BOOK REVIEW | Analee, In Real Life by Janelle Milanes

Title: Analee, In Real Life
Author: Janelle Milanes
Series? No, Analee, In Real Life is a standalone novel.
Pages: 416
Publication Date: September 18, 2018
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Source: I received an e-galley of Analee, In Real Life via Netgalley. Thank you to Simon and Schuster for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Ever since her mom died three years ago, Analee Echevarria has had trouble saying out loud the weird thoughts that sit in her head. With a best friend who hates her and a dad who’s marrying a yogi she can’t stand, Analee spends most of her time avoiding reality and role-playing as Kiri, the night elf hunter at the center of her favorite online game.

Through Kiri, Analee is able to express everything real-life Analee cannot: her bravery, her strength, her inner warrior. The one thing both Kiri and Analee can’t do, though, is work up the nerve to confess her romantic feelings for Kiri’s partner-in-crime, Xolkar—aka a teen boy named Harris whom Analee has never actually met in person.

So when high school heartthrob Seb Matias asks Analee to pose as his girlfriend in an attempt to make his ex jealous, Analee agrees. Sure, Seb seems kind of obnoxious, but Analee could use some practice connecting with people in real life. In fact, it’d maybe even help her with Harris.

But the more Seb tries to coax Analee out of her comfort zone, the more she starts to wonder if her anxious, invisible self is even ready for the real world. Can Analee figure it all out without losing herself in the process?

Goodreads

Five Reasons Why I Love Netgalley!

Hey everyone and welcome back to my blog! I'm Genni, and today I'll be doing a discussion post of sorts. Basically, I just love Netgalley and I want everyone to know! So down below are a few of the reasons that I adore the site!

1) It's approachable to small bloggers!

This might be one of my favorite things about Netgalley. When I was new to blogging, I wanted to get arcs, but didn't think I would be able to because I hadn't had experience and had a smaller follower base. But Netgalley has "Read Now" options! Any user can read those books, and it allowed me to have some experience and gain confidence! After reading some "read now" books, I felt like I knew what I was doing.

2) It's easy to navigate

Let me tell you, when I first started Netgalley, I was confused on their navigation. But after a week, I had it down pat. There's four main tabs on Netgalley: Dashboard, Your Shelf, Find Titles, and Browse Publishers. The last two are pretty self-explanatory, and allow you to pinpoint specific titles and publishers. The dashboard shows titles the blogger might be interested in, as well as favorite publishers and a space to review recently approved titles. There is also this section that gives you tips on what to do before requesting. Here is the link, it's super helpful! For me, I've never truly understood how to navigate Edelweiss+, so I normally never visit the site.  

BOOK REVIEW | Our Dark Stars by Audrey Gray and Krystal Wade

Title: Our Dark Stars
Authors: Audrey Gray and Krystal Wade
Series? Yes, at least I assume so from the ending!
Pages: 316
Publication Date: March 6, 2018
Publisher: Blaze Publishing
Source: I received an e-galley of Our Dark Stars via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. :) Thank you to Netgalley and Blaze Publishing!

While she sleeps, the whole universe changes.

Princess Talia Starchaser has it all. Wealth. Status. Adoring citizens. But on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, she’s forced to publicly betray her best friend, a companion mock she’s had since birth, setting events into motion that lead to the destruction of the humans, and the princess floating through space, a remnant of a time when humans ruled over droids.

One hundred years later, half-mock captain Will Perrault and his ragtag crew discover a device floating in space. When a very human Talia emerges from its depths, Will suspects she’s the key to buying his way back into the regiment he once commanded against the last remaining rebel humans—and the ruling mock queen’s good graces.

Both Talia and Will would rather get space-tossed than trust one another, but with the queen’s forces chasing them across the galaxy and the fate of both worlds hanging in the balance, they’ll forge the unlikeliest of alliances to survive.

Goodreads 

BOOK REVIEW | American Panda by Gloria Chao

Title: American Panda
Author: Gloria Chao
Series? No
Pages: 320
Publication Date: February 6, 2018
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Source: I received an e-galley of American Panda via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review! Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own. :)

An incisive, laugh-out-loud contemporary debut about a Taiwanese-American teen whose parents want her to be a doctor and marry a Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer despite her squeamishness with germs and crush on a Japanese classmate.

