Young Widows Club by Alexandra Coutts ~ Impeccable Reviews

Publication Date: November 10, 2015
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Format: eARC (from Netgalley)
Page Count: 304

Seventeen-year-old Tamsen Baird didn’t set out to become a teenage widow. All she did was fall in love and get married. But when her nineteen-year-old husband, Noah, dies suddenly in the middle of the night, her whole life changes. Now Tam is forced to return to the existence she thought she’d left behind—beginning with moving back home and finishing high school. But in order to overcome her loss and find her way forward, she’ll need to reinvent herself and reach out to others in ways she never imagined. She’ll need to open herself up to living—and even loving—again.

I think the synopsis of this book can possibly mislead a person into thinking it is some type of mystery, but it's definitely not, nor does it need to be. The focus of the book is not on how or when Tamsen's (the main character) husband dies, but how it affects her life and how she chooses to move forward from it. I have to say I enjoyed the direction the book took and it felt like a thoughtful contemporary.

Recorder and Randsell by Meme Higashiya ~ Impeccable Reviews

Series: Recorder and Randsell Vol.1
Publication Date: September 1, 2015
Publisher: Takeshobo
Genre: Manga
Format: eARC (from Netgalley)
Page Count: 100+

Miyagawa Atsumi and her younger brother Atsushi are your typical siblings - she's a high school sophomore dealing with exams, he's a 5th grader who only wants to run off and play with his friends. School's hard enough as it is, but things are even tougher for these two: Atsumi is so tiny she's still mistaken for a little kid, while Atsushi is so tall people assume he's a full-grown man!

*Thank you Takeshobo for sending me a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Recorder and Randsell is a manga (Japaneses styled graphic novel) about a girl named Atsumi who is extremely short for a sophomore in high school and her brother Atsushi who is extremely tall for a kid in 5th grade. You can definitely tell this by the novel cover. For the sake of this review, to make the names less confusing, I will refer to the girl as Nee-chan (which is what her brother calls her) and I will refer to the brother as Atsushi. 

Atsushi is a very interesting character because he looks like a grown man but acts like a 5th grader or even younger. People treat him like an adult even though he is really a child. For him, doing normal childish things causes him to get weird stares in public and even get arrested. Nee-chan on the other hand, looks as if she could be in the 5th grade even though she is older. She acts like a responsible older sister but is often mistaken to be the younger child. Nee-chan and Atsushi run into a lot of struggles and funny situations because of their condition and I could not help laughing at many points throughout the manga. 

This manga reads like an anime. The way the events flowed made it feel like I was watching a show and each chapter was like a new episode. At first the book was a little hard for me to read because of the positioning of boxes on the page and what order they were supposed to be read in. I am used to the manga style of reading from right to left, but the way this one was ordered was a little different. But after I figured it out, I quickly got the hang of it. This manga is really meant to be a light and fun read. There is nothing very complex about it and I finished it in no time at all. The main joke about the height of Nee-chan and Atsushi was held throughout the manga and I thought it would start to get repetitive, but surprisingly it did not. It was all well formulated to where it was still funny by the end of the book. Well let me not forget to mention the art style. It was nice and just like any normal, classic manga style.

Conclusion: This manga was a great read that made me laugh quite a bit and put me in a good mood. It is simple, but effective and I enjoyed it a lot. I am looking forward to what's in store for Volume 2.

My Rating:

So tell me: Anyone have a younger sibling/friend whose taller than them? Is this idea bothersome?

Bright Lights, Dark Nights by Stephen Emond ~ Impeccable Reviews

Publication Date: August 11, 2015
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance
Format: eARC (Netgalley)
Page Count: 384



A story about first love, first fights, and finding yourself in a messed up world, from the acclaimed author of Happyface.

Walter Wilcox has never been in love. That is, until he meets Naomi, and sparks, and clever jokes, fly. But when his cop dad is caught in a racial profiling scandal, Walter and Naomi, who is African American, are called out at school, home, and online. Can their bond (and mutual love of the Foo Fighters) keep them together?

With black-and-white illustrations throughout and a heartfelt, humorous voice, Bright Lights, Dark Nights authentically captures just how tough first love can be...and why it's worth fighting for.

