Book Reviews by Genre: Fiction

Videographer Katie has just been offered the gig of a lifetime: the opportunity to interview a Coast Guard super hero in Florida Keys. One problem: she can’t swim. Also, the swimmer she’s interviewing happens to be the most scientifically good looking guy she’s ever seen. In a series of crazy conflicts and the swimmer’s eccentric aunt, Rue, Katie learns what it means to be in love, and love herself.

This book was really cute! I absolutely love how simple Center’s writing is, it made the book fly by! I also adored all the characters in this novel, even the complex characters I believe I was supposed to not like I ended up enjoying them as well. The overall plot was crazy. It seemed like conflict after conflict was occurring, but it didn’t feel excessive, and in a way I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! As for the love story, it was really cute. While there was a little more miscommunication than I would have liked, I really enjoyed the story between Katie and Hutch. My only complaint was there wasn’t more of them together!

After suffering a breakdown at the police station, Sam returns to the job six months later to investigate the murder of a young 14 year old girl. At the scene of the crime, a book titled “How to Get Away with Murder,” written by a man known as Denver Brady is found. The novel acts as a guide to serial killing, and further terrorizes the city of London. In order to get justice for the young girl, Sam must put herself in the mind of Denver Brady before he and Charlotte’s killer strike again.

This book was interesting. It was fun reading a book within a book, and Denver Brady’s narrative made the story much darker and more intriguing to read. While the overall concept was interesting, the climax fell pretty flat. I couldn’t tell if I was supposed to be surprised or shocked, as the book just kept dragging on. The ending felt very slow and by the end I will admit I was excited for it to be done. That being said, I was in the mood to read a murder mystery, and “How to Get Away with Murder” definitely delivered.

After mastering the first two floors in an 18 level Dungeon, things start to pick up as Carl and Donut reach the third floor. There, they can select classes and races. They can also complete quests. Though, as the title suggests, not all goes as plan. The Borant Company, controller of the Dungeon game show, keeps finding ways to make up new mobs, and the Dungeon AI is positively insane. Definitely an exciting read, and I personally am on the sixth book.

Right off the bat this book destroys the surface of Earth and turns the survivors into a deadly video game: Dungeon Crawlers: Earth Addition. This is not your average action book but instead an unpredictable battle for survival as Carl, and his cat Donut, enter the dungeon where they are forced to fight mobs, gain upgrades, and raise their level to survive. It's like a video game but all too real. If you are looking for a sweet book, maybe pass this one. I think it's a good book, but there is some language and adult jokes, so not for really young kids. Best of all, it is in a series, so once you put this one down, you can pick up another!

Want a mystery? A legal thriller? A twisted tale of violence and deceit? You've found the right book! Phillip Margolin is the master of suspense as he presents the first novel in his magnificent Robin Lockwood series, The Third Victim! Robin Lockwood, an upstart defense lawyer, has just landed her dream job under famed attorney Regina Barrister. In doing so, she is thrust into a case surrounding a string of horrifying murders, the last victim of which is the only one who has lived to tell the tale. The presumed culprit, Alex Mason, is quickly arrested and, based on the evidence, is almost certainly the perpetrator. Yet, he proclaims his innocence, hiring Regina to defend him. However, there are multiple contradicting stories, not all of which line up with the evidence. Even worse, Regina begins to act strange, and her behavior begins to threaten the success of the case. Can Robin find the truth amid the cloud of lies?
Nothing is as it seems in this perfectly twisty mystery novel. You'll be on your toes from the ominous opening to the big reveal as new evidence surfaces and new theories fill the air. The characters are dynamic and every inch of the page gleams with the perfect mix of emotion and action. Nothing about The Third Victim is predictable -- and none of it will disappoint you, guaranteed!
This is honestly one of the best books I've read this year and I hope you will enjoy every page-turning plot twist as much as I did!

My one complaint with this book, was the underwhelming synopsis. The summary included on the back of the book doesn't do it the proper justice it deserves. Remarkably Bright Creatures is not just a novel about an octopus solving a mystery, but also self-discovery, family ties, and unlikely connections. It deals with deeply emotional concepts, and the characters feel real as they struggle through their lives, each trying to achieve their individual goals that all somehow intertwine.
My favorite part of this book was the characters. I came to love Marcellus, Tova, and Cameron immensely by the end of the book. The development of these three characters was easily my favorite part. The suspense is not as high stakes as some other realistic fiction novels, but it still had me flipping page after page, yearning for more.
I would describe Remarkably Bright Creatures as a "chill" read. A book you can read to cleanse the pallet in between intense fantasy books, or a book you can read over the course of a month if you're busy and still enjoy.

