Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson

 

“The fire wasn’t Marlowe Wexler’s fault. Dates should be hot, but not hot enough to warrant literal firefighters. Akilah, the girl Marlowe has been in love with for years, will never go out with her again. No one dates an accidental arsonist.

With her house-sitting career up in flames, it seems the universe owes Marlowe a new summer job, and that’s how she ends up at Morning House, a mansion built on an island in the 1920s and abandoned shortly thereafter. It’s easy enough, giving tours. Low risk of fire. High chance of getting bored talking about stained glass and nut cutlets and Prohibition.

Oh, and the deaths. Did anyone mention the deaths?” - taken from Goodreads.

This was truly a great book that revolved around two different mysteries, ninety years apart. After accidentally setting fire to the house she watches, Marlowe Wexler takes a summer job at Morning House. Upon arrival at the island, she is soon thrust into the tragedies that surrounded the Ralston family, the house’s previous owners. When her boss disappears, Marlowe’s inner thoughts start spinning to figure out what happened. She soon finds herself in danger the deeper she dives into the mystery 

I really like this mystery better than I thought. Finding the Ralston treasure at the end to solve the final mystery was terrific. I am glad I gave this book a shot.

Visit Maureen Johnson’s website.

She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen

“After losing spectacularly to her ex-girlfriend in their first game since their break up, Scottie Zajac gets into a fender bender with the worst possible person: her nemesis, the incredibly beautiful and incredibly mean Irene Abraham. Things only get worse when their nosey, do-gooder moms get involved and the girls are forced to carpool together until Irene’s car gets out of the shop.

Their bumpy start only gets bumpier the more time they spend together. But when an opportunity presents itself for Scottie to get back at her toxic ex (and climb her school’s social ladder at the same time), she bribes Irene into playing along.” - taken from Goodreads.

Trying to get over her girlfriend, Scottie decides to fake date the popular Irene when a car accident forces the two of them to carpool to school. But not all is fair in love and “war” when feelings get in Scottie’s way as she tries to navigate past hurts and new found feelings without losing her way. Super cute read.

Visit Kelly Quinlin’s website.

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

 

“A story of love and duty set in San Francisco's Chinatown during the Red Scare.

“That book. It was about two women, and they fell in love with each other.” And then Lily asked the question that had taken root in her, that was even now unfurling its leaves and demanding to be shown the sun: “Have you ever heard of such a thing?”

Seventeen-year-old Lily Hu can’t remember exactly when the question took root, but the answer was in full bloom the moment she and Kathleen Miller walked under the flashing neon sign of a lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club.

America in 1954 is not a safe place for two girls to fall in love, especially not in Chinatown. Red-Scare paranoia threatens everyone, including Chinese Americans like Lily. With deportation looming over her father—despite his hard-won citizenship—Lily and Kath risk everything to let their love see the light of day.” - taken from Goodreads.com

I thoroughly enjoyed this glimpse into what it was like to be a Chinese American teenager in San Francisco in the mid-1950s. Lily, a high school senior, dreams of going to college and working for the Jet Propulsion Lab, just like her aunt. It wasn't until she gets to know Kath, the other girl in her advanced math class, does Lily begin to question her sexuality.

A lot of world-building, family back story, and historical details make this book extremely slow in the beginning but once Lilly is seen leaving a lesbian bar, the story really picks up. Unfortunately, that was only the last 20% of the story. Not a happily-ever-after ending, but Lilly does remain true to herself 

Visit Malinda Lo’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.