The Truth And Other Lies by Sascha Arango

I had the pleasure of reading this book back in May thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books. They were very clear not to post reviews of any kind until the release date. Now that this book is available for purchase I can finally post my review!

The Truth And Other Lies is Sascha Arango's debut thriller. 

"On the surface, Henry Hayden seems like someone you could like, or even admire. A famous bestselling author who appears a modest everyman. A loving, devoted husband even though he could have any woman he desires. A generous friend and coworker. But Henry Hayden is a construction, a mask. His past is a secret, his methods more so. No one besides him and his wife know that she is the actual writer of the novels that made him famous.

For most of Henry’s life, it hasn’t been a problem. But when his hidden-in-plain-sight mistress becomes pregnant and his carefully constructed facade is about to crumble, he tries to find a permanent solution, only to make a terrible mistake.

Now not only are the police after Henry, but his past—which he has painstakingly kept hidden—threatens to catch up with him as well. Henry is an ingenious man and he works out an ingenious plan. He weaves lies, truths, and half-truths into a story that might help him survive. But bit by bit the noose still tightens."

Smart, sardonic, and compulsively readable, here is the story of a man whose cunning allows him to evade the consequences of his every action, even when he’s standing on the edge of the abyss."

While the start was very slow, once I was past the first 25% it actually became very enjoyable. I was eager to read as fast as I could to figure out the twists and mysteries. The characters are very well developed and at a times likable and relatable. The mysteries and plot were sometimes confusing. I know this is a thriller, but I felt left out of huge secrets that only the characters knew and it just threw off my reading and left me annoyed. 

The character's inner thoughts, at times, dragged on and on making for extremely boring reading while not giving any real relevance to the main story and ultimately just distracting me from the plot. 

From the start I wondered what the main character was hiding. I plowed through pages just sure it was something crazy and evil. Then the end comes and I got nothing. It was a mangled, cliffhanger ending.

I give this book 3.5 stars. Not on my list of top thrillers, but not a complete waste of time. I am interested to see if the author writes anymore thrillers. Also, this book was a German to English translation, which sometimes can be a bit of a mess, but this book actually translated great. 

Happy Reading!

"The Good Girls (The Perfectionists #2) by Sara Shepard

Sometimes you just need an easy read. For me I like YA books that take me back to before I had bills to pay, laundry to fold and dinners to make. I love books that take me back to life as a high-schooler. The Good Girls by Sara Shepard is book 2 in a series that did just that. It took me back and wrapped me up in gossip, lies, and lip gloss. Oh, and in this book (and series) there was also murder.

I loved the Pretty Little Liars book series. All 17 of them. I also am a huge fan of the show. I have yet to dabble in The Lying Game Series.

The Good Girls is the second and last book in The Perfectionists series. That being said I will try not to spoil anything for readers who haven't even read the first book, simply named The Perfectionists, but plan to read it someday. 

Basically the series (duo? pair?) starts out with a group of girls that all seem to be perfect on the outside. A group project brings them together and at first they all think they have nothing in common. Until they start talking about hypothetical killings. People they want out of their lives. They all realize they have hatred for a fellow classmate, a boy named Nolan. 

In the first book they discuss who and how they would hypothetically like to wind up dead. They end up devising a plan to humiliate Nolan at a party except the plan goes terribly wrong and Nolan ends up dead in the exact way they hypothetically talked about it. It freaks them all out, of course!

This book starts where the first left off. Their teacher (and who they thought killed Nolan) winds up dead the same night they were there to try and get him to confess. Then another person they named winds up dead also. Coincidence? Did someone overhear their conversation? Who is trying to frame them for murder? Are they in danger of being murdered also?

I know it sounds totally cheesy, but I totes love books like this! It was a fun, quick, easy read that actually ended okay. I didn't see it coming. Like not at all. I like that even though I thought and thought about who the murderer(s) was I still didn't guess the ending. I was a bit disappointed but I won't spill the beans. I'll let you decide about the ending.  

Perfect for a fun summer weekend read or a book to sit by the pool with! A solid 4 stars. 

