“Flawless girls” Anna-Marie McLemore

Rated 2 stars ** ARC. ebook. Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan Publishing). To be published May 24, 2024.

For years Isla, an intersex teen, has been tormented by her peers. She’s also tormented herself, wanting to be like her beautiful sister Renata. After spending most of her life trying to fit in, she and Renata enroll at the Alarie House. At this prestigious finishing school Isla is sure she’ll become a perfect girl. What she doesn’t know is that it’s also where monsters and nightmares live.

I was not a fan of the book, as there were too many fantastical things going on that distracted me. This is a book English teachers would want to tear up for its symbolism, leaving some readers like me scratching our heads in puzzlement that such symbolism existed where we saw only words and phrases.

I will leave it up to my readers, ages 16 and older, to decide if they want to read it or not.

 I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.

“Spitting gold” Carmella Lowkis

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Atria Books (Simon & Schuster). To be published May 14, 2024.

It was April of 1866 and, for the past two years, Sylvie thought her former life as a medium was behind her. She and her sister Charlotte had earned their living pretending to banish or raise ghosts for money, learning everything from their parents. After a con gone wrong cost them their business and almost landed them in prison, she married a rich older man who took her away from her drunken, abusive father and the life of poverty she’d led. Though she felt guilty about leaving Charlotte, she needed to save herself and agreed to his request that she leave the life of a medium behind her forever.

One rainy day Charlotte surprised her by showing up at her home begging for help as their father was dying, there was no money, and she needed Sylvie. A rich family was eager to dispel a ghost who had been haunting them and, if successful, the payout would help Charlotte and her father. Sylvie knew what her husband had forbidden her to do but her love for Charlotte overcame her reluctance. Unfortunately, she’d soon find out that ghosts, as well as the living, can be revengeful. The peaceful life she’d led for the past two years was about to forever change.

I LOVED this book! I voraciously read it from cover to cover, eager to see what would next befall the sisters. The author’s research into life in 1866 France for the rich and those living on the outskirts of acceptable society was eye-opening.

Highly recommended for Adults.

 I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.

“Thirsty” Jas Hammonds

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Roaring Book Press (Holtzbrinck Holdings Ltd.). To be published May 14, 2024.

Blake is getting ready to leave for college in a few months with her best friend Annetta and her girlfriend Ella. When she came out as a Lesbian four years ago her parents barely cared, though her father seemed disappointed. Though he’s Black her White mother never took an interest in Blake’s Blackness, leaving her to figure out how to manage her hair and find Black role models. When she was with Ella and her rich parents in their beautiful home, Blake could forget about her issues and pretend their wonderful life was hers.

Though she and Ella had been together for years Blake felt tremendous feelings of insecurity and doubt that had followed her since middle school. They only went away when she was drinking, so Blake drank a lot. When she was drunk, she became Big Bad Bee, loving how she became the life of the party.

The three of them are all pledging the Serena Society, an exclusive group of powerful women of color. Blake believes having them as role models will be her ticket to belonging. Unfortunately the more pressure she puts on herself to live up to Society standards during the pledging process, the more she drinks. Though others warn her she has a drinking problem, Blake assures them she’s fine. But is she really?

This story of a young woman’s struggles with alcohol, insecurity, doubt, and racial identity is why librarian S.R. Ranganathan once said many years ago “For every book there is a reader.” Thank you Jas Hammond for pouring your soul into “Thirsty”, opening up about your own struggles with alcohol through Blake’s actions. Young readers facing the same difficulties will know there is hope for them too.

Highly recommended for ages 15 and older.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.

“The secret library” Kekla Magoon

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Candlewick Press. (To be published May 7, 2024).

Delia is almost 12 years old and misses her grandfather terribly. After he died, her mother is more determined than ever that Delia learns to become a proper businesswoman to eventually take over the family business. Delia doesn’t want to sit behind a desk with boring business work. She wants to have adventures but, without her grandfather, feels stifled and lonely. At the reading of his will he left her a brown envelope that her mother promptly locked away for her 21st birthday. With cunning and skill Delia retrieves the envelope from her mother’s locked safe and finds a letter from him as well as a mysterious map.

The map takes her to an abandoned field which turns into a magnificent, secret library. Inside Delia is directed to shelves filled with secrets from people across the centuries. Whenever she chooses a book, she goes on adventures in different times and places where she learns about her family’s history. She sees her dad alive, years before her parents got married, and also gets to see a side of her mother that she’d never seen in the past.

As Delia learns more about her family’s past, she becomes troubled as well as elated and proud. Her family held onto a lot of secrets on their way to becoming the Peteharrngton’s. She’ll have to draw on that strength to become the girl she wants to be, in order to change her present into her past.

