twentysevenletters - Tumblr blog

[twentysevenletters]

I’M STILL WRITING REVIEWS!

Curious where my reviews have gone? They officially have their own website!

You can now find all of my book reviews at

I’ve just finished up reading The Raven Cycle series and posted my review for the final book! Spoiler alert: it’s just a lot of emotions.

I’m so excited to see you over there!

[twentysevenletters]

The Last Life of Prince Alastor by Alexandra Bracken

(OFFICIALY POSTED ON WEBSITE HERE)

What evil can come from a choice made with a pure heart and the best of intentions?

If you know me, you know it's essentially impossible for me to talk about books without talking about The Darkest Minds. Ergo, it's impossible for me to talk about my favorite authors without bringing up Alexandra Bracken. From dystopian worlds to time travel troubles to middle-grade Halloween-ish adventures, I've never once walked away from a Bracken book without being absolutely and utterlygobsmacked. And, unsurprisingly, The Last Life of Prince Alastorwas no exception.

By the end of The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding(which you can read my full review of here!), we're left with endless questions - most of these pointing to the mysterious world that is the Downstairs. The Last Life of Prince Alastor follows Propser as he attempts to navigate a realm in which he was clearly not invited to, while also following Alastor as he tries to reclaim what he deems as his rightful throne. At this point, I feel like I sound like a broken record because I always seem to suggest that it's best to read an Alexandra Bracken novel blind. But, in my defense, I reallydo think that in doing so, you're setting yourself up for the best wild ride possible.

I'd made mistakes, I'd been misled, but I wasn't some helpless victim in this story.

Admittedly, and I think a majority of book lovers can agree, sequels have a way of being incredibly nerve-racking. Personally, my biggest fear with sequels are the dreaded recaps. Even though I'm pretty sure I have the worst memory of all mankind, I don't want to spend 50 or so pages being spoon fed what happened in the last book because it simply becomes repetitive or boring.LLOPAdoes remind us what happened in the last installment, but only in small side notes and not full chunks of a chapter. This may seem like a small thing to notice, but it already puts the book on my goodside. (That, and the fact that I get to revisit some of my favorite characters with my favorite author. I might just be a little bit biased here).

In the same vein, because we're falling into a whole new realm (we are quite literally falling through an open mirror),some substantial world building hasto be done. From the moment we're in the Downstairs with Prosper and Alastor, we're immediately introduced to the off-putting smell, the perpetually-dark sky, and how the land is laid out. We're right there with Prosper as Alastor explains the Downstairs to him and how their overall hierarchy works. And because of Prosper's completeinability to keep himself out of trouble, we meet Ogres, Fiends, and Ghouls along the way. The description to this new world feels natural, realistic, and instantly drew me in.

I am always right, Alastor said. There are only degrees of how correct I am.

I truly cannot stop thinking about how well Prosper was written as a character. There are countless complexities and realistic tendencies woven into him in this sequel that I can't get over it. Prosper goes through a constant internal pull when he's trying to decide between what's right and wrong, and it just felt so humane. Similarly, there were often two different Prospers because, at times, he felt like he needed to put on a brave face when other times all he really wanted was a little bit of help. Even though I'm now 22, I could relate to so many of the thoughts that Prosper had.

When I read books with the intentions of reviewing them, I take notes in my phone, and my favorite note taken for LLOPAwas definitely: "Honestly just talk about how much you love Alastor." As weird as it is to say that I missed reading in the voice of a parasitic malefactor, I reallydid. I missed his clever insults - some of my favorites from this book being "Gorbellied, crook-plated measle" and "Abominable, crusty thumb" - and his cunning schemes. I can't delve deep into the specifics of why I loved him so much in this book for fear of spoilers, but you've got to trust me on this one; his character development is unreal.

Alex aways somehow finds a way to introduce side characters that embellish the story and add to the main characters, not take away from them. We meet elves, shades, new changelings (friendly reminder that I still love Toad with my whole heart), and they each add a new level to the story. And with that, they add even more plot twists that will be sure to leave your jaw on the floor. Furthermore, Alexandra Bracken brings in her ability to discuss big problems readers of this genre might encounter in their own lives, but she stays on track with the plot; it doesn't feel forced whatsoever. There's one plot point with Nell that I really think every single reader can relate to; I know I can.

"You're a good friend, Prosper Redding."

"You're a better friend, Nell Bishop."

It's important for a story to be entertaining. It's fun to escape to a world that's not like your own, but it starts to get really impressive when an author can include elements of our world into a fictional one. Even in a world filled with monsters threatening to take over the human realm, we can still afford a lesson of how we should treat others even when they're different than us.

And again, without giving too much away, the plot is so intricately planned and executed. When you think your questions are close to being answered and the story is going to start wrapping up, yet another plot twist hits you in the face and pushes you forward. You're right there with Prosper as he looks for answers to his questions and tries to make his own connections. The twists will even keep you guessing until the very end.

When a castle is crumbling, you do not stop to find the crack that began it all, you try to hold all of the fracturing walls together in any manner you can, to the best of your ability.

The fantastical elements of this book are nothing short of amazing but, what really grounded this story for me, where the natural moments between Prosper and Nell. There were small conversations of reassurance and general friend banter that made them feel like real people. I could even see myself having these same chats with some of my own friends. Nell also even has an incredibly realistic experience with a Barbie Flower which genuinely had me thinking, "that's me! that's me!"

AH!I keep having to press the delete button on so manysections of this review because I don't want to spoil anything, but there is just so much I could talk about. This could probably easily turn into a 7 page, MLA formatted literary analysis. So please, please, please go pick it up so we can talk about THAT ENDING, and I can stop rambling about it here.

