Category: Friday Fifteen

Friday Fifteen

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Happy Friday the 13th, guys! This morning I got to take Bodo the dog on a walk that partly included a nearby cemetery, so I’m feeling the spooky vibes this morning. Here’s to a good fall-y weekend, and some micro-book reviews.

I’ll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Touching and well crafted, but I kept thinking–is this really YA?

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Funny, smart, and thoughtful. One of my new favorite YA contemps.

The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas
Couple twists didn’t quite work, but a fun thriller, with a female relationships at its core.

Friday Fifteen

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Happy Friday, guys! I’m sorry I’ve been so MIA recently–things have gotten busy with work and life and Bodo the dog. One of the things that’s been keeping me busy has been a web design class, which is awesome and maybe means I’ll update this site sometime in the near future. In the meantime, here’s a look at what I’ve been reading, in fifteen words or fewer:

Chime by Franny Billingsley
Fun and creepy, with a great voice, while also being about gaslighting and abuse.

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
Interesting blend of contemporary MG and fantasy. Major middle school friendship feels.

Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown
Sweet and touching story of family, religion, and coming out. Also manages to subvert expectations.

Friday Fifteen

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Happy Friday, guys–and happy September! Suddenly it’s felt like Boston realized fall is coming, and I feel like everything should be baking and books and coziness. (Okay, that’s how everything should be all the time.) Let’s get the long weekend started with a few fifteen-word-max book reviews!

We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
Absolutely loved this quiet look at grief and love and family and mistakes and hope.

Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson
I adore Woodson’s writing, and this novel for adults is both heartbreaking and hopeful.

Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman
Should definitely be a movie, ala True Grit. I love a girl out for revenge.

Friday Fifteen

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Happy Friday, guys! It’s been a week of travel, good friends, good food, eclipses, and books. Looking forward to a relaxing weekend at home, and of course more books. Let’s get the weekend rolling with a few fifteen-word (or fewer) book reviews.

Flying Lessons and Other Stories, edited by Ellen Oh 
Lovely and heartbreaking and genuine collection of middle grade stories featuring diverse voices and authors.

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
A powerful and disquieting story about one girl’s struggled to survive Stalin’s Gulag.

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han
I’m fully Team John Ambrose McClaren. Sorry, Peter, you’re not good enough for Lara Jean!

Friday Fifteen

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Happy Friday, guys! Somehow it’s August, which makes me feel like the summer is going by way too quickly, even though I’d really like for it not to be five thousand degrees outside. (Somehow Bodo still wants to go on like hour-long walks; I bring water for us but COME ON, BUDDY.) Let’s get a cool drink and check out a few book reviews in fifteen words or fewer:

If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo
Touching story and beautifully written. Great supporting characters, and an extremely worthwhile author’s note.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
Ending felt slightly rushed, but I love Lara Jean and her sisters so much.

Friday Fifteen

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Happy Friday, guys! It’s been an endless week, but I’m feeling some good writing vibes and am going to spend the weekend with some dogs, so things are feeling okay. Let’s get the weekend started with a few book reviews in fifteen words or fewer:

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
Fascinating look at what happens to us after we’re no longer us.

Everything Beautiful Is Not Ruined by Danielle Younge-Ullman
Wanted to love this one more than I did. Strong writing though; literary feel.

Grit by Angela Duckworth
Talent is nice, but the ability to keep going is what matters. (Important for writers!)

Friday Fifteen

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Happy Friday, guys! Although to be honest, Friday both snuck up on me and didn’t get here soon enough, so I don’t really know how to feel about it. At least I’m hoping to catch up on life stuff and work and sleep this weekend so maybe by Monday I’ll be back to normal. In the meantime, here’s a look at what I’ve been reading in fifteen words or fewer:

As I Descended by Robin Talley
YA lesbian Macbeth is all I needed to hear. Talley’s writing’s awesome; story’s legit creepy.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black
A fun take on contemporary vampires–more Buffy than Twilight here, with some great moments.

PS–I’ve also been wanting to change up the Friday Fifteen format a little (again). While I love the book reviews, I think it would be nice to add some other stuff to this. I’ve done writing updates, but sometimes that doesn’t lend itself to fifteen words or fewer (or even fifteen words at all). Maybe you guys have thoughts?

And if you have specific ideas about what you’d want to see, share them in the comments!

Friday Fifteen

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Happy Friday, guys! I’m looking forward to a long weekend of reading by a large body of water (my favorite activity), spending time with friends, consuming lots of tasty food/drink, and seeing if Bodo prefers swimming to dozing in the sun. Let’s get the weekend started with some book reviews in fifteen words or fewer:

Girl Mans Up by M-E Girard
Started slow, but I didn’t want to leave Pen and friends behind. So many feels!

Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande
Thoughtful and nuanced look at the complexities of elder and end-of-life care.

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
A thrilling adventure through four different (mostly) magical Londons. I’d also like Kell’s coat.

Friday Fifteen

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Happy Friday, guys! I’m looking forward to a cozy/productive weekend with Bodo, and maybe binging on some more library audiobooks. (Seriously, guys, check out your library’s digital resources.) In the meantime, let’s check out some book reviews in fifteen words or fewer.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows
Finally read this one; it was adorable and fun and I want a Masterpiece adaptation.

The Memory of Light by Francisco X. Stork
Sensitive and thoughtful. My new go-to recommendation for teens dealing with mental health issues.

Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen
Not my favorite of Allen’s–too many POV characters, ending felt rushed. Still fun though.

Friday Fifteen

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Happy Friday, guys! This week has mostly been me hacking and sneezing and coughing, and walking around the house telling Bodo the Dog, “Bodo, I’m sick. I’m so sick,” and getting barely any sympathy from him. (He just get confused about why I’m not running around the house with him, squeaky toy in hand.)

But fortunately it’s Friday, which means a weekend of taking it easy. It also means book reviews in fifteen words or fewer!

All the Truth That’s in Me by Julie Berry
Not at all what I expected but in a good way. Berry’s writing is masterful.

Counting Thyme by Melanie Conklin
Sensitive and touching portrayal of childhood cancer, family dynamics, new friends, and change. Love!

Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel
Also not what I expected but awesome–sad and literary, combining text and art beautifully.