I absolutely LOVED this book. It would make an excellent Newbery winning title. That’s how good it is. Well done, Kekla. Well done.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.

“The one that got away with murder” Trish Lundy

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Henry Holt books for Young Readers (Macmillan). To be published April 16, 2024.

To get away from things that almost ruined her life, Lauren and her mom moved across the country to a small town in Pennsylvania. There she began a secret romance with Robbie, who she soon finds out is part of the richest family in town and has been accused of murdering his girlfriend. As if that isn’t bad enough, Robbie’s brother is accused of killing his girlfriend too. This should have been enough to scare Lauren off, but she knows what it’s like to have secrets. Robbie tells her he’s innocent and she believes him.

The girls on the soccer team aren’t so forgiving, and ice Lauren out of everything. Soccer has always been her escape from everything that happened in California, but now it’s become another burden. Soon after Lauren finds evidence that incriminates Robbie, the evidence disappears. As she gets closer to learning the truth Lauren doesn’t realize the killer is closer than she thinks, and that she’s his next planned victim.

This book will have readers sitting-on-the-edge of their seats, turning pages until its satisfying conclusion.

Highly recommended for ages 16 and older.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“Not like other girls” Meredith Adamo

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Bloomsbury YA. To be published April 30, 2024. (Includes “Author’s note.”)

For years Jo-Lynn and Maddie were BFF’s until Maddie’s boyfriend sent nude photos of Jo-Lynn to everyone on his contact list. Jo-Lynn had taken those photos for herself at home, to feel pretty, but no one was interested in the truth. Everyone, including Maddie, thought she was a skank. It was her senior year, a year that was supposed to be full of fun but, with everyone shutting her out, Jo-Lynn’s year was done.

One day Jo-Lynn was shocked when Maddie, crying and distraught, told her she was in trouble, and Jo-Lynn was the only one she trusted. Given the circumstances of their ex-friendship Jo-Lynn wasn’t keen on listening but couldn’t leave her so upset. They agreed to meet later that afternoon, but Maddie didn’t show and was soon reported missing.

Because of that encounter Jo-Lynn didn’t think Maddie had run away but was certain something had happened to her. Hudson, a friend from her former crowd, felt the same so they decided to pretend to be boyfriend/girlfriend to spy out the truth from Maddie’s friends. Once again Jo-Lynn becomes part of the crowd that shut her out, laughed and spread her nudes across the internet, and called her names.

As events clash with memories from the past Jo-Lynn wants to bolt. Hudson’s strength and belief in her, as well as the friendship she once had with Maddie, drive her forward. Neither of them knew the enemy they sought was much closer than they’d realized, as Jo-Lynn finally comes to grips with what happened to her the summer she and Maddie stopped being friends.

This book will keep readers on the edges of their seats, wondering what happened to Maddie. The ending is a shocker, reminding me of Laurie’s Halse Anderson’s “Shout.”

Recommended for ages 16 and older.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“The daughters of Block Island” Christa Carmen

Rated 5 stars ***** ebook. Thomas & Mercer. Published 2023.

Blake had grown up in an orphanage, and felt abandoned, so used drugs and alcohol to forget her past. It wasn’t until she was an adult that she was able to trace her mother to Block Island. Though she had been struggling to stay sober for years, she was determined to find her mother. Blake headed to the island where she booked herself into White Hall, an ancient mansion with a history of murder and intrigue which was also a B&B. That night she was haunted by a long-dead relative of the owners and, as the days passed with more hauntings, Blake was terrified. Despite the ghost, constant rain, and gloomy atmosphere, she had leads on her past from a friendly local. She didn’t know her time on the island would be cut shorter than she had planned.

Talia had grown up on Block Island and left many years ago. She and her mother had a toxic relationship and she found island life stifling. One day she received a letter from someone who claimed to be her sister, found dead on Block Island after mailing it. Despite misgivings, Talia was anxious to talk to her mother and find out about this sister. After booking herself into White Hall, Talia soon found out its ancient secrets were tied in with very modern ones. Someone didn’t want her finding out about them and, if she wasn’t careful, there would be another body in the B&B.

The more I read the more I couldn’t put it down, reading in one sitting until 2:30 A.M. to find out what was going to happen. Though it was night, and the book was getting creepy, the suspense was killing me. I couldn’t sleep until the mystery was solved. The author did a great job hiding the murderer’s identity, throwing in red herrings to keep readers off the track. Well done, Christa!

Highly recommended for Adults.

“The house on Biscayne Bay” Chanel Cleeton

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Berkley (Penguin Random House). (Includes “Author’s Note.”) To be published April 9, 2024.

