With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

“With her daughter to care for and her abuela to help support, high school senior Emoni Santiago has to make the tough decisions, and do what must be done. The one place she can let her responsibilities go is in the kitchen, where she adds a little something magical to everything she cooks, turning her food into straight-up goodness. Still, she knows she doesn’t have enough time for her school’s new culinary arts class, doesn’t have the money for the class’s trip to Spain — and shouldn’t still be dreaming of someday working in a real kitchen. But even with all the rules she has for her life — and all the rules everyone expects her to play by — once Emoni starts cooking, her only real choice is to let her talent break free.” - taken from Goodreads.com

I don't think I would have read this book but, I adored the audio version read by the author herself. Emoni's story of growth over senior year of high school with all of the responsibilities that have been placed on her shoulders is amazing. Her love of food and cooking as well as that of her young daughter Shine without the book. I would love to see a short story about Emoni's life turns out. One cannot help rooting for her.

Visit Elizabeth Acevedo’s website.

Reverie by Ryan La Sala

“All Kane Montgomery knows for certain is that the police found him half-dead in the river. He can’t remember how he got there, what happened after, and why his life seems so different now. And it’s not just Kane who’s different, the world feels off, reality itself seems different.

As Kane pieces together clues, three almost-strangers claim to be his friends and the only people who can truly tell him what’s going on. But as he and the others are dragged into unimaginable worlds that materialize out of nowhere—the gym warps into a subterranean temple, a historical home nearby blooms into a Victorian romance rife with scandal and sorcery—Kane realizes that nothing in his life is an accident. And when a sinister force threatens to alter reality for good, they will have to do everything they can to stop it before it unravels everything they know.” - taken from Goodreads.com

I really wanted to love this book but I had several problems with it. The premise is unique with the dream worlds and the ability to manipulate them. With that being said, the storyline didn’t allow time for any character development for me to connect with any of them. I struggled to finish this book but wanted to see how it turned out. I’m still a bit confused about what exactly happened. 

Visit Ryan La Sala’s website.

Supernova by Marissa Meyer (Renegades book 3)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, Renegades and Archenemies, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

Check out Book Series Recaps for a refresher of the first two books.

“All's fair in love and anarchy...

Nova and Adrian are struggling to keep their secret identities concealed while the battle rages on between their alter egos, their allies, and their greatest fears come to life. Secrets, lies, and betrayals are revealed as anarchy once again threatens to reclaim Gatlon City.” - taken from Goodreads.com

This was an EPIC conclusion to this trilogy! Secret identities are revealed and long-standing mysteries are solved, to several shocking plot twists. By the end, Nova learns what it is to be a hero and a villain. But that epilogue! Come see me when you have this book because we need to talk. 

Visit Marissa Meyer’s website.

The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

“Welcome to the cursed town of Sparrow…

Where, two centuries ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town.

Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them under.

Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into.

Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters.

But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself.” - taken from Goodreads.com

This book was every bit as great as the author’s second book, Winterwood. The story of Sparrow, Oregon and what happened to the Swan sisters is told both in present-day with Penny Talbot and what happened two hundred years earlier. With both Penny and newcomer Bo Carter keeping secrets from each other, it isn’t long before the reader is swept away by the shocking and sad history of the town and its people.

Visit Shea Ernshaw’s website.