The Last Life of Prince Alastor officially comes out on February 5, so make sure you run out to your local bookstores or place a preorder!

The absolute BIGGEST thank you to NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for providing me with an arc to review!

Overall: 4.5 white foxes out of 5.

Want to talk about this book or see me review your favorite? Just let me know!

[twentysevenletters]

MY BOOK REVIEWS HAVE MOVED!

Hello all!

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve posted a book review on here, huh? But that doesn’t mean I’m not writing them!

Tumblr was such a supportive platform to start my reviewing, but I OFFICIALLY HAVE A WEBSITE NOW!!

twentysevenlettersbookreviews.wordpress.com

twentysevenlettersbookreviews.wordpress.com

twentysevenlettersbookreviews.wordpress.com

It’s a mouthful, I know. But I’m so excited to see you over there! You can follow on Wordpress, or you can subscribe via email (both are super cool because you get notifications of my posts sent straight to your inbox).

So, in case you missed it, head on over to twentysevenlettersbookreviews.wordpress.com. I cannot wait to see you there and hear all of your thoughts!

[twentysevenletters]

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

‘What’s the use of temptations if we don’t yield to them?’

‘That will be chiseled on your tombstone.’

Audiobooks are a new realm for me. I’ve never entered the audiobook world more than overhearing my roommates listening to Harry Potter and listening to Ben Levi Ross and Mike Faist narrate Dear Evan Hansen: The Novel, one of my absolute favorite books (which was one of the most incredible experiences, let me tell you), but I cannot even begin to put into words how enjoyable The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue was as an audiobook. I mean, in all seriousness, the story itself was incredible, but the narrator just took it up a notch. Hearing Monty’s insults and jokes followed by his small snickers just about made me start cackling in my work cubicle. 

Henry “Monty” Montague was born a Lord and raised to be a gentleman, but that boy is anything but. After being thrown out of one the most prestigious boarding schools in England and having to spend the entirety of his life with the horrible person that is his father, Monty wants to take a year off for travel with his best-friend-turned-crush, Percy. This is, however, the last year Monty has to live the life he wants to. Upon returning back home, he will take over his father’s estate and be forced to settle down. And, to make matters even worse, Monty’s “ever so annoying” sister, Felicity, will be joining the pair on their tour. Did I even mention that Monty makes a decision that completely alters their traveling route and, sequentially, their lives, and they end up in a completely different country then was planned? Because that’s just the beginning. 

This book has been on my TBR for quite some time and, thanks to a push from a friend and a free Audible credit, I went for it. And am I glad that I did. 

From just the first page, I knew that I would fall for these characters - that I would want to protect them any chance I got. I think my love for Percy was immediately solidified in the first chapter, when he was quite literally rolling out of bed and onto the floor. That being said, I was instantly captivated by these characters and their individual stories. 

Starting off with Monty, our narrator, I had to constantly stifle my laughs what seemed like every other page with his comments. Monty’s perspective was so intriguing, something I have never encountered before, and it made me even more interested in him and his world. I also found his perspective to feel entirely believable and realistic. In moments when he was angry, such as when his romantic interests were questioned, I felt angry with him. Similarly, it was honestly refreshing to read a YA novel where the protagonist doesn’t fit in and doesn’t want to. I feel as if a lot of young adult books focus on the “otherness” of a character and that character tries to find a way to morph into their society before realizing that they don’t need to change themselves. Those stories are obviously great and some of my favorites, but Monty never wants to fit in because he never sees anything wrong with himself. Quite the opposite, really.  

Percy, Percy, Percy. This boy deserves to be wrapped up in a warm blanket, given some hot cocoa, and placed in front of a fire. Percy was such a pure character that I could relate to in a number of aspects, and his back and forth with Monty was one of my absolute favorite things about this book.

Speaking of my favorite things of this book, or people, rather. Felicity. My girl Felicity is one hell of a firecracker and will do anything to prove just how independent she really is. Without even reading the book, it’s easy to tell that Felicity probably gets the short end of the stick. Logistically speaking, she’s a girl that would rather get lost in a book than a man’s eyes, no matter what her society is trying to mold her into. Even more so, her whole family is under the impression that she spends her days reading novels that make her swoon when, in reality, she’s actually reading to educate herself. I always found myself looking forward to one of her comebacks or her conversations with Monty because of how genuine it felt (do NOT even get me started on a particular conversation she has with her brother about a particular somebody while sat in a library). I don’t want to say too much about her, because a fair deal of it gives away points of her character arc, but let’s just say that I’m beyond THRILLED to get my hands on the next book as it’s focused on her (!!!!!!!!). 

Now that I’ve spent a fair amount of time gushing over these characters - and trust me, I could keep going (I feel like I could probably write a 7 page, MLA formatted essay on how critical Scipio and his crew were) - the plot was absolutely beautiful; it was so wonderfully intricate and complex and connected that I found myself connecting the dots at the same pace the characters were. And, as the novel closes and even more information is exposed, I still found myself surprised by what was going on. Going into this book, I thought it was going to about their travels. Then I thought it was going to be about Monty’s reckless act that got the whole lot into trouble in the first place. Then I thought it was going to be about a rich family history. My point is, TGGTVAV found a way to continuously surprise me with new plot points and new connections. I felt like I was there. 

I also think that it goes without saying that Mackenzi Lee’s writing was absolutely beautiful. The language and tone felt incredibly realistic for the time period it was set in, and each character’s voice was distinctly their own. Like I said, Monty’s comedic honesty often had me laughing out loud at work. 

