Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

“Camino Rios lives for the summers when her father visits her in the Dominican Republic. But this time, on the day when his plane is supposed to land, Camino arrives at the airport to see crowds of crying people…

In New York City, Yahaira Rios is called to the principal’s office, where her mother is waiting to tell her that her father, her hero, has died in a plane crash.

Separated by distance—and Papi’s secrets—the two girls are forced to face a new reality in which their father is dead and their lives are forever altered.

And then, when it seems like they’ve lost everything of their father, they learn of each other.” - taken from Goodreads.com

Another phenomenal book by Elizabeth Acevedo. Two girls who have never met are brought together by the tragic death of their father. Told in alternating points of view between Camino and Yahaira, this story about what happened when their father’s secret life comes to light. Full of grief, loss, and betrayal but yet acceptance for the difficult situation they are left in. Well worth the read!.

Visit Elizabeth Acevedo’s website.

Sea Witch duology by Sarah Henning

Sea Witch - book one

"Before she took the mermaid's voice, she have up her own heart."

“Everyone knows what happens in the end. A mermaid, a prince, a true love’s kiss. But before that young siren’s tale, there were three friends. One feared, one royal, and one already dead.

Ever since her best friend, Anna, drowned, Evie has been an outcast in her small fishing town. A freak. A curse. A witch.

A girl with an uncanny resemblance to Anna appears offshore and, though the girl denies it, Evie is convinced that her best friend actually survived. That her own magic wasn’t so powerless after all. And, as the two girls catch the eyes—and hearts—of two charming princes, Evie believes that she might finally have a chance at her own happily ever after.

But her new friend has secrets of her own. She can’t stay in Havnestad, or on two legs, unless Evie finds a way to help her. Now Evie will do anything to save her friend’s humanity, along with her prince’s heart—harnessing the power of her magic, her ocean, and her love until she discovers, too late, the truth of her bargain.” - taken from Goodreads.com

So all I really knew about the Little Mermaid fairy tale I learned from Ariel and Disney. I loved how the story was told between two different POVs of the past and the present. I really wasn't sure where the story was going in relation to the original fairy tale but was pleasantly surprised but how the story ended. Now on to the next part of Evie’s story.

Sea Witch Rising - book two

SPOILER ALERT! Please don’t read any further if you don’t want to ruin the rest of the story.

“The Little Mermaid” takes a twisted turn in this thrilling sequel to villainess origin story Sea Witch, as the forces of land and sea clash in an epic battle for freedom, redemption, and true love.

Runa will not let her twin sister die. Alia traded her voice to the Sea Witch for a shot at happiness with a prince who doesn’t love her. And his rejection will literally kill her—unless Runa intervenes.

Under the sea, Evie craves her own freedom—but liberation from her role as Sea Witch will require an exchange she may not be willing to make. With their hearts’ desires at odds, what will Runa and Evie be willing to sacrifice to save their worlds?

I found the beginning of this second book a bit slow but for me, the action really picked up in the second half. Without spoiling any details, I enjoyed this unique twist in the Little Mermaid fairy tale.

Visit Sarah Henning’s website.

 

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

"Two misfits. One extraordinary love."

“Eleanor is the new girl in town, and with her chaotic family life, her mismatched clothes and unruly red hair, she couldn't stick out more if she tried.

Park is the boy at the back of the bus. Black T-shirts, headphones, head in a book - he thinks he's made himself invisible. But not to Eleanor... never to Eleanor.

Slowly, steadily, through late-night conversations and an ever-growing stack of mix tapes, Eleanor and Park fall for each other. They fall in love the way you do the first time, when you're young, and you feel as if you have nothing and everything to lose.” - taken from Goodreads.com

This book has probably been on my TBR pile since it was first published but I have just gotten around to finally listening to the audio version. I love this book since reminded me of my own high school experiences since it does take place in 1986. It's a sweet story of first love but it's a nightmare when you learn the horrors of one character's life. The end literally broke my heart into pieces but did offer hope. I just wish the story could have continued on for years to come.

Visit Rainbow Rowell’s website.



Lovely War by Julie Berry

“It's 1917, and World War I is at its zenith when Hazel and James first catch sight of each other at a London party. She's a shy and talented pianist; he's a newly minted soldier with dreams of becoming an architect. When they fall in love, it's immediate and deep--and cut short when James is shipped off to the killing fields.

Aubrey Edwards is also headed toward the trenches. A gifted musician who's played Carnegie Hall, he's a member of the 15th New York Infantry, an all-African-American regiment being sent to Europe to help end the Great War. Love is the last thing on his mind. But that's before he meets Colette Fournier, a Belgian chanteuse who's already survived unspeakable tragedy at the hands of the Germans.

