How to Relax

This small pocket sized guide can be devoured all at once or parceled out in small bits every morning with a cup of coffee. It contains lots of bite sized information that can be utilized immediately or slowly absorbed and practiced out when you have spare moments. None of the advice is hard or overwhelming, it's easy to put in practice. From breathing techniques, mindfulness practices, and positive thinking; this little guide has the potential to transform your life in a big way. This would make a great gift and is small enough to carry around with you. Simple, yet empowering.

Black Hole

I feel like I need to take a cold shower after finishing this. It was so dark, despondent and creepy. The illustrations and plot are fantastic though. The 70's were an idyllic time to live if you were a white teenager in suburbia. That is unless you contracted a weird sexually transmitted "bug" that morphed some body deformity. It could be a tail, boils, webbed hands, an extra mouth, shedding skin; it's different for every person. The spread is slow, but it's totally alienating. The shame is all consuming and soon there is nothing to but live in the woods with other afflicted teenagers. There is no hope, no cure, no prevention, and no awareness. This graphic novel is shown through the eyes of several teenagers who have it or will soon contract it. It's dark, weird, and so messed up. It's very nihilistic and unique. I have a lot of thoughts about this book, but I'm not entire sure how to write them out. Read with an open mind and always use a rubber.

These Witches Don't Burn

First off, gorgeous cover. Second off, I'm soo pleased to read more teen books with diverse characters; nearly every one was gay or bi and it was so normalized. Hannah is a witch living in Salem, not one of those Wicca posers, a real live witch. To complicate matters, her ex-girlfriend is also in the coven. Hannah is trying to block her out, but she's everywhere. Her best friend however, is straight, supportive, and has no idea that Hannah is a witch. When she introduces one of her new dance-mates to Hannah, she develops a full blown crush, maybe this is what she needed to get over her ex! Suddenly though, her life and Veronica's is on the line. Someone must have found out they are witches and are trying to kill them. What if it's a blood witch, feared and deadly? Hannah will have to balance romance, school, work, family, magic, and sleep with one eye open. A fun read!

The Rest of the Story

I haven't read a Sarah Dessen book in ages - but my lord - did she become an even better writer? Or was I just so nostalgic to get back to her work that I ate this up? Either way, she's the queen of teen for a reason - this was a wonderful young adult contemporary romance with themes of identity, addiction, and family issues. Emma Saylor thought she knew how her summer would play out, hanging at her best friends house while her dad and new step mom honeymooned - but one family emergency later - Emma finds herself without a place to stay for the summer. It's eventually decided that she should go to the lake to  spend the summer with her mother's family even though she hasn't seen them since she was four. As she gets to know her grandma, cousins, and other lake folk - she starts to piece together her mother's past and think more about her future. A wonderful coming of age story. I couldn't put it down!

With the Fire on High

LOVED LOVED LOVED this book! I loved the characters, the layout, the recipes, the plot, and that beautiful ass cover. How can you not pick up this book with a gorgeous cover like this? Emoni has a lot on her plate. Not only is she a senior trying to figure out what her future after high school will be; but she lives at home with her grandma and two year old daughter, works part time, and tries to excel in class. Emoni's real passion is her daughter and cooking. She can whip up recipes that will make the strongest men cry, and whenever she is overwhelmed she feels safest in the kitchen. When her high school offers an immersive culinary class that will have a week long study abroad component in Spain, Emoni is torn. How can she afford to go and how can she leave Babygirl alone for a week? Is wanting to take this class selfish of her?  To make matters worse, that good looking boy Malachi is in that class. She doesn't have time for boys and their nonsense. A wonderful book about taking risks, putting family first, and realizing that just because your path doesn't look the same as someone else; doesn't mean it is any better or worse. A truly wonderful book that will resonate with many readers.

The Summer of '69

What a wonderful beach read. I breezed right through this and enjoyed every minute of it! The summer of 1969 on Nantucket won't be the same without Tiger, the beloved brother and son of the family. He's just been deployed to Vietnam and everyone knows nothing will ever be the same. This story is alternately told between his three sisters, and his mother; from dealing with first crushes, alcoholism, cheating husbands, and wild carefree parties; each woman is wrapped up in their own little world. Addictive and compulsively readable this story has it all; romance, adventure, intrigue, and hope. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book; this was my first Elin Hildenbrand but I will certainly read more!

The Time Traveler's Wife

Reading this book is akin to being on a roller-coaster. You will feel an insane amount of emotions all the way through and when you shut the book for the final time you aren't sure sure how you should feel. Emotionally drained? Sad? Exhausted? Glad you aren't married to a time traveler? Beautifully written and expertly crafted; this story-line is easy to follow despite its complex back story and unpredictability. From the age of 6, Clare knows she is destined to marry Henry. He's been time traveling and conversing with her for years; she can't wait to grow up and meet him on a normal timeline. Told from both of their perspectives and spanning years, this novel about a relationship that involves time travel, never once manages to be over the top or too science fiction-y. It's plausible and it makes their relationship stronger for it. It's a unique story, that readers won't stop being able to think about. I resisted reading it for a long time (stubbornness maybe?), but I'm not mad now that I've finally gotten around to it. I'm not quite sure why I didn't give it a full 5 stars, the length maybe? Overall though, a pretty solid and unconventional romance.