Tag Archives: Fiction

You & Me at the End of the World by Brianna Bourne

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Imagine being the only person in the world, with time suspended for some unknown reason, until you finally stumble upon someone. A very affable, music-aficionado someone, in Hannah’s case.

Hannah Ashton and Leo Sterling are the only people in the world. They are completely isolated in an alternate reality without people, problems, or expectations. They take the opportunity to discover their true selves and each other.

I really enjoyed seeing perfect, rigorous, ballet-dedicated Hannah Ashton realize that she also loves feeling wind blowing through her hair and Leo Sterling’s guitar playing.

In real life, Hannah is a driven ballet dancer with high aspirations and Leo is a laid-back rock guitarist. They knew each other from school, but they would never talk to one another. In this dimension, they are given the chance to truly get to know each other.

The entire mystery of the reason for this apocalyptic event kept me in suspense throughout the novel. The instances where Leo and Hannah’s true connection shone, I was expecting a blackout, or a glitch in the matrix of some sort to eventually drive them apart, but it never really came.

The setting of the novel felt almost dream-like. I wondered if Hannah was only imagining Leo or if his personality was a figment of her imagination. Without the confinements of their regular lives, they are free to be whomever they choose.

Eventually, towards the end of the novel, their blissful world takes a turn of events. In the center of the chaos, they find each other.

House of Beating Wings: Book Review

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This book has been an amazing fantasy read! I have been trying to find a book that has matched the past fantasy books that I have read (aka: ACOTAR, Throne of Glass Series, Shatter Me, Red Queen…) and this one has met most, if not all, of my criteria! It has those plot twists that I love, the romance, and the world building that is so complex, yet complicated. The premise of this book is about a twenty-one-year-old girl named Fallon who is half fae. She is often undermined by the pure fae and the humans as well.

Half-fae don’t have the rights that pure fae’s have and they are not allowed to use magic. Fallon is stubborn, like most female heroines, and she has a love for animals, especially water serpents. But, she has no magic, which she questions. As a result, people often mistrust her and sometimes she doesn’t even understand what and who she is. However, she has her best friends, Sybille and Phoebus that back her up, as well as the prince, Dante who has been her childhood love.

SPOILERS AHEAD:

Fallon lives with her grandma who is in charge of taking care of her, and her mom who is in comatose state. After she goes out to party one night, she meets a woman named Bronwen who tells her a prophecy in which she will be the Queen of Luce if she collects five crow statues.

With nothing to lose, she goes on a journey to retrieve the five crow statues. The interesting thing is after she collects a crow, they come to life. The more and more crows she collects, she realizes that it can actually talk to her and keeps her company during the journey.

As they get further and further into this journey, she begins to uncover some of her heritage/bloodline, secrets that has been kept from her, and her kingdom’s secrets.

This series is a trilogy, and it is a well worth it read! I am currently on the third book, House of Striking Oaths, and the plot twists, world building, and romance have kept my anxiety and heart rate up there! I really recommend this book for anyone who is in a book slumber and needs a book to take their mind off of things!

BOOK REVIEW – Are you there, God? It’s me, Margaret by Judy Blume

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(NO SPOILERS)

I read this book on a car ride to a drive in theater to watch the new Indiana Jones (Dial of Destiny). I hated the book. The movie was good.

The book, Are you There, God? It’s me, Margaret by Judy Blume is a coming of age story about Margaret, a pre-teen girl trying to fit in when her family moves from New York City to New Jersey. She struggles with finding her religion and growing up as a girl. 

I didn’t have to commit many hours to reading — I finished in about two. 

There’s themes of religion and social relationships and menstruation, but overall, it was an enjoyable read!! I don’t think I’d read it ever again, though, because I don’t particularly tend to enjoy Judy Blume. However, it felt real in terms of familial relationships.

In short, I struggle in finding my identity in many areas, such as sexuality, gender, and religion. I’m told what I am by many people, including my parents, but sometimes it doesn’t feel right. Margaret struggles with the same thing — her family argues about what religion she would convert to. I related to it, but again, Judy Blume is not my favorite author. And this was not my favorite book.

Anyways, this book apparently has been banned in a few places due to its take on religions including Christianity and Jewishism. I’m Catholic, a branch of Christianity, but even then, many characters in this book made me feel super angry. The parents discussed religion in poor ways, and basically, I disliked the parents. I disliked the family.

HOWEVER. There were many weird moments in the book that made me throw it across the room. There were practices that the main group of girls went through in order to appear more feminine. AND they were ecstatic about receiving their first periods. I. I cannot. I couldn’t; I literally skipped over every instance they hung out. There was also a girl they disliked because of a rumor that she used her beauty and big breasts to “go behind the school to kiss two boys.” WHAT.

