This book has all the makings of a great book--a sweet plot, magic, and of course, candy. The storyline follows Nate, who moves to a new town and joins a club with three other kids: daredevil Summer, steadfast Trevor, and brainy Pigeon. When the new sweet shop shows up in town, they have no idea how good-or dangerous-the candy could be. Mrs. White, the owner, is the sweet old lady who owns the shop, but is that all she is? Can normal people make candy that lets you leap twelve times as high as you could? Soon, she has recruited the four kids. They do special missions in return for magic candy, but something doesn't feel right. Soon, the kids begin to suspect Mrs. White. However, they might be too late, and how can they expect to fight against magic? This book is full of unexpected twists and is an enjoyable read. The combination of candy and magic is too good to resist. Definitely check it out!

The Doughnut King is the second in a series, but you don't need the first one to enjoy the second! It follows Tristan, son of a foodie family who, in the first book, moved from New York City to Petersville, about as small a town as you can get. Through Winnie, the general store owner, and her magic life-changing doughnut recipe, Tristan begins to enjoy the town. But as his business grows, he has a supply problem with his doughnuts. The best solution is a doughnut robot, and an expensive one. The only way to earn the money is to go on a cooking show: Can You Cut It? However, there seems to be something personal about the host's hatred for Tristan. Even if you don't love reading about food, this book is a must read! The plot is just plausible enough to be believable but outlandish enough to keep reading!

I originally only picked this book out because I had read another book by this author, but now I read these books more than the other book! It follows an 11 year old Friday, though in the last book I believe she is 15, who has four siblings and two parents who are theoretical physicists. She has been raising herself almost her whole life, and read all the books in her house, which is a lot. She is a genius, but she is horrible at interactions with other people. She wears an ugly brown cardigan so people notice her less! So, after solving an attempted bank robbery, she decides to spend her cash prize on boarding school. However the boarding school is full of rich and stuck up students who keep getting in trouble. They learn to call on Friday, who solves their problems, like the school's very own Sherlock Holmes. However, there is also a problem with a swamp yeti that she is yet to solve... With the help of her sleepy roommate Melly Pelly, Friday is on her way to becoming the most annoying girl in the school!

When my mom recommended this book to me, I was skeptical, because I don't read a lot of ghost/horror stories. However, though there are some eerie specters and situations, the overall feel of the book is dry comments and tea parties. This book takes place in an alternate London, where an epidemic has broke out. It's called The Problem, and it is ghosts returning from beyond the grave. There are many agencies that people hire to fight against ghosts using salt and iron. Only children and teenagers can see and hear ghosts, but everyone can die from ghost touch. Some children are born with psychic talents that allow for easier recognition of ghosts, and so can defeat them easier. The series follows Lucy Joan Carlyle, an agent who joins a small company, the smallest in the city, and the ghosts they find, but in the third one, an especially large outbreak plagues London. Every agency is out every night (ghosts don't come out during the day) fighting ghosts and searching for the source of the outbreak. Lucy and her team, charming and fearless Lockwood, the leader of the group, George, a crusty intellectual, and Holly, perfection personified and a new addition to the team, need to find the source. They need to find it quickly, before there are more casualties. Overall, I loved the writing style, as the characters seem real though the circumstances are outlandish and the whole series is definitely worth reading. I personally have read all the books at least twice, and some parts still surprise me!

This book is in my top five of all time. I really enjoyed the writing style as it makes the characters easier to relate to. Every time I reread it, I noticed something new, a detail here and there. The plot seems sad in the beginning, and sad things happen, but the end puts the sweet in bittersweet. It follows the main character, Doug Sweiteck and his transition to Marysville as he struggles with two big secrets that Schmidt reveals through the actions of the characters--so read carefully, you don't want to miss anything. When Doug sees James John Audubon's paintings of a variety of birds, they change his life. The character growth between all the characters is astonishing and it shocked me. Definitely check it out!