My Review

What I expected it to be: A cute contemporary novel with a biracial Romeo and Juliet story line

What it actually was: The story of Walter and Naomi's romance and the threatening reality of racism and controversial opinions that affect our society. 

Bright Lights, Dark Nights takes place in an urban city where Walter now lives with his father ever since his mom ran off to marry someone else. Walter is Caucasian and his father is a cop who's actions one day flare a lot of controversy and backlash across the news and internet. Naomi, who is the sister of Walter's friend Jason and the daughter of strict, protective parents, happens to be African American. When Walter and Naomi begin to fall for each other, they find that extreme public opinions can cause their love story to not play out as simply as they might have wished. 

Reading about this couple was very refreshing. It is rare to find young adult books with a diverse set of white and black character without it feeling like the author is being stereotypical. I really appreciate Stephen Emond for foregoing the racial stereotypes and creating genuine characters. Walter is a very passive, yet a kind and thoughtful character. It was easy for me to relate to him and he even reminded me of myself at times. On the other hand, Naomi is passionate, brave and free spirited, but put together the two have great chemistry. Many of Walter and Naomi's scenes together (especially their first romantic scenes) were very awkward, but the imperfections in their relationship really made their love story feel realistic and not overdone. 

Walter's character developed beautifully as he had to move on from past problems at home and even come to terms with his own naivety and opinions on the events taking place. The character development for Naomi was very good as well. Even all the supporting characters and Walter's friends were well thought out and unique. When Walter had his final resolution with his peers towards the end, it did feel like it played out a little "too well," but I do have to admit that I was very relieved when it ended positively. 

I really enjoyed how the author portrayed racism and controversy in its most modern sense. The inclusion of what people were saying on social media and how the whole conflict played out made the whole book very authentic and relevant. Police racism and their abuse of power is such a current and hot discussion in our society today. It was nice that this book dove right into it. Walter's dad is accused of racial discrimination and he is very much in denial of it. This along with Walter dating a girl who is black causes a lot of attention and even threats that begin to cause chaos in Walter and Naomi's life. Even though to the public the biracial couple seemed to be an issue, Emond does a great job of making the reader feel and believe that it is really no issue at all. They are just the same as any other young couple deeply in love. On top of all of this, the book has a lot of wonderful illustrations in it and Emond has a beautiful writing style that describes city life so well!

The Conclusion: I very much enjoyed this book and it does a great job of covering current topics. It is definitely one of those diverse books you will want to read and a very unique, refreshing addition to the young adult genre.

My Rating:

4 out of 5 stars

Cover Rating:

3 out of 3 stars

Queen of Tomorrow by Sherry Ficklin ~ Impeccable Reviews

Series: Stolen Empire #2

Publication Date: June 8, 2015
Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction Romance
Format: eARC (Netgalley)
Page Count: 280

WARNING: This review may contain a few spoilers to those who have not read the first book in this series. The first half of this review will be for those who have not read the first book in this series where I will do my best to withhold any information that might spoil the book for you (as I do hope you will consider reading this series because it is AMAZING). The second half will be for those who have read the first book and would like a more in depth review of this book. Please read at your own discretion.

*If you have not done so already, please checkout my review of the first book, Queen of Someday, and my Character Interview of the protagonist Sophia

For Those Who HAVE NOT Read the First Book

Gosh, where do I begin? Well let's see..... This book has made me curse, scream in agony, cry, and has left my heart and sole in a state of confusion as well as longing for more. The worst part about it (or should I say the BEST part) is that I loved and relished in every second of it. The story kicks off as Sophia continues to pursue power and control of Russia even as her life is threatened and one obstacle over another tries to make her falter. Queen of Tomorrow leaves behind many of the old conflicts of the first book and deals with the bigger problems now at hand with a war breaking out, alliances forming, and the question of who will be the next in line for the throne are raised.

The plot in this book and whole series really has so many dimensions to it. Every character, their motives, and every relationship is complex. Oh and do not even get me started on the romance! The love scenes are beautifully done and they can get pretty steamy. You will feel ALL THE FEELS (If you know what I mean). The chemistry between characters leaves you desiring them to be happily together, but then conflicted as you realize how their relationship affects the other characters. You never are sure where the story will go and you are left to ride along and watch it all unfold. The protagonist Sophia (aka Catherine) is such a strong, intelligent female character. She faces many hardships, but still is able to use her wit to save herself and those she cares for. She is tested in every way possible, but she still remains true to her roots, virtues, and pride. Sophia is definitely one of the best female characters I have read in the YA genre and one I highly respect.

