Monday, July 30, 2018

In a Nutshell Reviews


In a Nutshell Reviews are my version of mini-reviews, because sometimes, you just want the highlights.

Heretics Anonymous
Katie Henry
Series: n/a
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
Put an atheist in a strict Catholic school? Expect comedy, chaos, and an Inquisition. The Breakfast Club meets Saved! in debut author Katie Henry’s hilarious novel about a band of misfits who set out to challenge their school, one nun at a time. Perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Robyn Schneider.

When Michael walks through the doors of Catholic school, things can’t get much worse. His dad has just made the family move again, and Michael needs a friend. When a girl challenges their teacher in class, Michael thinks he might have found one, and a fellow atheist at that. Only this girl, Lucy, isn’t just Catholic . . . she wants to be a priest.

Lucy introduces Michael to other St. Clare’s outcasts, and he officially joins Heretics Anonymous, where he can be an atheist, Lucy can be an outspoken feminist, Avi can be Jewish and gay, Max can wear whatever he wants, and Eden can practice paganism.

Michael encourages the Heretics to go from secret society to rebels intent on exposing the school’s hypocrisies one stunt at a time. But when Michael takes one mission too far—putting the other Heretics at risk—he must decide whether to fight for his own freedom or rely on faith, whatever that means, in God, his friends, or himself.
Michael was not happy that his father up and moved his family yet again, and to make matters worse, he was making him attend a Catholic school. Michael had already written the place off before he even walked through the door, but then he met Lucy, and she introduced him to Heretics Anonymous, and well, things were looking up.
We believe in one fundamental truth:
That all people, regardless of what they worship, who they love, and what they think
Have a right to exist, and a right to be heard.
  • Pro: From the excerpt from the Heretics Anonymous manifesto, you can see that there was a theme that EVERYBODY matters, and that's something I can get 100% behind. 
  • Pro: The first half of the book was jam packed with humor. I was able to relate to a lot of things in the book too, because I am Catholic and went to a Catholic school. 
  • Pro: I always get a little nervous when religion is part of a book, since many in the entertainment industry hold very negative views of organized religion. Henry did point out the flaws, but she also offered alternate points of view, and showed how there are some positive things to religion as well. 
  • Pro: Diversity was present in many forms in this book. There were characters from different races, with different sexual orientations, and with different religious beliefs represented. 
  • Pro: The exploration of faith and religion was quite interesting. The idea that you can be part of a religion, while not subscribing to every tenet was touched upon. Lucy was very devout, but she didn't hide the fact that she thought the church needed to evolve and change. It was still a place she loved and found comfort, but she also wanted to see it change as society changed. 
  • Pro: I really, really enjoyed the last part of the book. It was the part, where Michael underwent his big growth phase. I was really proud of the conclusions he came to regarding his family, friends, and the idea of faith. 
Overall: What do you get when you send an atheist to Catholic School? You get a pretty amusing, heartwarming, and compelling coming of age story.


Almost Impossible
Nicole Williams
Series: n/a
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Rating:  4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
Fans of Sarah Dessen, Stephanie Perkins, and Jenny Han will delight as the fireworks spark and the secrets fly in this delicious summer romance from a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author.

When Jade decided to spend the summer with her aunt in California, she thought she knew what she was getting into. But nothing could have prepared her for Quentin. Jade hasn't been in suburbia long and even she knows her annoying (and annoyingly cute) next-door neighbor spells T-R-O-U-B-L-E.

And when Quentin learns Jade plans to spend her first American summer hiding out reading books, he refuses to be ignored. Sneaking out, staying up, and even a midnight swim, Quentin is determined to give Jade days--and nights--worth remembering.

But despite their storybook-perfect romance, every time Jade moves closer, Quentin pulls away. And when rumors of a jilted ex-girlfriend come to light, Jade knows Quentin is hiding a secret--and she's determined to find out what it is.
Jade had spent her whole life on the road with her mom as she toured the world with her band. This summer, the last summer before she was due to put down roots at the college of her choice, she wanted to experience an authentic American teenage summer and stay in one place. She had a few secret plans up her sleeve, but she never planned on Quentin capturing her heart.
  • Pro: As a single mom, I love seeing single parent families depicted in books, and I really like when they DON'T show the family struggling. I am confident, that there are many successful single parents out there.  
  • Pro: Jade was a vegan hippie bookworm, yet, I really liked her. Her big heart was one of her greatest attributes, and she used it to commit acts of kindness throughout this book. 
  • Pro: I actually really liked the parallels that ran between certain characters in this book. The connection worked well for me. 
  • Pro: Quentin and Jade were a great pair. They had chemistry, the banter was witty and snappy, and I loved the way they played off each other. 
  • Pro: Jade and her mom shared a very special bond. They grew up together, but not only did her mom grow up, she grew into being a pretty amazing mom.
  • Pro: I really liked the ending. Believe it or not, it was somewhat unexpected, though utterly delightful. My only issue was that I really wanted more of Jade and Quentin's story. I just enjoyed it so much. Maybe an epilogue would have left me fully sated? 
Overall: A great summer romance, which was sweet, touching, and left me smiling.