"The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight " is a sweet romance book that follows two strangers on their plane ride to Great Britain. The female main character, Hadley, is forced to attend her father's new marriage as a bridesmaid. Due to a few unlucky occurrences, she misses her original flight, forcing her to catch the new one and just barely make it on time for the wedding. While waiting for the new flight, she meets a boy named Oliver. The two bond and quickly find out that they sit next to each other on the plane. They spend the whole flight talking and becoming close. Sadly, the two get split up in airport security when they land. Hadley later figures out why Oliver is visiting England, and she rushes to see him once more.

This book captured my heart the second we met both of the main characters. The author does a great job shifting the plot between the romance and the personal lives, giving the main characters great backgrounds. The romance between the two characters is so sweet and did gave me butterflies a few times. The plot is written well, with everything happening during 24 hours without weird timing issues. Everything is described so well, and the plot twists are definitely unexpected. Overall, this book is amazing, and I would recommend it to readers who enjoy love at first sight!

"Somewhere Only We Know" is a heartfelt romance book following a K-pop star and a photographer who doesn't realize his talent. Lucky, a rising K-pop star, is currently on tour in Asia. In the middle of the night, she runs into Jack, a photographer for a shady tabloid. A mixture of being sleep deprived, hungry, and taking medication ends up with Lucky staying the night at this stranger's house. When she discovers this, she realizes it couldn't hurt to take a break from the grueling life of a K-pop star. Jack finds this the perfect opportunity to get great pictures of Lucky, earning him a promotion. However, as the two hang out more, they start to grow fond of each other, and Jack starts to question his morals.

This book is one that I reread consistently. It's well written, and the romance between the characters blooms so sweetly. The characters are very human and some are morally grey. The journey of self-discovery for Lucky is well built, and her realization is gratifying and brings me pure joy. My favorite side character is Jack's roommate, he's hilarious in the few scenes he's in. Every time I read this book, I forget about the ending and it surprises me every time. This book is really good, and I would definitely recommend it.

"I Love You So Mochi" is a book about a Japanese American girl named Kimi who visits Japan on a journey of self-discovery. Her mother is a famous painter who wants her to follow in her footsteps. However, Kimi doesn't feel like painting suits her as a career. After an argument with her mom about her career, she gets a letter from her estranged grandpa, inviting her to visit Japan for spring break. Kimi takes up her grandpa's offer, later meeting a cute boy who offers to be her tour guide for Japan. For just a week, Kimi has the chance to discover herself, connect with family, and fall in love.

This book was really touching. The author does a great job characterizing the characters and making them feel human. The moments when Kimi emails her mom and describes her original designs are also awesome. I really enjoyed reading about the main character and learning about her style of clothing. The romance between the two main characters is so adorable, and I was definitely feeling sad when I came to the last day of Kimi's trip. All in all, this is a wonderful, sweet read that I highly recommend to anyone looking for a delightful book.

"The Sun and the Star" is a book in the Percy Jackson universe that is set after "Trials of Apollo" and before "Magnus Chase". Nico keeps having weird dreams where a disembodied voice calls out to him, asking for help. When the Oracle of Delphi sends Nico on a quest to the Underworld, Will, his boyfriend, goes with him. The two go on a journey in the Underworld, and they have to face many hardships. It may seem like the world is against them, but with their love, they can get through anything.

This book is amazing. As always, Rick Riordan manages to move me to tears. Throughout the book, there are little excerpts from later on that make you want to read more. It's very captivating and I could not stop reading it. I would 100% recommend you read this book if you've finished the Trials of Apollo series!

"Guardian Demon" is a romance book set in a world where angels and demons exist. The story follows our two main characters, an angel and a demon. Sunshine, the female angel main character, is assigned a mission to retrieve a book from a demon. The other main character is a male demon named Raum. Sunshine decides to form a contract, forcing Raum to help her on her mission. The two start the mission disliking each other, but as the mission progresses, they begin to grow closer.

I started reading this book without knowing that it was part of a series. Despite this, the book introduced new things, while also explaining stuff from the previous books. The author develops the characters, and they maintain consistent personalities throughout the book. The romance between the two main characters is well fleshed out and gave me butterflies on occasion. Overall, this book is very good and I would definitely recommend it to fans of fantasy and romance books!

This is the second book in The Unwanteds series. This was one of the more dramatic action-packed books. It explores one of the other islands that surround Artime called the Island of Silence. It does go into more detail about the island in the next book. Find out what Alex’s twin brother Aaron will do next after being defeated, and how Artime will react.