Happy Reading!

"Spelled" by Betsy Schow

"If it looks too good to be true, it probably is." ~ Gretel from Candy Kills: A True Story

"Rule #68: When you're afraid, hold your head high and whistle a happy tune. This remedy is also known to increase dwarf productivity by a multiple of seven." ~ Definitive Fairy Tale Survival Guide, Volume 1

This book is filled with adorable, witty little quotes and rules taken from other fairy tales. It's also filled with lots of plays on words such as:

an ebook- the e short for enchanted

AND

a spellpone (cellphone)

I am telling you, Spelled was a very fun read! It was over-the-top outrageous fun following the adventure of Dorthea- the bratty, spoiled, and cursed Emerald Princess. Pixed (pissed) off that she is being forced to marry Kato, a not-so-charming prince of another kingdom, she wished on a cursed star and it backfires, turning her whole world into mad chaos. 

She then sets out on a weird adventure through magical kingdoms to try and save her parents and restore the magic that she mixed up. Along the way friends are made, enemies are fought, and Dorthea grows from a bratty princess who was only concerned about herself, to a princess who looks out for others in her kingdom. 

There were so many references to other fairy tales that this book truly was interesting throughout. It is laugh out loud funny at times with all the puns and character's you probably have forgotten since your childhood. 

I admit that this YA book was VERY young adult-ish. But it was such a fun, easy read that it didn't bother me. It was a mental vacation in a magical kingdom that I looked forward to reading after the kiddos went to bed. 

This book ends in a cliffhanger. Searching Amazon and Goodreads I found no reference to this being the start of a series, but rumor has it that on her Twitter page she references a possible second book. I combed through her Twitter profile but it was so full that I got tired of searching. 

All in all I give this book a solid 3.5 stars! It kept me entertained with exciting plot twists and fun references to the fairy tales I grew up reading.

A special thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for allowing me a digital copy to read and review. 

Happy Reading!

Andy Weir's "The Martian"

I already know this will cause a discussion. I have friends who absolutely loved this book. For me, lover of Sci-Fi, this book was just "eh". This review may contain spoilers so read at your own risk. 

Sure, this book takes place in space. Mars to be exact. There are spaceships, rovers, and astronauts. But I think the bulk of this book is an immature, nerdy guy's journal. 

So here is a short description of the plot:

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him & forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded & completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive.

Let's start with my biggest issue- character development. There is absolutely none. Here's what I know about the main character. He likes to use exclamation points. He likes to make what he believes are funny jokes and is 95% a smartass. He hates 70s tv and disco. He also loves math and science equations. That's about it. 

My second issue is the plot line. Andy Weir has a plot line in this book that goes like this: Problem, think of solution, act out solution, and then celebrate the solution. Repeat this through the ENTIRE book. It was so boring and repetitive. Not everything can go right the majority of the time in a situation like this. The ending was as expected. Worked out just like in the Hollywood movies. <<<--- See what I did there? Oh great the horrible humor in this book has worn off on me! 

My third issue was all the equations. Science and Math were not my favorite subjects. Reading about science and math equations does not make for fun reading. This book is 75% equations. No joke. At first I really tried to follow and work it out in my head along with the character. Then I just started skimming paragraphs. By the end of the book I was skimming whole sections of a chapter. I guess if you are a math or science geek this book is right up your alley. 

In regards to the previous paragraph I also have to give props. Reading the interview with the author at the end of the book verified that these scientific equations were actually legit. Mr. Weir actually wrote and solved these problems just for the book. It's scientifically correct. Bravo man, bravo. Still boring as hell though. 

There were times when I was fascinated with the story. When I was rooting for Mark (the main character) and was hoping he would pull through. But the story overall just fell flat with me. I prefer my Sci-Fi unrealistic I guess. This was all just too "real" for my liking. 

I am sure I am one of the minority who only gives this book 3 stars. It just wasn't my thing. I am interested to see how this will play out on the big screen though. Honestly, picturing Matt Damon throughout the entire book is the only thing that kept me reading.  

