Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth
A book about a female serial killer? Um, not really. This is the story of a lonely little girl who bad things happen to and she turns into a lonely old woman. But heartwarming? I’m giving this a grudging 3.75 stars, bumped up 0.25 from 3.5 because it wrung salty tears out of me. They were dripping down my face, but I was upset about it. This book was so great until the ending, when it did three things I didn’t like (and almost never […]
The Wife Comes First Vol. 1 by Lv Ye Qian He
The Wife Comes First Vol. 2 by Lv Ye Qian He
The Wife Comes First Vol. 3 by Lv Ye Qian He
Jing Shen, Prince Cheng, spent his life chasing power and women, ignoring Mu Hanzhang, the man he was forced to marry. However, when his life falls apart, Mu Hanzhang is the only one to stand by his side, even as they both face their deaths. However, Jing Shen wakes not to the afterlife, but to the day after his disastrous wedding night. Given a second chance, Jing Shen is determined to do things differently this time around, starting by making sure that in this lifetime […]
Princess of the Shtetl by Jake Maia Arlow
Princess of the Shtetl is one of my most anticipated releases, and it was so worth the wait (even though y’all are going to have to wait a bit longer because it’s not out until January – I’m sorry/you’re welcome?). Jake writes fantastic, fun middle grade novels, and Princess of the Shtetl is far and away his best to date. Princess follows Bunke, an eleven-year-old girl living in a Russian shtetl during a time when the dangers to Jewish families are increasing and young Jewish boys […]
An Ember in The Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
James by Percival Everett
The Tea Dragon Society by K. O'Neill
An Ember in the Ashes Sabaa Tahir swiftly establishes the brutality of the world the characters are living in, in this first of a 4-book YA fantasy series. The Martials conquered Scholar lands 500 years ago and the Scholars are second-class citizens who are frequently enslaved. Elite Martial soldiers known as Masks are also treated violently as they go through their training at Blackcliff. The book alternates POVs between Laia, a Scholar, and Elias, a Mask who has nearly completed his training. They come into […]
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
Monthly Keyword 26: Bright Reading the Rainbow: Yellow CBR18 Bingo: Versus (The brave, tenacious and determined women vs the spineless and depraved serial killer Official plot synopsis: Tallahassee, 1978. Sorority president Pamela Schumacher wakes to a shocking scene of implausible violence and death, and is drawn into a mystifying crime that grips the nation for decades . . . In Seattle, Tina Cannon connects her best friend’s disappearance to the Tallahassee tragedy, and is convinced that a single man is responsible. Determined to find justice, […]
After We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton
CBR18 Bingo: Justice – Beatriz spends the whole novel searching for justice for the death of her brother and her family’s exile from Cuba after the rise of Fidel Castro. Though Beatriz and her family have found safety in Palm Beach after fleeing from Cuba, she has not found peace, and rages about the death of her twin brother and the policies of Castro. Working with the CIA gives her a chance to get revenge, but it may also complicate her relationship with politician Nick. […]