"The Reappearance of Rachel Price" follows Bel Price as she and her family agree to participate in a documentary that follows her mother's disappearance, 16 years ago. As the film crew begins to dig up painful family memories, Bel becomes more lost as past trauma is brought to the surface. Then, one day, Rachel reappears. Soon noticing discrepancies in Rachel's story, Bel becomes convinced that her mother is lying. Beginning to dig up the lies in her family's past with the help of the kind and awkward camera assistant, Ash Maddox, Bel becomes more and more obsessed with exposing Rachel, even if it means that the truth will change her life forever.

I really love all of Holly Jackson's books, and this one is absolutely one of my favorites. "The Reappearance of Rachel Price" blends a breathtaking plot with fun, flawed, and relatable characters that you can't help but love, making a thrilling read from beginning to end. This book is perfect if you like Jackson's style of YA mystery, yet it is unlike any of her other books and anything but boring! I absolutely love how Jackson organized the plot and all the twists and turns she integrated into the story, and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone!

"The Tenant" is a chilling thriller that will you leave you questioning if you should ever open your home to strangers...
Things are not going well for Blake. Having just lost his job (and dignity) Blake faces intense stress over how he's going to pay off his house and make a living for him and his fiancé. Felling incredibly grateful to his fiancé, Krista, for still sticking around, he continues to search for ways to make money. When Krista suggest they rent out a room in the house, Blake is hesitant, but not for long when he realizes this might give him the break he needs. Whitney is a perfect candidate to be a tenant and everything goes perfectly at first. That is, until Blake becomes convinced Whitney is becoming vindictive and malicious towards him. With no one believing him, Blake is determined to figure out who Whitney really is and to stop her from tormenting his life. Except what he finds is far from what he expected...
"The Tenant" was a really interesting read and definitely kept me on my toes and needing to know what happens next.

Quinn has done something no one else can know about. Except her actions are sure to be found out, and quickly, so she makes the only decision that could possibly keep her out of trouble: run. Packing her things and leaving her small town as quickly as possible, Quinn hits the road, trying to come to terms with the events leading up to the incident. Driving into a storm, Quinn pulls into a small motel that's empty except for one other guest, who's more of a tenant. During her short stay Quinn begins to question the other guest and the owner of the motel and is soon to learn a dark secret...
"Do Not Disturb" was incredibly intriguing and took a deep dive into the dangers of abusive relationships, with Quinn being a relatable character. Told from three different perspectives, "Do Not Disturb" is definitely worth reading!

"Baby City" was a great slice of life book that offers a unique perspective into the lives of OB/GYN doctors. If you're a fan of Frieda McFadden like I am, this is definitely different than her usual work, but worth the read.
"Baby City" follow Dr. Emily McCoy, who can never seem to catch a break at work. Trying to come to terms with her feelings for her ex-husband, having to teach the new medical student (who can never seem to give Emily a break), work friends, and the new handsome intern, Emily is in a constant state of activity. We watch Emily battle feelings and wonder if doing the right thing is worth risking her status and job…

"Unwind" is a sci-fi dystopian masterpiece that everyone should read. "Unwind" follows Connor, Lev, and Risa, each with a very different life and story. Despite their differences there is one thing they all have in common; they have been scheduled to be unwound. Being unwound is every teenager's worst nightmare, unless that is you're a tithe. After a war that happened long before Connor, Lev, and Risa's time, a decision was made that any child between the ages of 13 and 18 can be unwound, aka have their body harvested to be used for others who need transplants, if their parents so decided. Despite societies persistence that being unwound is a way for the kids to live on forever, Connor, Lev, and Risa have other plans for their future...

Another one of Lois Lowry's inspirational books, "Gathering Blue" tells a powerful story. The book follows Kira, a girl with a disability living in a society where disabilities and weakness is frowned upon and cast out. After her mother's death, Kira fears what will become of her future, only to learn she has been chosen to repair a sacred item that is of the utmost important in her societies traditions. Being chosen to do this task offers Kira a place to live, eat, and cease worrying about her future. With a new and much more luxurious life, all seems well to Kira at first. However as she meets more people with unique talents like her, she begins to question her work and everything she's been taught, especially when she discovers a shocking secret she never could have thought to have been true...