In case it wasn’t clear, I absolutely loved these characters and their story lines. What made me love it even more was the diverse cast and the topics that this book brings to the table. From Monty’s sexuality to Percy’s skin color to Felicity’s social standing, Mackenzi Lee manages to touch on LGBTQ+ related issues, the reality of what a skin color historically meant, and the “natural” place for a woman to be. This representation was stunning, and I am so happy to have read it.

I would do anything to ensure these characters’ happiness, truly. I fell in love with them, and I think you will too. In case you're like me and somehow haven’t picked up this book, make sure you run to your nearest bookstore or order it online ASAP. If you don’t pick it up for the writing style or complex plot, pick it up solely for the character dynamics between Monty, Percy, and Felicity. You won’t regret it.

Overall: 5 fiddles out of 5. 

Want to talk about this book or see me review your favorite? Just let me know!

[twentysevenletters]

What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

You have no idea where the universe is going with this. Maybe the whole reason you’re here is because the universe wanted you to meet me, so I could tell you to throw the box away.

I have read the first page of this book more than the first pages from any other books. You see, a few months before its release, Becky Albertalli shared a screen shot of the first page, while I was living in New York. Feeling too “uncool” to be there. Obsessing over, and publicly singing, Dear Evan Hansen songs while walking through Central Park with my roommate. Even from just the first page, I was already relating to the story. I had moved to New York for the summer to attend a summer program, and I felt overwhelmed, like I didn’t belong there. I was confused about why New Yorkers weren’t constantly flabbergasted by the sky scrapers. I was nervous for my future. I felt like Arthur.

It all started with a box. Arthur, on a supposed-to-be coffee run for coworkers at his summer internship, happened to stumble upon a cute stranger walking into the post office. Box Boy. Ben. Their first meeting is simply classified as two strangers running into one another, both on their errands, but quickly turns into a missed connection. What If It’s Us follows Arthur and Ben as they discover what exactly the universe has in store for them and if it’s even a happy ending or just a one-time interaction.

I was immediately wrapped up in this story. For the two days it took me to read it, I honestly thought of nothing else. Despite it being told in both of their perspectives, Arthur and Ben are so uniquely their own that it’s somewhat unbelievable that they’re fictional characters on a page and not my best friends creaming me in arcade games and karaoke contests. While I found myself relating to more of Arthur’s characteristics - overtalking in any nerve-inducing situation, overthinking small interactions with strangers, and feeling lost while being constantly surrounded by people - I was able to relate to Ben as well, like his persistent need to please others. Ben and Arthur truly breathe on these pages. 

And it’s not even just because Ben and Arthur are the main characters. The side characters are written so incredibly well that I fell in love with each one of them and always looked forward to any of their interactions. Dylan had me laughing through my tears. Samantha had me believing in others. Juliet and Namrata taught me not to take life too seriously. Jessie and Ethan showed me that taking risks pays off, even when it sometimes doesn’t. And Hudson and Harriett proved that even the worst times of your life don’t have to end horribly if you don’t want it to. In books, it can be so easy to only want to focus on the main characters because that’s who you’re “supposed” to pay attention to. But I found myself turning the pages for not only Arthur and Ben, but for everyone else mashed up in their story.

Technically speaking, this book is beautifully written, and the pacing is absolutely astounding. The writing is nearly lyrical, and I was able to visualize every scene and what that street, apartment bedroom, conference room, and coffee shop looked like (and it definitely felt even cooler when Arthur and Ben commented that they were “hopping on the 7″ or “turning on 42nd” because I knew where that was after attempting to navigate the city for the two months I lived there.) I didn’t slow down once while I was reading this book, and I think part of that is due to the fact that the pacing was so well executed. For example, in moments when Arthur was brainstorming who Box Boy was and discovering new information online, his brain started churning a hundred miles a minute, and so did mine; my heart raced, I read faster in those scenes because I could feel what the characters were feeling. Even more so, by the time I reached the last page, I didn’t even realize I was on the last page because I was so caught up in Ben and Arthur’s updated lives.

What If It’s Us is an absolutely stunning love story. And that’s all it is. LGBTQ+ books have become more and more popular in our world, and I am loving the fact that more readers are seeing themselves represented within popular media. I’m even more in love with the fact that so many deserving readers are getting a love story that they can relate to. It’s even realistic in the way that Becky and Adam show that, while we would like it to be, the world isn’t always so accepting. Becky and Adam even found a way to talk about race and racial stereotyping, and if that isn’t incredible I don’t know what is.

Please, please, please go pick up this book. It’s probably one of the absolute CUTEST contemporary novels you will ever read, and it’s so needed in our world. SO needed. This book opens up the door for a number of conversations that need to be had today. And if you don’t choose to pick it up for that reason alone, grab it for the musical references and the overwhelming cuteness that is Ben and Arthur.

Overall: 5,000 hot dog ties out of 5.

Want to talk about this book or see me review your favorite? Just let me know!

[twentysevenletters]

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

I want revenge. Then I want my crown.

Whenever I’m in any store that sells books, I’m always, obviously, drawn to that section. It was about two years ago when I first saw Three Dark Crowns at Target and added it to my TBR, and I finally got around to reading it.

Even after just a few chapters in, I knew this was going to be a shaky read for me; You see, I had just finished reading the entire Harry Potter series for the first time ever, so it was safe to say that I would be skeptical reading any book after coming off of reading such an incredible masterpiece. 