“Weyward” tells the story of three women across generations. 1619: Altha is on trial in a town unforgiving of unusual women. 1942: During World War 2, Violet works to uncover the mysteries of her family lineage all while suffering tragedy on her own. 2019: On the run from her abusive ex, Kate navigates the hardships of starting over, all while discovering who she is in the process. All three women’s stories are woven together to form one story about women’s empowerment spanning generations.

I was very disappointed in this book. The premise sounded so interesting, and I was excited to read a story centering around female strength. Unfortunately, while the empowerment of women is a common theme, the story was so slow and actually made me feel bored. I was also shocked at how depressing some of the elements of the novel were. I wasn’t expecting a happy story, but so much of the book described tragedy and hardship that it was hard to feel rejoiced when the empowerment piece finally occurred. Also, this fiction novel includes elements of magical realism, which I felt did not serve a purpose to the point the author was trying to make. While I believe the women’s connection with nature was supposed to be a representation of their strength, the execution of the “magic” just made the story more confusing and did not add much importance compared to the other more significant aspects of the story.

“Their Eyes Were Watching God” is a classic novel that brilliantly explores the theme of identity. Taking place early 20th century Florida, the story follows a woman, Janie Crawford, throughout her three marriages as she searches for independence but is faced with tests and trials. She first marries a man named Logan Killicks a landowner who creates a marriage incapable of love. She soon runs off with the second man Jody Starks, who becomes a political figure in the town Eatonville who is cruel and uninterested. After mourning the loss of Jody, she finds a man named Teacake who is the first catalyst of love and freely allows Janie to exhibit her independence. She is not only faced with the trials of her marriages but faces violence, prejudice, judgment, racial tension, societal expectations, and a disastrous Hurricane all representing Gods destructive power and the fight for independence.

The book is a particularly good read especially if you like complex plots, a classic feel, and meaningful themes; however, due to the southern dialect and uneven chapter sizes it can be harder to follow. I personally followed the dialect fine, but the chapter lengths were very inconsistent some being 1 page and others around 18, which made the story somewhat monotonous. Nonetheless, the book is a good read and beautifully written classic.

“How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates” mixes rom-coms and horror into one great slasher novel. When Jamie decides to attend a speed-dating event with her best friend Laurie, the last thing she expects is to be forced into a real life slasher film. As tensions run high, she realizes she may not only be in a makeshift slasher movie, but it seems like the killer is attempting to create a romantic comedy atmosphere as well. With her wits and fellow daters, Jamie must use everything she’s learned from her years of watching and studying horror films to survive the night and hopefully find her happily ever after.

I thought this concept was so cool. While I found the plot twist to be sort of predictable, as a slasher enjoyer myself, I found the novel to be very entertaining. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time waiting to see who would survive and who would succumb to horror tropes. While I thought it was interesting, I didn’t love the rom-com aspect of the novel. I thought that part was boring and not very well developed. But, I absolutely love how the author tied it in with the ending!

The Lord of the Flies follows a multitude of teen aged boys who survive after their plane crashes on a deserted island. The Lord of the Files follows how these boys act and change as they grow up on this island and create new civilizations on the island. The book showcases how these boy’s young, immature and impressionable minds cause them to have large problems and conflicts on the island. It also shows how these situations cause them to change with how they act and think.

The Lord of the Flies is an amazing book that everyone should read. It does an amazing job showing you the intricacies of civilization and how quickly people’s thoughts and actions can change when faced with difficult situations, especially young people. This book was very eye opening on human nature and the devolution of humans in hard times.

The second volume of Gachiakuta is about Rudo joining an organization called the “Cleaners.” He asked to join them and agreed in order to help get revenge on the person who framed him for murder. However, it’s clear that something suspicious is happening on the ground, as the monsters known as Trash Beasts have been found with vital instruments inside them.