Let me know what you think! I am sure it's on everyone's to-read list! 

Happy Reading! 

"Disclaimer" by Renee Knight

Well, Renee Knight's "Disclaimer" certainly had a lot of hype didn't it? Hailed as "the next Girl On The Train" or " this season's Gone Girl". It was supposed to be a thrilling, psychological, page turner. I honestly liked The Girl On The Train. I can't say much for Gone Girl because I never finished it despite trying to get through it 3 times. "Disclaimer" was just an okay read.  

I wouldn't describe it as thrilling. The only reason it was a page-turner for me is because the pace was so slow that I skimmed most parts of a chapter because I was so bored. I kept thinking that the next chapter would lead the way to more excitement. Something, anything, that would make the time I was spending reading a "thriller" worth it. 

For as slow as 90% of the book was, the ending came so fast! If you blink, you miss it! Let me back up...

This story is told between alternating perspectives and alternating time periods. 40 something year old Catherine starts reading a book and realizes it's about her. A deep, horribly dark secret she has been hiding from everyone.  She is shaken to the core wondering who the author is. 

Stephen is a retired teacher who's wife passed away. Come to find out he is the one who wrote the book. Switching back and forth between these two characters, we very slowly find out what the book is about and how these two became "obsessed" with each other. 

I liked Stephen and his story much more. He seemed more relatable than Catherine. Throughout most of the book I was just willing Catherine to talk to someone about it all. She was very annoying. Most of her chapters were inner monologue of being scared and confused which got repetitive and boring. 

Getting through this book was a struggle. Way too slow for my liking. I am probably going to be the minority with my 3 star rating. It seemed like people loved Gone Girl and this book was just a step above for me. I think I gave The Girl On The Train 4 stars if I remember correctly. 

I won't give away the ending (what kind of a book blogger would I be if I did!). Although it was rushed and a bit "too perfect", it was very satisfying. I wasn't let wondering. I didn't feel like I wasted time reading the book. The author has a great writing style and the book was (at times) entertaining. This book just didn't suck me in. After a few chapters I felt it was more of a chore to finish the book and wasn't really all that excited to dive back into the story.

I expect that this will be on most people's list for summer reading. I also expect that everyone will love it. I am interested to hear from friends and fellow book bloggers what they thought about the book as a whole. 

Happy Reading! 

"The Library At Mount Char" by Scott Hawkins

The Library At Mount Char by Scott Hawkins is an odd book. Let me start by allowing you to read the description:

A missing God.
A library with the secrets to the universe. 
A woman too busy to notice her heart slipping away.
 
Carolyn's not so different from the other people around her. She likes guacamole and cigarettes and steak. She knows how to use a phone. Clothes are a bit tricky, but everyone says nice things about her outfit with the Christmas sweater over the gold bicycle shorts.  

After all, she was a normal American herself once.   

That was a long time ago, of course. Before her parents died. Before she and the others were taken in by the man they called Father. 

In the years since then, Carolyn hasn't had a chance to get out much. Instead, she and her adopted siblings have been raised according to Father's ancient customs. They've studied the books in his Library and learned some of the secrets of his power. And sometimes, they've wondered if their cruel tutor might secretly be God.  

Now, Father is missing—perhaps even dead—and the Library that holds his secrets stands unguarded. And with it, control over all of creation. 

As Carolyn gathers the tools she needs for the battle to come, fierce competitors for this prize align against her, all of them with powers that far exceed her own. 

But Carolyn has accounted for this. 

And Carolyn has a plan. 

The only trouble is that in the war to make a new God, she's forgotten to protect the things that make her human.

Populated by an unforgettable cast of characters and propelled by a plot that will shock you again and again, The Library at Mount Char is at once horrifying and hilarious, mind-blowingly alien and heartbreakingly human, sweepingly visionary and nail-bitingly thrilling—and signals the arrival of a major new voice in fantasy.

Sounds freaking amazing, right!? It sounds like a combination of fantasy, mystery, sci-fi, horror and thriller. It sounds like it will take you into a very dark place and leave you breathless. Plus the cover art is AMAZING! I thought this book would also be amazing but...

