Review: Reign of the Fallen

Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh
Reign of the Fallen #1
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: January 23rd, 2018
Source: Netgalley
Date Read: 1/10/18 to 1/14/18
384 pages

Odessa is one of Karthia's master necromancers, catering to the kingdom's ruling Dead. Whenever a noble dies, it's Odessa's job to raise them by retrieving their souls from a dreamy and dangerous shadow world called the Deadlands. But there is a cost to being raised--the Dead must remain shrouded, or risk transforming into zombie-like monsters known as Shades. If even a hint of flesh is exposed, the grotesque transformation will begin.

A dramatic uptick in Shade attacks raises suspicions and fears among Odessa's necromancer community. Soon a crushing loss of one of their own reveals a disturbing conspiracy: someone is intentionally creating Shades by tearing shrouds from the Dead--and training them to attack. Odessa is faced with a terrifying question: What if her necromancer's magic is the weapon that brings Karthia to its knees?

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I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Quotes taken from ARC may or may not be in the published edition.

I think Reign of the Fallen would have flown completely under my radar if it wasn't for all the buzz surrounding Reign of the Fallen. And then it didn't occur to me until much later that this was the same author who wrote Fear the Drowning Deep (which I really enjoyed!). Unfortunately, I don't think this completely blew me away, especially since the hype definitely made me expect so much more. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed this!

Review: Ramona Blue

Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: May 9th, 2017
Source: ALA Midwinter 2017
Date Read: 8/12/17 to 8/15/17
432 pages

Ramona was only five years old when Hurricane Katrina changed her life forever.

Since then, it’s been Ramona and her family against the world. Standing over six feet tall with unmistakable blue hair, Ramona is sure of three things: she likes girls, she’s fiercely devoted to her family, and she knows she’s destined for something bigger than the trailer she calls home in Eulogy, Mississippi. But juggling multiple jobs, her flaky mom, and her well-meaning but ineffectual dad forces her to be the adult of the family. Now, with her sister, Hattie, pregnant, responsibility weighs more heavily than ever.

The return of her childhood friend Freddie brings a welcome distraction. Ramona’s friendship with the former competitive swimmer picks up exactly where it left off, and soon he’s talked her into joining him for laps at the pool. But as Ramona falls in love with swimming, her feelings for Freddie begin to shift too, which is the last thing she expected. With her growing affection for Freddie making her question her sexual identity, Ramona begins to wonder if perhaps she likes girls and guys or if this new attraction is just a fluke. Either way, Ramona will discover that, for her, life and love are more fluid than they seem.

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I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Quotes taken from ARC may or may not be in the published edition.

Man, I have such mixed feelings about this book. Really mixed feelings. I’m not even sure I’ll be able to accurately express myself in this review, but I’ll try my best.

Also, there may be spoilers, so read at your own discretion.

A couple of months before the release of Ramona Blue, there was controversy centering around the blurb, which has since been changed. Long story short, some people were upset about the main character, a lesbian who discovers that she likes a boy.

I think those feelings are very valid, especially in a time like now. On the other hand, sexuality can be fluid. I personally view sexuality as fluid, as people can change. Having a label, and expecting to stick to it, puts a ton of pressure on that individual. Especially when you’re trying to avoid the whole “told you you weren’t X”.

Obviously some people love labels, and it works for them. And that’s totally fine, I have nothing against that.

But just a heads up, Ramona Blue leans towards being sexually fluid (at least I would say? More on that later). Which is why the main character’s sexuality is never labeled as being bisexual in the end.

But first, let me get to the parts that I liked about the novel:

• Swimming. Automatically a win right there.

• The fact that Ramona and her family are economically diverse, if that’s the right word. They aren’t rich, and even since Hurricane Katrina, they have been barely managing. But they make it worse. A big part of the plot is driven by Ramona’s sister, Hattie, and her pregnancy. (And that deadbeat boyfriend Tyler, who I HATE. Or hated I suppose. Just kidding, I still hate him)

• Freddie. He is cool. And he also swims. And he does really have a great, adorable relationship with Ramona. Oh, and I also loved his grandparents, Agnes and Bart (step-grandparent?). Mostly Agnes though. They are so supportive towards him AND Ramona’s family.
  
  

• Basically, every character is multi-dimensional and fully developed.

