Book Review: "The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 2)" by Rick Riordan

"Humans don't exist on the same level as the immortals. They can't even be hurt by our weapons. But you, Percy—you are part god, part human. You live in both worlds. You can be harmed by both, and you can affect both. That's what makes heroes so special. You carry the hopes of humanity into the realm of the eternal."

I mentioned last month that I had started participating in a buddy read of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series with some Bookstagram friends. We're reading one a month, and since I had never picked these up when they were initially released, this has been a fun discovery for me. (Here's my review of Book 1, The Lightning Thief.)

In Book 2, Percy has nearly made it through his entire seventh-grade year without getting expelled. But when a game of dodgeball in gym class turns dangerous, because instead of fending off the school bully and his minions he has to fend off some giant cannibals, everything starts to go awry. And before he knows it, he and his friend Annabeth, along with a new friend, Tyson (who has some special skills of his own), are headed back to Camp Half-Blood, because all of the demigods are in danger since someone has weakened the borders which protect the camp.

In order to save the camp, Percy and his friends have to travel to the Sea of Monsters, but that will be tough, since no one wants he and Annabeth to be heroes once again. But when they realize a close friend is in danger as well, they decide to go anyway. Once again, they'll face dangers they're not expecting, not to mention threats closer to home.

I enjoyed The Lightning Thief but found it at times to be a little too much tell and not enough show, as various characters described things to Percy and, as often happens in superhero movies, the evil characters have to dramatically explain their nefarious plans.

However, in The Sea of Monsters everything really hit its stride. I found Percy to be much more well-developed and all of the other characters were more complex—even the ones you're supposed to hate weren't as annoying! I particularly loved Grover and Tyson, a new character in this book.

I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I could totally see why kids and adults alike enjoy it!

Book Review: "Dream Big, Stella!" by Ashley Farley

I read Dream Big, Stella! in one sitting and enjoyed every minute!

Stella’s dream of a hotel management career isn’t off to an illustrious start: she’s lost three jobs in a year. One night after losing job #3, she gets an unexpected visitor, an attorney, who tells her that her biological father, rock musician Billy Jameson, has died and left her an historic inn in the small town of Hope Springs, Virginia.

Stella had always been told that her father was simply a nameless sperm donor, so all of this news is pretty shocking. But with nothing keeping her in NYC, she decides to check out the inn.

What she finds is gorgeous possibility, left in a dilapidated state. She’s scared she’s in over her head, but apparently Billy trusted her, so since the estate will pay to renovate and rebuild everything, she embraces this amazing chance.

But amidst the excitement of restoring and expanding the inn, Stella has lots of questions. If her father trusted her to run the inn, why did he never make an effort to meet her before he died? Why didn’t her mother ever tell her about him? Why does everyone keep telling her she has to discover answers to her questions herself instead of sharing the truth?

This is a fantastic, warm, compelling story about self-belief, love, friendship, ambition, and LOTS of family drama. I wish Hope Springs existed because it sounded like such a great place to visit!

Ashley Farley is an amazing writer I’ve been introduced to by Kate Rock Book Tours, and this is the third of her books I’ve read in the last year. I’ve loved every one of her books so far, and can’t wait to read the second book in her three-book Hope Springs series!

I was honored to be part of the blog tour for this book. Kate Rock Book Tours and Ashley Farley provided me with a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!

The book publishes 9/1.

Book Review: "The Last Story of Mina Lee" by Nancy Jooyoun Kim

"Sometimes, agreeing to the same lie is what makes a family family, Margot."

How well do we truly know those we love?

Margot has never quite “gotten” her mother, Mina. Growing up she was always a little embarrassed of how hard her mother had to work to keep them afloat, she was embarrassed by their rundown apartment, and the fact she never really made an effort to learn much English.

Still, when her mother doesn’t answer her home or work phones for several days, Margot worries, and when she and a friend get to her apartment, they find Mina on the floor, dead, from an apparently accidental stumble.

Margot is devastated and wants to understand what happened to her mother, especially when she learns that Mina had been seeming sad lately. As she goes through her mother’s papers and possessions, she realizes there was so much about her mother she didn’t know, so much that made her who she was and shaped her relationship with Margot.

The book is narrated by Margot in the present as well as Mina, tracing the time period from when she arrived in the U.S. until just before her death.

I liked The Last Story of Mina Lee, particularly Margot’s discoveries about her mother. Margot herself isn’t the most sympathetic character, but you certainly understand her actions. Mina’s story was a sad one, but probably one which mirrored many immigrants’. Nancy Jooyoun Kim is definitely a talented storyteller and this is an impressive debut.

The “mystery” part of the plot didn’t really work for me. I found a lot of the connections to be coincidental and a little too unbelievable. Still, on the whole, it was a well-written and compelling book.

I was honored to be part of the blog tour for this book. NetGalley and Park Row Books provided me a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!

The Last Story of Mina Lee publishes 9/1!

Book Review: "Heart Bones" by Colleen Hoover

CoHo hits another home run with her newest novel, Heart Bones!!

“‘Don’t worry. Hearts don’t have bones. They can’t actually break.’ But what if the only way of knowing you grew a heart bone is by feeling the agony of the break?”

Beyah has always made her own path. She’s had no other choice. But with a few months left until college she’s left with nowhere to turn, so she winds up going to spend the summer with her father, whom she barely knows, on a peninsula in Texas.