While I haven’t delved much into the fantasy YA realm, I know that any fantasy book requires a lot of build up, which causes the initial pacing to feel rather slow. With that in mind, I accepted the fact that the first fifty or so pages were slow for me. Then it became one hundred pages. Then one-fifty. The moment this book starts off, we are introduced to a number of characters, and we learn of their connections to their society whether that be through The Black Council, The Temple, The Goddess, The Islands, or The Mainland. We meet Arsinoe, Katherine, Mirabella, Luca, Madrigal, Jules, Joseph, Luke, Billy, Natalia, Genevieve, Camden, Ellis, and the list goes on. Now, the fantasy genre is known to have at least a billion characters and a plethora of plot points to follow, but we meet all of these characters in such a short amount of time that they were initially difficult to keep track of - Especially Luke and Luca. But, the intrigue of the synopsis was still there and, ultimately, kept me reading.

What also kept me reading amidst the confusion of characters and the slow pacing was the author’s writing style, the Queens’ differing personalities, and the attention to detail. Kandare Blake’s voice felt incredibly synonymous with the story itself and the time period that it most likely took place in. Furthermore, while we follow three queens, we follow three different locations, and these were all differentiated and described so beautifully, I had to keep reading just to learn how the festival shaped up.

Even though, in those slower, beginning chapters, it felt as if the pacing in the world building was too slow, I felt as if I didn’t know enough as the novel moved forward. I really wanted to learn more about the council and the Goddess, as these two entities act as the center of a majority of the plot points in the grand scheme of things. And, because Three Dark Crowns is the first in the series, I’m really hoping to see more of this world in the following books. 

Now, the closer I got to the end, the faster each page turned. The pace was picking up, things were happening, and the festival finally began. I actually noticed myself having to cover the page with my hand so my eyes wouldn’t read ahead, especially during the Quickening (!!!!!!). And, despite the slow beginning with the never-ending introductions to characters, I felt as if I was able to follow characters’ thought processes during times of stress and anger - I knew how these individuals would react. However, and I will admit, I did notice myself becoming attached to one of the queens in particular from the moment I picked up the book. I was fascinated by Arsinoe, whether that was due to the fact that she was perceived as the underdog or the fact that she’s defiant and not necessarily the cookie-cutter definition of a Queen, I fell in love with her in the beginning and that stayed in the end.

Without going into any spoilers, THAT ENDING THOUGH. The huge scene in the Quickening ending with “The ascension year has begun” actually gave me chills, and I had to step away to calm down before finishing it. Similarly, there is one particular scene in the end that I absolutely knew was going to happen because it felt so sketchy when it was first mentioned, but it was done SO WELL. And, to avoid giving anything away, I just want it to be known that Katherine is my girl; she is such a powerhouse. 

Three Dark Crowns definitely was a roller coaster of a read. From having to convince myself to keep moving forward to gasping at the ending, my head was spinning. Now, my only question is, where’s my sequel?

Overall: 3.75 out of 4.

[twentysevenletters]

The Outsider by Stephen King

If we believe in monsters, in the supernatural, how do we believe in anything?

I used to absolutely detest reading – for summer reading projects in school, my parents would physically have to hold a book in front of my face. However, after encountering the incredible genre that is young adult books during the quintessential high school year that is 11thgrade, I fell in love with stories. The young adult genre quickly became a safe haven, and I hardly went outside of it. I first surprised myself when reading became my biggest passion. The second surprise? When I recently picked up a 1,200-page horror novel that became one of my favorites of all time.

So – thanks to a particular book about friendship, fear, paper boats, red balloons, and promises – I’m going out of my comfort zone again.

The Outsider is Stephen King’s newest release, taking place in a small town (that isn’t in Maine??) and following a gruesome murder that shakes everyone to their core. Although, detectives scored fingerprints, DNA, and numerous accounts from eyewitnesses. Terry Maitland, the widely beloved do-gooder, was seen kidnapping the young Frank Peterson and driving off with him in a van, only for him to be found in a field later on, entirely mutilated. Maitland was seen leaving the scene covered in blood and in some sort of trance. But what if Terry was out of town that day? What if there was video evidence to prove he was elsewhere? What if his DNA was elsewhere, time-stamped to the exact minute that Frank was found dead? What would you believe then?

It’s no secret that Stephen King knows how to write. Oh boy, does he write, and does he write well. Despite his novels usually reaching astronomical lengths, every page feels entirely and unbelievably necessary, and The Outsider is no exception.

While there are a number of characters involved within this particular story, I feel as if we are able to understand each of them and how they operate rather well. Each character is treated similarly – they all receive a heavy background that is then painted out for the reader and helps us better understand why they are reacting the way they are. These heavy details also make this character unbelievably realistic. There were moments in which I was as angry as Ralph, as sure of myself as Holly, and as hurt as Marcy. These characters can’t help but breathe on the pages. For example, with Holly, her characterization is kept incredibly consistent. She is always reminding herself that there is only so much she can do, but she’s never too afraid to continue pushing herself. I also just really loved Holly throughout this story, so I’m biased.

Similarly, as the story got closer to the end, I was finding new information while the characters were. There was no “over-seeing power” that clued me in to what was happening – I was just as confused and hesitant as Ralph, Alec, and Howie, wanting to believe as much as Jeannie, Marcy, and Holly. Learning exactly what was going on at the same time the characters were made this supernatural book beyond realistic and made me empathize with the story and those involved.

I fell in love with the different perspectives included within this story. At the beginning, we receive different interrogations in alternating chapters. I was able to gain insight from a number of different people and form my own opinion of what possibly happened to Frank Peterson. I wasn’t told to believe anything; I was given a choice. Likewise, towards the conclusion, there is somewhat of an overlapping timeline. Think of it like this: there are two characters with a wall separating them, and we read both of their perspectives from the different sides of the walls at the same time. This technique moved the story forward and kept my eyes glued to the book so much so that I wanted longer lunch breaks during my work day to continue reading.