BUT HERE COMES MY MIXED FEELINGS. Not because the representation was portrayed inaccurately, but rather because of how accurate it was. The remarks from Ramona’s family and friends weren’t exactly enjoyable, obviously. It reminded me of another book, Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit, which didn’t sit well with me.

 This was why, at times, I ended up skimming parts of the novel. For example, when Ramona’s mom kept putting pressure on Ramona with the “I told you it was just a phase” mindset. I felt sad at this point, because these expectations hold people back, as they don’t want to prove their parents or their peers “right”. Which, I get, happens in real life. It just sucks.

Also, Ramona’s friends (mainly Ruth) were upset that Ramona liked Freddie, a boy. Their thought process was that liking both girls and guys took away from her identity as Ramona, the girl with the blue hair. Even though it…doesn’t. The thing about this was that Ramona never really stood up for herself in front of her friends (Ruth, really), so this thought is never challenged. In the end, they kind of accept Ramona liking Freddie. But kind of? Like more of “this is a one-time thing that will happen, I guess” And it seemed like Ramona also believed it was a one-time thing? At least it seemed that way to me.

I could be reading that wrong though. Lastly, I was slightly surprised that Ramona is never labeled as bisexual, as this book was often marketed as having a bisexual main character. She even admits that she’s still trying to figure it out and doesn’t know what to identify as, which is totally fine, don’t get me wrong! (Which is why I viewed her as being sexually fluid, but obviously other readers can think differently) I think I was just misled as to what I would be reading about. Like, seriously misled. It happens.

All in all, I did like Ramona Blue, even though I was cursing out the book every couple pages or so. It’s a book that will leave you with a lot of feelings, as you can see from this review. And ultimately, this just didn’t end up being the book I thought it was going to be.

Review: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virture

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: June 27th, 2017
Source: Edelweiss
Date Read: 5/26/17 to 6/28/17
528 pages

An unforgettable tale of two friends on their Grand Tour of 18th-century Europe who stumble upon a magical artifact that leads them from Paris to Venice in a dangerous manhunt, fighting pirates, highwaymen, and their feelings for each other along the way.

Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.

But as Monty embarks on his grand tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.

Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.

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I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Quotes taken from ARC may or may not be in the published edition.

Woo this book clearly took a long time to get through. And then it's pretty much been a month since I finished it, and here I am, trying to write a review. I haven't written a review in ages it seems like.

Honesty time. When I started Gentleman's Guide, I wasn't quite into it. I wasn't keen on the setting, because for some reason I am not a fan of historical Europe? Or at least France? I mean I keep replaying Assassin's Creed Unity, which takes place during the French Revolution, and I can never seem to finish it. Now I'm having doubts though. Did this book take place in France? Part of it did, I'm pretty sure.

Yet, this clearly grew on me. I came to appreciate the characters, like Monty, his sister Felicity, Percy, and their developments, which really is the best I've read in a while. Maybe this entire year. Though if you do pick up this book, just a warning that the beginning is a bit boring. The pace is a bit slow as we learn that Monty, his sister Felicity, and Percy are all going on tour to France. And I'm like, "great, that's it?" I really judged wrong, guys. Or at least too soon.

But as the novel further progressed, BAM, the plot appeared (thank you Aila for pushing me through via her review). I'm not sure why I didn't expect any adventure, but yes there are pirates, highwaymen, a seemingly impossible quest, ALCHEMY, and all around fun. Looking back from this point, the book was actually very nicely paced. I, as usual, was just being impatient (again).

Overall, very glad I requested this. And read it. I did read This Monstrous Thing last year by the same author, and I can definitely tell that her writing has improved tremendously (or maybe this just interested me more than the story of Frankenstein? Sorry) No, it's definitely the former. The dialogue in Gentleman's Guide is much more fleshed out, and of course, has so much more humor. Yay!

Bottom line. Highly recommend! Even if it does seem a bit daunting.

 

Review: Of Fire And Stars

Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: November 22nd, 2016
Source: Edelweiss
Date Read: 11/7/16 to 11/8/16
400 pages

Rating: ✰✰✰

Betrothed since childhood to the prince of Mynaria, Princess Dennaleia has always known what her future holds. Her marriage will seal the alliance between Mynaria and her homeland, protecting her people from other hostile lands. But Denna has a secret. She possesses an Affinity for fire—a dangerous gift for the future queen of a kingdom where magic is forbidden.

