Jane is trying to get through her internship as a medical student. Yet it seems like she can't do anything right to please her senior resident, who seems determined to make Jane's job impossible. The only thing keeping Jane sane is the surgeon who she finds incredibly attractive, and who has also taken an interest in her. As Jane tries to navigate her new life of being a doctor, she comes to terms with who she is.

"The Devil Wears Scrubs" is a slice of life, which is outside the genre of most of Freida McFadden's books. Although overall the concept was interesting, I found Jane to be a frustrating character and there really not being much of a plot.

Millie needs a job, and quickly if she doesn't want to break the terms of her parole. So, when she's hired by Nina Winchester as a housemaid, she can't believe it. The Winchester's are an extremely wealthy family, and Millie can't help but notice that Nina's husband, Andrew, is particularly handsome. All seems to be going well until suddenly it's not. Nina's behaviors are sporadic and eccentric, and she often lashes out at Millie, going back on her word and constantly placing the blame on Millie. Millie's only comfort is Andrew, who, against her better judgement, she continues to get closer to. Except when the time finally comes for Millie to know the truth... nothing is as it seems.

"The Housemaid" is an interesting read, although the plot twist is definitely not as surprising as some of Freida McFadden's other work.

Dan has tried to move on from the traumatic event that happened in his childhood. He is now successfully working in a prison, his job revolving around treating patients and understanding why they committed crimes. So when he gets a call that his father is likely dead, Dan's life is turned upside down. Returning to his home island, Dan becomes suspicious of the circumstances of his father's disappearance. As he continues to investigate, the events from his past make their way into his life... and everything comes together.

"The Man Made of Smoke" is an interesting thriller that does a good job of showing the complexities of father son relationships. The plot twist was definitely unexpected and not in the greatest of ways and somewhat made the whole book slightly confusing. Overall, it was a good read.

Paris can't believe what's happening; it just can't be real. As she awaits trial for the murder of her husband she can't help but wonder how she got here. Despite the lengths she went to escape her past, it all seems to be coming right back after her. Drew is furious Ruby Reyes is getting out of prison. He knows exactly the type of women Ruby Reyes was and the lies she's told the media. Little does Drew know Ruby Reyes and Paris are connected in a way he never expected. Ruby knows Paris' secret, and Paris is willing to do anything to ensure that secret never gets out.

"Things We Do in the Dark" was a very interesting and twisty read. The switch between two storylines was difficult to follow at first and definitely took away from the book. Overall, however the characters were relatable, and the plot twist was amazing.

Tom wants a new start with his son Jake, who isn't handling the recent passing of his mother well, in fact neither of them are. So, when Jake falls in love with a new house in a new town, Tom takes the opportunity. Except the house makes him nervous and he can't help but notice that Jake's unusual behavior hasn't ended. In that same town a tragedy has hit. A tragedy eerily similar to one that happened twenty years ago, with the man responsible behind bars. As the police continue to investigate and Tom and Jake try to settle in, the case and their life become intertwined in a way they never expected.

"The Whisper Man" was an amazing read, although hard to get into. It mixes real life and supernatural elements perfectly, leaving some answers to questions to the readers imagination.

Reckless by Lauren Roberts continues the female lead Paedyn’s story as the lines between survival and love become even more complicated. This book dives deeper into the consequences of the choices made in Powerless (the first book in the trilogy), with more emotional tension throughout the story. I picked this book up immediately because I was invested in the characters and wanted to see how their relationship would evolve after everything that happened. I especially loved how romance played a much bigger role, with moments of longing and vulnerability that felt intense and meaningful. The plot kept moving quickly, and I felt so invested in the narrative. The character interactions felt raw and honest and made the story feel more personal. Overall, this book felt more emotionally driven, making it one of my favorite reads in the series.

