I’m a Christina Lauren fan, so I was incredibly excited when I was able to pick up an early copy of Twice in a Blue Moon this year. This second chance romance story, while certainly not perfect, made me cry, and because it’s a rarity for a romance to hit me in the feels that hard these days, I have a rather large soft spot for it. Tate and Sam meeting as young adults when they are both on trips to London, end up falling in love hard and fast but falling apart over a large betrayal. The story picks up years later when Tate has become a famous actress and ends up cast as the lead in a movie that, surprise twist (and I say that with loving sarcasm because if you read a ton of romance, it’s not really a surprise twist), written by Sam. You can likely imagine what goes on from there, friends. Now, the truth is I’m not usually a big second chance romance reader. I don’t have anything against the trope, but it’s not the one I tend to gravitate towards in my romances. But I did really like how it was done in Twice in a Blue Moon, as it was well-done (with the bonus of celebrity and movie star life in there). There were details that didn’t sit too well with me, and I did feel like we could have used a touch more of the secondary characters and relationships outside of the romance in it as well (which is why this one doesn’t rank quite as high as the Wild Seasons series does for me). But I did like it a lot, and it definitely hit me right in the feels, so I still think Twice in a Blue Moon was a great new novel from Christina Lauren. 

Twice in a Blue Moon will be released on October 22, 2019 by Gallery Books.

I picked up an ARC at BookExpo 2019 from the publisher.

There are a lot of things that I really liked about The Friend Zone. Kristen and Josh both felt very real, as Jimenez did a very good job in showcasing their personalities and their struggles. She also did well in developing the relationship (from antagonism to friendship to romance), with their banter being a real highlight of the reading experience. But I was not a fan of the emotional cheating early on, though I could understand how the couple got there, nor was I fond of the big dramatic turn of events towards the end. What really frustrated me, however, was the stonewalling centered around the main reason they couldn’t be in a real relationship because it felt completely unnecessary. I’m still glad I read it, and I liked Jimenez’s writing style enough to know I’ll read more of her work, but sadly, The Friend Zone was ultimately just a slightly-above-average read for me. 

The Friend Zone was released on June 11, 2019 from Forever Romance. 

I received an e-galley from the publisher via NetGalley for review.

I had so much fun reading Fix Her Up (which I buddy read with Kristin)! It has two of my favorite romance tropes (fake dating and the love interest being the main character’s brother’s best friend) done extremely well. While the plot isn’t particularly original, Bailey did manage to make it come to life in her own unique way by having two well-fleshed out main characters (and interesting secondary characters too), as well as copious amounts of banter, sexytimes and romance (that really had me giggling and swooning). It’s a delightful new addition to the world of literary rom-coms, and I would highly recommend checking it out. (Be warned, there is a fair amount of the nickname “baby girl”, which was not for me, but it might not bother other people.) 

Fix Her Up (Hot and Hammered #1) was released on June 11, 2019 from Avon. 

I received a finished paperback copy from the publisher for review consideration.

While this novel has been getting a lot of buzz online, I was still so surprised by how much I ended up enjoying There Will Come a Darkness. The basic set-up of this fantasy series starter is that there are five individuals tied together by a prophecy that seems to indicate they will be involved in either the salvation or destruction of the world as they know it. Sounds great, if not anything particularly new in the fantasy genre, yes? And, fortunately, I really ended up enjoying this one! What I found most impressive has to do with the juggling of POVs. It’s no easy feat to juggle multiple perspectives for an ensemble cast tale, but I think Pool did her characters and their individual narratives justice. I was able to easily distinguish between the characters, and I was genuinely interested in the outcome of all their narratives – which isn’t always the case with these types of stories. It kept me zipping through this tome (which is just under 500 pages) without pause, as I really needed to know what happened next! The plot might have reflected bits of other fantasy stories that I’ve read before, but I think Pool puts just enough of her spin on them to keep things interesting. I did find the world and lore a bit confusing, since readers are dropped right into the thick of things with the first chapter, but once the ball gets rolling and things start getting pieced together, it all started getting a bit clearer. While I didn’t necessarily love every little thing about this story, I do think it was well-done, and I am curious to see where the author takes us with the next installment. 

Favorite ensemble cast story? I'm really torn here because I want to choose both the Avengers film quartet and the TV show Friends, so I'm just going to take the opportunity to name drop both for my answers to this question.

There Will Come a Darkness was released on September 3, 2019 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR).

I received an ARC from the publisher for review.