Simply put, this plot was thoughtfully constructed and amazingly complex: small details that seemed to be unsuspecting rolled around to be big players in the grand scheme of things. Like I said, every word is written with purpose.

I’ve got to say, I think this is one of the most unique storylines I’ve ever read. However, there were some drawbacks for me.

It really depends on how you feel going into this book, but the title is nearly a dead giveaway. We almost immediately are under the assumption that whoever is committing these murders is almost certainly not human. But, I don’t know that that was supposed to be some huge discovery. I wanted to be with Ralph those first few pages in believing that it was Terry, so I could feel the walls crashing when the alibis and evidence started crumbling. So, take that as you will. Secondly, I’m still really unsure about the ending. Keeping it spoiler free, it almost felt too “ta-da” for me. The plot was thick and all-consuming and, then, it was simply solved. While the ending was satisfying, I did find myself wishing for more.

I’m still genuinely surprised that I have now voluntarily read two Stephen King novels and plan to pick up more. That in mind, try to pick up a book that you would usually avoid. You might surprise yourself. Hey, you could even pick up The Outsider. You could follow the unraveling mystery of how and why Terry Maitland committed such a crime. But, can you really be sure that it was him?

Overall: 4 out of 5.

[twentysevenletters]

The Darkest Legacy by Alexandra Bracken

Whoever you’re choosing to be, be that person boldly.

Before I even start gushing about this book and digressing about why I want to read it during every waking hour of my life, I want to reinstate what Alexandra Bracken has said about it herself. The Darkest Legacy is very much a book that should be read blindly; not even having read the synopsis or released excerpts, I had no idea what to expect, and I loved it endlessly. The Darkest Minds is a series that has taken permanent residence in my heart, and it’s hard for me to not think about these characters daily. And it’s incredibly safe to say that The Darkest Legacy is right there with the rest of the series.

Suzume Kimura was only eleven years old when IAAN consumed her world, taking out 98% of children. Now, at seventeen, and five years after the camps were shut down, she has new battles to face. Zu has become a well-polished governmental figure, eloquently following directions and fighting for her generation’s freedom and attempting to prove that she is more than that scared child she once was. But, after she is accused of being the brains behind an attack, she soon finds herself on the run again. As she tries to prove her innocence, she spirals down and finds more lies that she has been fed during the past five years. Not to mention, she meets some intriguing people along the way that make her ride all the more interesting.

I’ve tried sitting down and writing this review a few times now. Truth is, it’s hard to find the right words to encapsulate what this novel did to me. Even now, I’m finding difficulty in writing about this gorgeous book. Moreover, as I was reading it, I had to keep putting the book down and let whatever happened in that particular chapter sink in. The characters, the storyline, the plot twists, the narrative arcs, and the writing style all grabbed a hold of me, and I never want them to let me go.

Zu. When we first met her in the original series, Zu only communicated through a pen and pad of paper and with her facial expressions. Now, at the start of this novel, she travels with the government, speaking in front of large crowds about promising steps taken to move forward. This character development in and of itself is stunning, but she doesn’t stop there. Through The Darkest Legacy, we’re able to follow Zu as she confronts difficult decisions and helps the people that she loves. Her strength and resilience is absolutely stunning, and I didn’t think I could fall in love with her more, but I definitely have.

I also have the tendency to fall deeply in love with side-characters, who can arguably be considered main characters (but that is an entirely different conversation). Priyanka and Roman are wonderful additions to the Darkest Minds family, and I’m not quite sure how I lived without knowing them. Alexandra Bracken has this extraordinary talent to write such compelling and remarkable characters, while keeping their separate voices distinct, consistent, and oh-so strong. Roman’s mix up of English phrases kept me chuckling, and Priyanka’s sassy retorts had me snorting and wishing I could be as confident as her. There were also quiet moments in The Darkest Legacy that gave me the strongest urge to sit all of these characters down, wrap them in a warm blanket in front of a fire, and make them some hot chocolate. They all deserve it more than you can even imagine.

The plot itself was beyond complex and twisted. Every time both myself and the characters thought that a resolution was just on the horizon, there was another corner that we had to turn. And, obviously, this corner would complicate things. This story is so delicately planned, and my jaw dropped numerous times, solely in awe of Alex’s talent bleeding across the page. And, like I said at the beginning of this lengthy review, it’s best to read this blindly. So, we’ll leave the plot at that.

The dialogue is beautiful and realistic. In moments of fear or anger, there are still times of quiet conversations and snarky comebacks. The tone between each of the characters is natural and relatable, and I found myself thinking of these characters as real people – as my friends. I felt like I really got to know these characters inside and out, and that made me empathize and sympathize with them even more. It’s also rather astonishing that a YA dystopian novel can so closely reflect our society’s current climate. Zu put it best when she said that there’s something going on in America, mentioning that it’s not being talked about nearly enough.

In keeping this review as spoiler-free as possible, I still can’t not talk about a particular scene. ⚡️🌟⚡️. I’m in love with this chapter and have read it over numerous times, and it makes me, as a reader, feel limitless.

I think what has me always turning back to Alex’s books is that they’ve become a place of comfort for me, kind of like a home. I’ve been able to find characters I relate with and characters I aspire to be. Her stories make me want to be more, to become stronger. For some reason, it feels as if there aren’t any words to fully articulate what kind of effect these novels have on me. The Darkest Legacy was my most-anticipated read of 2018, and it has very easily turned into my favorite read of the year. I can’t wait until it’s officially out on the 31st (next week!!) – I’m already planning on reading it again; I miss it.