Powerless by Lauren Roberts is a fantasy novel (1st in a trilogy) set in a world where a person's power defines status, and those without abilities (magical powers) are forced to survive in secret. The story follows Paedyn, an ordinary girl who hides her lack of powers while navigating a brutal society and unexpectedly getting pulled into some very dangerous situations. I chose this book because the premise immediately caught my attention, especially the tension between the powerful and the powerless. I really enjoyed the enemies to lovers trope and the slow build of trust and chemistry between the characters, which made the story feel intense. The stakes stayed high throughout the book, and I found myself wanting to keep reading to see how Paedyn would outsmart the system stacked against her. Some parts felt predictable, but the character dynamics and romance made up for it. Overall, it was an engaging and exciting read that left me curious about what comes next.

The Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber is the final book in the Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy and follows the lead female character Evangeline as she navigates the fallout of broken promises, her lost memories within a kingdom shaped by magic and fate. I picked up this book because I was already deeply invested in Evangeline’s journey and needed to see how her story would finally unfold. Much of the plot centers on her search for truth and love as old curses and hidden motives are revealed. I enjoyed returning to this fairytale world and seeing how past choices continued to affect every character. The emotional stakes and romantic tension kept me engaged. Overall, the book delivered a heartfelt and satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.

Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber is a fantasy novel (1st book in the trilogy) about a simple girl named Evangeline who makes a dangerous deal with a demigod called the Prince of Hearts after her life does not go the way she hoped. I picked up this book because I was drawn to the fairytale feel of the cover and the promise of magic mixed with romance. The story is set in a whimsical world where nothing is as simple as it seems, and every choice has consequences. I loved the atmosphere of the book and how it felt dreamy while still holding a sense of dark danger. The characters felt layered and emotionally real, which made me want to keep reading to understand their motivations. Some parts were slower, but the tension and mystery kept me invested. Overall, this book surprised me in the best way and made me want to immediately continue the series.

The second book in the Once Upon a Broken Heart series is an easy five star read for me. I felt emotionally invested, and I loved how the story deepened while still keeping that magical, fairytale atmosphere. The characters felt even more alive and familiar, and I found myself genuinely caring about their choices and relationships. There is a lot of fluffy romance in this book, and it is incredibly cute and comforting without taking away from the plot. Like the first book, I could not stop reading because every chapter made me want to know what would happen next.

Paul Sheldon, the bestselling author of the Misery book series, crashes his car in the wilderness of Colorado just after finishing his latest book. Gravely injured and unable to walk, he is rescued by Annie Wilkes - a self-proclaimed "number one fan" of his work. She nurses him back to health in her house, all the while reading his latest Misery novel. However, when she discovers that Paul has killed off her favorite character, she reveals how unstable she truly is. Holding Paul captive, Annie forces him to write another book that will bring Misery back to life. There is no escape - and Paul soon finds that his "number one fan" will use any means necessary to force him to write his newest book...

"Misery" has to be one of my favorite Stephen King novels. The very relevant themes of obsession and addiction that he explores - along with the suspenseful and thrilling plot - made it impossible for me to put this book down! The plot is very well thought-out, and King's writing puts the reader into Paul's mind, allowing them to experience his thoughts, addiction, and pain firsthand. The idea, execution, and writing style of this book are truly amazing, creating a well-rounded and captivating story. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes psychological horror - especially those who have already watched the movie adaptation of "Misery". Although the film does a phenomenal job of telling this story, the inclusion of Paul's thoughts, the slightly different (and more terrifying!) ending, and King's writing itself makes this book a must-read for preexisting "Misery" fans!

A book about a secret school of deadly assassins? Yes please! I had not read a book by Mather before but because of this book I will definitely read again in the future. November is an intriguing character, and she was a great kick butt girl boss. The plot and book flowed nicely and the mystery was well thought out. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes spies and assassin type books.

I typically love anything JLB puts out but this felt flat. The prospect was intriguing but the book dragged and was very dry. The romance felt rushed and had no chemistry. I honestly was so bored to death and had cringed so much I just did not finish the book. I would not recommend this book, but I would recommend the author!