Now, Denna must learn the ways of her new home while trying to hide her growing magic. To make matters worse, she must learn to ride Mynaria’s formidable warhorses before her coronation—and her teacher is the person who intimidates her most, the prickly and unconventional Princess Amaranthine (called Mare), sister of her betrothed.

When a shocking assassination leaves the kingdom reeling, Mare and Denna reluctantly join forces to search for the culprit. As the two work together, each discovers there’s more to the other than she thought. Mare is surprised by Denna’s intelligence and bravery, while Denna is drawn to Mare’s independent streak. Soon their friendship is threatening to blossom into something more.

But with dangerous conflict brewing that makes the alliance more important than ever, acting on their feelings could be deadly. Forced to choose between their duty and their hearts, Mare and Denna must find a way to save their kingdoms—and each other.

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I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Quotes taken from ARC may or may not be in the published edition.

To be honest, I have heard not so great things about Of Fire and Stars. And because of that, I may or may not have had extremely low expectations. But in the end, that worked out for me! Because surprisingly, I enjoyed this book. Even to the point where I was asking Shannon and Holly, “did we read the same book?”

Now, does this mean the world building wasn’t lacking? Well, no. Though the book was quite bland, it wasn’t the train wreck I was expecting.

What first drew me into this book was the f/f relationship in a fantasy setting. Denna is to the future queen of Mynaria, being engaged to the prince. However, two problems arise. First, her affinity for magic increases in a place that does not tolerate it at all. And second, she doesn’t feel herself drawn to the prince, but rather the princess. Who is, surprise, not at all “princess-like” and rather ride horses all day rather than find a prince to marry.

The plot itself isn’t that intriguing. Someone is assassinated, the blame is put on the people who are able to use magic, Denna and Mare have to hide their love. It’s easy to predict. Now that I think about it, the side plot of what’s-his-face wanting to marry Mare didn’t quite work now that I think about it. (Spoilers. Highlight to read) I’m pretty sure he wanted to use her as collateral against her country, but I could’ve sworn her father couldn’t care less. Hmm. Not sure if that plan would have worked (End Spoiler).

Even though the plot was meh, and the world-building was extremely lacking, I at least was still entertained. Hence the 3 stars and not 1. Not only that, but the slow-burn romance between Denna and Mare was pretty well done. Plus, the fact that there just aren’t many books out there with both a main f/f relationship and set in fantasy. It was quite refreshing in that regard. But to everything else? Not so much.

Overall I would highly suggest borrowing this book. Though it’s not the best book I’ve read, I’m really glad it features f/f relationship, especially in times like these.

Review: Georgia Peaches And Other Forbidden Fruit

Georgia Peaches And Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: August 30th, 2016
Source: Library
Date Read: 9/9/16 to 9/21/16
432 pages

Rating: ✰✰

Joanna Gordon has been out and proud for years, but when her popular radio evangelist father remarries and decides to move all three of them from Atlanta to the more conservative Rome, Georgia, he asks Jo to do the impossible: to lie low for the rest of her senior year. And Jo reluctantly agrees.

Although it is (mostly) much easier for Jo to fit in as a straight girl, things get complicated when she meets Mary Carlson, the oh-so-tempting sister of her new friend at school. But Jo couldn’t possibly think of breaking her promise to her dad. Even if she’s starting to fall for the girl. Even if there’s a chance Mary Carlson might be interested in her, too. Right?

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Before I start this review, I want to mention that I have never lived in the Bible Belt, or in the conservative South. Sure, I’m currently in North Carolina, but I’m definitely in a very liberal, college town. Most of what I’ll be saying is just me being frustrated at the whole father-daughter relationship, but you should probably be taking this review with a grain of salt because 1) it mostly has to do with my feelings 2) and you might enjoy this more than I did.

I was really excited about this book. For one it had peaches on the cover, which is an automatic plus, and it had a f/f relationship, one of the main reasons I was highly anticipating it. Although it was what I expected, it was also not what I expected.

Joanna has recently moved away from Atlanta, to Rome, Georgia with her preacher father and her new stepmother. Because the town is not so liberal as Atlanta is, her father makes Jo promise to not be so “out there” with her sexuality, especially around his new wife’s family. He promises that he’ll let her start a teen segment on his radio show, and that she can go on a summer trip with her best friend Dana. If she doesn’t out herself to the whole town.

I didn’t expect myself to be so uncomfortable, and so angry about this entire situation. I’m just going to list all my feelings about it here.