The Other Side of Lost
Jessi Kirby
Series: n/a
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: HarperTeen
Rating:  5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
Girl Online meets Wild in this emotionally charged story of girl who takes to the wilderness to rediscover herself and escape the superficial persona she created on social media.

Mari Turner’s life is perfect. That is, at least to her thousands of followers who have helped her become an internet starlet. But when she breaks down and posts a video confessing she’s been living a lie—that she isn’t the happy, in-love, inspirational online personality she’s been trying so hard to portray—it goes viral and she receives major backlash. To get away from it all, she makes an impulsive decision: to hike the entire John Muir trail. Mari and her late cousin, Bri, were supposed to do it together, to celebrate their shared eighteenth birthday. But that was before Mari got so wrapped up in her online world that she shut anyone out who questioned its worth—like Bri.

With Bri’s boots and trail diary, a heart full of regret, and a group of strangers that she meets along the way, Mari tries to navigate the difficult terrain of the hike. But the true challenge lies within, as she searches for the way back to the girl she fears may be too lost to find: herself.
Mari had spent so many years curating her life, that she forgot to actually live it. Following her cousin's death, she felt adrift, lost, and she hoped following in Bri's footsteps would lead her back to herself.
  • Pro: My emotions! My emotions! There were so many tears during this book. I cried for Bri and the things she would never do. I cried for Mari and the years she wasted, but there were also plenty of happy tears shed. Every one of Mari's successes filled me with joy, and I loved seeing her point of view change. 
  • Pro: This is my third book featuring some serious, hardcore hiking, and I was once again captivated by the trials, tribulations, and accomplishments of those who do this sort of thing. I know you are going to think, "How can Mari just walk onto that trail?" BUT, Kirby did not make it sound easy, by any means, and she gave her plenty of assistance. Regardless, I was still really inspired by the whole trip. 
  • Pro: The Sierras sound absolutely breathtaking. Kirby took us on a physical and visual tour of the John Muir trail, and it was such a special treat getting to "see" it. 
  • Pro: Mari was so lucky to meet Josh and all his friends. Not only did they help her novice self navigate the trail, but they gave her something she had needed more than she realized - genuine human interaction. The friendship they shared was really special. 
  • Pro: One of the items Mari found in Bri's pack was her journal. I loved getting to peek at the daily entries, because they were positive, inspiring, and also adorably illustrated. I thought it was a fantastic way for Bri to encourage Mari, and a brilliant way for us to get to know Bri as well. 
  • Pro: The ending was really beautiful and appropriate. I was left with some tears, but I was smiling through those tears. 
Overall: A beautiful and touching story of one woman's physical, mental, and emotional journey of self discovery. I was all in from the very beginning and loved every second of it. 


** ARCs received in exchange for honest reviews.

Have you read any of these books?
Let us know in the comments!

34 comments:

  1. I barely heard about Heretics Anonymous and The Other Side of Lost a few weeks ago and both of them look fantastic. Great reviews!

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    1. I am fast becoming a big Kirby fan. I liked her last book, but I LOVED the two I read after that.

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  2. The Other Side of Lost sounds super good. Great reviews.

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    1. I loved it! I liked how it challenged our media obsessed culture, I loved how Mari grieved, and I loved the whole trail experience.

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  3. OMG, the main character in Heretics Anonymous is me. I went to a Catholic graduate school, though, not a high school. Since we were all adults, everyone was pretty chill about our religious differences. The Other Side of Lost sounds good, too. I’m always interested in books about social media.

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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    1. HA was pretty funny. It has this short detour, which I was whatever about, but overall, it presented some interesting ideas about religion. The Other Side of Lost was totally about how it made me feel, which was wonderful.

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  4. I'm so glad to see the 5 stars and the praise for the Jessie Kirby book. She's such a wonderful author and writes stories of grief and coming of age beautifully.

    Almost Impossible sounds like a cute read too. I'm glad you connected to the book!

    Glad to hear that there was lots of diversity in Heretics. I love that title btw! :)

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    1. It's funny. My first Kirby book was just alright (last year's release), this book and Things We Know by Heart were both incredible reads for me

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  5. So happy you loved The Other Side of Lost. It's in my TBR but haven't seen reviews yet. Great reviews!

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    1. Oh, I just had all the feels from this book. I hope you love it too. It has really motivated me to tackle Kirby's backlist

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  6. This is my first time hearing about The Other Side of Lost! It sounds amazing, and I'm definitely planning on picking up the book in the future. Thanks for sharing! Almost Impossible also sounds fun, but I'm not in the mood for a contemporary romance, so I don't know if I'll pick it up anytime soon. :)

    Genni @ Ready, Set, Read

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    1. I first caught wind of Kirby last year, and after reading Things We Know By Heart, I knew I needed to read her new book. I have a thing for grief books too, and this healing journey was really wonderful.