I'm always down for a cute little romcom and Emma Lord does not disappoint. Academic enemies to lovers is my favorite trope and this one was done perfectly. Sadie and Seb were the perfect couple, and I loved their constant bickering and hilarious moments throughout the book. It was a cute, light read and I would recommend this to anyone who loves a cute romcom.

The Hunger Games is my favorite series of all time and a story about Snow? Yes please! The whole book I found myself rooting for Snow even though I knew the evil he perpetrated and that speaks volumes to Collins writing. This extra to the series was something that was not a money grab but a book that answered many questions that I had. The continued world building and easter eggs added so much to the series and I loved it so much! This book is the perfect villian original story, showing how a character you root for can turn out absolutely evil. If I could give this a million stars I would.

I really loved the spunky main character Sawyer! Her development throughout the book and trying to be a debutante was entertaining and funny. All of the characters were well developed and at times I found myself laughing out loud at the dialogue. The story was very entertaining, and the mystery woven throughout it was amazingly well thought out! I'd recommend this to anyone who loves a Cinderella story with a mystery twist!

From the trenches of World War I, to the ancient Chinese Empire, to an insane asylum in the 1800s, Evelyn and Arden have loved each other in every lifetime. But they have also killed each other before their 18th birthday in every single one. Now it is 2022 in Wales, England, and Evelyn is desperate to survive long enough to undergo the bone marrow transplant that could save her sick little sister's life. So, when Arden finally reveals himself, Evelyn knows that she must do everything in her power to break the curse and survive until the day of the procedure. Told in chapters that alternate between Evelyn and Arden's current life and past experiences together, this YA romantasy book will keep you guessing as Evelyn and Arden's 18th birthday approaches...

I was really excited to read "Our Infinite Fates". The reincarnation plot seemed really unique, and I liked that the chapters switched between Evelyn and Arden's present and past lives. In fact, the first third of this book was really amazing - I was absolutely hooked and wanted to know what would happen next! However, the middle and ending of "Our Infinite Fates" really started to bother me. Not only did the plot become redundant and seemed to drag, but the character motivations and actions became unclear, annoying, and repetitive. Additionally, the huge "plot twist" at the end of the book was unexciting and confusing. "Our Infinite Fates" is mostly realistic fiction centered around historical eras - whereas plot twist seemed to be fully fantasy and did not match the tone of the entire rest of the story. Overall, the final reveal and battle just seemed rushed (especially compared to the middle of the book, which was very slow paced) and were merely disappointing. This was a great idea, but the execution and ending ruined it for me.

I initially picked this book because of the cover, and it seemed like it would be a cute read. I also hadn't previously read anything by this author, so I thought why not give her a try. Picking Daisies on Sundays delivers a cozy friends to lovers story with lots of charm but it doesn’t fully rise above the typical tropes of contemporary romance. The writing style wasn’t my favorite but definitely not something that deterred me. I thought that the miscommunication trope frustrates more than built the tension. This was an easy and quick read something that is definitely good for someone in the mood for a light, clean contemporary romance. For me the end of the book was the best part where it finally picked up along with the epilogue. Overall, this book is a pleasant read if you enjoy soft romantic comedies and aren’t looking for anything groundbreaking.
Reviewer Grade: 11

Wool is single-handedly the best politically dystopian book I have ever read, as well as #2 best book I have ever read. Howey masterfully extricates critical thought from the reader, not even mentioning some really deep aspects of what a political situation might fully manifest, causing the reader to add their own reasons they generated implied from this epic presentation of situations to more obvious reasons explicitly stated as an ever-present apex of human analysis in Wool. Consider satire -- presented simply and relatively easy to understand. Even slightly comical. But when analyzed and context is applied, it becomes a powerful tool, causing the reader to read in reverence at the wisdom of the author. Although not satire, Wool certainly gave me reverence toward Hugh Howey. If I were to see him walking down the street, a great effort would be made on my part to engage in conversation, second only to Ted Dekker. This critical thought and other implied assumptions left me feeling respected as a reader -- my intelligence is welcome for more than guessing the future plot: understanding the story. I believe the more intelligent the person, the more they will enjoy Wool.

