Book review: Five Survive by Holly Jackson

Five Survive

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Five Survive 〰️

I've been waiting to read this book for a while. I had it pre-ordered and everything. I ended up reading Jackson's Good Girl Guide to Murder series first while waiting (loved it so much). And then I read other books in my TBR. But I finally got around to reading it, and it was well worth the wait.

I love love, loved the writing style in this book. Jackson really made it unique and fitting for Red. You could see her past trauma and PTSD over what happened to her in the past and how it still affects her to this day. I know what happened to Red happened years ago, but trauma like this never goes away. I can maybe see how some people may be annoyed with Jackson's writing style in this book, but I personally loved every second of it. (Though now that I think of it, we never did find out what the pattern was in those darn curtains, and I, as well as Red, would love to know, haha).

Because of how this was written, as well as the story premise, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. This book was a real page-turner, and I'm here for it. I never saw anything coming. (Though I'm sure other readers could have. I'm not very perceptive).

However, I will say that only one small thing bothered me. Something the characters should have done but didn't. When Red spilled her secret, and everyone was trying to decide if they should chuck her out of the van, I wondered why they didn't radio the sniper, asking if this was the correct secret and save them all the trouble. I mean, it didn't matter in the end that they didn't do this thing, but I kept screaming at the book because they did it with Oliver and Reyna's secret, and thus they didn't have to leave the van. And yes, Red was the one they were after, but like, you'd think they'd ask the sniper if it was Red who they wanted before voting whether or not to send her out to die. Again, it didn't matter in the end, as it was Red who held the answers they were looking for, but you'd think the group would want to check first before blindly sending her to her death.

Aside from that, the pacing was great, the characters worked well off each other, and I loved learning about everyone's secrets and Red's past. It was a compelling read, and I highly recommend it. I think now that I've read the Good Girl's Guide to Murder series and this book and loved them all, I think Jackson will now be a new auto-buy for me.

Book Review: The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz

The Writing Retreat

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The Writing Retreat 〰️

Actual rating 4.5 stars

I picked up this book solely on the title alone. Well, that and I saw a friend of mine reading it on Instagram, and the cover looked interesting, and I was looking for a new read. I glanced at the blurb, and it sounded interesting enough, so I took a chance. I'm glad I did. If I didn't, I would have missed out on this gem.

As a writer, I know firsthand many of the writlery struggles the characters feel in this book. If you are a writer, you'll for sure find that part of the book very relatable. However, I found it odd that the characters were shocked to hear they'd have to write a whole novel in a month. It's doable. I've done it. NaNoWriMo is a thing. I've never taken part in it, and granted, the goal is 50k in a month (the length a book is officially considered a novel), not 80k (average novel size), but still. It's also doable. I've known people who have written their first 80k draft in a month, so this shouldn't be too daunting for the characters whose only task to do in a day is to write.

That said, there is a larger story than just writing a novel in a month during a writing retreat. This is a thriller and a damn good one. Bartz lets you know something sinister is going to happen early on, and even though you're ready for it, it still hits hard. Like, people die, and I love it when an author commits to killing off characters.

However, I will say that the villain villains are a bit too hard at some points. She was veering close to Disney villain territory. Not that that is a bad thing. But it was close to being cartoonish to me. I did love her reasoning behind her plans, however. It was interesting to see Roza kill to become a famous writer, despite never being good enough to warrant such fame.

I loved that Alex and Wren, though reconciled at the end, don't become friends again. It really subverted my expectations, and that was a nice change. Like, we all wanted them to become friends (or maybe more?) again, but I love that Alex has accepted it wasn't a good relationship for her and moved on.

All in all, this was a gripping read, with a few good ghost stories tied in between. I would recommend giving this book a shot. It may surprise you.

Book Review: The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon

The Children on the Hill

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The Children on the Hill 〰️

I would have never heard of this book if it wasn't for my friend. She told me she was reading a book about a mental hospital with kids who live there, and then one day, their grandmother just dropped a random girl in their house and basically said she's your sister; treat her as your flesh and blood with no context as to who she was before. And I was intrigued. So, thank you, friend, because, hot damn, this was one helluva good read.