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  7. You’re always reading books I’ve never heard of and tempting me!

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    1. That's because I am actually ahead with my ARCs right now. 🤣

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  8. Awesome Reviews glad to here Heretics Anonymous was good cause I been seeing it everywhere. I haven't heard of The Other Side of Lost, but now it's on my radar.

    Tori @ In Tori Lex

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    1. The Other Side of Lost really hit me in the feels. I like books that make me happy, and it delivered

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  9. I can't wait to read The Other Side of Lost - I just know I'm going to sob!

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    1. I am getting all verklempt just thinking about it. I really enjoyed it. I hope you do too.

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  10. The Other Side of Lost sounds wonderful, and I know a few people who would really enjoy Heretics Anonymous

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    1. HA was really funny for the first half of the book. It got more serious towards the second half, which was still good, just not as good for me, but because it finished strong, I was happy overall.

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  11. The Other Side of Lost sounds like such a wonderful read and like one that would definitely have me in tears. I'll have to keep the Kleenex handy when I read that one, lol.

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    1. I did shed tears, but I am a renown crier. Still, a lovely story of grief and loss, but also figuring out, who you really are.

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  12. Heretics Anaonymous sounds great, and I'm the same way. Seeing religion in a book, especially YA, makes me leery, but it looks like it was handled really well here! I'm glad to hear The Other Side of Lost was good too, since I was hoping it would be. Ever since I discovered Jessi Kirby last year I've been wanting to read more by her.

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    1. I went into HA with a lot of trepidation, because my own religion was the one under fire, but I felt like the author was sort of fair is showing both sides of religion and being religious. Both The Other Side of Lost and Things We Know by Heart blew me away. I just bought two more Kirby books, because, ebook sales, couldn't help myself, and I really want to read all her books now.

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  13. The cover of Almost Impossible looks so fun and it sounds like a good book! Heretics Anonymous is on my TBR and I am really intrigued to see what the religious discussion is like. I pretty much aim to read all the religious representation and discussion in YA because it's a topic/theme and a lot of the beliefs are quite close to my heart! Then the last one got five stars so I know that book is going to be important. I'm always here for books that discuss or include social media in them as well because I spend so much of my time on there because of blogging.

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    1. I am really becoming a Kirby fan. My intro to her was good, but the two that followed were wonderful! I just bought two more of her books this morning for my final quarter binge.

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  14. So I think we mostly agree about Heretics Anonymous! As a NON-Catholic person who went to a Catholic school... well I could relate a lot hahah. It was a cute, if not mind-blowing, story. We are a little... opposite on The Other Side of Lost. I kept waiting for all the feels and I just... didn't have them? I think I just didn't buy a lot of the plot, you know? But I am very glad you loved it so much!!

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    1. My heart is a little sad about The Other Side of Lost. It totally got to me, and I am trash for books like that. I love those grief and loss books.

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  15. These all sound like good reads but I love the sound of The Other Side of Lost. I don't think I would have given that book a second look based on the cover but it sounds like one of those books that end up being something really special.

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    1. It was a really beautiful book of grief and loss and losing yourself and finding yourself. The chief complaints I have read in reviews were about her being able to do the hike. You know how I am about fiction -- it's fiction. I don't need it to be super realistic. The author did stress that the hike was really difficult, and she didn't really do it on her own (she met up with a group of more experienced hikers). Let's just say, it didn't affect my experience. I was all about the emotional journey and the friendships with that book.

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  16. Love your mini-reviews! ♥️ It introduces me to books I might have over looked because of title, cover or just missed. Like The Other Side of Lost. Are we not all on a journey of self-discovery? Like the personal way she went about it.

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    1. I loved the personal journey, but also really appreciated the social media commentary. It was really relevant.

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  17. As soon as I read the summary for Heretics Anonymous I thought it sounded fun and the strong message of inclusivity it sends sounds brilliant. I think it sounds like a fun read addressing some big issues when it comes to religion. I'd be interested to just see how it was all handled in the book.

    Almost Impossible sounds interesting and a single parent family! I am from one of those and so I always appreciate seeing them written well and it seems this one was and there's a cute romance. All sounds good.

    The Other Side of Lost sounds emotional and so on point looking at how people put on a good show online but can be struggling in reality. It seems like Jessi Kirby has once more written a book which will pack an emotional punch with the character going on a journey to learn more. I'm definitely going to buy it.

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    1. Henry did a good job trying to be fair to religion. Most authors are not very complimentary, so I appreciated her effort. The first half of the book is really funny, but lost a little steam for me when it became more serious. Look, I signed up for a funny book, that's what I wanted. Overall a solid read.

      Williams always hovers between 3.5 - 4 for me. I like her romances, and this one was really sweet, with a complication I saw coming, but didn't expect.

      The Other Side of Lost was my perfect read. I love grief and loss, I love journeys of self discovery, it even had a little bit of romance.

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