I think this volume is a big step up from the first, as lots of information is introduced. One thing that I really like about this volume is that the information dumping isn’t nearly as bad. Some things are still spoon-fed to the audience, but it isn’t as blatant as before. The introduction of new characters and world-building really brings a lot to the story, as things are becoming more interesting. I also really enjoy it when the audience gets certain information at the same time a character does. It makes the reveals feel more impactful and important. Another really great thing about this book is the art. It’s very unique and easy to follow, and it’s clear that the artist and author, Kei Urana, is very talented. I would definitely rate this volume higher than the first, but I still want to see where the story goes.

Casey needed to get away; that's why she moved to a secluded cabin in the middle of nowhere New Hampshire, where her closest neighbor is miles away. Of course, Casey starts questioning her choices as a storm begins to roll in and the roof of her cabin is not looking promising. As the storm rolls in Casey's worry about her roof is momentarily disrupted when she receives an unexpected guess; a young girl covered in blood that isn't her own. Casey knows this girl is hiding something... and she's determined to figure out exactly what that is; but she has to survive the night if she wants to figure it out.

"The Intruder" is a fascinating book with a surprising plot twist. I would recommend it to anyone who likes vigilante thrillers and plot's that are far from what they seem to be.
Reviewer Grade: 12

Debbie is having a hard time, in more ways than one. Suddenly fired from her job, pushed away by her daughters, and kept in the dark by her husband about where he goes at night... Debbie can't take much more. Little does anyone know, Debbie has some secrets, and they just keep building as Debbie begins to snap.

"Dear Debbie" gives a unique perspective on how events from the past can determine the rest of someone's life. It's also a perfect book for those who love when nothing is as it seems. This is definitely a book I would recommend.
Reviewer Grade: 12

Joan Goodwin has always dreamed of the stars. In 1980s Houston, NASA is finally willing to begin integrating women astronauts into the program. With her group of fellow astronaut candidates, Joan navigates a world of love, family, and friends in a word slowly beginning to accept diversity.

I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel. Having enjoyed other Reid books, I knew I would have some level of enthusiasm, but I liked it much more than I thought I would. For starters, I have always been intrigued by space and space travel, so I especially enjoyed the whimsical personality Joan obtained throughout the story. I also absolutely adored the relationship between Joan and her niece, Frances. Frances was probably my favorite character by far, as she was so lively and felt so real even as a fictional child. I didn’t care for the love story much, which would be my only complaint, but I was fascinated at how well Reid weaved the intricacies of romance and occupations in the time period of the 1980s.

The Great Gatsby is an amazing novel that follows the story of Nick Carraway when he moves to New York City. The man who lives next to him, Jay Gatsby, is very mysterious to Nick. He throws lavish parties that shine bright into the night with a multitude of guests. Nick's cousin, Daisy Buchanan, who lives on the other side of a wide river from Nick and Gatsby, catches the attention of Jay Gatsby but is already married to a Tom Buchanan. The Great Gatsby explores the themes of love, social hierarchy, fake relationships between the rich, and the American Dream through an intriguing story and symbols.

The first few pages of The Great Gatsby did not immediately catch my attention. The more I read into the book and understood the deeper meanings and deepening intricacies of the characters, the more that I loved the book. The Great Gatsby is a wonderfully written book with an amazing story filled with deep and meaningful symbols. It highlights problems with relationships and social hierarchy that I will keep in my mind for the future. I would recommend you read this book!

Carrie Soto had it all. Since training with her father since the age of two, she has become the only women’s tennis player to win 20 grand slams. Her career was shaped by grueling and tireless matches, and now one woman threatens to take it all. The year is 1994 and Nicki Chan has officially matched Carrie’s record of 20 slams. Not willing to let her greatest player title be taken, Carrie makes the shocking decision to come out of retirement at age 37 in order to defend her record.

Wow! This book was really exciting! I originally picked it up because I’m a tennis player and was very interested to read a book about tennis, and Taylor Jenkins Reid did not disappoint. Carrie Soto is not by any means a character I felt compelled to root for, but as she continued to develop and her story evolved, I found myself inexplicably drawn to her passion of the sport. I specifically enjoyed how Reid developed her character through the coaching of her father, Javier. Despite the bumps and complications of their relationship, Reid describes a genuine and emotional connection between the father and daughter, and it was beautiful to read.