At seventeen, Mei should be in high school, but skipping fourth grade was part of her parents' master plan. Now a freshman at MIT, she is on track to fulfill the rest of this predetermined future: become a doctor, marry a preapproved Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer, produce a litter of babies.

With everything her parents have sacrificed to make her cushy life a reality, Mei can't bring herself to tell them the truth--that she (1) hates germs, (2) falls asleep in biology lectures, and (3) has a crush on her classmate Darren Takahashi, who is decidedly not Taiwanese.

But when Mei reconnects with her brother, Xing, who is estranged from the family for dating the wrong woman, Mei starts to wonder if all the secrets are truly worth it. Can she find a way to be herself, whoever that is, before her web of lies unravels?

Goodreads 

BOOK REVIEW | Unearthed by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Title: Unearthed
Authors: Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Series? Unearthed Duology
Pages: 384
Publication Date: January 9, 2018
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Source: I received an egalley of Unearthed via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

When Earth intercepts a message from a long-extinct alien race, it seems like the solution the planet has been waiting for. The Undying's advanced technology has the potential to undo environmental damage and turn lives around, and Gaia, their former home planet, is a treasure trove waiting to be uncovered.

For Jules Addison and his fellow scholars, the discovery of an alien culture offers unprecedented opportunity for study... as long as scavengers like Amelia Radcliffe don't loot everything first. Mia and Jules' different reasons for smuggling themselves onto Gaia put them immediately at odds, but after escaping a dangerous confrontation with other scavvers, they form a fragile alliance.

In order to penetrate the Undying temple and reach the tech and information hidden within, the two must decode the ancient race's secrets and survive their traps. But the more they learn about the Undying, the more their presence in the temple seems to be part of a grand design that could spell the end of the human race...

Goodreads

BOOK REVIEW | Plague Land by Alex Scarrow

Title: Plague Land
Author: Alex Scarrow
Series? Yes, a duology (I think!)
Pages: 384
Publication Date: December 1, 2017
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Source: I received a galley of Plague Land via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

Leon and his younger sister Grace have just moved to London from New York when news of an unidentified plague begins to fill the news.

Within a week the virus hits London. People in the streets turn to liquid before their eyes, and what follows is a frantic hunt for a safety which may no longer exist.

A new gripping series from Alex Scarrow.

Author's Website | Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

Waiting on Wednesday #45

Hey everyone and welcome back (or to!) my blog! I'm Genni, and today I'll be participating in Waiting on Wednesday. WoW was hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. Every week we showcase an upcoming release we are excited about. Jill hasn't been posting for quite some time, so Tressa @ Wishful Endings has adopted and renamed WoW to Can't Wait Wednesday.

For this week, I chose Achilles by Greg Boose, out September 26th!

The year is 2221, and humans have colonized an earthlike planet called Thetis in the Silver Foot Galaxy. After a tragic accident kills off dozens of teenage colonists, Thetis's leaders are desperate to repopulate. So the Mayflower 2, a state-of-the-art spaceship, sets off across the universe to bring 177 new recruits to the colony.

For Jonah Lincoln, an orphaned teen who's bounced between foster homes and spent time on the streets of Cleveland, the voyage is a chance to reinvent himself, to be strong and independent and brave the way he could never be on Earth. But his dreams go up in smoke when their ship crash-lands, killing half the passengers and leaving the rest stranded--not on Thetis, but on its cruel and unpeopled moon, Achilles.
Between its bloodthirsty alien life forms and its distance from their intended location, Achilles is far from an ideal resting place. The situation is already dire, but when all of the adults suddenly disappear, leaving the teenage passengers to fend for themselves, Jonah doubts they'll survive at all, much less reach Thetis. Especially when it appears Achilles isn't as uninhabited as they were led to believe.

Author's Website | Goodreads 

BOOK REVIEW | Never Dare a Dragon by Ashlyn Chase

Title: Never Dare a Dragon
Author: Ashlyn Chase
Series? Boston Dragons #3, but can be read as standalones
Pages: ???
Publication Date: August 1, 2017
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Source: I received a copy of Never Dare a Dragon via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Jayce Fierro is part of a legendary Boston firefighting family of phoenix shifters. Hiding his true form makes being in a relationship rather difficult. Meeting the beautiful Lieutenant Kristine Scott of the New York City Fire Department and knowing he can’t have her only makes things worse.