"Shut Up, This Is Serious" follows Belen as she struggles to come to terms with her father's abandonment and her current mental health struggles. Attempting to help her best friend, Leti, as she as she manages her teen pregnancy, Belen struggles to find herself at the same time. "Shut Up, This Is Serious" is a realistic fiction story detailing the challenges young Latina girls face through a fictional plot with dynamic and diverse characters.

Before reading "Shut Up, This Is Serious", I was looking forward to an interesting YA novel that was full of high school drama and heartwarming moments as Belen grows and changes throughout the plot. However, I ended up not enjoying this book, and having to finish it felt like a chore. Even though I liked the idea and some aspects of the plot, the execution and Ixta's writing style made this book less engaging and was oftentimes confusing. The characters were not relatable and seemed distant, while the plot was chaotic and seemed to skip around a lot. Overall, I would not recommend this book, because the execution of the story line was uninteresting and pretty disappointing.

"The Silence" by Tim Lebbon follows the Andrews family as they are thrust into an apocolyptic world. Vesps, creatures that hunt using their unnaturally-sensitive hearing, have emerged from an isolated underground cave. As their deadly swarm spreads from country to country, the Andrews family must do whatever they can to survive. Told from Ally, a deaf teenager, and her father, Huw's perspectives, the world soon becomes unrecognizable and silence becomes safety.

I watched the movie "A Quiet Place" before reading the British book it was based off of - and I was pleasantly surprised at the differences between the two! "The Silence" is a jaw-dropping science-fiction book that will pull you in and lead you through its intriguing plot, each stunning and gruesome twist keeping you guessing from beginning to end! Lebbon did a great job of making a unique and believable horror story, and the characters in this book were relatable and easy to connect with. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone - it's very easy to read even if you aren't a huge fan of sci-fi or horror!

This book was absolutely amaze! It's a thought-provoking science fiction novel in which the protagonist has to find a solution to the world-ending microorganisms, Astrophage. It just so happens that this book was a required reading in one of my classes. The protagonist has a fantastic sense of humor and chemistry with the other character, Rocky. I loved how there were two timelines that progressively revealed more information about how our protagonist ended up in their current position, as the protagonist figures that out himself. All of the science in this book was well thought out and was explained in a mostly easy-to-understand way. It felt like every chapter was a cliffhanger, and every plot twist was surprising in a way that, when looking back, seems obvious. My one and only critique of the story is that the ending felt a bit rushed, and it seemed like the roadblocks during the end were solved without going into depth about the solutions. I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy science fiction; it was my all-time favorite.

Initially, this book was handed out as an assignment for ELA, but after being quizzed and thoroughly reading through the book, I can positively say that the topic explored throughout this story is probably one of the most intriguing ones I've read this year, as it takes inspiration from events that have happened and continue to happen to this day. The central conflict of this story stems from the protagonist, Phillip, who gets into trouble for repeatedly humming the national anthem during homeroom. What makes me love this story, however, is the use of media to further the plot. Many small events that occur daily are often blown out of proportion due to social media platforms like TikTok or YouTube. This is a significant theme in the plot, and one I'm a big fan of. Phillip is an interesting character as the protagonist; he is inherently selfish and avoids responsibility while somewhat twisting the truth about events. However, I think these traits are very relatable to teenagers, who would most likely react similarly if put in that position. My only issue with the book is the pacing, as it sometimes feels like the plot isn't progressing.

I picked Cold Sassy Tree out of a total of 4 books for my summer reading assignment last year. I was looking for something that interested me, so, fiction. But I also challenged myself with a realistic type of fiction - historical fiction. Set in a fictional Georgian town, the setting is when the first automobiles were becoming mass-produced (an exciting element to the story).

The beginning and first half of the book was painfully slow for my sci-fi reader brain. There was very little action. I managed to plow through it savoring every little bit of drama and emotion in the conversation. Had it not been an assignment I probably wouldn't have made it past the midpoint of the book, but in hindsight, I'm very glad I persevered.

