Review : Gone Girl

 

Gone Girl

Gillian Flynn

Broadway Books

 

From Goodreads: On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?

 

 

 

My Review: All I can say about this book is Wow. What a rollercoaster ride of events and emotions. The love - hate relationship I had with these characters was amazing. Really helped me get out of a reading slump I was in, because the story just kept calling me. Both Nick and Amy are great characters well written and well developed. Amy thought is mind blowing. Strong and powerful not someone you will forget easily . I do not re-read many books but this one is going to be re-read by me  loved this book if I could give it more than 5 stars I would

 

Review: Second Star

 

Second Star

Alyssa B. Sheinmel

 Farrar, Straus and Giroux

 

 

 

From Goodreads: A twisty story about love, loss, and lies, this contemporary ocean side adventure is tinged with a touch of dark magic as it follows seventeen-year-old Wendy Darling on a search for her missing surfer brothers. Wendy’s journey leads her to a mysterious hidden cove inhabited by a tribe of young renegade surfers, most of them runaways like her brothers. Wendy is instantly drawn to the cove’s charismatic leader, Pete, but her search also points her toward Pete's nemesis, the drug-dealing Jas. Enigmatic, dangerous, and handsome, Jas pulls Wendy in even as she's falling hard for Pete.

 

 

 

My Review: I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for my honest review.

      I have been reading fairy tale retellings for a while and when I saw this one I said Yes. Peter Pan is one I have not seen before and I was drawn to it. I liked this book and the plot was good. Wendy looking for her twin brothers, surfers who are missing and assumed dead. Wendy not believing in their demise goes on a journey to find them. Then she meets Pete, Belle and Jas. I did squeal with joy every time I saw a reference to the old tale of Peter Pan and read on excitedly, but it was good enough and different enough that at moments you forget it is a retelling. Surfing instead of flying, biker bar and drugs. This was a radical retelling and I think the touch of new and old mixed well in this book . This was about to get a four star rating until the end. I was disappointed in the ending because the book just seemed to be begging for a sequel, but at last  it was not meant to be.





Review: Paranoia

 

Paranoia

J.R Johansson

Flux

 

 

 

From Goodreads: In the aftermath of the events that nearly killed him, Parker Chipp is trying to learn to cope better with life as a Watcher. And it seems to be working...until he wakes up in jail with a hangover and 12 hours of missing time. Darkness has somehow taken control and Parker doesn't have a clue how to stop him. He finds an unlikely ally in Jack, the mysterious guy in the motorcycle jacket who offers to help Parker master his abilities as a Watcher. But even as they practice, the darkness inside Parker is getting more and more powerful, taking over Parker’s body and doing everything he can to destroy Parker's life.

When Jack reveals that there is another kind of Night Walker, known as a Taker, Parker starts to wonder if the strange things happening in Oakville are more than just a coincidence. After all, people are more than just sleepwalking. They're emptying their savings accounts with no memory of doing so, wandering into strange parts of town and disappearing, they're even killing other people--all in their sleep. If Parker wants to find out what's happening or have any hope of seeing his father again, he’ll have to defy Jack and put his own life in danger...because the more he learns about these other Night Walkers, the more certain he becomes that his life isn't the only one that could be lost.

 

 



My Review:   I received this book from Netgalley and Flux for my honest review


This book was just as good as the first one. Jack is a new and amazing character, but to be honest I like all the characters in this series and I look forward to the third book too. I wonder how much more knowledge of what he is Parker can take,

Review : The Tyrant's Daughter

 

 

 

The Tyrant's Daughter
J.C Carleson
 Knopf Books for Young Readers

From Goodreads:When her father is killed in a coup, 15-year-old Laila flees from the war-torn middle east to a life of exile and anonymity in the U.S. Gradually she adjusts to a new school, new friends, and a new culture, but while Laila sees opportunity in her new life, her mother is focused on the past. She’s conspiring with CIA operatives and rebel factions to regain the throne their family lost. Laila can’t bear to stand still as an international crisis takes shape around her, but how can one girl stop a conflict that spans generations?

 

My Review: I received this book from Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.