Wool is book one of the Silo series. Book two is technically a prequel (to the perspective of the world, not Howey) but definitely read Wool before Shift. Incredibly powerful as a stand-alone, the Silo series collectively can move mountains. After finishing Dust, I began tearing up. I never tear up. For such a logical book where every decision is made rationally (until Juliet), Howey elicited an emotional response from me. The theme stressed across the Silo series is: "For so long we have chosen to do what is logical and rational. What statistically makes sense. But I fear the solution to this problem lies in doing what is right. Following the heart and not the brain." (NOT a quote from the Silo series).

As an aspiring engineer with straight As, this hit me hard. As someone who seeks efficiency and celebrates structure this broke me. In that moment when I realized what Howey was trying to drive through my logically intelligent but emotionally stubborn mind, I had to STOP reading. I read the paragraph three times. Respecting Howey for his political depth and logical nuance, I was offended for but one second when this dawned of me. And then I realized he was right.

Go make a realization.

As book one in the six-book series, it will also read well as a standalone. I like how the world is explained throughout the book - rather than dumping me with all worldbuilding in the beginning, or especially all at once. By the end of the book, new things are still being learned about Tess (the protagonist's sidekick). But is Day really the protagonist, or is it June? Although the story is admittedly more focused on Day, June's impact on Day's life is by far the more entertaining part of the book. Every chapter alternates perspectives, like a good Red Pyramid or The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel -- appropriate, political (if you will), and disappointing when really invested in what's about to happen next.

The Republic is one of two factions the U.S. splits into after collapse -- home to elite military families like the one June comes from, but also home to beggars, drunks, homeless, and the poor like Day. June is at some point convinced that Day murdered her brother (a spoiler from page 1) and vows to hunt him down both for revenge and to prove herself to the Republic. But as she gets close with Day, she uncovers truths about the Republic causing her to question her involvement.

Happy Ending

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon follows eighteen-year-old Madeline “Maddy” Whittier, who has a rare illness that keeps her inside her home, unable to leave. Her life changes when Olly, a boy who moves in next door, enters her world. They form a friendship through emails and messages that later develops into romance. This leads Maddy to take more risks of leaving the bubble she’s been trapped in her whole life. After discovering a shocking secret, she is forced to make difficult choices about freedom, trust, and love.

In my opinion, this book was engaging and emotional. It was a unique idea, and the author did a good job at writing the story. Although the book was quite long and slow-paced at certain points, I was never bored. I finished this book in one sitting.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes contemporary romance, coming-of-age stories, or books about love and self-discovery.

More to the Story by Hena Khan follows Jameela “Jam” Mirza, a thirteen-year-old Pakistani girl living with her family in Atlanta. The story is loosely inspired by the classic Little Women, but it is set in a modern, multicultural context.

Jam is thrilled when she is chosen as features editor of her middle school newspaper, because she dreams of becoming a journalist like her late grandfather and wants to write a story that will make her father proud.

However, the editor-in-chief keeps rejecting her article ideas. When she is assigned to write about a new boy - Ali, a British Pakistani visiting from England - Jam struggles to find an angle and accidentally hurts their budding friendship by publishing something personal without permission.

At the same time, her father has to take a job overseas, leaving the family unsettled. But things take a more serious turn when Jam’s younger sister, Bisma, becomes ill, forcing Jam to reconsider what truly matters in life - family, friendship, and integrity - and what it really means to tell someone’s story.
In my opinion, this book was entertaining and a lighthearted middle-grade realistic fiction read. I read it in one sitting and I really enjoyed it. The author covers themes of family bonds and sisterhood, ambition and ethics, illness and resilience, and Pakistani culture.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys heartwarming stories about family and friendship.

A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass is a story told in alternating first-person point-of-view chapters.

Princess Annika Vedette of Kadier is expected to marry her cousin for political reasons, even though it isn’t what she wants and her father has gone cold since her mother’s disappearance. Though she lives a life of luxury, she doesn’t have much freedom.