This book is able to take the glamour of royal life to the next level by portraying what actual takes place behind all the riches and fairy tale lifestyles.  As for the cons of this book, there are none known to me.

Continuation for Those Who HAVE Read the First Book

Forget how the first book left you feeling about each character because Queen of Tomorrow will give you a whole new perspective of them. Characters like Sophia's husband Peter and the Queen are two I have hated from the very beginning. As for the Queen, I still continue my strong dislike towards her, but Peter throughout the novel revealed aspects of himself that pleasantly surprised me. At one point I even wished a love would rekindle between he and Sophia, but let's just say I quickly got over that and have gone back to hating him. Sergei and Sophia's love for each other gets to blossom and all along the way many surprising events unfold that will leave you engaged until the very end. I just love how Ficklin again ends the book with Sophia as strong as ever and leaves me greatly anticipating the next installment.

This was the perfect sequel to the already wonderful Queen of Someday and I am eager to see what else Ficklin has in store for us. Thank you to Clean Teen Publishing and Xpresso Book Tours for allowing me to review this book.

My Rating:

5 out of 5 stars

(Are you surprised?) 

Cover Rating:

3 out of 3 stars

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Manga Classics: Great Expectations by Stacy King, Crystal Chan, Nokman Poon (Artist), and Charles Dickens ~ Impeccable Reviews

Publication Date: March 10, 2015
Publisher: Udon Entertainment
Genre: Young Adult, Graphic Novel/Manga
Format: eARC (Netgalley)
Page Count: 308

Great Expectations has it all: romance, mystery, comedy, and unforgettable characters woven through a gripping rags-to-riches tale. Naive Pip, creepy Miss Haversham, beautifully cold Estella, terrifying Abel Magwitch, and the rest of Dicken's fantastic cast are perfectly envisioned in this new adaptation in this 300-plus page volume featuring artwork by artist Nokman Poon. Manga Classics editions feature classic stories, faithfully adapted and illustrated in manga style, and available in both hardcover and softcover editions. Proudly presented by UDON Entertainment and Morpheus Publishing.

My Review

If you do not already know this book along with numerous other books produced by Manga Classics are meant to be well known classics put in the popular Japanese style of graphic novel form. I have already read the original classic Great Expectations by Charles Dickens and loved it. Right off the bat, I can definitely say I love this manga version as well. This book really made me remember how much I enjoyed the original the first time and the whole intricate plot line Dickens drew up for the readers to enjoy.

This Manga Classic was a well thought out one and does a lot of justice to Dickens' original novel. It definitely is not an exact portrayal but it comes close enough to where the book still remains unique, but someone knowing the original story can recognize the main plot. Haven't read the original Great Expectations? Don't worry I trust you will not find any less enjoyment in this graphic novel. In fact, if you have been considering reading Great Expectation but have never really found the motivation to invest time into reading it, this is a graphic novel you need to try out. This book did a good job of portraying the story in a shorter and more modern way without over simplifying the original plot. This is what I appreciate the most from this manga. On top of this, the artwork is beautifully done. No part of it felt confusing or left me wondering what was going on as I find to be an issue in some of the artwork scenes in mangas.

Now on the subject of the actual plot and characters, they were just as good as the original. I was able to finish the book in one siting and I was engaged the whole way through. It goes through ups and downs as you follow the life of the main character Pip and his transition into the life of a gentleman with love, mystery, crime, and forgiveness all mixed in. I was highly anticipating the ending of this manga just to which ending out of the two versions written by Dickens would be portrayed. I have to say I did not get what I expected, but either way I was not disappointed because it was craftily and wonderfully done.

As for things I do not like about this graphic novel, I would have to say the pacing at times felt a bit rushed, but this can be overlooked when taken into account how many great aspects there are to this manga. Overall I really enjoyed reading it and I would like to thank the publisher for allowing me to review it from Netgalley.

My Rating:

4 out of 5 stars

Cover Rating:

3 out of 3 stars

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