Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Goodreads Blurb

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning-author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

This book was definitely like a roller coaster that keeps on climbing, but everything that goes up must come down. It was a true love story that I will cherish forever. Hazel Grace and Augustus were two very strong characters who, while being ill, still kept their hopes and laughter’s alive. Even though John Green stated that he started the book and then stopped in between, it felt like every word just flowed easily. I fell completely in love with Augustus. Loved the way he spoke and how happy he always seemed regardless of how he really felt. The scene when Hazel was in the Anne Frank Museum and she was climbing all those stairs and had to stop to breathe made me see her willpower. She was going to make it through those stairs no matter what, even if that was the last thing she did. There were many ups and downs in this book. John didn’t hold anything back. I was so upset that Peter Van Houten was such a jerk. What is sad is that there are many people in this world who are bitter, and because of a loss in their life, they have been stuck in that moment with no will to move on. I could relate a little with this story. My grandmother had died from cancer. I saw everything that Chemo does to you and how your body reacts to all those horrible medications and treatments. It was sad to have seen Gus urinate on himself, the constant vomiting. It’s really hard to know that someone you love will be dying soon and that most of their motor skills are diminishing. I saw the movie before reading this book, so I feel that this book was so much better than the film, but it was still a great movie. I highly recommend you read this book even though I know mostly everyone has read it.

Author Biography

John Green’s first novel, Looking for Alaska, won the 2006 Michael L. Printz Award presented by the American Library Association. His second novel, An Abundance of Katherines, was a 2007 Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book and a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His next novel, Paper Towns, is a New York Times bestseller and won the Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best YA Mystery. In January 2012, his most recent novel, The Fault in Our Stars, was met with wide critical acclaim, unprecedented in Green’s career. The praise included rave reviews in Time Magazine and The New York Times, on NPR, and from award-winning author Markus Zusak. The book also topped the New York Times Children’s Paperback Bestseller list for several weeks. Green has also coauthored a book with David Levithan called Will Grayson, Will Grayson, published in 2010. The film rights for all his books, with the exception of Will Grayson Will Grayson, have been optioned to major Hollywood Studios.

Review: After The Fire by Will Hill

Goodreads Blurb

The things I’ve seen are burned into me, like scars that refuse to fade.

Before, she lived inside the fence. Before, she was never allowed to leave the property, never allowed to talk to Outsiders, never allowed to speak her mind. Because Father John controlled everything—and Father John liked rules. Disobeying Father John came with terrible consequences.

But there are lies behind Father John’s words. Outside, there are different truths.

Then came the fire.

My Review: 5 out of 5 stars

It’s terrifying the power one man has over people and how he can fool grown men and women to worship this man guided by God. Poor Moonbeam lived a terrible life in this camp with a cult leader and other members. She was stronger than she thought she was. She survived and helped other children live after the end arrived. This book is intense due to the topic and the war to fight to ascend to heaven or fight to survive. You can feel exactly how Moonbeam feels, her insecurities, fear, instincts, and fight to survive while keeping secrets that she feels would get her in trouble. A story that will have you thinking, would you easily follow another who speaks with the candor of what his religious beliefs are without knowing the lies he says? A true manipulator and dictator of the innocent.

Author Biography

Before quitting his job in publishing to write full time, Will Hill worked as a bartender, a bookseller and a door-to-door charity worker. He grew up in the north-east of England, is scared of spiders, and lives in east London with his girlfriend. He is a big fan of cats

Cover Reveal: Utopia by Marie-Helene Lebeault

BOOK DETAILS:

Utopia
by Marie-Hélène Lebeault
Publication date: January 15, 2024
Genres: Adventure, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Synopsis:

A Clean YA Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction Adventure

Three extraordinary teenagers, each an outcast in their worlds, unite to reshape the destiny of a utopian society. Ryn, who couldn’t adapt to life under the sea, Eira, born above the clouds but unable to breathe the thin air, and Aiden, rejected by the subterranean civilization, embarks on a thrilling journey to Vancouver’s utopia. They’ll challenge the elders, confront hidden truths, and discover the power of unity in a fast-paced young adult sci-fi adventure that explores the boundaries of human resilience, and the promise of a better world.

Utopia is a What Happens Next? novel developed from the Under the Ice short story.

