Tag Archives: contemporary

2016, ARC review, Book Review

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

3 Comments

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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, ARC review, Book Review

[Review] Shooter — Caroline Pignat

6 Comments

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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 →

2016, ARC review, Book Review

[Review] Tell Me Three Things — Julie Buxbaum

18 Comments

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Book Title:  Tell Me Three Things (Standalone)
Author:      Julie Buxbaum
Number of pages:  336

Synopsis:

Everything about Jessie is wrong. At least, that’s what it feels like during her first week of junior year at her new ultra-intimidating prep school in Los Angeles. Just when she’s thinking about hightailing it back to Chicago, she gets an email from a person calling themselves Somebody/Nobody (SN for short), offering to help her navigate the wilds of Wood Valley High School. Is it an elaborate hoax? Or can she rely on SN for some much-needed help?

(re: Goodreads @ Tell Me Three Things  by Julie Buxbaum)

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

– Story is narrated via prose, email, and texts; there’s more witty banter in the early parts of the book than later
– The backdrop to this story features a grab bag of standard archetypes (e.g. popular jock, the broodster, the mean girl) under the veil of a privileged school setting. Academics are not passed off as unimportant
– Love polygon is warranted due to the anonymity of the true ship. However, the romance is self-fulfilling as most suitors never feel “right” for the protagonist

Initial Thoughts

I’ll tell you more than three things…

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of Tell Me Three Things from Chapters Indigo at their Teen Summer Preview Event.

Continue reading [Review] Tell Me Three Things — Julie Buxbaum →