Prior to The Lady Rogue, my only experience with Jenn Bennett’s work has been reading all her young adult contemporary novels (which have been truly enjoyable for the most part). I was mildly apprehensive, but mostly eager to start this one – and I’m happy to be able to say that it was a fun one, if ultimately not a new favorite. This novel is, at its heart, is a historical romp with a touch of the fantastical. It starts off with a mystery that is specifically centered around a bone ring that was said to give power to Vlad the Impaler and is the object that main character Theodora’s father was tasked to retrieve. But after her father’s disappearance and the unexpected reappearance of his former ward (and her former flame) Huck, they begin an investigation that results in an unexpected journey. I really enjoyed the first half, finding myself very interested in the Vlad the Impaler aspect, the set-up of the mystery and the likable (if ultimately not memorable) main characters. But I lost reading momentum in the second half, finding it to be less engaging and the mystery turning into something simpler than expected (which meant I could guess at how all the pieces would fall into place). Still, The Lady Rogue was entertaining (and I could imagine a film adaptation being very fun indeed). I’d particularly recommend checking this one out if you’re partial to lighter fantasy reads, or fantasy YA with a historical aspect incorporated into the plot, or Jenn Bennett’s writing style.

Favorite mystery? I actually don't indulge in a ton of mystery stories (they're not generally my cup of tea), but I really enjoyed the mysteries covered in Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and I will always be extremely attached to Nancy Drew mysteries since they were my childhood faves.

The Lady Rogue was released on September 3, 2019 by Simon Pulse.

I received an e-galley via NetGalley from the publisher for review.

The truth about Daisy Jones and the Six is that readers are either going to love this book or hate it. This stems primarily from two facts. First, the story format itself is a departure from most of the previous novels by Taylor Jenkins Reid, framing the story of Daisy Jones and the band The Six through interviews and media coverage instead of a full narrative. And second, these characters are living the lives of rock stars, complete with copious amounts of bad decisions, sexual encounters and consumption of alcohol and drugs, which means they’re not always likable or easy to root for. So, unsurprisingly, this novel has had the most polarizing reactions from many folks who have read (or attempted to read) it. 

Personally, I was apprehensive when I started Daisy Jones and the Six. Did I think I would ever be interested in a tell-all type story about a rock and roll band? Not at all. Did I fret over the fact that this might turn out like Reid’s last novel release did for me? A fair bit. But it surprised me, this novel, and in a good way. 

It helps, I suppose, that I decided to listen to the advice of many other readers and listen to the audiobook. With a full cast (one voice actor for each role) and the incorporation of music, it made for an extremely engaging listening experience. It also made it easier to find the interview format a little less impersonal, since each narrator was excellent at making their given character stand out from the rest using mere inflections or affectations. So, before I go on, I must agree with others before and tell you that if you do get the chance to read this one via audiobook, I would also highly recommend it. 

I will say that I never expected to be as invested in Daisy Jones and the Six as I was, and I am confident in the fact that this happened because of the characters. These characters are all wonderfully complex, as readers will discover while getting to know each person involved in this tale with every succeeding interview. Reid certainly spotlights the many fine, admirable strengths these folks have, but she also doesn’t hold back in revealing their weaknesses and the terrible choices that lead to terrible circumstances. The interview format, in my opinion, worked well for this purpose, as it offered a multi-faceted perspective on each individual (based solely on who was talking about them at any given time). It all comes together to be a group of character studies, and I certainly admire Reid’s chosen approach in the telling. It’s not always easy to read about their ups and their downs, but there is a raw honesty to the portrayal of the series of events that make up the story of one Daisy Jones and her time with the band The Six before everything all falls apart. 

Daisy Jones and the Six was compelling, challenging and different from most of what I read this year, and I savored every single scandalous, intriguing second of it. While it certainly will appeal to a more niche set of readers and it still hasn’t eclipsed former novels of Reid’s to become my favorite, I thought Daisy Jones and the Six was well-done and one of my favorite reading experiences of the year. 

Daisy Jones and the Six was released on March 5, 2019 by Ballantine Books.

I'm so thrilled to be a part of the When She Reigns blog tour! If you've been reading my blog for over a year, you'll know that I adore Jodi Meadows and her novels so dang much (and I am truly honored to call her a friend). The Fallen Isles trilogy is one of my favorite young adult fantasy series with a strong political aspect, a main character I absolutely loved and related to and dragons (because who doesn't love dragons?). Today, I'm picking Jodi's brain about her characters and her books, and I'm excited to share our Q&A with all of you.