She’s not planning to let anyone in. She just needs a place to stay. And then she meets Samson, the best friend of her stepsister’s boyfriend. The two are drawn to one another but Beyah feels ill-at-ease around him, partially because they are so different on the surface: Samson is a child of wealth and privilege, while Beyah has known mostly neglect and poverty.

But as the summer progresses, and she lets her guard down little by little, Beyah realizes that there’s so much about Samson she doesn’t know. He has so many secrets that he promises to tell her before she leaves, but she’s not sure leaving is even what she wants anymore. They promised not to fall in love with each other, but how do you stop yourself from falling?

And then in a split second, it all changes. How do you figure out what your heart wants, what path your future should take? It’s easier never to let anyone else in, that way you can’t feel hurt. But of course, you’ll never experience love and joy this way either.

Over the last year or so, Colleen Hoover has become one of my go-to, auto-buy authors. I read this book in one sitting and it grabbed hold of my heart and didn’t let go. This is a story of strength and vulnerability, courage and fear, and powerful, powerful love.

I’m almost sorry I raced through it so quickly because I loved it so much.

Book Review: "The Switch" by Beth O'Leary

Could The Switch feel any more like a giant hug?

Leena is falling apart. It’s been happening for a while, ever since her sister died, although she’s been able to press on. But when she blows a big presentation at work, her boss forces her to take a two-month sabbatical.

Her grandmother Eileen is trying to move on after her unfaithful husband left her, but dating at 79 isn’t easy, especially in her tiny Yorkshire village of Hamleigh-in-Harksdale. (She knows all of the men and the pickings are pretty slim.) But she has her friends and her town projects to keep busy.

When Leena comes to visit and they talk about their various issues, she poses a great idea: the two should swap lives for two months. Eileen can move into Leena’s London flat and try her hand at online dating, while Leena can take on Eileen’s projects and decompress. And Eileen hopes that Leena can mend her relationship with her mother, which has been quite strained since her sister died.

Of course, nothing is as easy as it seems to be, and while Eileen finds freedom and opportunity in London, Leena struggles with finding her way, and realizes what she assumed was her grandmother’s simple, small-town life is anything but. And both make some interesting discoveries where matters of the heart are concerned.

This is an adorable, warm, moving book that utterly charmed me from start to finish. I loved Beth O’Leary’s first book, The Flatshare, and this book put the same smile on my face that that one did.

Can you see how the story will unfold? Sure. Does it matter? I don’t think so, not with these memorable characters and the terrific setting. It made me feel all warm inside!!

Book Review: "When I Was You" by Amber Garza

Wow, what a crazy ride this book took me on!

"It was a Monday morning in early October when I first heard about you. I was getting out of the shower when my phone rang. After throwing on a robe and cinching it, I ran into my bedroom, snatching my cell off the nightstand."

Kelly Medina gets a call from a pediatrician’s office, reminding her of an appointment for her baby. Kelly’s son is in college so this call isn’t for her.

It turns out that there’s another Kelly Medina in town, and she has a young baby. How strange that there could be two women in the same small town with exactly the same name?

Kelly is utterly intrigued by the presence of this other woman. When she finds out the "other" Kelly has been at her gym, her interest grows, and little by little, that intrigue turns to obsession when she “coincidentally” meets the woman who shares her name.

I’ll leave the plot summary there but suffice it to say things get WILD from there!

When I Was You definitely had its wow moments, with lots of twists and turns, but there was one key component of the plot that I called really early on, so I was a bit frustrated. Luckily, it was only one thing in the middle of a lot of others. It’s definitely a book you won’t want to put down!!

I've been growing weary of thrillers lately, because I can't seem to find many that wow me. I will say that while I had some issues with this book, it was still a crazy and compelling read.

I’m grateful to have been part of the blog tour for this book. MIRA and NetGalley provided a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!!

Book Review: "Perfect Tunes" by Emily Gould

Sometimes life gets in the way of your dreams.

Laura has always wanted to be a musician. Growing up in Ohio, she used to write songs for fun, and when she moves to New York City after graduation, she’s ready to finally pursue her dreams. But although she’s a talented singer, guitarist, and writer, she struggles with confidence and motivation, although thanks to her best friend Callie, she is able to get some small pops of opportunity.

When she meets Dylan, the handsome, enigmatic, troubled front man of a band poised for greatness, she is instantly drawn to him. As the band becomes more popular, Laura’s feelings intensify, as do Dylan’s struggles. She’s not sure what she wants, from life or their relationship, but in some ways, decisions are made for her.

Fifteen years later, Laura has a comfortable life unlike the one she dreamed of. While she occasionally writes songs for her friend, she mostly deals with the struggles of her teenage daughter, who is forever pushing the boundaries of their relationship.

As Laura realizes the key to the future is unpacking some of her past, she also realizes that she is entitled to pursue her dreams, too, and that living and loving doesn’t always mean sacrifice.

Perfect Tunes is a well-written book about relationships—parental, romantic, platonic—and the sacrifices we make to try and ensure they succeed. It’s also a story about mental health, self-confidence, and both the beauty and fear that come from going after your dreams.

I liked this book but I didn’t really feel a connection to the characters as much as I wanted to. Laura’s indecisiveness irritated me from time to time, but Emily Gould’s storytelling really lifted the story up.