• Her father says he accepts Jo, but he holds her summer trip above her head. He doesn’t practice what he preaches, and as a preacher, I hate him even more for it. Jo wants to start her own segment on the radio show that talks about sexuality, acceptance, and God. Her father is holding her back, saying she needs to take it slow, and at times, censoring what she says. I did end up skimming the end, so I’m sure this changes at some point, but this bothered me a lot in the beginning.

• Jo changes everything about herself for school. Her personality, her name (from Jo to Joanna), even her wardrobe. And it hurt seeing how everyone was more accepting of her. And that she was actually enjoying it. In this case, I’m sad about how this is probably accurate of the South, and not so much at the book.

• The forbidden fruit was not so hard to catch apparently. I was expecting more of a slow burn, and a slow come to terms with sexuality. Maybe even a pushback. But nope!

• And because of that, there were more frustrations, more hurts, and what was supposed to be a nice, fun, relaxing read turned into a stressful one.

On the other hand, I did like some aspects of the novel. Such as the relationship between Jo and her stepmother, which throughout the course of the novel, became more and more understanding. Or more accurately, Jo’s opinion of her grew better and better.

Ok I lied, that seems to be the only thing I liked. Unfortunately, I ended up skimming most of the end because I really wanted to be done with the book (plus the due date for it was coming up). In the end, this was a miss for me!

Review: As I Descended

As I Descended by Robin Talley
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: September 6th, 2016
Source: Edelweiss
Date Read: 8/31/16 to 9/3/16
384 pages

Rating: ✰✰✰

Maria Lyon and Lily Boiten are their school’s ultimate power couple—even if no one knows it but them.

Only one thing stands between them and their perfect future: campus superstar Delilah Dufrey.

Golden child Delilah is a legend at the exclusive Acheron Academy, and the presumptive winner of the distinguished Cawdor Kingsley Prize. She runs the school, and if she chose, she could blow up Maria and Lily’s whole world with a pointed look, or a carefully placed word.

But what Delilah doesn’t know is that Lily and Maria are willing to do anything—absolutely anything—to make their dreams come true. And the first step is unseating Delilah for the Kingsley Prize. The full scholarship, awarded to Maria, will lock in her attendance at Stanford―and four more years in a shared dorm room with Lily.

Maria and Lily will stop at nothing to ensure their victory—including harnessing the dark power long rumored to be present on the former plantation that houses their school.

But when feuds turn to fatalities, and madness begins to blur the distinction between what’s real and what is imagined, the girls must decide where they draw the line.

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I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Quotes taken from ARC may or may not be in the published edition.

When I read Lies We Tell Ourselves two years ago, I knew I found myself a new favorite author. Which is why when As I Descended popped up on my radar, I instantly added it to my list. And having just finished reading it, I can definitely say I enjoyed this Macbeth retelling. Though I will say that this didn't compare to her debut novel.

If you've read Macbeth, you know that it involves ghosts, revenge, and a lot of death. As I Descended is no different, so do not expect your favorite characters to make it through to the end. Rather than in England, our main characters Maria, Lily, Brandon, and Mateo all went to boarding school in Southern Virginia (or at least somewhere in the South). The first three are all friends, which is half the reason why they find themselves playing with an Ouija Board. The other half of the reason stems from Lily's desire for Maria to win the Kingsley Prize. If only Maria could call on the spirits and ask for help, maybe she could finally surpass Delilah.

What could possibly go wrong with involving yourself with the spirits of dead?

The short answer? Everything. The long answer? Well a couple of people die, revenge is in the works, and regret fills the air as Maria realizes how much trouble she's gotten herself into. It doesn't help that she's unleashed a bunch of angry spirits, ones that have never been properly buried because surprise, the academy is built on top of a plantation.

I actually had an equal amount of likes and dislikes for As I Descended. For one, the plot itself made me want to keep reading. I wanted to know what the spirits had in store for Maria, and whether she could truly go through with her revenge. Maria has played by the rules her entire life, while others ahead of her have not. Winning the Kingsley Prize means a full ride to any college, and it's not like Delilah needs that money anyways. I easily related to Maria because as someone who is equally as ambitious but most often lands in second place, I understand how she feels. (But don't worry, I'm not that salty as to get revenge on everyone like that).