Henry Flagler had just built his railroad, and people were starting to trek down to Southern Florida. After twenty-two years of marriage Anne thought she knew her husband very well but was shocked when he presented her with “Marbrisa” by Biscayne Bay. She hated Florida on sight and couldn’t understand why he’d want to build a lavish 61 room home in the middle of nowhere. With the Great War over he believed Florida was going to be a huge tourist draw and was determined to build the biggest house in Miami as his legacy. Anna didn’t know that, because of him, Marbrisa would forever be associated with the events of one spine-chilling evening.

America was on the verge of war in 1941, and Carmen was on her way from Havana to join her sister Caroline in Florida after her parent’s deaths. Her older sister had married a rich American who bought a huge estate named “Marbrisa,” which was unwelcoming and foreboding. When Carmen found out animals were being killed and two women had been murdered there over the years, she was fearful. Within days her life was turned upside down and, as she tried to figure out who was behind the catastrophe, she didn’t know the killer had his eyes set on her.

This page-turning thriller told through Carmen and Anna’s alternating voices had me sitting on the edge of my seat. I was sure I knew who the murderer was but kept being foiled. The author did a great job keeping that identity hidden until the book’s final, gripping pages.

Highly recommended for Adults.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“The storm we made” Vanessa Chan

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Marysue Rucci Books (Simon & Schuster). To be published January 2, 2024.

Malaya had been a colony of Great Britain for many years, treating its people like second class citizens while exporting its iron-ore and rubber. By 1934 Cecily had grown tired of the race and class divides between her people and their conquerors. Over the years her husband Gordon had worked up to a high position in the British administration. Through his connections she met General Fujiwara. Cecily was thrilled to learn of Japan’s hopes for a united Asia, where Asians wouldn’t be judged by the color of their skin. It would be a dream come true if Malayans could rule themselves.

Bored with her life, Cecily found excitement in her role as a spy and in her amorous feelings for Fujiwara. Gordon’s work provided them with plenty of material which helped Japan force out the British. Instead of a united Asia Malayans found themselves in terrible situations. The Japanese forced young girls into sexual slavery, boys were kidnapped and sent to railroad slave camps, while traitors were tortured and killed. As terrible things happened to Cecily’s family over the next 10 years, she blamed herself. She had given Malaya over to their enemy, so she had to pay the price of her betrayal.

This is the first time I had ever read about Malaya’s conquest, and the crimes of Japan in that country during World War II. Cecily, her daughters, and her son share the narratives from 1934 through 1945 through flashbacks and real time. Through them readers learn of the brutality of war, and the strength of its survivors. “The storm we made,” is an excellent choice for a book club as themes of good versus evil, relationships, sisterhood, and more will lead to important discussions.

Highly recommended for Adults.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“All we were promised” Ashton Lattimore

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Ballantine Books (Random House). Includes “Author’s note.” To be published April 2, 2024.

In 1833 Carrie and her father Jake were slaves on a Maryland plantation. After running away they changed their names and spent the next 4 years in Philadelphia. There James’ light skin enabled him to pursue whiteness and richness as his furniture making business grew, while Charlotte worked as his maid. Her resentment grew at his ability to freely move about while she had to stay home. She was lonely and wanted to make something of her life. After meeting Nell, a rich Philadelphian from a powerful Black family, Charlotte began sneaking out weekly to attend literary and Anti-Slavery meetings with her.

Though Nell had grown up rich and entitled she felt the other rich Black families of Philadelphia could do more for escaped slaves. They felt raising money was enough while Nell believed hands-on work was needed. She was thrilled to discover a kindred spirit in Charlotte and, though she was not of her social circle and her parents did not approve, Nell took her to Anti-Slavery meetings that included one in which a white mob attacked the speaker and the audience.

Evie had toiled alongside Carrie in Maryland and was in Philadelphia with her mistress for a short time. Though she had not seen her in four years, after she caught a glimpse of her at the market, she became obsessed with the idea of escaping. Though scared for her own freedom Charlotte enlisted Nell’s help to figure out a way to help Evie.

What Charlotte, Nell, and Evie didn’t know was that the anger of white Philadelphian’s towards anything or anyone having to do with anti-slavery was about to explode. The newly built Pennsylvania Hall and the Anti-Slavery convention were the sparks that lit the flames which forever changed their lives.

This book is a page turner filled with historical facts. A notable one is that Philadelphia, the so-called “cradle of liberty” and “city of brotherly love” had such a sordid history when it came to black and white relations. Another is its six-month loophole law (meant to keep slavery alive and well) utilized by George Washington and other slave owners to maintain the status quo.

Highly recommended for Adults.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.