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/201156107-utopia

Pre-orderhttps://amzn.to/3vjzBWa

AUTHOR BIO:

Marie-Hélène is a Canadian Speculative Fiction author. She writes young adult quest and adventure stories rooted in fantasy, magic and time travel. With important coming-of-age lessons at the core of her writing, teens and adults alike will revel in the fantastical journeys of her characters. When not immersed in magic and mystery, you’ll find Marie-Hélène hiking, cycling, or lying on the beach with a good book. She lives in Quebec, Canada with her grown children.
Email: info@mhlebeault.com
Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/c4j9g7
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/mhlebeault
Website: http://www.mhlebeault.com

Socials:
https://www.facebook.com/mhlebeaultauthor
https://www.instagram.com/mhlebeault
https://www.twitter.com/mhlebeault
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mhlebeault/
https://www.goodreads.com/mhlebeault
https://www.soundcloud.com/mhlebeault
https://www.tiktok.com/@mhlebeaultauthor
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marie-helene-lebeault
https://www.discord.com/invite/mhlebeault
https://youtube.com/@mhlebeault
https://www.scribd.com/author/637919199/Marie-Helene-Lebeault
https://books.apple.com/ca/author/marie-helene-lebeault/id1529661281
https://www.audible.com/author/Marie-Helene-Lebeault/B086JFWCDT
https://books2read.com/author/marie-helene-lebeault/subscribe/1/282768/
http://www.pinterest.ca/beachesandtrailspublishing

Cover Reveal: A Misfortune of Lake Monsters by Nicole M. Wolverton

BOOK DETAILS:

A Misfortune of Lake Monsters
by Nicole M. Wolverton
Publication date: July 2, 2024
Genres: Horror, Young Adult

Synopsis:

When Legends Bite Back . . .

Lemon Ziegler wants to escape rural Devil’s Elbow, Pennsylvania to attend college–but that’s impossible now that she’s expected to impersonate the town’s lake monster for the rest of her life. Her family has been secretly keeping the legend of Old Lucy, the famed (and very fake) lake monster of Lake Lokakoma, alive for generations, all to keep the tourists coming. Without Lemon, the town dies, and she can’t disappoint her grandparents . . . or tell her best friends about any of it. That includes Troy Ramirez, who has been covertly in love with Lemon for years, afraid to ruin their friendship by confessing his feelings. When a very real and very hungry monster is discovered in the lake, secrets must fall by the wayside, though. Determined to stop the monster, Lemon and her best friends are the only thing standing between Devil’s Elbow and a monster out for blood.

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/197470077-a-misfortune-of-lake-monsters

Amazonhttps://amzn.to/3QZ5Gd3

AUTHOR BIO:

Nicole M. Wolverton is a Pushcart-nominated writer in the Philadelphia area. Her debut YA horror novel A MISFORTUNE OF LAKE MONSTERS is forthcoming in 2024 (CamCat Books), and she is the author of THE TRAJECTORY OF DREAMS (Bitingduck Press, 2013) and editor of BODIES FULL OF BURNING (Sliced Up Press, 2021). Her short stories and creative nonfiction have appeared in dozens publications as well.

Find her online at www.nicolewolverton.com.

Author links:

Cover Reveal: Asking for a Friend by Kara H.L. Chen

BOOK DETAILS:

Asking for a Friend
by Kara H.L. Chen
Published by: HarperCollins, Quill Tree
Publication date: July 23, 2024
Genres: Comedy, Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Synopsis:

This charming YA rom-com follows a strong-willed, ambitious teen as she teams up with her childhood frenemy to start a dating-advice column, perfect for fans of Emma Lord and Gloria Chao.

Juliana Zhao is absolutely certain of a few things:

1. She is the world’s foremost expert on love.

2. She is going to win the nationally renowned Asian Americans in Business Competition. 

When Juliana is unceremoniously dropped by her partner and she’s forced to pair with her nonconformist and annoying frenemy, Garrett Tsai, everything seems less clear. Their joint dating advice column must be good enough to win and secure bragging rights within her small Taiwanese American community, where her family’s reputation has been in the pits since her older sister was disowned a few years prior.

Juliana always thought prestige mattered above all else. But as she argues with Garrett over how to best solve everyone else’s love problems and faces failure for the first time, she starts to see fractures in this privileged, sheltered worldview.

With the competition heating up, Juliana must reckon with the sacrifices she’s made to be a perfect daughter—and whether winning is something she even wants anymore.

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199531908-asking-for-a-friend

Pre-order:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3sgQDmP

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/asking-for-a-friend-kara-hl-chen/1144214047?ean=9780063237889

AUTHOR BIO:

Kara H.L. Chen is a Taiwanese American writer who received her MFA in fiction from Brooklyn College. She is the author of LOVE & RESISTANCE (Quill Tree/Harper Collins, 2023) and ASKING FOR A FRIEND (Quill Tree/HarperCollins, 7/23/24).