As for what I didn't like, well the writing itself was noticeable choppy. And also, this took place in boarding school, which I tend to not like because (get ready for the boarding school spiel) usually it's done inaccurately. And in this case, a couple of things felt incredibly unbelievable, like coed dormitories (no way you would find that anywhere), outside late at night, unsupervised around members of the opposite sex in living areas, etc. I get that it's fun to have your characters living at boarding school because they can all be together conveniently, but having gone to one, it is hard to imagine it being different.

I actually couldn't put down As I Descended once I started it, because it was that interesting. Robin Talley still remains one of my favorite authors, and I'm excited to start her other novel, What We Left Behind.    

Review: Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda

Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: April 7th, 2015
Source: Library
Date Read: 6/30/15 to 7/1/15
303 pages

Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰

Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.

With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.

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Before I go into my review, I just want to say that this book lives up to the hype. Not only is it an incredible coming of age story, but it also ties in an intriguing plot involving a secret relationship with a mysterious boy under a pen name, Blue. (No, it does not help that all I can think about is Blue from The Raven Cycle)

Simon Spier is gay, though he's not open about it yet. After seeing a heartfelt post on the high school's "Tumblr" (those secret Tumblr blogs, you know what I mean, right?), he decides to message the user who created the post with his email, saying they should chat. And BAM that leads to tons of email exchanges, leading to friendship, and (dun dun DUN) something more. But the catch is, Simon doesn't know who Blue is. And he's starting to wonder, is it better to keep it that way, or finally meet each other?

But I'm tired of coming out. All I ever do is come out. I try not to change, but I keep changing, in all these tiny ways. I get a girlfriend. I have a beer. And every freaking time, I have to reintroduce myself to the universe all over again.

As the synopsis states, blackmail happens, and Martin appears. I don't want to reveal too much, but I just want to say that this book will make you suspect everyone. You'll constantly be wondering who Blue is, and whether it really is this one person or not. But in the end, everything will still turn out okay because 1) The emails are hilarious and full of fluff, and 2) There is a happy ending and luckily no one dies, or suffers brain trauma, or just anything tragic in general.

And I'm sure you are aware of this, but be prepared for all the oreos!

When it comes to the other side characters, well, to be honest I didn't really mind them that much, but neither did I absolutely love them. They weren't as awesome as the friend circle in Emmy & Oliver, but they were true enough friends with Simon. I didn't particularly like the development between [spoiler] Abby and Nick, because why? [spoiler], and I'm sad that [spoiler] Leah got left out of most of it [spoiler]. But life is life I guess. I don't really have anything to complain about.

Did I mention how cute the ending was? IT WAS PERFECT. My little heart is content.

So yes, read this book. I clearly gave it 5 stars so everyone should just follow my lead and give into peer pressure. Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens was everything I wanted and more, and I am sad that it ended because Simon and Blue are adorable.

ARC Review: More Happy Than Not

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera
Publisher: Soho Teen
Release Date: June 2nd, 2015
Source: Book Expo America
Date Read: 5/31/15 to 6/2/15
304 pages

Rating: ✰✰✰✰1/2 

The Leteo Institute's revolutionary memory-relief procedure seems too good to be true to Aaron Soto -- miracle cure-alls don't tend to pop up in the Bronx projects. But Aaron can't forget how he's grown up poor or how his friends aren't always there for him. Like after his father committed suicide in their one bedroom apartment. Aaron has the support of his patient girlfriend, if not necessarily his distant brother and overworked mother, but it's not enough.

Then Thomas shows up. He has a sweet movie-watching setup on his roof, and he doesn't mind Aaron's obsession with a popular fantasy series. There are nicknames, inside jokes. Most importantly, Thomas doesn't mind talking about Aaron's past. But Aaron's newfound happiness isn't welcome on his block. Since he's can't stay away from Thomas or suddenly stop being gay, Aaron must turn to Leteo to straighten himself out, even if it means forgetting who he is.

Adam Silvera's extraordinary debut novel offers a unique confrontation of race, class and sexuality during one charged near-future summer in the Bronx.

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I wasn't made aware of this book until I attended Teen Author Carnival in NYC, right before BEA. I sat in on the panel with Adam Silvera, and even as he pitched his book, I still wasn't fully paying attention. Even when I had the book in my hand from the Soho booth (Thanks Shannon), it didn't hit me that this would be one of my favorite reads of 2015. 