The House in the Cerulean Sea is a cozy, heart-warming story about a caseworker who investigates a top secret orphanage filled with magical children. This is not an intense read by any means, and it has a good bit of humor as well as some lovely commentary about the nature of love and chosen family. I thought it had a relatively slow start, but I'm very glad I stuck with it. I think this book is meant to open the hearts and minds of the reader alongside the protagonist. A refreshing, wholesome story that kept me hooked until the very end.

I found Jane Eyre surprisingly emotional and engaging. Jane is such a determined and independent character, especially considering the time period the book was written in. I really appreciated how the story shows her personal growth and moral strength. The gothic elements added some suspense, especially in the Thornfield parts. Some sections were a bit long, but the story and characters made it worth it. It ended up being one of my favorite classics.

This book was interesting, but also a bit frustrating for me. The writing and atmosphere are really powerful, and the setting feels dark and intense. However, a lot of the characters are difficult to like, especially Heathcliff and Catherine, which made it harder for me to connect with the story. I still appreciated the emotional intensity and the way the novel explores obsession and revenge. Even though it wasn’t my favorite, I’m glad I read it because it’s definitely unique among classic novels.

This book felt really atmospheric to me. Fitzgerald’s writing style is beautiful, and the way he describes the setting and the characters made everything feel vivid. Gatsby himself is such a mysterious and tragic character, which made the story more compelling. I also liked how the book explores themes like the American Dream and how people chase illusions. Sometimes the symbolism felt a bit heavy. But overall, it was a really interesting and thoughtful read.

This book is really entertaining, especially in the second half. In this book, the Augurs go to the Boundary to try to fix it but end of going through and getting stuck, Wirr handles politics and preparing the capital for evacuation, Caeden discovers what he must do to save the world and struggles with his immortal friends, and Asha discover what she must do to help the Boundary effort with her new wealth of power. I really enjoyed the unique struggles Caeden went through with the friends he is enemies with but has loved for centuries, it is a very intriguing dynamic. Davian’s captivity was always exciting to read as it explored his new relationships and struggles to exist in a world they can’t survive in and Asha’s new responsibilities show important themes about the cost of power. The first half of the book can be a bit slow as the setup continues and the entire series in general can be a bit confusing with the timeline, but I think the confusion isn’t too much of an issue and the ending more than makes up for any slog in the first half. It is a somewhat sad but satisfying end that tied up any loose ends very nicely and made me want to read it again as soon as I was done.

This was a good book but some parts were a bit slow to get through. In this book, Davian and Ishelle train at Tol Shen and have to begin dealing with the issue of the failing Boundary, Caeden grapples with who he is and what his duties and past are because of that, and Wirr and Asha handle the major political fallout with the Augur Amnesty, the new Tenets, and having a Gifted as the Northwarden. This story has a lot of setup and world-building for the next book so it can sometimes feel a bit slow. However, Caeden’s journey was really satisfying, especially for people like me who enjoy the type of character that is basically immortal so have to deal more with issues of protecting their friends and the world and having complex relationships. It isn’t the best of the series but it is still good and important.

I loved this book more than I expected to. At first, the language felt a little too formal, but after a few chapters I got used to it and started enjoying Austen’s humor. Elizabeth Bennet is such a strong and witty character, and watching her relationship with Darcy develop was really satisfying. The social commentary about class and marriage still feels surprisingly relevant today. Some parts move slowly, but the dialogue and character interactions kept me interested. Overall, it’s one of those classics that actually lives up to the hype.

This book was very thought-provoking and interesting. It tells the story of Davian and Wirr, who run away from the boarding school for Gifted people they live at, and Davian’s journey in learning what his powers are and how to use them. It also explores Caeden, a boy on the run with strange abilities but no memory of who he is, trying to remember himself and help his friends; and Asha, maneuvering through politics in her new state as a Shadow with new friends helping her. I love the character development and writing style this book is full of, plus the plot twists I never saw coming but understood in hindsight were really nice. The characters’ journeys were very exciting, and I found myself reading this constantly, even on reread. I’m glad this whole series came out before I read it, so I didn’t have to wait for the next one.

Jet Mason will be dead in 7 days. When an intruder attempts to murder her on Halloween night, miraculously, Jet survives the initial attack. However, due to other underlying medical issues, doctors are convinced a deadly aneurysm will kill her in a week. In a race against time and health Jet decides she's going to officially accomplish one last thing before the end: she's going to solve her own murder.