The first half is kind of a blur - same-old same-old establishing routines and personalities. She character- and world- built quite well, just slowly. In the second half the action happens - the main character has a close encounter with a train, nearly flies out of a car, almost witnesses his Grandpa's 30-year-old girlfriend leave him, and so much more.

The book begins when Grandpa's first and only wife dies. The scandal builds when he hires a 30-year-old maid to clean his house for him. Within a month (if I recall correctly) of his wife of 30+ years dying, he declares his love for this maid and wants to marry her. But she carries her dignity highly and wants to wait. Quite some comedic effect is brought into the story as the younger has to restrain the older. The book was on the fence in between predictable and surprising. Some parts had me rolling my eyes at cliche comments, but others had me staying up late, thirsting for more action and twist.

Have you ever made a mistake and wished you could go back in time to fix it? Well, if you said yes, then Jen Calonita's The Retake is for you! Zoe is just trying to survive the highs and lows of middle school, but she knows she can take on anything with her best friend Laura by her side. But, when they have a falling out, Zoe is devastated and unsure what to do.

Then something strange happens: A mysterious app appears on her phone! In the beginning, Zoe thinks it is nothing. But when she decides to test it out, she realizes the app lets her literally travel back in time to when the social media post was taken. Each "retake" is an attempt of Zoe trying to fix everything - ending in hilarious results or horrible heartbreak. Zoe hopes that if she finds the one thing that caused their friendship to fall apart, she can patch it back up again.

I really like Zoe's character; She is relatable because she is awkward, funny, and makes mistakes like everyone does. Besides this book being a time-travel story, it covers themes of friendship and how not everything lasts forever. Sometimes friendships stay and sometimes they fall apart, but it is all a part of the process of growing up and forging our own paths through life.

The Retake brings up how it is important to talk things out, instead of overlooking the problems and trying to pretend they don't exist. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys realistic fiction books of friendships, growing up, and just a hint of time-travel magic.

Being the new kid and going to public school for the first time is rough, but Nimra Sharef is confident that middle school will rock, especially with her best friend, Jenna to walk her through it. But, when Jenna starts to ignore Nimra because she wears hijab, Nimra is crushed and unsure what to do. While praying at school, she meets Barakah Beats, a Muslim boy band of popular 8th graders. Nimra realizes she's found her straight-shot ticket to winning Jenna back. The only problem is Nimra believes music is bad in Islam, and her parents would disapprove. So she decides to stay in the band only until she gets Jenna back, then drop out before her parents find out and the band gets too attached. But when she starts to care for confident Bilal, empathetic Mathew, passionate music-lover Waleed, and thoughtful Khadijah, she starts to question whether she should choose the best friend who left her or the friends who help her come out of her shell.

Barakah Beats explores themes of true friendship and staying true to your beliefs, even when things are hard. I love Nimra; She is a strong heroine, who faces relatable issues and hardships, which show how human she is.

If you like realistic fiction novels about friendships, sticking to your beliefs, with bits of comedic relief, then Barakah Beats is the book for you!

Chase Ambrose was the most popular football jock and the “big man on campus.” But when he falls off a roof and suffers a serious concussion, he has to relearn everything - from his friends to his personality to even his own name.

When he returns to school, he is greeted with a wide variety of reactions. His best friends, Aaron and Bear, and the rest of the football team treat him like a hero, while others openly dislike him - or even fear him! One girl even dumps frozen yogurt on him at the fro-yo place after school.

Chase struggles to remember who the old Chase Ambrose was, but after multiple experiences, he realizes the old Chase may not even be worth remembering. Restricted from playing football, Chase joins the video club and makes meaningful friendships with kids he used to bully. Now Chase has to decide whether to stick to his old self or to build a new and completely different version of himself. He has to remember: not everyone gets a chance to “Restart” their life, but the question is, will he take his?

Restart covers themes of identity, redemption, and the importance of second chances. Chase is a relatable character going through a journey to find his true self while also facing the consequences of the actions of the old Chase Ambrose. Restart shows change isn’t easy, but it’s still possible if you try hard enough.

Whether you like sports, school drama, or a heartfelt story about second chances, Restart has something to offer for you.