Dragon shifter Kristine can’t stop thinking about fun, flirty Jayce and his teasing smile. A relationship could never work-not with the distance between them, and definitely not with her shifter secret. But when Kristine lands herself in a blaze of trouble and secrets are revealed, Jayce will do whatever it takes to help-whether or not the feisty, stubborn New Yorker wants him to.

Author's Website | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Goodreads

BOOK REVIEW | Sleeper by MacKenzie Cadenhead

Title: Sleeper
Author: MacKenzie Cadenhead
Series? No
Pages: 272
Publication Date: August 1, 2017
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Source: I received Sleeper via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own. Thank you!

A new suspense-ridden thriller that’s Heathers meets Inception.

As if surviving high school wasn’t hard enough, Sarah Reyes suffers from REM Sleep Behavior Disorder, a parasomnia that causes her to physically act out her dreams. When she almost snaps her friend’s neck at a sleepover, Sarah and her nocturnal habits are thrust into the spotlight and she becomes a social pariah, complete with public humiliation.

 When an experimental drug comes onto the market that promises nighttime normalcy, Sarah agrees to participate in the trial. At first, she seems to be cured. Then the side effects kick in. Why does a guy from her nightmare show up at school? Are the eerily similar dreams she’s sharing with her classmates’ coincidence or of her making? Is she losing her mind or does this drug offer way more than sleep?

Amazon | Author's Website | B&N | Book Depository | Goodreads

BOOK REVIEW | Follow Me Back by A.V. Geiger

Title: Follow Me Back
Author:  A.V. Geiger
Series? Yes, duology
Publication Date: June 6, 2017
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Source: I received and e-galley of Follow Me Back via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Sourcebooks Fire!

Tessa Hart’s world feels very small. Confined to her bedroom with agoraphobia, her one escape is the online fandom for pop sensation Eric Thorn. When he tweets to his fans, it’s like his speaking directly to her…

Eric Thorn is frightened by his obsessive fans. They take their devotion way too far. It doesn’t help that his PR team keeps posting to encourage their fantasies.

When a fellow pop star is murdered at the hands of a fan, Eric knows he has to do something to shatter his online image fast—like take down one of his top Twitter followers. But Eric’s plan to troll @TessaHeartsEric unexpectedly evolves into an online relationship deeper than either could have imagined. And when the two arrange to meet IRL, what should have made for the world’s best episode of Catfish takes a deadly turn…

Told through tweets, direct messages, and police transcripts.

Author's Website | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Goodreads

BOOK REVIEW | Atlantis Rising

Title: Atlantis Rising
Author: Gloria Craw
Series: Yes, trilogy
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Date: January 6, 2015
Source: I received a galley of Atlantis Rising via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

You’ll never see me unless I want you to…

I am different. I have always been different, but no one can know or my life will be in danger. So I hide in plain sight, wearing drab clothes and thick glasses and trying to be invisible. I’m so good at hiding, no one has ever noticed me. Until Ian…the mysterious and oh-so-cute boy I know I need to avoid.

Now I have been seen. And more terrifying still, I am wanted—by those who would protect me and those who would destroy everything and everyone I love. But if they’re all terrified about who I am, wait until they see what I can do…

Author's Website | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Goodreads

BOOK REVIEW | Keeping Her Secret by Sarah Nicolas

Title: Keeping Her Secret
Author: Sarah Nicolas
Publication Date: August 22, 2016
Source: I received Keeping Her Secret in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.

Two girls. One Kiss.

The last person Riya Johnson expected to run into at her new summer camp is Courtney Chastain—her childhood best friend and the girl who broke her heart after a secret, mind-blowing, life-altering kiss. She definitely didn’t expect to be sharing a bunk bed with her for four long weeks.

Courtney has what every girl wants—she’s beautiful, rich, and the object of every boy’s desire at Camp Pine Ridge. Too bad none of them make her feel an iota of what Riya’s kiss did all those years ago. But Courtney needs to uphold appearances at all costs—even if it means instigating an all-out prank war with Riya as her main target.