Additionally, these girls had a teacher. A male teacher. A first-time, perverted teacher. There were phrases and instances where I felt like the teacher held their gaze too long on these tiny tweens, he made Margaret uncomfortable, and his eyes always went back to the girl who was early developed. Overall, ew. Overall, please stop, I don’t want kids to reflect on these themes in a positive way. 

I rate this book ½ a star. But hey, at least Indiana Jones was kind of good. 

Are you there, God? It’s me, Margaret by Judy Blume is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Golden Slipper by Valia Lind

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After being abused by her stepmother and stepsisters for years, Mira finally has a chance to escape to the human world and open her own flower shop after her best friend provides her an opportunity to work at the palace. However, with the threat of Baba Yaga looming overhead and her secret romance with the prince, Mira’s plans may yet be delayed.

The Golden Slipper is truly a fantastical wonder piece that beautifully retells Cinderella’s story. It’s filled with magic, wonder, and a budding romance between two people who come from completely different worlds. After each subsequent encounter with each other, the two begin to literally fall for each other as they prove that with the power of true love, they can overcome any spell, whether it be from a wicked witch or a fairy godmother.

Although their relationship has its ups and downs, as the two attempt to navigate through arranged marriages and a wicked stepmother, they only continue to grow closer and closer to one another. However, as the two dance with each other night after night at the masquerade ball, completely unaware of each other’s identity, feelings, and dark past, the two prove that anything is possible.

The Golden Slipper is a great read and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a little magic in their life!

Spoiler Free Book Review: A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder

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A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, by Holly Jackson, is an enticing young adult novel that all mystery loving teens should consider reading.

Earlier this month, while wandering the seemingly endless aisles of my local bookstore, I came across the section which holds my favorite genre of books: murder mystery. Gazing across the shelves, I noticed the novel, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, and decided to take it home since it was previously recommended to me by a friend.  

The book follows an ambitious teen, Pippa Fitz-Amobi, as she attempts to solve a cold case that has impacted her town immensely. Throughout the book, Jackson writes in a captivating and suspenseful tone that makes the book hard to put down.

While I personally loved the story of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, I would not recommend the novel to anyone under the age of 13 as it has some mature themes that are better understood by those who are at least in their teen years. My original desire to read this book stemmed from my interest in criminal justice and a want to see how this theme played out in the characters’ lives; I would recommend the book to anyone feeling the same way. 

The story of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder has also been confirmed to be a made for TV adaptation, so I recommend that anyone interested reads the book first!

–  Taylor O.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Deepest Roots by Miranda Asebedo

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Miranda Asebedo’s The Deepest Roots is a powerful novel that proves that friendship is an unbreakable force.

Rome, Lux, and Mercy are three girls of Cottonwood Hollow, born with magical abilities that seem to only attract evil. Rome is a Fixer—she can repair broken objects and understand mechanisms well, Lux can charm men into believing they love her, and Mercy’s magic conjures up an abundance of any item.

Rome is the main character of the story. She and her single mother struggle to pay the rent in their shabby, run-down trailer. Money is hard to come by and each day is a struggle. The support she receives from Lux and Mercy give her the strength to help her through these challenging times.

I enjoyed reading this book because of its realistic events and obstacles. Rome’s difficulties and responsibilities are authentic and add to her character’s budding independence. Mercy and Lux are two incredible friends to Rome that support her through thick and thin, even though they may not always get along.

This novel was a definite page turner. I enjoyed reading each page. However, throughout the book, there were a few crude concepts; Lux’s Mom’s abusive boyfriend and the unwanted attention Lux receives with her powers. Even in the dark times of Lux’s life, Rome and Mercy were there to rescue her—The hardships Lux faces only strengthen the girls’ bond.

Eventually, the three close friends learn that their powers are no curse rooting them to the ground; They are a precious opportunity to grow.

The Deepest Roots by Miranda Asebedo is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

The Best Lies by Sarah Lyu

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To Remy, Elise was everything—car rides in a bright pink Chevy, blissful nights away from arguing parents, and little bursts of support that made everything okay.

Until Jack.

Jack was the calm, steadying presence in Remy’s life. Rational and kind, sensible and compassionate, everything Remy ever wanted.

Remy and Elise lived on the wild side of life. Elise made days seem effortlessly thrilling. In fact, her favorite movie, Kill Bill, featured a fearless main character that she aspired to be: reckless in the face of danger, courageous when aiding others, and morally right when distributing punishments to those who wronged her.

If anyone came across her or Remy, Elise would make sure they got what they deserved. She exploded fireworks, released mice, and corroded cars, all in the name of justice.

