The Chaperone

This is like a teen version of The Handmaid's Tale. It's aimed at younger audiences, only decently well written, and the plot only varies slightly to the premise of Margaret Atwood's classic. In New America women are governed by men. Young women from the time of their first blood can never be alone and are provided a government chaperone to help mold them into subservient young women. Their education is subpar and the only thing their future holds is marriage or spinsterhood as a chaperone. Sound familiar? I thought the ending was rushed and their were some big plot holes. Fast paced and easy to read but could have used some more work. 

Better Luck Next Time

Tatum is so ready for high school to be over so her new life can begin. She is chomping at the bit to go to college; the only thing concerning her is her boyfriend Jeremy. He has no idea what he wants to do after graduation and it's causing Tatum to be very concerned about their future. It also doesn't help that Tatum has daddy issues and is convinced that all men will leave her. She doesn't want to say the L word and isn't sure if she should lose her virginity to Jeremy. She likes him a lot and wants to look forward to a future together but being in love and making love seem like too big a leap. Right before graduation Tatum, her best friend Kait, and Jeremy go to a party together and nothing will ever be the same. I really wanted to like this, but this highlighted such a toxic relationship. It was cringy and uncomfortable. I was so ready for the book to end and I didn't like a single character (except Dean). I think I may be getting to old and cynical for young adult books?!

Not Good for Maidens

I absolutely loved the setting and the premise. The world building was top tier - unfortunately for me, I didn't care about the main plot. I loved the idea of a market, an inbetween place full of goblins and horrors. It was truly intriguing and it reminded me of a darker labyrinth. I wanted Jareth to pop out so bad! Instead a girl, living thousands of miles away finds out about it when her aunt is taken there. Her mother rushes back to York to try and rescue her and Lou finally finds out what her mother and aunt had been hiding from her all her life. When her mom and aunt were her age they too entered the market and ended up killing a goblin and getting banned from their coven of witches (oh yeah - she also finds out she comes from a coven). A lot of plot holes but I truly loved the setting. So dark and creepy!

Just for the Summer

A light hearted and enjoyable summer read about two women who decide to swap jobs for the summer. Ginny is the manager of a high end hotel in Seattle and is in dire need of a break. Her job is demanding and her boss is a tyrant. Jacqueline is sick of running her grandfather's fishing lodge and is ready for the finer things in life. The two women both reply to an ad about a job swap and then the two switch places. Jacqueline is in awe of the glitz and the glamour but is in way over her head; she may have lied a bit about her managerial experience. Ginny on the other hand is happy for the first time in years. The scenery is beautiful, the job is less stress and more rewarding, and the hunky fishing guide is starting to win her over. This is a sweet clean read with a happy ending. I do feel the ending was a little rushed and that Jacqueline was a little two dimensional; but other than that I really enjoyed it. I loved the hotel management aspects of the book - it sounded fun! 

Clear

 

Beautiful and masterfully crafted; Carys Davies delivers a unique and moving novel about a minister tasked with evicting the lone inhabitant from a small distant island. During the 1840s the Scottish Clearances were in full effect, removing thousands of poor residents through mandatory evictions. John, a poor Scottish minister desperate to earn some income, takes the job of removing Ivar from a remote island. When John finally arrives at the island, he immediately falls off a cliff and is nursed back to health by Ivar, who has no idea what John's arrival means for him. Used to being solitary, with only his animals and the ocean for company; he quickly takes to John. Together they work past their language barriers and begin to understand each other; forging a much deeper companionship and outlook on life. Impeccably narrated by Russ Bain whose Scottish timbre effuses the story with authenticity and soul. Short and simple; Clear is a thought-provoking historical novel that showcases the nuance of words, the complexity of relationships, and hauntingly beautiful atmospheric writing.  

Always Sunshine Yellow

Always Sunshine Yellow is a profoundly moving collection of deeply personal and emotional poetry. Maria doesn't shy away from reflecting inward and her prose is all the more brilliant from it. This poetry collection is broken into three sections: Faith & Hope, Lessons & Resilience, and Love & Family. Each section contains poems that reflect joy, introspection, triumph, and hope. The poems themselves range from a few lines to a few pages, but no matter the word count, they all elicit emotion from the reader. One of my favorites is a short poem entitled, "Excess." 

Lord, pour yourself over me,

and allow the excess

to flow from my pen. 

Interspersed amongst the poetry are small illustrations that help add to the mood and add some charming whimsy. A wonderful book of prose that can be devoured over one sitting or sampled at intervals. As an added bit of interest, Maria Gray-Gerhart is a Johnson County resident currently living in Franklin. 