This book essentially has two storylines, the past, taking place in 1978 and the present (which in this novel's case is 2019). Both past and present tell their own stories and slowly intertwine and become connected. In order to understand the present, we need the story told from the past and vice versa.

And when my friend told me she did not see the big twist coming, that it was a twist she hadn't seen pulled off so well in such a long time, she wasn't lying. Because wow. That twist! I nearly threw my book across the room in disbelief. Yet, if you really think about it, it made sense, and I love that I didn't see it coming. I knew there was a twist coming, thanks to my friend, but she didn't spoil it. So I spent the whole novel trying to guess it for myself. It's safe to say I got nowhere near guessing correctly.

I applaud McMahon for her storytelling. This was a gripping and chilling read from start to finish. The characters and their motivations felt so real that I could believe this story was based on actual events. (And really, with the way people are, who is to say it isn't in some way?)

After reading this book and the synopsis of some of McMahon's other books, it's safe to say I'm a fan. I'll be diving into McMahon's other works in the future. If they are anything like this book, they are definitely worth the read. The Children on the Hill is now a book I highly recommend.

Book Review: Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline

Ready Player Two

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Ready Player Two 〰️

First off, I loved this book. Maybe even more than the first. The stakes were so much more real in this book. (I mean, they were high in the first, and we did see characters die, but this was global). And yes, there was still a lot of info dumping, just like in the first book, but it felt different this time. Handled better, maybe? Most of it was necessary for the story, and I found it to be written in a way that helped and didn't bog the story down, unlike most info dumps.

I also found the writing improved. There were many more character interactions and involvement with the environment than simply relaying backstory and worldbuilding. I think that is another reason I loved this story more than the first.

Don't get me wrong, I still highly enjoyed the first book. I just think this is a worthy sequel, and it ended in the best way possible. The first book had a nice ending and could have stopped there, but it was still able to have more story. And with this second book, it ended on a high note. Still not the perfect ending for our characters but the best we could get as readers. If Cline writes a third book, it would only be a cash grab and ruin this good ending. (I mean, this could still be a cash grab, but it works, so I'm not mad).

Would I ever log onto the OASIS if one were to come into our world? Probably. Would I log onto the OASIS with an ONI? Absolutely. Mostly because I could live with my cat and our happy memories forever. But I do worry I'd never leave, so I guess it's for the best we don't have this technology around at this current moment in time.

If you enjoyed the first book, are a true (or even a small) geek at heart, and enjoy nostalgia, then this book is for you.

Book Review: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Ready Player One

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Ready Player One 〰️

I saw the movie when it came out and had no idea it was based on a book. Years later, I finally snagged a copy of the book to see if it was as good as the movie. Normally I always say the book is better than the movie, but in this case, they are both equally as good. Because while the film has the same plot premise as the book (gunters, the sixers, the hunt for the egg contest, and characters, to name a few), how everything ends up happening is entirely different. Like, vastly different. And I love that. It's like I can experience both forms of media for the first time while still getting the same content if that makes sense.

Now I haven't read any reviews of the book, but I get the feeling many people would say this book is a HUGE info dump for the entire book. And it is. But it's written in a way that doesn't feel that way, at least to me. I loved learning about all the cool things mentioned in this book. I loved learning how our not-so-distant future became the way it is. (And honestly, I can see it happening, the way our course is heading).

Info dumping aside, this book was a blast to read. The concept was super interesting, and as a huge nerd and gamer myself, I loved reading all the references and learning more about them. It was cool to see Wade start from nothing and build his avatar up. He's smart and probably has a photographic memory for all the stuff he's memorized. I can barely remember my own age, let alone all the things he's learned in order to win the contest.

If you're a fan of YA dystopian books, 80s nostalgia, Japanese media, old-school games, and just general geekery like myself, this book is for you. And I also recommend the movie, as it's also its own experience.