     I was quite surprised that I liked this book as much as I did. I think the author did a wonderful job with the story, Laila struggle to adapt to American Culture while still trying to true to herself and her belief was interesting and I could understand her conflict. I would have like to see more about her coming to terms with who she knew as her father and how the world saw him, but  readers will understand how different her father was. Laila is a wonderful character who is strong, intelligent and interesting girl, a great quick and thought provoking read.

 

 









Review: Revenge, Ice Cream, and Other Things Best Served Cold

 

 

 

Revenge, Ice Cream, and Other Things Best Served Cold

Katie Finn

Feiwel & Friends

 

 

 

From Goodreads: The war rages on between Gemma and Hallie in the second installment of the Broken Hearts and Revenge series.

After the humiliating events on the 4th of July, Gemma's trying to handle the fact that Hallie knew who she was all along, and she was the one who stole Teddy from her. Gemma vows revenge, but things get more complicated than she planned. Ford, Gemma’s long-time crush, has arrived in the Hamptons cuter than ever. Josh is refusing to speak to her after she lied to him, and Teddy is playing champion to his beloved Marsh Warbler (in Gemma's backyard, no less).

Gemma and Hallie find themselves locked in an escalating revenge cycle. Just when Gemma thinks she has the upper hand, the biggest bombshell of all is dropped. And it’s one that threatens to change her life forever. This exciting sequel to Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things To Mend will leave you begging for the third installment.  

 

 My Review: I loved this sequel to the first book. Gemma and Hallie are back and up too their tricks and better than ever. I am so looking forward to the third book in this series. Not going into too much detail because I don't want to spoil this delightful, crazy and funny story.

 

    





Review : Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend

 

Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend

Katie Finn

Feiwel & Friends

From Goodreads: Gemma had her summer all planned out, but it takes a sharp turn when she gets dumped and finds herself back in the Hamptons after a five-year absence.

Being there puts her at risk of bumping into Hallie, her former best friends (that is, before Gemma ruined her life). But people don't hold grudges forever. Do they?

Gemma intends on making amends, but a small case of mistaken identity causes the people she knew years ago—including Hallie and her dreamy brother, Josh—to believe she's someone else. As though the summer wasn't complicated enough already.

My Review: Every once in a while I read a contemporary story. I am luck that so far I have read some funny and interesting stories. This entertaining and laugh out loud book was my favorite so far. Gemma is a girl who I instantly understood and sympathize with. We have all done things when we were younger that we would change if we could, so I understood Gemma's desire to do just that.

I also felt for her when things started to get tougher for her. The ending of this book just begs for a sequel and I am so happy I am reading the second  book in this delightful trilogy .




Review: Perfect Victim

 

 

 

Perfect Victim

Jan Christensen

Createspace

 

 

 

From Goodreads: A few days after Sylvia Leominster is murdered, private investigator Paula Mitchell interviews Sylvia's fiance in their small-town Rhode Island jail. Warren Wade's fingerprints are all over the murder weapon, he has no alibi, and Sylvia broke up with him the night she was killed. After another young woman friend of Sylvia's is bludgeoned to death, Paula is dismayed when the police keep Warren in jail. They claim the second murder could have been committed by a copy-cat and remind her Warren's fingerprints are still on the weapon that killed Sylvia. Working with her best friend who often hires Paula to investigate cases and who is Warren's lawyer, Paula searches for answers. Paula and her computer guru lover narrow down the suspects to the victim's friends. The group is led by a mesmeric young man with political ambitions. Paula doesn't trust him, especially when she learns that all of Sylvia's friends have lied during her interviews. At the preliminary hearing, some answers begin to emerge. Paula zeros in on the killer and sees firsthand how friendship and loyalty can be used for personal gain. With Warren's freedom on the line, she has to find a way to capture the real killer. But in doing so, she doesn't realize she's putting herself and her own best friend in danger. First in a series featuring Paula as a feisty private investigator.

 

My Review:  I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book for my honest review.

 

 

 I enjoyed this book. It is nice to read about a female P.I. instead of all the hard boil men. A woman who is realistic, not a superhero who knows 15 forms of martial arts. Paula is sensitive and strong a refreshing mix. I also like the humor in the story. This is a fast paced and action packed story, the ending is predictable but does take away from the story at all but brings closure to this quick read.