The Only Survivors

Twisty, turny, and expertly narrated - I found myself easily captivated in this thriller. The story took a while to pick up speed, but even in the beginning I was intrigued enough to see where the story would leave. After a tragedy claimed twelve of their classmates and teachers, the nine remaining survivors get together each year on the anniversary of the accident to stay connected. This year however, they are down to just seven. A lot happened that fateful night and the survivors weren't entirely truthful with the police, their yearly gathering helps reinforce that they all have each others backs - even if they don't entirely like or trust each other. But this year on the tenth anniversary of the tragedy - things are going wrong. Are they being followed? Why are people asking questions?1 The ending wasn't a blockbuster, but it was a surprise. The narration was fantastic and is really what kept me going. 

Why Not You?

I think this book is an excellent starting guide for teens that are interested in politics, leadership, and making a change. Written by Christina Hale, a former Indiana State Legislator, this book has excellent personalized stories to help drive her point across. She is able to speak from experience and use her wins and losses to drive the book. Not only does she use her personal experience she ties in the experience of a lot of other changemakers as well. No matter your politics this book is a great guide to getting the youth involved!

The Gimlet Slip

 

A fun and fast-paced novella written by bestselling authors Fiona Davis and Greg Wands; perfect for fans of the roaring twenties and mafia thrillers. New York City in the early thirties is a hotbed of gangsters, crooked cops, and thirsty citizens. Jo Hayes is an independent young woman bucking societal norms by being an auto mechanic. After a series of impulsive actions she finds herself as a getaway drivers for a bunch of rum runners. When she gets into a serious accident, Jo heads for the big city determined to salvage things and work her way up in the business. There she meets Lydia Gardiner the notorious queenpin of a sweeping criminal empire, who decides to take Jo under her wing as her protege. What they don't account for is a nosy detective with a score to settle. Narrated by a trio of voice actors whose cadence and accents give the characters grit and charisma. Clocking in at less than three hours, this audiobook was definitely short on time and hurried on plot. That being said, it was still an enjoyable listen that fans of Boardwalk Empire and other prohibition era literature will enjoy. 

Wild Conviction

Definitely a unique concept, Wild Conviction is a coming of age novel set right before the Civil War. Twilight (yes, that's really her name) is living with her well to do family in Memphis, Tennessee. When she opens a letter from her dear GrandMama on her 16th birthday she discovers that not only does she have secret powers, but she also has an African American ancestor (which is practically a death sentence in those times). No one in her family knows and to keep her family safe she should burn the letter (which she obviously doesn't). Growing up she has always hated slavery but now she really wants to act on it and abolish it. She and her riverboat captain friend impulsively buy a woman and her child so that they can set them free. Next Twilight inexplicably allows a plantation heir to court her and soon she is swept off her feet. In no time at all she is held against her wishes on his plantation and being waited on by the enslaved, which is the opposite of what she wanted. If only she had given her heart to the riverboat captain instead. This is a long book, and minus the impulsiveness of Twilight could also be considered an adult title. The ending leave it open for maybe more books?

What Stalks Among Us

Super intriguing concept and unlike anything I've ever read before. On the surface it's a horror novel about two teens lost in a corn maze that keeps killing them as they try to escape. But below that it is so much more. Sadie and Logan skip their senior trip to King's Island and decide to drive around aimlessly, a favorite past time of theirs. While they haven't been friends for years, they got really close their senior year of high school and now the pair is inseparable. But there is a lot they don't know about each other and this twisty, messed up maze is going to bring a lot to the surface. Can they survive this maze? Can they trust each other? Time bending, heart pounding, generally creepy; this is a standout teen novel. 

Never Fall Again

Landry Hutton and her daughter have been living a quiet unassuming life in Gossamer Falls. Landry is an artist in residence at an exclusive resort and she will finally have enough money to build a house of their own. The contractor she chooses to build her house turns out to be a wonderful human as well as contractor. He takes Landry and her 5 year old daughter under his wing and has soon introduced her to his entire extended family. Landry ran from a troubled past and has no family to speak of so she is incredibly grateful. When a fire at the resort takes out most of her pottery inventory - she begins to wonder if it's an accident or if its personal. Good thing her contractor. neighbor/ former marine has her best interests at heart. Speaking of hearts - could what they've both been running from bring them together? Inspirational romance that isn't too preachy. I can't wait to read the rest in the series!

The Girl in the Thistles

The premise of this story (which is based on real events) is good. It's compelling and interesting. Unfortunately, I don't think the story was executed very well. The characters seemed very two dimensional and I didn't care all that much for any of them. They all lacked a spark to make them feel real and important. Emilie is a mixed blood. Her father is Scottish and her mother is Dakota. She straddles both worlds and loves them both pretty equally. When the US-Dakota War of 1862 erupts her clan is embroiled in it and her home is destroyed. Her father goes missing in the chaos and she is determined to find him. Again, the events are compelling, but Emilie is not. Very slow read.