Please go pick this up next week. Or pre-order it right now. I promise you need it.

Alex, you’ve really outdone yourself with this one. Thank you.

Overall: one million lightning bolts out of five.

[twentysevenletters]

History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera

History remains with the people who will appreciate it most.

I can’t believe I have gone this long without ever encountering an Adam Silvera novel. Now that I have, my heart hurts. And I’m not entirely sure if I should be thanking Adam for this incredible story or asking him to fund all of the tissues I’m going to have buy to redeem myself enough for the public eye. It probably doesn’t help that I’m still emotional over my last read, AKA Dear Evan Hansen. (unrelated, but I somehow scored tickets and am seeing the musical tomorrow?????)

History Is All You Left Me follows Griffin as he tries to grieve his best friend/ex-boyfriend’s, Theo’s, death. Griffin struggles coming to terms with the alternate universe where Theo doesn’t exist, and this is reflected in the relationships around him. We don’t only get to see his despair though. We see Theo and Griffin fall in love. We see them first express their feelings for each other. We learn the importance–and comfort–of a well-worn green hoodie. And we see how distance can change people. While one chapter focuses on the “today,” the next chapter illustrates the “history.” I absolutely fell in love with structure of the novel, and it surely kept me wanting more from the next page.

Perhaps Adam Silvera’s reputation in the YA realm is no secret. Every single person that brings up his name in book conversations, either assures me that it’ll be okay or warns me that I’m not ready. And, I’ll be the first to say, they were right. I wasn’t ready for the effect this book would have on me. I’m not a crier, nor have I ever been. I've seen Titanic more times than I can count and have never cried reading books despite how sad most of them are, but this one? This one. Tears were brimming my eyes. It was beautiful and devastating and enthralling and upsetting, and I loved it. 

I’ve mentioned it before, and I’ll mention it again, but I am completely character-driven. A story can be the most breathtaking thing I’ve ever read, but I need the same for the characters. And by God, Adam did it. I was there with Griffin the entire time. I followed his thought process so easily, it felt like someone had walked through my brain and was writing observations of what happened there. As Griffin attempts to piece together a life without the boy he fell so madly in love with, I think it’s safe to say that he got destructive and started making impulsive decisions. But I understood that, it made sense to me. Sure, there were times when I was completely flabbergasted with what he was doing (I had to close the book and physically leave the room a few times), but I understood why. Grief consumes us, and that was so beautifully represented in this novel through every character that Theo affected. It was stunning and haunting. 

(This next part might get a spoilery. Read with caution.)

Towards the beginning of History, we quickly learn about Theo’s California-boyfriend, Jackson. And, considering we are reading from Griffin’s perspective, we are immediately put off by him. As readers, we instantly don't like Jackson because Griffin belonged to Theo and Theo to Griffin. But, here’s the thing. Griffin and Jackson dated Theo for about the same amount of time, and they both loved different versions of him. Both of their pain was valid, but I found myself siding with Griffin at the very beginning. I was upset that this rip-off Griffin was confessing such deep feelings for Theo during his eulogy. And that’s where Adam Silvera’s writing style is absolutely so incredibly unreal because later on, I started understanding Jackson. And then I understood Wade. Adam knows how to write a character in a way to (nicely) manipulate my feelings as a reader so I feel a specific way. I’m not sure that I can quite articulate this, and I hope I am doing it justice, but this was absolutely incredible, and I love Adam Silvera for every minute of it.

The writing comes alive. It breathes and moves off the page. New York City is written as a character, due to its realistic descriptions and tags, and it felt like this living, breathing thing. This has mostly just become me gushing over Adam Silvera and his characters and writing, so I’m hoping that it’s making at least a little bit of sense. 

I can’t believe it took me so long to read this book, but I cannot even begin illustrating how happy I am now to have encountered it. Not to mention, when I started this book, I too was on the subway from Manhattan to Brooklyn, much like Theo and Griffin, and in all honesty, I felt pretty cool. As a personal note, I've been living in New York for 6 weeks now, and I loved seeing all of the places I walk past every day put into permanent ink.

If you've somehow made it as long as me without reading an Adam Silvera novel, please change that. I’m already planning on heading to the bookstore later today to pick up the other two. I’m ready for those to ruin me as well.

Overall: 6 green hoodies out of 5

[twentysevenletters]

Dear Evan Hansen: The Novel by Val Emmich with Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek, and Justin Paul

Dear Evan Hansen,

Today is going to be a good day and here’s why. Because today, no matter what else, you’re you. No hiding. No lying. Just you. 

I feel like I should start off this review in mentioning that I’m currently listening to the Dear Evan Hansen soundtrack. And, upon finishing the book a few days back, I wanted to play it every free second I got. This story is so important for today’s world, and I absolutely cannot wait for it to hit shelves this October. (A HUGE thank you to the woman that handed me this ARC at BookExpo!) 

Based off the hit Broadway show, Dear Evan Hansen: The Novel follows Evan Hansen, a self-proclaimed tree expert, as a white lie he told purely to comfort grieving parents of a classmate spirals out of control and turns into a Go-Fund Me Campaign. Evan used to be invisible at school, and he would give anything to have that back.

Characters. Characters. Characters.

