book, but I really enjoyed it and I loved reading about the rigors of being a med. school student and seeing how the characters had changed since becoming doctors. I really hope Kimmery Martin writes more books. 4/5 Stars.

15. The Sisters Grimm: The Fairy-Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley 

A good introduction to the series…it’s like Once Upon a Time for kids with a mystery element. 3.5/5 Stars.

16. So Not Happening by Jenny B. Jones 

This was a reread for me and it was interesting to revisit it after having read it back as a senior in high school. I liked the mystery element and how the main character had to change, but I didn’t like it as much the second time around.

 

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.