1. Mira has always been the main reason I love the Fallen Isles trilogy. What do you feel is the main theme that defines her character journey from start to end? And did you deliberately choose to highlight that theme as you wrote her story?

As cheesy as it might sound, Mira's main theme is love. 

Her gods are the Lovers, representing all kinds of love -- familial, platonic, romantic, etc -- and Mira has always been a believer in that power. It is, more than any of the abilities she displays in the series, Mira's truest gift. 

While Mira is really good at finding ways to love other people, however, she's less good at accepting love. She constantly doubts that people feel as strongly for her as they say they do. Some of this is because she's always been set apart and told to hide her "flaws," and some of it's just Mira's personal journey of learning to be loved. 

I almost never choose themes I want to write about; they almost always show up with the character and their personal arcs. But I do find that I write similar themes in lots of my novels, and love is absolutely one that repeats throughout my work.

2. The world of the Fallen Isles trilogy is complex in terms of politics and lore. Was it easy to decide which island and government Mira was a part of and how that would influence her story?

I always knew which island Mira came from, even before I knew the details of their beliefs and culture. I wanted her to come from a very prestigious island, one that had a lot of pride and wealth. I knew Mira had a very glamorous seeming life where everything was handed to her, even though she'd done nothing to deserve it.

And then I wanted to make her fight to regain everything that's actually important to her. Not the things (although she is a girl who will always love and appreciate pretty dresses), but the people. The ideals. The image she had of her island that was never really as true as she had believed. 

In the third book, Mira tells another character, "Maybe I don't know exactly how the world works, but I know how it should work." 

It's that -- learning to see what's broken, and figuring out how to affect change -- that I really wanted Mira to experience.

3. Apart from Mira, we also have a whole host of characters that have become equally important to the story (and dear to the readers) as part of Mira’s family, blood or found. Was important to you to have all these different relationships in Mira’s life?

Yes, absolutely! I love found family stories, and Mira definitely finds family in the other prisoners, and the friends she's known her entire life. 

Throughout the series, Mira's relationship with all of the other characters grows in some way, and they all affect her differently. One helps her understand her own strength, while another challenges her mind. Another gives her a very gentle, sweet companionship she'd never experienced before. And she gets unwavering loyalty and support from others. 

Each character helps Mira grow into her Ultimate Self. And she, in turn, helps them. 

Which character would be likely to...

1) Enjoy an all you can eat buffet?

Hristo. Hands down.

Aaru would be fascinated but worried about all the waste. 

2) Spend an entire day in the library?

Aaru, because it's quiet. 

Or Ilina, because she's Very Curious.

3) Have their own YouTube channel (and what would it be focused on)?

Hmm. I can think of a few who might, actually.

Gerel's would be a health/workout channel.

Chenda's would revolve around activism. 

Ilina's would be a self-help/inspirational channel.

4) Play video games?

Hristo and Ilina would play video games together. Sometimes Mira would watch.

5) Have a career in diplomacy or government?

Absolutely Chenda. 

6) Own their own company?

Ilina. 

7) Travel the world and blog about it?

Mira. 

Series: Fallen Isles #3

Previous Books in the Series: Before She Ignites, As She Ascends

Be warned that this summary may contain spoilers for the first two books in the series!

The Last Hope

About the Author

The Very Very Far North is a series of short stories that revolve around the every day life of Duane the Polar Bear. He moves to the Very Very Far North, settles in and just starts making friends.  Reading this book felt like a return to being a young reader, when you feel awesome for attempting to pick up a real book at either the school library or at the bookstore. Because this, well, it is a right proper novel for kids!

Duane is such a compelling character for this day and age and, even as an adult, I connect so much to him. And because I’m an adult, I see some pretty cool undertones as I read this book and see the friendships blossom. Like how this one character doesn’t like to be hugged and is comfortable expressing boundaries that don’t ruin the friendship… and surprisingly (or should I say refreshingly), our polar bear remembers and withholds hugs. Their friendship is stronger for it! Or how another character is so painfully in need of affirmation and their friends are as nice about it as they can be. 

But what really won me over is the combination of how pure Duane’s journey is and the simple yet profound way his tale is told. It’s like Winnie the Pooh but for a new generation. Pretty sure it isn’t the first book of its kind out there, but there is something about the journey you make with characters that make you form a bond with them... and some of those bonds are for life. This novel is an anchor to remind you that things can be this simple, and that sometimes, days do get a change of heart and decide to take you want to go. This book is pure and I would definitely buy it for people with kids to help preserve whatever whimsy and wonder they have.