What’s more, Elise was the person who guided Remy outside of her comfort zones, who helped her experience life without fear. Elise was, seemingly, an angel in the form of a rebellious teenage girl, sent just for Remy. When Jack cautions their behavior and disapproves of their ways, Remy has to choose between her two soulmates.

As Elise and Jack’s conflict turns deadly, Remy desperately wishes that she and Elise never met in the first place.

The Best Lies was an excellently crafted novel. Elise’s disobedient nature and Remy’s meek personality are the perfect blend of two entirely different characteristics to develop the plot.

The book was suspenseful and intriguing; I only wanted to discover Elise’s motive, just like Remy. The complicated relationship between Remy, Elise, and Jack was a definite page turner.

I really enjoyed reading Lyu’s writing style and experiencing the story alongside Remy. As her character learns to cope with struggles and eventually overcome them, I felt my own mood reflect Remy’s feelings.

Remy experiences the unimaginable throughout the novel. Love, friendship, betrayal, obsession. All of it. By the end of the novel, Remy learns that only the truth is the best lie.

The Best Lies by Sarah Lyu is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

Book Review: Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

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Sixteen-year-old Aza Holmes wasn’t expecting to be investigating the disappearance of billionaire Russell Pickett, but a hundred thousand dollar reward is looming and her best friend Daisy is ready to solve the mystery. Aza and Daisy become acquainted with Russell’s son Davis, and together, they collect evidence and gather information to figure out what truly happened to Russell Pickett.

But within this external conflict lies Aza’s true endeavor as she struggles as a student, friend, and daughter. Aza struggles with OCD and anxiety, causing her to get lost in what she calls her thought spiral. She is consumed by paranoia of death by bacterial infection and is unable to live in the present and form real relationships with her loved ones.

Throughout the story, Aza struggles in finding herself and getting better, even when it seems impossible. As her world spins out of control, Aza loses her grip and regains it, learning how to cope with the uncontrollable storms of mental illness.

Turtles All the Way Down is an absolutely heart wrenching, raw, real, and painful story that accurately portrays mental illness. As Aza strives to separate from her intrusive thoughts, readers find that healing from mental illness isn’t a linear journey where one can simply choose to get better. The novel is realistic in its portrayal of life, love, friendship, illness, and healing. Overall, I loved Turtles All the Way Down, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes to read thought-provoking realistic fiction stories that allow them to look at life with a different lens.

-Lam T.

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Everless by Sara Holland

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Sara Holland’s Everless was a fresh perspective on time and living life to its fullest.

In the city of Sempura, time is exchanged for blood, and many of its citizens are constantly living in fear of displacement or death.

The main character, Jules Ember, is an audacious young woman who cares deeply for her father and their survival. All her life, he has sheltered her from the process of exchanging blood for money. When her father’s health declines, Jules must forge her own path and do what it takes to survive.

As a child, she was raised on palace grounds alongside the kingdom’s princes, until she and her father were suddenly forced to flee. When Jules begins work at Everless at the princes’ estate, she forms new bonds with them

Everless was a somewhat complex novel, as the realm was intricate and elaborate. As the reader understands Jules and how she perceives her life, reading the novel flows more easily.

Holland also presents the difference in social status and stereotypes in her novel. The contrast between the nobles and commoners are visible in the blithe actions of the nobility and the scrounging lifestyle of those in the streets.

Overall, Everless consisted of a thorough plot, exciting characters, and captivating ideas. This was a great book!

Everless by Sara Holland is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

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If I Stay by Gayle Forman was actually more meaningful and emotional than I initially thought it would be. I borrowed this book after reading the synopsis and found the idea of experiencing life through a comatose state intriguing.

Mia Hall has a promising path ahead of her filled with Julliard, standing ovation, and her skills as a cellist. After a terrifying car accident occurs and leaves her all alone in the world, she is able to see her own life unfold from afar—as a spectator.

She sees her body transported to a hospital and all the aftereffects of the traumatic event. Her friends and family are all there to support her as she remains in a hospital bed, broken and unconscious.

The times where she goes back into her memories and rediscovers the moments that she had forgotten made me realize just how fleeting life can be and how we must treasure what we have in the present with the people around us.

There were a few sections of the novel that made me tear up, because the encouragement and understanding that her friends and family showed her during their visits made me feel for them, too.

I can’t imagine how hard it must have been for Mia to lose touch with reality and to watch as the people she loves will her to keep living. She has to make a difficult decision: to stay in the world, where she doesn’t know if she can manage every day, or to let herself go and let down everyone she knows.

If I Stay was an eye-opening novel that made me see life differently. The unexpected can happen at any time, and I now know that one should not let life pass them by.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.