The novel starts off with Aaron living in the Bronx, hanging out with his friends and his girlfriend Genevieve. Even though his life isn't perfect, especially with the death of his father, his own suicide attempt, and the fact that his friends aren't as loyal as they should be, he still makes do with what he has. He even makes a new friend, Thomas, who he ends up spending a lot of time with while Genevieve is at art camp.

Before you dive into this book thinking that it's full of fluff and happiness, I'm just letting you know right now, that it's not. The beginning of the novel is so misleading. I was completely tricked into thinking this wouldn't be a novel of unrequited love, attempted suicide, and the art of forgetting. The fact that this contemporary weaved in a little bit of sci-fi, the Leteo Procedure, was a genius move. This book reminds me a lot of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, if anyone has seen that movie. 

Aaron pulled at my heartstrings. Living in the Bronx means he can't fully be himself, which is why when he realizes his true feelings, he goes through a lot of trouble to hide it. There is a huge plot twist around the middle of the novel that I did not expect at all, which is what made this book a new favorite. 

Most importantly, I think More Happy Than Not truly shows the reality of life. Not everyone will return your feelings, your friends won't always have your back, the person you may think you know isn't who they really are, and life always gets in the way. This book has opened my eyes to how hard it TRULY is for anyone outside the "social norm", especially in areas not so forgiving. 

That's all I have. I wanted so badly to flail about this book, but this book is so sad and so realistic that I CANNOT NOT be serious. Also, this is the author's debut book, which is crazy, because it is so well done. Kudos to him!

Review: Lies We Tell Ourselves

Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: September 30th, 2014
Source: Edelweiss
Date Read: 9/25/14 to 9/29/14
304 Pages
Rating: ✰✰✰✰

In 1959 Virginia, the lives of two girls on opposite sides of the battle for civil rights will be changed forever.

Sarah Dunbar is one of the first black students to attend the previously all-white Jefferson High School. An honors student at her old school, she is put into remedial classes, spit on and tormented daily.

Linda Hairston is the daughter of one of the town’s most vocal opponents of school integration. She has been taught all her life that the races should be kept “separate but equal.”

Forced to work together on a school project, Sarah and Linda must confront harsh truths about race, power and how they really feel about one another.

Boldly realistic and emotionally compelling, Lies We Tell Ourselves is a brave and stunning novel about finding truth amid the lies, and finding your voice even when others are determined to silence it.

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Thank you Edelweiss for letting me read Lies We Tell Ourselves, because all I can say is that it was 100% awesome.

I actually have had this digital copy for about 3 months now, and I only picked it up a couple days ago just because I am a procrastinator. BUT I MADE IT. Lies We Tell Ourselves is out today! And I will make you buy a copy! Just kidding.

No but seriously, I haven't read such a good historical fiction since my elementary school days. And do you know what's amazing about this one? It has LGBT. Yeah that's right.

Lies We Tell Ourselves introduces us to desegregation in the South, and boy is it rough. Sarah Dunbar has her life already all planned out. Graduate from Johns, and then go to university in Washington D.C.. But when desegregation finally passes, her family volunteers her and her sister to attend school at Jefferson, which used to be the all-white school.

It is brutal. The author definitely captures that aspect. Actually, this book made me really mad. PEOPLE ARE MEAN. I didn't like how the white people bullied and taunted the colored. Teachers would either turn away from what's happening, or ignore it on purpose. It was not fair, but this is how it was back in the day when the law first past. The author really opened my eyes to the whole situation, and even though I knew it was bad, it was made even worse where I grew attached to all the characters.

Though there wasn't much emphasis on the side characters, I loved Sarah Dunbar. Linda Hairston, not so much. Throughout the novel, Linda is conflicted about her feelings of desegregation, saying that she hates it and that the colored people ruined everything. Of course, she has been influenced by her idiotic father, who she loathes and tries to impress at the same time. In the end, I grew attached to her, because she overcame everything she was brought up on.

Also, both of them are adorable together gah. 

Even though Lies We Tell Ourselves tells a historical story, it's also a contemporary romance. And I really loved that part about it. The romance was slow, and more of it "Is this right? Why do I feel like this?" sort of thing. But it worked out perfectly in the end.

With that said, the ending resolved itself very quickly, I felt that the pacing at the end of the book was very different from the beginning. But still, the ending made me very giddy and happy, which is great because I was wondering how the author was going to end this novel.

Overall, Lies We Tell Ourselves was fantastic, brilliant, and completely fresh and original topic from what I have been reading recently. I loved it!