This was the most heartbreaking Holly Jackson book I think I've ever read. Despite the dark and depressing topics in this novel, Jackson expertly weaves the most beautiful and heartwarming lessons about life. Jet's character might go down as one of my top favorite characters of all time, as the emotions and actions she displayed were so utterly human and raw in the most terrible of circumstances. As this book is a mystery, I was absolutely on the edge of my seat the whole time! I was desperate to know who Jet's attacker was, and many other plot twists started coming to life. The concept of a woman solving her own murder is so original and far-fetched, but Holly Jackson executed the story perfectly.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury follows the story of a fireman named Guy Montag. While in our time a fireman might put out fires, in Fahrenheit 451 the fireman's job is to start them. In this time, all books are banned and any book found is burned. In this world knowledge is an enemy to the power of the government and they try to do everything to stop the spread of knowledge through books. Screens and advertisements are everywhere, there is no way to hide. Montag who originally is against books and enjoys his job meets a girl named Clarissa McClellan who talks to him about happiness and his job. Through the conversation Montag starts to question if what he is doing is right and starts to realize that books might not be as bad as he thought.

Fahrenheit 451 is a novel that everyone should read. Fahrenheit 451's theme about the importance of books and the preservation of knowledge cannot be understated. The characters and events in the book are very fleshed out and the development of Montag as a person makes you think. The setting, plot, and characters are all excellent and make for a novel that you do not want to put down.

This story was just as amazing as the first book of the series. There were so many interweaving stories as different sides fight to put a new king on the throne after the last one died with arguments over who the heir is and whether a section should secede. It’s very complex but has nuance that was interesting and didn’t confuse me despite its complexity. It’s a long book but it feels like it goes but in a flash with how captivating and entertaining it is. This is a book I wish I could read for the first time again.

When Meddelin Chan accidentally kills her blind date, the last thing she needs is to add a 2,000 guest Chinese-Indonesian wedding to the mix. Luckily, her immigrant mother and three meddling aunties are prepared to do whatever it takes to hide the body and successfully cater the wedding. With the aunties dealing with a wedding, a body, and Meddy’s unexpected college sweetheart, nothing could possibly go wrong, right?

I thought this book was really cute! I wasn’t exactly sure what premise I was expecting due to the many different conflicts, but I thought the aunties were hilarious and the plot was executed well. This book was very fast paced and not at all hard to read, and I especially liked the author’s note of how this book was a love letter to her culture and her family. I feel like it made the cultural elements of the novel much more compelling. Overall, the book was very simple and shockingly kept me in suspense the whole time just because I had no idea which way the story was going to go. “Dial A for Aunties” was definitely a fun and easy read.

"Project Hail Mary" is a science fiction adventure telling the story of Ryland Grace, a man who wakes up with amnesia in a sterile room with no other human besides two corpses. Confused and terrified, Grace slowly pieces together the gravity of his situation: The world is ending, and he might be the only man capable of saving it.

This book was so good! I was nervous when starting the novel, as I did not enjoy Wier's previous books such as "The Martian," but I was surprised at how much better "Project Hail Mary" was! While it can be heavy on the scientific elements, Wier never strays from the plot, and I found the story was pretty easy to understand despite the science. Also, I really enjoyed how we, as the readers, work with Ryland Grace to learn the mission at the same pace he is. Since he starts the book with total amnesia, he gradually learns along the way of his purpose and the true motivation of his mission, and as such, the readers do as well. I feel like if I were more interested in science this book could've been even more amazing, but I just don't have the same understanding as I'm sure others do. So, I would recommend this book to anyone who loves or is interested in science, even if they do not like to read. I feel like it captures the elements of a standard novel and the science influence very well.

This book, while it wasn’t my favorite, was definitely good in a way that feels almost objective. The War of the Five Kings continues to rage on and Cersei, Jaime, and Tyrion create plans for power, bringing the other sides to submission, and to get what they want. Sansa wants to escape her captivity and takes on a new identity once free and Arya explores her new life in Braavos. My only issue with the book was personal preference for characters and stories I wish had been more prevalent, such as Arya, but the writing style is still incredible and the politics so common in this book are definitely appealing to a lot of people and to me a large portion of the time. This was a bit of a slower and harder one to read, but it was still quite interesting.