April is famous for her amazing baking, which she has turned into a YouTube channel. Everyone knows April and from her perspective life is going well and she has no enemies. So why is she getting ominous text messages about things someone could only know if they were watching her? As April attempts to pinpoint who's sending her these disturbing messages, her suspicion of her new neighbor sky rockets. Yet there's more to the story than meets the eye... and the person tormenting April knows her darkest secrets...
"Want To Know A Secret" was a finish it in one day type of intriguing. This book really shows how one person's perspective can be quite convincing but not always reliable. I was a bit perplexed with the plot twist and found it hard to adjust to the rest of the book, but the plot twist definitely changes the story a great deal in an almost creepy way.

Sylvia needs a job; her life isn't going as planned and she desperately wants to get away from her ex who can't seem to let the past be. So when she meets incredibly handsome and charming Adam Barnett who offers her a job taking care of his wife, Victoria, who was in a tragic accident, she says yes. Of course that means overlooking the fact the Barnetts live hours outside of NYC and ignoring her ever growing attraction to Adam. Sylvia begins to feel a bond with Victoria, who cannot walk or speak full sentences any more since her tragic accident. However, Sylvia also begins to notice how desperately Victoria is trying to tell her things, which is when she finds Victoria's diary containing her life since she met Adam. As Sylvia continues to read the diary, take care of Victoria, and grow even closer to Adam, she can no longer distinguish between lies and truth.
"The Wife Upstairs" began as an intriguing story with a lot of potential and was overall a decent read. However I wasn't a fan of how the book ended and the predictability of the ending. It was hard to connect with Sylvia who goes back and forth between what she thinks is the truth and is indecisive the entire book.

Life has been rocky for Tegan ever since the night she got pregnant. Alone, close to her due date, and desperately wanting a better life for her baby, Tegan has a plan to make sure this happens. When that plan goes south, Tegan decides to take a road trip to stay with her brother for the extra support. On her way there a snow storm hits and Tegan's car runs off the road, ending in a broken ankle and totaled car. Panic lessens when Tegan notices a man coming her way and helps her out of the car, taking her back to his house. There is something about this man that unsettles Tegan, but she's glad he has a wife who happens to be a nurse. The first night seemed to go so well, with Tegan being cared for by the wife. Yet, when she's told the next day it's impossible to leave Tegan begins noticing things that make her suspicious of this couple's true motive...
"The Crash" was a great book about a young women simply trying to navigate motherhood. The plot twists of this book were intriguing and kept you rooting for Tegan the whole time. The book also does a great job at showing the complexities of grief, and the things it will drive people to do.

Imagine growing up in a haunted house your family fled after barely living there for three weeks... or, at least, that's what Maggie Holt's father claimed in his book that made his family famous. Except Maggie doesn't believe one word of the book even more so due to the fact her parents never spoke about the events that happened there. Hoping Baneberry Hall is something of her past, Maggie is more than shocked to hear she has inherited it since her father's passing. With big plans to renovate and sell for a big sum, Maggie makes her way back to her short-lived childhood home. Yet the longer she stays the more odd occurrences that happen, making her question the reality of events described by her father. As the truth begins to unravel, Maggie realizes that what happened in Baneberry Hall is much more complicated than her father's famous book lets on...
"Home Before Dark" was a good read that definitely had a surprising ending. I do wish the ending had been more climactic but overall the plot is engaging.

When Nora was a young girl she learned the most sinister secret of her family; her father was murdering young women in their basement. Nora successfully kept this information about her past concealed for nearly three decades and she plans on keeping it that way. Now a surgeon, Nora keeps to herself and work, which she’s extremely talented at. Then something horrible happens; one of her patients is murdered with her father’s MO. Shocked by the news and even more shocked by the fact she’s the prime suspect due, Nora begins to feel her world falling apart. As pieces begin putting themselves together, Nora learns yet another family secret...
"The Locked Door" was enthralling and definitely had a twist at the end. The book instantly makes you think you know who is committing the crimes then takes a whole different path. I appreciated this set up and the narrative of Nora, who’s a likeable character trying to move on from her past. I do wish the book dwelled more on why her father committed the crimes, but overall it’s a book I would recommend.