Book Review: The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

The Upside of Unrequited

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The Upside of Unrequited 〰️

This book was a bit of a hit-and-miss for me. I didn't love it like the first book, but I didn't dislike it. It was just okay. It did get really good near the end, but I wasn't super into the start. That's not because the writing wasn't good, it was. It just didn't vibe with me, I guess.

I hate that Albertalli was trying to convince the readers there was a love triangle between Will and Reid. Mainly because it felt like she was trying to convince us that Will was even an option, Molly barely interacted with him and only thought about him briefly when she was with Reid saying things like she should be thinking about WIll and not Reid. There was zero chemistry between Molloy and Will from their first interaction, yet most of the book tried to convince us she was super into in and that he was an option as a love interest. From her first interaction with Reid, they had chemistry and interacted more. It was clear he was the love interest, and Will was just there for lame reasons.

Aside from that, I love all of the representation in this story. We've got multiple people on the LGBTQ+ spectrum (bi, lesbian, pan, gay). We've got multicultural characters (yay, Mina! She was my favourite character and not because we share the same name). We've got different religions and friend groups. We even got some plus size rep. Love all of that.

However, I'm not sure I'd call this a companion to Love, Simon. Besides having Abby as a side character and a few Simon name drops (and one cameo), there wasn't much that made this a cameo. It was its own book, and I feel it should stand alone. This is not how you'd write a companion. But at least there was more of Abby in the world, so I can't fault the book for that.

Was this my favourite Albertalli book? No. But would I still recommend it? Absolutely. When the book does cute moments, it does them right, and they hit hard. I'm a sucker for cute moments. And I like Molly's voice. She came across well on the page and was fun to read.

Book Review: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

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Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda 〰️

This book is just so wholesome and adorable and filled with cute moments that made me actually laugh out loud. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I found it extremely relatable. I thankfully never experience any homophobia with my family and friends, so I can't relate to those aspects, but I can for sure relate to the nerves of coming out for the first time. And the second. And every time after that. (Because sadly coming out is never a one and done thing).

The emails between Simon and Blue were just too cute. I had a similar relationship with someone at that age so it was all very realistic to me. The dialogue in both emails and spoken was great.

I do feel like Nick could have had a bigger role, however. He wasn't in the story much other than to be the straight love interest to a secondary character. I think he was mentioned more than actually present in the story. I would have loved to see Simon hang out with his friends more. He talks about them a lot but he mostly pines over Blue.

Overall, this is a great debut by Albertalli. I've read her later books and love those, and when I realized I haven't read her earlier works (or seen the movie!) I knew I had to get on that. It didn't disappoint.

If you love a cute YA romance with witty banter and a coming out story, this is a great book for you. And if you really loved it, they made a movie! Love, Simon. (I'm glad they made the title shorter because this one was a mouthful). I haven't seen the movie (yet!) but I will soon!

Book Review: White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson

White Smoke

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White Smoke 〰️

I pre-ordered this book during Halloween, and now that it's October once again, I finally got a chance to dig into it. Was it worth the wait? Absolutely.

This book is everything I love in horror movies and more. I was legit on the edge of my seat reading this. The buildup to everything and pacing was spot on. Jackson knows how to deliver a killer story. I do hope this does become a movie or something someday. I would watch the hell out of it.

And in a twist, this book wasn't even supernatural at all! But it was still written like it was, and when the truth was found out, it was still all believable.

I loved the random bed bug facts throughout the book, and it was interesting to see them come into play at the end. Mari had some significant character growth (and not just with the bugs). She learns she is deserving of love and how to be a better sister/daughter. I loved reading about her growth.

I will say, however, that the last chapter felt rushed and a bit unfinished. Although a lot of horror movies I've watched are also kind of like that, so I guess it's normal. I still wanted more resolve, though. But besides that, it was my only negative about the book, and that's a small one at that.

I'm glad I finally got the chance to read this; it was well worth the wait. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves horror and spooky things in general. Great characters, world-building and engaging writing. This book has it all. Could you give it a go and pick up a copy today?