Far away, Lennox lives as a mercenary from Dahrain. His people were exiled many generations ago and he believes the throne taken from them rightfully belongs to the Dahrainians.

Their worlds collide when Lennox kidnaps Annika for a mission. As they are frequently thrown into dangerous situations together, they learn more about each other and the truth about things such as Annika’s mother's disappearance and the history of Kadier and Dahrain.

Despite the odds and the war looming, Annika and Lennox fall in love in a story where love and loyalty clash with duty and expectations. Both struggle with what they’ve been taught and what they feel, forcing them to make hard choices for their worlds and hearts.

In my opinion, the book was entertaining to read. In the beginning, the slow pacing and lack of proper world-building made it confusing. But later into the book, more things were cleared up and I was able to understand the world better. Overall, it was an enemies-to-lovers fantasy book with plenty of twists and political intrigue.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes enemies-to-lovers romance, stories with strong and complex characters, or royal or kingdom dramas.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson is about a high schooler named Pippa “Pip” Fitz-Amobi who chooses to investigate a murder-suicide event that happened in her town a couple of years earlier for her senior year choice project.

When Pip was younger, Andie Bell, a popular high school girl, was supposedly murdered by her boyfriend Sal Singh. Sal allegedly confessed by text message and committed suicide. The town accepted this explanation, but Pip always felt something didn’t add up - the Sal she knew was kind and unlikely to be violent.

With the help of Sal’s younger brother Ravi Singh, who wants to clear Sal’s name, Pip digs into evidence and interviews people around town. As they uncover more information, they realize there was a lot more to Andie’s disappearance and the case overall than anyone originally believed.

In my opinion, the book was a really good mystery and had plenty of twists and turns which made it hard to predict what actually happened. The case was complex, but the author’s writing style made it easy and entertaining to follow. When I picked it out, I couldn’t put it down until I finished it.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery.

This book was extremely interesting to read and it’s impressive that Sarah Maas was able to write this as her first book. In this story, 18 year old assassin Celaena Sardothien was freed from the labor camp she’d been working at for a year by Crown Prince Dorian to participate in a competition with other criminals to see who will become the king’s secret assassin. However, there are dark things happening underneath and Celaena has to protect herself from the dangerous and magical things around her. The magic system of Wyrdmarks is very interesting and the character interactions are complex. It is a book that is hard to put down.

Have you ever judged someone without really knowing them?

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen follows Juli Baker and Bryce Loski, who have been neighbors since the start of second grade, when Bryce moved into the neighborhood. Juli was certain that she was in love with him and that they were meant to be, but Bryce outwardly disliked her and was annoyed she couldn’t take the hint. Told in alternating first person point of view chapters, events from both perspectives as the two grew up are revealed.

After something happens in the present-day eighth grade that causes Juli to deeply hate Bryce, the two of them “flip” perspectives of each other. Now, Juli doesn’t want anything to do with him, but Bryce is in love with her.

Flipped covers themes of perspectives, change, and growing up. Juli is a passionate, confident character who is unafraid to advocate for what she believes in, whether protecting a sycamore tree or standing up for her family. Bryce, however, starts off as shallow and caring too much about what others think, but by the end learns that his first impressions of people, especially Juli, were wrong. As the story unfolds, both characters are forced to reflect on who they are, and what truly matters.

I found the book entertaining, and it wasn’t very long in comparison to other novels I have read covering similar themes. Although it is a little slower paced at points, it makes up for it by speeding up later on. The different perspectives on the same events would have been redundant, but the author wrote it well. It was interesting to see how Juli and Bryce saw the same thing in nearly opposite ways.

If you enjoy books about growing up, perspectives, and a sweet, thoughtful look at first love, then Flipped is a book you should definitely consider reading.