Author links: 

Cover Reveal: Love the Way You Lie by Gracie Graham

BOOK DETAILS:

Love the Way You Lie
by Gracie Graham
(Boys of Riverside, #1)
Publication date: February 17, 2023
Genres: Romance, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Torn between my best friend and the boy who makes my heart beat again, learning the truth might break me…

My entire life changed in an instant.

One violent moment took my mother and destroyed me.

And I can’t even remember it.

All I know is…it was my fault.

Now I’m entering senior year after hiding away from the world as long as I could.

The only distraction I have from the heavy weight of my scars is my best friend, Graham.

He’s been my rock through it all.

But when his cousin Atlas appears…my world suddenly tilts on its already unsteady axis.

Everyone warns me to stay away from the star football player with a bad boy reputation and a chip on his shoulder.

I should…

Yet from the moment I climb on the back of his motorcycle, sparks fly.

Despite all the reasons to keep him at a distance, my need for the truth about the accident drives us closer.

Until the truth destroys everything…

One-click this angsty and emotional YA small town, opposites attract, love triangle romance about two best friends and the broken boy who comes between them on the search for the truth that could change everyone’s world.

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/75332401-love-the-way-you-lie

Pre-order:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3WGzXhT

AUTHOR BIO:

Gracie Graham writes contemporary young adult novels and is the pen name for adult author Tia Souders.

Author links:

https://www.facebook.com/GracieGrahamBooks/

https://www.tiktok.com/@graciegrahamauthor

https://www.instagram.com/graciegrahamauthor/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15102652.Gracie_Graham

Cover Reveal: Love & Resistance by Kara H.L. Chen

BOOK DETAILS:

Love & Resistance
by Kara H.L. Chen
Published by: Quill Tree/Harper Collins
Publication date: July 4, 2023
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Olivia Chang is at her fourth school in seven years. Her self-imposed solitude is lonely but safe. At Plainstown High, however, Olivia’s usual plan of anonymity fails when the infamous Mitzi Clarke (influencer, queen bee, bully) makes a pointed racist comment in class. Olivia knows what she must do: let it go. But Olivia is tired of ignoring things just so she can survive. This time, she defends herself.

And that is the end of her invisible life.

Soon, Olivia discovers, and joins forces with, the Nerd Net: a secret society who has been thwarting Mitzi’s reign of terror for months. Together, they plan to unite the masses and create true change at Plainstown High.

But in order to succeed, Olivia must do something even more terrifying than lead a movement: trust other people. She might even make true friends along the way . . . if Mitzi doesn’t destroy her first.

From debut author Kara H.L. Chen comes a razor-sharp tale of love, resistance, and the enduring friendships that make it all worthwhile.

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59772246-love-resistance

Pre-orderhttps://linktr.ee/hl_kara

AUTHOR BIO:

Kara H.L. Chen grew up near Cleveland, Ohio, where she once had to shovel snow off her car with a plastic trashcan. She now lives on the West Coast with her husband and daughters, and is learning how to use an Instapot. She has undergraduate degrees in English and economics, a J.D., and an MFA in fiction. She has used her economics degree exactly once, when she tried to make a joke about marginal costs and marginal returns. It did not go well.

Author links:

https://karahlchen.com/

https://www.instagram.com/hl_kara/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22046781.Kara_H_L_Chen

Cover Reveal: Rhapsody of the Stars by Jannat Bhat

BOOK DETAILS:

Rhapsody Of The Stars
by Jannat Bhat
Publication date: December 10, 2022
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Music. Love. Obsession.

Sophia Kade’s one true desire was to make a name in the music industry. So, when her school announced hosting the Global Musical Icon Competition, a life-changing event for the winning pair, it was the perfect opportunity. The trouble was, that she needed a partner.

When the God of music, Kairo Knight arrives in town to take part in GMIC, she could ask him to help her out in becoming the next best thing, right? But it was out of the question when Kairo looked at her as if she was the worst thing to happen to humankind. Of course, with talent like his comes arrogance. So, she did what any youngster in her shoes would do.

She abducted him.

But the unexpected happened. She fell for him, and he betrayed her in the worst possible way. Who was this guy who hated the world which adored him?

People say music was his obsession until she came into his life. But after what he had done, she was out to destroy him.

Twists and turns, push and pull, and explosive chemistry make for one epic musical tale.

