two friends and too many books
**Disclaimer: I received a free advanced reader copy of Smash It by Francina Simone from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to them for this opportunity.
Smash It by Francina Simone is a young adult contemporary novel. It is an #ownvoices coming of age story, and also a retelling of the Shakespearean play Othello. The book publishes on September 22nd, 2020. I rated it four stars.
**Disclaimer: I received a free early access review copy of Versailles: My Father’s Palace in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity.
Versailles: My Father’s Palace by Maite Labat, Jean-Baptiste Verber, and illustrated by Alexis Vitrebert is a historical fiction graphic novel set in France during the late 1800s to early 1900s. The story features a piece of history of one of France’s most iconic historical sites while intermingling the discussion of family relationships. It has beautiful artwork. It releases on September 22nd. I gave it three stars on Goodreads.
** Disclaimer: I received a free advanced reader’s copy of Even If We Break by Marieke Nijkamp through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this opportunity.
Even If We Break by Marieke Nijkamp is a young adult mystery thriller set at an isolated cabin on a mountain. It is about five friends who play a roleplay game together, and who are getting together for the last time only for things to go horribly wrong. Even If We Break is set to publish on September 15th, 2020. I rated it 4 stars on Goodreads.
This book had been on my TBR pile for a few years, ever since I heard Lin-Manuel Miranda was supposed to have a hand in a TV adaptation of it. I am a sucker for LMM and would listen to him perform the dictionary because he could rock that. (I don’t actually know if this still a thing, but at the time it was.)
I was pleasantly surprised to see how popular this was on bookstagram! It took me about three years to finally get to it and about five months to actually read it, but it was definitely worth it! I’m so excited to continue the series.
**Disclaimer: I received a free advanced reader’s copy of Fable by Adrienne Young through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this opportunity!
Fable by Adrienne Young is the first of two books in the Namesake duology. It is a young adult fantasy novel set in a seafaring world, and tells the story of a teenage girl named Fable who is just trying to survive and get by. Fable is set to be published on September 1st, 2020. I gave it 4 stars on Goodreads.
***Disclaimer: I received a free early access copy of Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles from NetGalley through Wednesday Books for review purposes. Thank you to Wednesday Books for the opportunity!
For an excerpt of this amazing book, be sure to check the end of the post!
I’ve heard this book be compared to Moulin Rouge and Caraval mixed together. While I haven’t read Caraval yet (I know, I know it’s on my TBR!), you had me at that comparison! This definitely did not disappoint!
***Disclaimer: I received a free early access copy of The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones from NetGalley and Gallery/Saga Press for review purposes. Thank you very much!
I really love a good horror story and it’s sometimes difficult to find horror books because they are mixed in with general fiction. Thankfully, I follow some amazing people on bookstagram that can give me recommendations. I’m actually proud of myself because I saw this one myself and had to give it a try… I was not disappointed!
**Disclaimer: I recieved a free advanced reader’s copy of Cinderella is Dead through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publishers and to NetGalley for this opportunity.
Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron is a young adult fantasy novel that takes place in the same world as Cinderella, but 200 years after Cinderella died. It’s feminist and queer, and plays with that familiar story we all know. The book published on July 7th, 2020. I rated it three stars.
**Disclaimer: I received a free copy of The Sword and the Dagger by Robert Cochran from his publishers in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to them for this opportunity.
The Sword and the Dagger by Robert Cochran is a young adult historical fiction novel. It is a multi point of view novel set during the reign of Genghis Khan. Three very different characters are forced to come together on an unlikely mission. I rated it four stars on Goodreads.
**Disclaimer: I received a free advanced reader’s copy of Harrow Lake by Kat Ellis through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this opportunity.
Harrow Lake by Kat Ellis is a stand-alone novel. It’s classified as a young adult horror novel and deals with some rather sensitive topics, so readers beware. It’s about a girl named Lola who is learning more about her family history in a rather spooky small town. Harrow Lake, according to NetGalley, is set to be published on August 25th, 2020. I gave it five stars on Goodreads.