Neither girl can stop thinking about the other…but that doesn’t mean they can give up past hurts and take a chance on a future together.

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains drinking, sexual situations, and a fairy-tale romance sure to make your heart melt.

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Goodreads

Book Review: The Sound of Us by Julie Hammerle

*I recieved The Sound of Us via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own!*

The Sound of Us was such a blast. 

Julie Hammerle's debut novel exceeded my expectations. My recent reads have been disappointing me, and The Sound of Us was a breath of fresh air. Our protagonist, Kiki, is the most genuine main character I have read from in quite a while. I appreciated how she wasn't this perfect person, inside and out. Her summer journey was so much fun to read. 

The Sound of Us is about the quirky and hilarious main character Kiki and her summer experience at Kraus, a presitigous university. She is there for the summer, learning the in and outs of becoming an opera singer all the while fighting for one of the seven scholarships to attend the university free of charge. 

My favorite aspect of this whole entire book was Kiki. She was such a relatable and likable character. Hammerle perfectly captured the confidence issues of a teenage girl. Kiki started as a girl unsure of who she is and who she is meant to be. By the end of the novel, she is not only sure of herself, but of her future as well. It was great to see her transition into a more confident young adult. 

Another aspect I appreciated was the music. Music is a part of me, and I loved how it was so accurately depicted in the novel. I loved how Hammerle showed every side of music. Not only did she show that music can be fun, but she also showed how much pressure it can put on a person as well. 

However, I did have some minor complaints. One  thing that I didn't like that much from the book was how repetitive it became sometimes. After a while, Kiki's narrative didn't differ ever. Though I liked her as a character, Kiki's witty remarks seemed to be overdone. The romance wasn't the best either. Though I really loved Kiki and her love interest, it didn't leave me with a lasting impression. It was cute, but it wasn't awe-inspiring. The focus of the book was not on the romance though, so it did not affect my reading experience that much. Besides that, I don't have that many complaints. I actually loved the ending, even though it was vague. It gave promise to a happy future, but didn't set anything in stone. 

I would recommend this to anyone who wants a fun YA contemporary read! The Sound of Us is perfect for the summer and I am looking forward to its release. Also, can we talk about the cover? Because it is beautiful. It's one of my favorite covers of this year so far!

With that, I give this book 
4 out of 5 Stars!

 

What are some books that you've recently read that are perfect for the summer?

Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you soon with another post!

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!

My Experience with Netgalley!

Hey guys and welcome back to my blog! Today I thought I'd do a discussion post about my experience with Netgalley.

So I just started my Netgalley up again, and it is addicting! I've been experiencing the same thing I did when I found out about the book community. It's like I opened a new door and I'm a bit overwhelmed.

So far, my Netgalley experience has been going well, but I need to slow down. I've noticed that I've started requesting books that I wouldn't pick up at my local library. Instead of being selective about what I am requesting, I'm requesting anything that catches my eye, even if I have a feeling that I won't like the book as much. When I look back at my recent reads from netgalley, I haven't loved any of them. Is there a correlation? I think so.

Much like when I found out about the book community, I am finding out about a whole new part of the community, and I don't have any restraint. I am loving Netgalley right now. Even though my blog doesn't have a massive following, I am still receiving books. I am learning more about the publishing part of the business, and I'm being exposed to more authors and publishers every time I go onto the site!

The one problem I do have with Netgalley is that it is hard to get yourself in there. Many of the books featured are always big name publishers, which not every blogger or librarian, etc. can get. It takes some time to find books that I can actually get accepted for. But every goal is reached through working at it. My tip if you have a smaller blog like me is to look at the approval preferences of the publisher of the book you want before you request it. If you don't have their requirements, then odds are you won't be accepted. 

If you want any recommendations of what is on the site that you can request right now, I have two. One Paris Summer by Denise Grover Swank and The Sound of Us by Julie Hammerle. They are both contemporary and loads of fun!

So even though I am not the biggest blogger out there and the most articulate person, I am liking my experience. I've never consistently gotten ARCs before, but Netgalley is essentially a door leading to new opportunities for me. I am looking forward to what is next in store!

Do you like using Netgalley? What has your experience been like?

Thanks guys for stopping by and I'll see you soon with another post!

Happy Reading!

Genni @ Ready, Set, Read!