Amity Island is a famous summer vacation destination for the wealthy elites. Full-time residents of Amity depend on this business to survive during the winter months - so, when a woman is brutally killed by a shark on a late-night swim, Mayor Vaughan refuses to let Police Chief Brody close the beaches. Instead, they cover the incident up, hoping to attract tourists for the upcoming Fourth of July celebration. However, the shark claims three more victims, and the situation becomes dire. Soon, it is apparent that the fish will not be stopped unless it is killed. Driven by his guilt, Brody, along with oceanographer Matt Hooper and fisherman Quint, team up to hunt down and kill the shark before it is too late.

I watched the movie adaptation of "Jaws" before reading the book, because I was interested in learning more about the cultural implications that stemmed from the portrayal of sharks in both versions. After reading the original adaptation, I was pleasantly surprised! "Jaws" explores slightly darker themes of guilt and responsibility for those like the police chief and mayor who did not close the beaches after the first attack, and the plot and character dynamics are deeper, darker, and more meaningful than those in the movie. The horror and suspense in this story were spot on, and the ending was amazing, pushing forward these same sinister and captivating motifs. Even though this book had a slightly dated feel with the situations, characters, and their actions, I was still immersed in the world and, despite already knowing the ending, wanted to know what would happen next. For fans of the movie "Jaws" or those interested in the story, I would definitely recommend this book!

Brielle Petitfour, a Haitian zonbi, is tired of watching her mother struggle with debilitating chronic pain while the rich elites around her continue to exploit people to make themselves richer. So, when the wealthy patriarch of the Banks corporation dies and her mother loses her job, it is Brielle's last straw. Using her internship at the Banks Incorporation, her extensive cooking skills, and zonbi powers, she gains access to these rich elites and exacts her revenge. Within each delicious dish she serves them, she adds human flesh, slowly gaining control of them...

I was really excited to read this book, because the idea Haitian zonbis in a modern lens is something that really interests me, along with learning more about Haitian-American culture. Additionally, after reading the synopsis of this book, I wanted to know more about how Brielle would add human flesh into her dishes - and wanted to understand her motivations for doing so. However, I was sorely disappointed after reading "The Summer I Ate The Rich." Not only is Brielle's character - along with all others in the story - flat and unrealistic, but the plot and motivations were just confusing. Instead of leaning into the interesting and original idea of Brielle serving rich people human flesh, or even eating the rich herself, the authors skirted around this detail, avoiding and barely mentioning this major plot point. Instead, they leaned into a YA love story instead, which was confusing and frustrating. Overall, the execution of this book was just terrible, the social commentary unfortunately fell flat, and I think the authors tried to incorporate too many clashing ideas into one story. Despite its intriguing title and synopsis, I would not recommend this book to anyone.

This wonderful sequel to "Powerless" follows three different point of views, Paedyn Gray, Kai Azer, and Kitt Azer. First, the book shows Paedyn as she escapes from Illya after murdering the king and being discovered as an ordinary. Second, it shows Kai while he tracks Paedyn down while also questioning how he could ever feel anything for an *ordinary.* Last it shows Kitt as he tries to figure out how to deal with Paedyn after she killed his father. Paedyn and Kai struggle to get through the differences they now have and deal with the feelings of affection they still have for each other. "Reckless" brings feelings of regret, anger, and confusion as all three of these characters handle their complicated thoughts and emotions.

A Tale of Magic is the first book of a Trilogy and the whole series is a prequel to the Land of Stories series, and it's one of my favorite books in this world. The whole series deeply symbolizes the prejudice that the LGBTQ community has faced, without ever saying it. The allegory uses magic in the place of queer people (even if there are queer characters) and shows multiple toxic masculine characters and values. In one part of the book, the main character, Brystal, is found accidentally conjuring magic and is taken away by the court to a facility where they "convert" the magic out of somebody, even when it is known that you can't take the magic out of somebody. Thankfully, she is saved by Madame Weatherberry, another fairy (or person who practices magic) who is making a school for fairies to learn how to use their magic in a safe environment. There Brystal learns how to channel her magic for good with the other fairies there. Her and the other fairies eventually become more like a family and she realizes that maybe she isn't broken from being magical. The fairies have many adventures and work through inequality and other monsters.