Thirty years after these four lovers' fates collide, the Greek goddess Aphrodite tells their stories to her husband, Hephaestus, and her lover, Ares, in a luxe Manhattan hotel room at the height of World War II. She seeks to answer the age-old question: Why are Love and War eternally drawn to one another? But her quest for a conclusion that will satisfy her jealous husband uncovers a multi-threaded tale of prejudice, trauma, and music and reveals that War is no match for the power of Love.” - taken from Goodreads.com

This was not my typical read/audio listen. I almost gave up on this story early on but soldiered on (pun intended). Lovely War is a complex tale taking place during the two World Wars between mortals and the Greek gods. Love, war, history, and mythology make up this tale of two couples who meet during World War I, as told by Aphrodite during World War II. Lots of historical facts are planted throughout the book as evidenced by the extensive notes at the end. Overall, I'm glad that I stuck with this book until the end.

Visit Julie Berry’s website.

 

Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon (St. Rosetta’s Academy book 1)

 

“Will the princess save the beast?

For Princess Jaya Rao, nothing is more important than family. When the loathsome Emerson clan steps up their centuries-old feud to target Jaya’s little sister, nothing will keep Jaya from exacting her revenge. Then Jaya finds out she’ll be attending the same elite boarding school as Grey Emerson, and it feels like the opportunity of a lifetime. She knows what she must do: Make Grey fall in love with her and break his heart. But much to Jaya’s annoyance, Grey’s brooding demeanor and lupine blue eyes have drawn her in. There’s simply no way she and her sworn enemy could find their fairy-tale ending…right?

His Lordship Grey Emerson is a misanthrope. Thanks to an ancient curse by a Rao matriarch, Grey knows he’s doomed once he turns eighteen. Sequestered away in the mountains at St. Rosetta’s International Academy, he’s lived an isolated existence—until Jaya Rao bursts into his life, but he can't shake the feeling that she’s hiding something. Something that might just have to do with the rose-shaped ruby pendant around her neck…

As the stars conspire to keep them apart, Jaya and Grey grapple with questions of love, loyalty, and whether it’s possible to write your own happy ending.” - taken from Goodreads.com

This was a cute retelling of the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale where a generations-old curse and the misplaced need for revenge bring together Jaya and Grey. There is a lot of back story to helpful in the reader on the history of the curse throughout the book. The best part of the story isn't Jaya and Grey’s slow-burn Romance or the details from the fairytale sprinkled throughout, but the Rao sisters’ relationship. The build-up for the next book in the series does take place in the second half of this novel.

Book two in the series, Of Princes and Promises, is due out Feb. 1, 2021.

Visit Sandhya Menon’s website.

Bookish and the Beast by Ashley Poston (Once Upon a Con book 3)

 

SPOILER ALERT! This is a companion story that takes place after The Princess and the Fangirl. While it’s not necessary to read the previous book first, I wouldn’t want to spoil any of the details for you. 

“In the third book in Ashley Poston's Once Upon a Con series, Beauty and the Beast is retold in the beloved Starfield universe.

Rosie Thorne is feeling stuck—on her college application essays, in her small town, and on that mysterious General Sond cosplayer she met at ExcelsiCon. Most of all, she’s stuck in her grief over her mother’s death. Her only solace was her late mother’s library of rare Starfield novels, but even that disappeared when they sold it to pay off hospital bills.

On the other hand, Vance Reigns has been Hollywood royalty for as long as he can remember—with all the privilege and scrutiny that entails. When a tabloid scandal catches up to him, he's forced to hide out somewhere the paparazzi would never expect to find him: Small Town USA. At least there’s a library in the house. Too bad he doesn’t read.

When Rosie and Vance’s paths collide and a rare book is accidentally destroyed, Rosie finds herself working to repay the debt. And while most Starfield superfans would jump at the chance to work in close proximity to the Vance Reigns, Rosie has discovered something about Vance: he’s a jerk, and she can’t stand him. The feeling is mutual.

But as Vance and Rosie begrudgingly get to know each other, their careful masks come off—and they may just find that there’s more risk in shutting each other out than in opening their hearts.” - taken from Goodreads.com

I drove right into this latest installment of the khans series and didn't want to come back up. Loosely based on the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale, Rosie and Vance are charged with organizing a library rare Starfield novels. They are standoffish in the beginning but after several mishaps between the two of them, they soon realize that the other was the special someone from a night at the ExcelsiCon, the magic begins to happen.  Fans of the previous two books will get a few brief glimpses of past characters. 

Visit Ashley Poston’s website.

The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski (The Midnight Lie book 1)

SPOILER ALERT! The Midnight Lie is set in the same world as the author’s Winner trilogy but it is not necessary to read them before enjoying this book.

“Where Nirrim lives, crime abounds, a harsh tribunal rules, and society’s pleasures are reserved for the High Kith. Life in the Ward is grim and punishing. People of her low status are forbidden from sampling sweets or wearing colors. You either follow the rules, or pay a tithe and suffer the consequences.

Nirrim keeps her head down and a dangerous secret close to her chest.

But then she encounters Sid, a rakish traveler from far away who whispers rumors that the High Caste possesses magic. Sid tempts Nirrim to seek that magic for herself. But to do that, Nirrim must surrender her old life. She must place her trust in this sly stranger who asks, above all, not to be trusted.