These characters are absolutely incredible and so unbelievably complex for fictional human being. I haven’t stopped thinking about them since the moment I set the book down. First, there’s Connor Murphy, the classmate that took his own life. (Trust me, this isn’t a spoiler. I stupidly thought it was the biggest plot twists of all plot twists because I hadn’t even read the synopsis before delving in.) In the book, there are chapters which outline Connor’s thoughts and his mental state during that moment. Then, obviously, there’s Evan Hansen who is almost always thinking about what other people are thinking of him. There’s Zoe, Connor’s sister, and she wants to be known as her own person. And there’s so many others. There is a character for every single reader to relate to and, in a world like ours, that’s so important. 

Considering this a Broadway adaption, I feel like it’s unnecessary to even mention how great the plot is. But this story is honestly unlike any other, and I’m just upset with myself that I didn’t jump on the Dear Evan Hansen obsession train sooner. But I’m here now. Trust me. 

Dear Evan Hansen: The Novel touches on such relevant issues in a unique way, I’m not sure there’s quite another story just like this one. Please do yourself a huge favor and pick it up when it comes out in October. 

If you need me, I’ll be trying to buy tickets to see it.

500000 out of 5 

[twentysevenletters]

Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

“Imagine going about your day knowing someone’s carrying you in their mind. That has to be the best part of being in love- the feeling of having a home in some else’s brain.” 

Much like the rest of the population that has come into contact with the Simon Spier world, I love any chance I have to go back to that world. And, in going back to that world, I’m able to follow Leah’s narrative? Sign me up. 

The past few months or so have brought a heavy reading slump (thanks to the excitement and heartbreaking qualities from Harry Potter), and I was still able to finish Leah within two days.

Leah on the Offbeat centers on Leah Burke, other half of Simon Spier (you know, before the whole “Blue” thing), as she navigates through the usual frustrations of senior year: college, prom, crushes. The lot. We’re able to learn about Leah’s relationship with her mom and with herself as the grasp on her self-identity shakes. Even when she’s so close to someone who had recently come out as gay, Leah is hesitant to tell anyone about her bisexuality. Until the moment it becomes too difficult to continue hiding it.

Considering I was in a reading slump when approaching this book, I obviously enjoyed it because of my finishing it in two days. The characters were real and their emotions were raw; despite being entirely fictional, I could feel them breathing on the page. And much like Simon, Becky is able to write the voice of a struggling teenager so incredibly well. She nails the hesitation one feels in high school and the self-conscious nature of most teenage girls. The story was relatable, and I loved that. However, aside from the character’s lovable qualities and intriguing nature, I wish there was more character development. (Here’s where it can get a little spoilery, you’ve been warned).

Abby Suso, the love of literally everyone at Creekwood, also struggles with her own self-identity. I’m beyond thrilled she was able to figure herself out, but I would have loved to see more of that journey and how she got to where she was in the ending. Even though we can’t get inside Abby’s head like we can we Leah, I would have loved to see more of Abby’s transformation. Then again, this could be another whole book in the Creekwood world. Becky, I’m looking at you. 

Leah on the Offbeat tackles incredible self-identity issues that a number of people have to go through today, and I love that that is getting representation in popular media. It was a easy and fun read, and it kept me captivated until the very end. I only wish I could learn more about the characters that captured my heart.

3.5/5

[twentysevenletters]

One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

“Now here’s your assignment: connect the dots. Is everybody in it together, or is somebody pulling strings? Who’s the puppet master and who’s the puppet? I’ll give you a hint to get you started: everyone’s lying. GO!”

What does the genius, the princess, the criminal, the jock, and the outcast have in common? They all find themselves in detention on September 24. However, when detention ends, only four of them leave alive. Bronwyn, Addy, Nate, Copper, and Simon (seemingly harmless characters) are all stuck in a stuffy high school classroom after hours, until Simon suffers a severe allergic reaction and never comes back to school. Follow The Murder Club as they navigate nosy reporters and false accusations, all while their lives crumble.

One Of Us Is Lying is written from four different perspectives - the perspectives of the accused. I will admit, while reading this and information started to unravel, I got too excited and didn’t fully grasp on to whose perspective I was reading - this being my fault entirely. Despite having four different voices narrating the story, McManus gives each of her characters a well-developed background that made me want to learn more about them. The characters and their bonds are realistic, making this story immediately take grab of me.

As this is a murder-mystery meets The Breakfast Club, I will confess that it was slightly predictable. In thinking about what happened in detention and the things that were mentioned, I was able to pinpoint what happened to Simon. Although, I wasn’t able to connect all the dots to support my suspicion. And, even though I was able to guess some of the outcome, this story had me audibly gasping numerous times; it kept me on my toes while so many secrets were revealed.

I like to keep my book reviews spoiler-free. This way, you can have your own experience reading the book. But, I feel like it would be a disservice to not talk about one aspect of this novel. So I will mention two words and leave it at that: The. Ending.

One Of Us Is Lying was incredibly entertaining and easily found its way in my pile of favorite books. If you’re looking for a quick, but suspenseful YA, definitely pick this one up.

Overall: 5/5.

[twentysevenletters]

Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith 

“We have all sorts of words that could describe us. But we get to choose which ones are most important.”

My shelves are lined with countless YA books; books about adventures, books that take place in far-off lands. But, for some reason, I wasn’t in the mood for one of those books. I couldn’t write summarize the type of book I wanted to read other than the word cute. This is how Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith fell into my hands - I guess you could say it was luck.

Simply put, Windfall follows an insanely lovable trio as one of them finds themselves as the youngest lottery winner, ever. With his wallet now overstuffed with millions of dollars, Teddy’s life is never the same, and neither is Alice’s. Categorized as a contemporary, Windfall is anything but. Smith takes on heavy topics like how death affects a person and how sometimes, even the closest of friends fall apart.

