The Good Braider by Terry Farish

Synopsis:

In spare free verse laced with unforgettable images, Viola’s strikingly original voice sings out the story of her family's journey from war-torn Sudan, to Cairo, and finally to Portland, Maine. Here, in the sometimes too close embrace of the local Southern Sudanese Community, she dreams of South Sudan while she tries to navigate the strange world of America a world where a girl can wear a short skirt, get a tattoo or even date a boy; a world that puts her into sharp conflict with her traditional mother who, like Viola, is struggling to braid together the strands of a displaced life.

Terry Farish's haunting novel is not only a riveting story of escape and survival, but the universal tale of a young immigrant's struggle to build a life on the cusp of two cultures.

Rating: ★★★★

Review:

I really enjoyed reading this, even though when I first started off I wasn't too sure about it. I think the best thing an author can do when writing a book like this is to be very raw and real, and that is what I got & that has to be my favorite thing about this book. Also, this is written is verse which I always love in a book because it makes you feel like you're reading at a much faster pace, boosting your reader's self of steam.

The only thing I had trouble with while reading this was my attention span. I had a hit and run type of relationship between my attention span & this book, on and off, and I honestly can't say exactly what it was that kept making my mind disengage from this story.

I loved that I was emotionally invested in the characters throughout the story & all of the loss Viola had to experience. Viola's character did a lot of growing, as well as her mother, from the beginning to the end of the book, so it's safe to say there is character growth present in this story. Also, you get to see how different Sudanese people take different roads once they get to American & reinvent themselves in different ways. ❤

I just loved that Ms. Terry came with her receipts to prove the authenticity behind her book. She let you know how many people she interviewed & what materials she studied to make sure her story was as real as it could get. And I really liked the historical facts she put at the end about Southern Sudan & its colonizing, I think that just added an nice extra touch.

I would recommend this because I loved learning about a culture I don't get to read about too often & you get the chance to see & understand their practices from their point of view & not just from the outside looking in.

Even though my attention was not always held captive I still would recommend this for readers who enjoy learning about other cultures and also if you are a fan of verse.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil's name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does or does not say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

Rating: ★★★★★

Review:

"Bravery doesn't mean you're not scared. It means you go on even though you're scared."

I loved this so much to the point that I would be willing to propose to Angie Thomas if I were single and if I played for that team!!! In order to make a girl want to switch teams you know you have to do some bomb ass work and so help me god did she ever!!! 

I was grasped into the story from chapter 1 and I'm so happy I didn't have to wait a quarter of the way or midway through the book before I actually got into it the story. Even though I knew Khalil was going to get shot that still didn't soften the blow from it. I still had a hurt & shocked expression sitting on my face, which of course I'm not mad at, because obviously that reflects the emotion & understanding I received from the characters.

I just loved that I could relate with so many things going on throughout the book; messy friends/sisters, family dynamics, life lessons(aka the cop talk), and so much more. I especially identified with Starr's reasoning about why she wasn't ready to loose her virginity because at that time in my life, I felt the exact same way as she did. I didn't want to be another statistic because that's how I saw my race represented around my school quite often once I got to high school.


I laughed the most I could remember while ever reading any book because I truly got it, I understood where Starr was coming from, especially the Holy Ghost Two Step comment(I died, met Jesus, he told me it wasn't my time, and I came back to life). I really can not wait for June 5th to roll around because that's when On The Come Up will make it's grand entrance into the YA Universe on into my heart!!! 

Solo by Kwame Alexander

Synopsis:

When the heart gets lost, let the music find you.

Blade never asked for a life of the rich and famous. In fact, he’d give anything not to be the son of Rutherford Morrison, a washed-up rock star and drug addict with delusions of a comeback. Or to no longer be part of a family known most for lost potential, failure, and tragedy. The one true light is his girlfriend, Chapel, but her parents have forbidden their relationship, assuming—like many—that Blade will become just like his father.

In reality, the only thing Blade has in common with Rutherford is the music that lives inside them. But not even the songs that flow through Blade’s soul are enough when he’s faced with two unimaginable realities: the threat of losing Chapel forever, and the revelation of a long-held family secret, one that leaves him questioning everything he thought was true. All that remains is a letter and a ticket to Ghana—both of which could bring Blade the freedom and love he’s been searching for, or leave him feeling even more adrift.

Publishing Co.: Blink
Release Date: July 25, 2017
Rating:★★★

Reveiw:

I received this book from Netgalley and Blink Publishing in exchange for my honest review. 

First, I just loved that this was written in verse because one, it definitely made me feel like I was breezing through the book, and two, being in verse made the writing seem so beautiful. Although, there were two parts where the same words were repeated over and over, adding one word every line until it made a sentence and I hated that the most. ( Ex: After the, After the rain, After the rain comes, After the rain comes a, After the rain comes a rainbow.) It was just really annoying!

I thought the characters were delightfully obnoxious, which is a plus seeing that is how they were meant to be perceived. I immediately hated Chapel, Blade's girlfriend, and picked her out as a gold digger upon meeting her and immediately wanted him to see it too, and drop her ass. There was also a part where Blade said he started thinking about how dangerous it felt to love someone so much when they can't be with you and the whole time I'm reading this I'm thinking about how dangerous it is to love someone who loves what you can do for them more than you care to admit seeing.