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61310285-rhapsody-of-the-stars

Pre-orderhttps://amzn.to/3RsPD6Q

AUTHOR BIO:

Jannat loves to watch movies & tv shows about myths and legends surrounding romance from a certain perspective. She absolutely adores reading about sexy heroes and sassy heroines.
When she’s not writing, she will mostly be found daydreaming and snuggled up with her cat Sasha, whom she loves dearly.

Links : 
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16818977.Jannat_Bhat
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/jannatbhatauthor
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jannatbhat/
Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Jannat-Bhat/e/B07NQQ5R6V
Twitter – https://mobile.twitter.com/jannatbhat

Cover Reveal: Midnight and Bex by Heather Van Fleet

BOOK DETAILS:

Midnight and Bex
by Heather Van Fleet
Publication date: October 18, 2022
Genres: Suspense, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Trauma and intrigue bring an unlikely couple together in a sleepy Illinois suburb…

Bex Mahoney knows all too well what it’s like to be a loner. As a girl who’d much rather get lost in books and Netflix than makeup and school dances, it’s taken her all of six months to adjust to a new high school and the friends who come with it. But as much as she wants to find some peace following the death of her father, she can’t seem to grasp hold of it like she should. That is until she’s partnered up with a boy in chem who seems to carry more weight on his shoulders than Bex ever has.

Midnight Turner is lost in a dark world that Bex can’t even come close to touching. It’s because of his mysterious persona, though, that her intrigue with him grows stronger by the day. But when a flashback into Midnight’s past has him yanking Bex under chem tables and crying in Latin against her neck, Bex makes it her new life goal to figure him out.

When Bex’s closest friend tells her to steer clear of Midnight, an already insatiable curiosity in Bex grows deeper. But with this curiosity blooms new love. The kind that neither of them ever saw coming. Torn between a past he can’t change and a future she desires, both Midnight and Bex must learn to live in the present where the demons from Midnight’s prior life return to either haunt them…or worse.

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60011182-midnight-and-bex

Pre-orderhttps://geni.us/midnightandbex

AUTHOR BIO:

Heather Van Fleet is a stay-at-home-mom turned book boyfriend connoisseur. She’s married to her high school sweetheart, a mom to three girls, and in her spare time, you can find her with her head buried in her Kindle, guzzling down copious amounts of coffee.

Heather graduated from Black Hawk College in 2003 and currently writes Adult contemporary romance. She is published through Sourcebooks Casablanca with her Reckless Hearts series and Bookouture with her Red Dragon series.

Author links:
http://www.heathervanfleet.com/
https://www.facebook.com/authorheathervanfleet
https://www.pinterest.ca/heathervanfleet/_saved/
https://twitter.com/HLVanFleet
https://www.instagram.com/hvfwrites/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6870087.Heather_Van_Fleet

Cover Reveal: The Magi Manifesto by Kale Lawrence

BOOK DETAILS:

The Magi Manifesto
by Kale Lawrence
(The Magi Menagerie, #2)
Publication date: December 13, 2022
Genres: Fantasy, Historical, New Adult, Young Adult

Synopsis:

After the true power of the Tablet of Destinies is revealed, Ezra grapples with the horrors of the night that changed everything. Haunted by the monster who claimed his father’s life, Ezra is determined to see his promise through and become a Magus. But when the Third Order of the Magi has him arrested for crimes he has yet to commit, Ezra is willing to do whatever it takes to prove himself, even if it means going after the very force that terrorizes his dreams.

But there’s more at stake than the Magi realize and major risks must be taken to settle the score. Desperate to stop the Legerdemain Brotherhood from claiming infinite power, Jonas must lead a team into the heart of enemy territory and dismantle the Brotherhood from the inside. Can Ezra and Jonas successfully stop the Legerdemain from ushering in a new era of terror? Or will yet another unlikely foe rise from the deep?

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59350794-the-magi-manifesto

AUTHOR BIO:

From the early age of 6, Kale Lawrence knew she either wanted to be an astronaut or an author. Obviously, the astronaut gig didn’t work out, so instead, Kale turned to fantastic fictional worlds. When Kale is not writing creatively, she works as a Marketing Manager at a pet product company and pretends she’s an Olympic swimmer at the gym. She has also served as a board member for the South Dakota Writes organization.

In addition to books, Kale has lent her writing prowess to television, and her writing has been featured on nationwide PBS television programming, NBC newscasts, ABC newscasts, and the Travel Channel.

Kale currently lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with her feisty tortoiseshell calico cat, Emma Bug, and sassy Siamese, Seattle Bean.

Author links:

https://www.instagram.com/kalelawrence

https://www.tiktok.com/@authorkalelawrence

https://www.facebook.com/authorkalelawrence/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5241807.Kale_Lawrence