With all of the technical jargon out of the way, I loved this novel. I immediately found myself entranced but the characters, needing to know what happened next. While this novel is 416 pages, I somehow bought it and read it within 24 hours, all while baking Christmas cookies and wrapping gifts in between.

I think one of the reasons I found this story so intriguing, was that I definitely related to Alice. Remaining spoiler-free, Alice has to make some huge decisions as the novel progresses - some decisions I had to make - and she faces the struggles I once found myself wrapped up in. Alice is preoccupied with the idea that she has to save the world, it is up to her to solve all problems on Earth. And, with this mindset, she is always attempting to please others, not even considering her own happiness.

While the premise of the story seems rather unrealistic (but let’s face it, we would all love to win the lottery and indulge ourselves with the materialistic), I think that this novel has a place on shelves everywhere. Whether a reader is looking to feel validated about the indecisiveness about their future, or they were simply just looking for a cute story, Windfall is a book you’ll want to be sure you pick up.

Overall: 4/5 stars.

[twentysevenletters]

Turtles All The Way Down by John Green 

“No one ever says good-bye unless they want to see you again.”

I’ve been sitting here for a good twenty minutes, attempting to start this book review. I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve been neglecting this type of writing or if the book has made me speechless, but I can’t find the words to start talking about this one. But thanks to his numerous books that seem to rip my heart out and simultaneously sew them back together, I found myself with yet another John Green book.

Instantly intriguing, Turtles All The Way Down seems to center on the recent disappearance of a billionaire, but is so much more than that. Aza is different, and even she knows this. She’s compulsive, makes decisions that she doesn’t want to, and she doesn’t know how to help herself.

Honestly, I want to get straight to the point. I think this book is immensely important to have - whether that be on personal or library bookshelves, this book can find a home anywhere, and it should. Mental illness needs to be talked about in the books our children will be encountering; we need to be teaching everyone that mental illnesses are okay.

This is honestly probably the strangest book review I’ve written - the weirdest book review I’ve read, for that matter - considering there’s hardly any context. I’m new at this whole “lets-talk-about-books-in-a-professional manner” type of thing, but this book has me at a loss for words. Yes it’s good, but it doesn’t necessarily top my all-time favorites. I’m having a hard time placing this one (as exhibited above). Maybe you can take a stab at it.

Overall: 4/5.

[twentysevenletters]

The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding by Alexandra Bracken

First and foremost, this book made me wish it was currently October. I was in desperate need of Halloween, jack-o-lanterns, black cats, and haunted houses in the entirety of reading this book. Alex Bracken has been one of my favorite authors in the past few years and this book does not fall short of any expectations I hold; she exceeds all of them. The Darkest Minds series holds such a special place in my heart and I thought nothing could ever come close to that. Then, I read the Passenger series and had the same thought. And most recently, The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding came along.

Prosper Redding is your average twelve-year old boy (he’s sassy and often confused), but he has an ancient demon trapped inside of him that constantly threatens to ruin his whole family and their empire. Not to mention, the Reddings are hated by what seems to be the whole general population. You know, average twelve-year-old things. It’s been eight, nearly nine, years since I was twelve and I can honestly say that Bracken captured a twelve-year-old perfectly. From the sinking feeling in your stomach on the first day of school to the terrifying adventure of meeting new people, it’s all there.

The world building is on another level. Like The Darkest Minds and Passenger, Bracken writes a new world and describes it in the best way possible. It’s so easy to see the scenes play out and every little detail in the setting because she paints it so well. She is beyond descriptive and it made me get lost in Redhood and Salem.

Despite being a middle-grade novel, and me being twenty, I adored this story. Bracken always has the most thought-out plots and she doesn’t disappoint. Her characters are absolutely incredible and so realistic. From the moment Nell was introduced, I completely fell in love with her sarcastic comebacks, her passion for witchcraft, and her selflessness. Nell is fierce and a force to be reckoned with. She’s also never afraid to ask questions and that’s a lesson we can all afford to learn. Alex Bracken even finds room in this novel to discuss the unequal treatment of women and men in theatrical productions and if that isn’t astounding, I’m not sure what is.

I want to keep this a spoiler-free review. I do. And I will. But this whole book, especially the ending, is truly told in Alex Bracken style.

You’re going to want to pick this book up, and if you don’t, you’ll kick yourself for missing out. And you don’t have to be a kid to enjoy it; you just have to love a great book, spectacular characters, and a fantastic author who knows how to write a stunning story.

And a huge thank you to NetGalley for supplying me with an early copy to read and review!

[twentysevenletters]

All the Forever Things by Jolene Perry

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC! All the Forever Things follows Gabe as she learns how cope with a friend she is slowly losing while developing a crush on a tall-boy with a last name for a first name. Ultimately, I thought it was a unique storyline and I enjoyed reading as Gabe. She was a unique character but she did have some flaws as well. At times, I thought she was a bit selfish and I didn’t like her for that. Her best friend, Bree, was dating someone that Gabe wasn’t particularly fond of (which I could definitely relate to having to deal with.) I absolutely loved Hartman. I think he was an amazing contrast to Gabe and he helped move the novel along. I couldn't help but love him! I admit that the timing of the novel did seem off. I felt as if it was very rushed and the characters became super attached to one another in such a short amount of time. In hinds sight, it was a good read.

[twentysevenletters]

The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti

A huge thank you for NetGalley for sending me this ARC in return for my honest review! All in all, the book was interesting. I was captivated by the small blurb, hence why I requested it. The main character was incredibly relatable because of how unique yet passionate she was. However, I'm not sure if this is exactly my "type" of book. I do think many people would enjoy it but it didn't interest me that much! Other than that, I think it was well written!