Set in the world of the New York Times–bestselling Winner’s Trilogy, beloved author Marie Rutkoski returns with an epic LGBTQ romantic fantasy about learning to free ourselves from the lies others tell us—and the lies we tell ourselves.” - taken from Goodreads.com

A midnight lie, “A kind of lie I told for someone else's sake, a lie that sits between goodness and wrong, just as midnight is the moment between night and morning. Or a lie that is not technically false, like a misleading truth.” (pg. 22)

To me, this fantasy read almost like a mystery instead. Who is Nirrim? What are her mysterious powers? Where did they come from? Why is Raven so protective and controlling? And who is Sid? The whole book felt like a major build-up to me, but the last 100 pages, oh wow! I definitely wasn't expecting that ending. I cannot wait to see what happens now in the second book.

Book two will be published in the future.

Visit Marie Rutkoski’s website.

All Your Twisted Secrets by Diana Urban

“Welcome to dinner, and again, congratulations on being selected. Now you must do the selecting.

What do the queen bee, star athlete, valedictorian, stoner, loner, and music geek all have in common? They were all invited to a scholarship dinner, only to discover it’s a trap. Someone has locked them into a room with a bomb, a syringe filled with poison, and a note saying they have an hour to pick someone to kill … or else everyone dies.

Amber Prescott is determined to get her classmates and herself out of the room alive, but that might be easier said than done. No one knows how they’re all connected or who would want them dead. As they retrace the events over the past year that might have triggered their captor’s ultimatum, it becomes clear that everyone is hiding something. And with the clock ticking down, confusion turns into fear, and fear morphs into panic as they race to answer the biggest question: Who will they choose to die?” - taken from Goodreads.com

I listened to the audio version of this book and was a little disappointed the main character, Amber Prescott, was the only narrator. A reviewer had described the plot of this book as a cross between The Breakfast Club and Agatha Christie with the splash of One of Us is Lying thrown in. With six students locked in a room under the guise of a scholarship dinner, they soon find that in order to get out either they must decide which one of the six will die or the bomb will go off in one hour killing them all.

Told in alternating chapters between now and what has occurred in their lives during the past year, readers will be counting down just to see who the evil mastermind is.

Visit Diana Urban’s website.

Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed

“YES

Jamie Goldberg is cool with volunteering for his local state senate candidate—as long as he’s behind the scenes. When it comes to speaking to strangers (or, let’s face it, speaking at all to almost anyone), Jamie’s a choke artist. There’s no way he’d ever knock on doors to ask people for their votes…until he meets Maya.

NO

Maya Rehman’s having the worst Ramadan ever. Her best friend is too busy to hang out, her summer trip is canceled, and now her parents are separating. Why her mother thinks the solution to her problems is political canvassing—with some awkward dude she hardly knows—is beyond her.

MAYBE SO

Going door to door isn’t exactly glamorous, but maybe it’s not the worst thing in the world. After all, the polls are getting closer—and so are Maya and Jamie. Mastering local activism is one thing. Navigating the cross-cultural romance of the century is another thing entirely.” - taken from Goodreads.com

This was an adorable book of first love and standing up for what you believe in. Maya, who is Muslim, and Jamie, who is Jewish, reconnect while volunteering on a political campaign. Their families were friendly when these two were younger. Taking place during Ramadan, Jamie and the reader learn about the Muslim holiday just as Maya gains some insight into Jamie's younger sister's bat mitzvah.

According to the authors' note at the end, the event surrounding Maya and Jamie's story was based on the current political climate here in the United States. This shouldn't be a turn off because the reader gets some insight into how our political system works. Putting yourself into either Maya or Jamie's shoes is an invaluable lesson.

Visit Becky Albertalli’s website.

Visit Aisha Saeed’s website.

Wicked As You Wish by Rin Chupeco (A Hundred Names for Magic book 1)

“When a hidden prince, a girl with secrets, a ragtag group of unlikely heroes, and a legendary firebird come together…something wicked is going down.

Many years ago, the magical Kingdom of Avalon was left encased in ice when the Snow Queen waged war. Its former citizens are now refugees in a world mostly devoid of magic. Which is why the crown prince and his protectors are stuck in…Arizona.

Prince Alexei, the sole survivor of the Avalon royal family, is hiding in a town so boring, magic doesn’t even work there. Few know his secret identity, but his friend Tala is one of them.

A new hope for their abandoned homeland reignites when a famous creature of legend, the Firebird, appears for the first time in decades. Alex and Tala must unite with a ragtag group of new friends to journey back to Avalon for a showdown that will change the world as they know it.” - taken from Goodreads.com

A great mashup of alternative history, family, identity, and lots of well-known fairy tales. It sounds confusing but I didn't find it that way for long. I loved uncovering how Tala and Alex's backgrounds fit together and what the future may bring for the two of these characters. That cliffhanger ending has ensured that I'll be picking up book two in the future.

Visit Rin Chupeco’s website.