His father was just as unbelievable as it gets to the point where you're asking, who raised him? But I did enjoy the piece of karma that was received by a very worthy recipient. I hate that Blade was the "hopeless romantic" type. For me, it really tarnished his character and I took it as a shot at him for being "young", since the stereotype is young people don't hold common sense and lack restraint and/or good judgement. 

I felt like Blade was in a ticking time bomb situation because he was surrounded by toxic relationships. I really liked the big family secret but I'm mad and a little disappointed we didn't get to see it fully play out. Also, I didn't really care for the song bios and I gradually started to feel like it weighed the pages down.

I only thought the book was alright so I can't really say if I would or wouldn't recommend this but of course the choice is all yours. 

Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella

Synopsis:
After being together for ten years, Sylvie and Dan have all the trimmings of a happy life and marriage; they have a comfortable home, fulfilling jobs, beautiful twin girls, and communicate so seamlessly, they finish each other's sentences. However, a trip to the doctor projects they will live another 68 years together and panic sets in. They never expected "until death do us part" to mean seven decades.

In the name of marriage survival, they quickly concoct a plan to keep their relationship fresh and exciting: they will create little surprises for each other so that their (extended) years together will never become boring. But in their pursuit to execute Project Surprises, mishaps arise and secrets are uncovered that start to threaten the very foundation of their unshakable bond. When a scandal from the past is revealed that question some important untold truths, they begin to wonder if they ever really knew each other after all.

With a colorful, eccentric cast of characters, razor-sharp observations, and her signature wit and charm, Sophie Kinsella crafts a humorous, yet thoughtful portrait of a marriage and shines a light on the danger of not looking past the many layers of the ones you love to discover how infinitely fascinating--and surprising--they truly are.

Publishing C.O.: The Dial Press

Release Date: Feb. 13, 2018

Rating: ★★(2.8)

Review:

I received this book from Netgalley and The Dial Press in exchange for my honest review & my first thoughts were, "Damn! They are a boring ass couple!" I honestly expected more out of this based on the synopsis and the author being the Sophie Kinsella, and I do mean the, not the, there's a difference.

Sophie Kinsella has a way of making you feel what the characters are feeling. For instance, all of the awkwardness, BOREDOM, & fear. However, I hate that I was not pulled into this story or really captivated at all during this story. And it was very disappointing seeing that I loved my first Sophie Kinsella book, My Not So Perfect Life, so much.

The parts that I guess were supposed to be shocking, surprising, or funny just felt really corny as compared to how I reacted to other books where I actually laughed out loud 😆😆. Also, the big secret, compared to what I thought was going on, really sucked and didn't do it for me. I was better off living in my fantasy land. 

To sum this all up, I seriously can't reiterate how disappointed I am with this book. I'm sorry Sophie, but this was a turn off for me and I know you could do better and I can't recommend this book to anyone unless you don't mind corny reads.

Her Alien Doctors(Captive Brides #2) by Sara Fields

Synopsis:

After nineteen-year-old Jenny Monroe is caught stealing from the home of a powerful politician, she is sent to a special prison in deep space to be trained for her future role as an alien's bride.

Despite the public bare-bottom spanking she receives upon her arrival at the detention center, Jenny remains defiant, and before long she earns herself a trip to the notorious medical wing of the facility. Once there, Jenny quickly discovers that a sore bottom will now be the least of her worries, and soon enough she is naked, restrained, and shamefully on display as three stern, handsome alien doctors examine and correct her in the most humiliating ways imaginable.

The doctors are experts in the treatment of naughty young women, and as Jenny is brought ever closer to the edge of a shattering climax only to be denied again and again, she finds herself begging to be taken in any way they please. But will her captors be content to give Jenny up once her punishment is over, or will they decide to make her their own and master her completely?

Rating: ★★★

Review:

Before I get started I want to say I did not read the first book and I think that was perfectly fine because it didn't feel like a continuation or me understanding what was going on was based on me reading the first book. I love reading erotica and steamy romances but I wasn't really into this one. 

I'm not into the whole BDSM, dominant & submissive, type of scene in my personal life but I don't mind reading about it at all. My issue with this was the whole punishment aspect of this and the fact that Jenny gave into the idea of punishments so easily, without a fight, even though she is supposed to be seen as this head strong defiant character. Her character obviously needs to be reevaluated. I also wish I had more of a background story on the three doctors because at the end of the day I don't know them from a bag of oranges.

Also, I wish I had more effort put into the plot of the story. About every two pages was a sex scene and every sex scene was very detailed and handled amazingly but everything in between the sex scenes didn't seem like as much effort was put into them as the sex scenes did. I am one of those people that like to have an actual story even if you were to take the sex scenes out and this book just doesn't have it.

I do admit the sex scenes were very spicy and what I was in the mood for but the rest of the plot, including the characters, needs work. What's a porno with out good actors & actresses and a good role/story to follow??