Category Archives: Reviews

2016, ARC review, Book Review

[Review] True Letters from a Fictional Life — Kenneth Logan

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Book Title: True Letters from a Fictional Life
Author:      Kenneth Logan
Number of pages:  336

Synopsis:

true letters from a fictional life - kenneth logan book coverIf you asked anyone in his small Vermont town, they’d tell you the facts: James Liddell, star athlete, decent student and sort-of boyfriend to cute, peppy Theresa, is a happy, funny, carefree guy.

But whenever James sits down at his desk to write, he tells a different story. As he fills his drawers with letters to the people in his world–letters he never intends to send–he spills the truth: he’s trying hard, but he just isn’t into Theresa. It’s a boy who lingers in his thoughts.

(re: Goodreads @ True Letters from a Fictional Life by Kenneth Logan)

Should this book be picked up? the tl;dr review:

– Male LGBT version of “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” with letters woven into the story
– Protagonist takes on more of a reactive role instead of truly coming to his own self discovery
– Family dynamics and bromance game is strong
– Romance may be slow burn but felt lackluster
– A solid entry to LGBT YA contemporary reads

Initial Thoughts

Shelly (Read, Sleep, Repeat) told me to read this. So I did.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of True Letters from a Fictional Life from Indigo.

Continue reading [Review] True Letters from a Fictional Life — Kenneth Logan →

2016, Book Review

[Review] The Last Star — Rick Yancey

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Book Title:  The Last Star (The 5th Wave #3)
Author:      Rick Yancey
Number of pages:  338

Synopsis:

The enemy is Other. The enemy is us.

They’re down here, they’re up there, they’re nowhere. They want the Earth, they want us to have it. They came to wipe us out, they came to save us.

(re: Goodreads @ The Last Star by Rick Yancey)

Should this book be picked up? the tl;dr review:

– Underwhelming conclusion that felt rushed and gave limited fulfillment to questions that stemming from the first book
– World building lacks support to sell the alien storyline
– Though Cassie is present, Ringer reads like the protagonist
– Solid action sequences and vivid landscapes in support of it
– The ending is either going to be a hit or miss with readers

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Initial Thoughts

Good start (The 5th Wave).

Derpy middle (The Infinite Sea).

A terrible, terrible end (The Last Star).

^ my summary of The 5th Wave in a nutshell.

Continue reading [Review] The Last Star — Rick Yancey →

2016, ARC review, Book Review

[Review] Shooter — Caroline Pignat

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Book Title:  Shooter (Standalone)
Author:      Caroline Pignat
Number of pages:  342

Synopsis:

Shooter - Caroline Pignat - Book CoverA lockdown catches five grade 12 students by surprise and throws them together in the only unlocked room on that empty third floor wing: the boys’ washroom. They sit in silence, judging each other by what they see, by the stories they’ve heard over the years. Stuck here with them–could anything be worse?

(re: Goodreads @ Shooter by Caroline Pignat)

Should this book be picked up? the tl;dr review:

– If you’re interested in a school shooting book, go forth. It is also Canadian Literature (CanLit) so there’s that.
– Multi-POV narration with different storytelling formats (e.g. prose, images, text messages, homework reports, just to name a few). The shooter does not have a POV.
– A sleuth of derogatory and prejudicial treatment in comments that’s introduced and shot down by another narrator (this is wonderful).
– The scenario as a whole can be difficult to engage as characters from different social circles are thrown together and come to easily mesh with each other under the hour of conflict.
– Unnecessary romance (instalove tier) that isn’t really value added

Initial Thoughts

Much better than the previous school shooting standalone I read earlier this year in This Is Where It Ends.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of Shooter from Goodreads re First Reads giveaway program.

Continue reading [Review] Shooter — Caroline Pignat →