This has to be one of the most confusing books I have every read. I don't think I have ever felt so frustrated yet intrigued while reading. I have never in my life had to go back and re-read sections I just finished reading (sometimes I had to re-read it 2 or 3 times). Then, after I read it for the third time I was even more confused than when I read it the first time!

This book is filled with too many characters with too little character development. I can't think of one character I actually liked or had any emotional reading investment in. Too much switching back and forth between past and present. Backstories seemed to cloud the main story and messed up what little reading flow I had. It was a book that crossed many different genres, but so many genres that they seemed mashed together into a giant mess.

 I don't think of myself as a stupid person but I just couldn't wrap my head around this book. I am not even sure who the main character is in this story. The only reason I kept reading is because I made myself believe it would all come to a conclusion that would answer all the questions. That I would suddenly understand and scream "I get it now!" (like I felt at the end of E. Lockhart's We Were Liars) . I thought that if I could just get the the end then I would understand. But for every question I had answered, 10 more reappeared in its place. 

I feel the world that Scott Hawkins set up was primarily in his head. There was no solid explanation of the world in which the characters lived. That lack of world building left me confused from the get-go. Not enough was explained up front and throughout the whole book I was just wondering... I couldn't get past the confusion to really get into the story. 

I have such mixed feelings about this book. While it did leave me thinking about it, the thoughts aren't positive. My brain just keeps mulling around and I am almost in disbelief that a book like this could exist. I love fantasy/horror books but this book took it to a whole new level and I am just not sure I was ready for that ride. It was so deep and dark and at times horrific. Maybe I wasn't in the mindset to read a book like this right now. I might try reading it again someday. Knowing how the story goes I can prepare myself to re-read it and perhaps can try harder to understand it. From other ratings and reviews I have glanced at I see that I am a minority. Most people seemed to really like it. A solid 3 stars is what I give this for originality, creativeness, and intrigue.

I see that quite a few of my Goodreads friends have this on their "to-read" list. I am very interested to hear what they have to say about it. Please let me know your thoughts ya'll!

This digital ARC was provided by Netgalley and Crown Publishing for me to read and review. The opinions expressed are solely my own. This book is set to be released for purchase June 16, 2015.

Happy Reading!

Trish Doller's "The Devil You Know"

A fast read because it was soooooo good! Cadie (the main character- short for Arcadia) is a little sassy thing! I like her! Two pages into this book I knew I would love it! I think I have and attraction to YA books because at age 17/18 I had no idea what I wanted out of life. A lot of the YA  books I read deal with characters who are searching. Searching for themselves, searching for meaning, searching for life. 

This book is about Cadie who just turned 18. She has graduated, works at her dad's grocery store, is not over her ex-boyfriend, and has no idea what direction her life is going. She lives with her dad and her 4 year old brother and is the caretaker for both the house and her brother after her mother died. She is lost, she is sad, she is angry, and she wants change.

This book was a quick, fun read. The characters were likable and relatable. Funny, quick-witted, and a bit naughty (dirty) mouthed at times. I could totally picture the small Florida town she lived in and the landscape surrounding her adventures. 

This book is listed as a YA Thriller. I will admit it was a bit of a thriller at times, though I kind of knew where the book was heading and guessed the ending. It does take me back to a time when I was young, carefree, and down for spur-of-the-moment adventure!

It was a book that I could live vicariously through. What 18 year old girl wouldn't want to go off on an adventure/road trip with two hunky looking guys she just met!? Yes, it sounds like a stupid idea (living vicariously though!) and the adventure starts to go very wrong, but the author takes you through a fun, thrilling, and at times terrifying road trip. 

This is my first book written by Trish Doller, but I look forward to reading her others now! 

The Devil You Know will be available to buy on June 2, 2015. I hope you all read and love it! It was a refreshing read that is perfect for summer!

I was able to read a digital ARC thanks to Netgalley. The review and opinions of this book are completely my own. 

Happy Reading!