Review: The Ex Hex

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I saw this book everywhere and was looking forward to reading it, especially at this spooky time of year. A "witchy" romance sounded like the perfect read for Halloween. But the book just did not meet my expectations. At all.
The main premise of the story, that Vivi and Rhys had such an amazing relationship 9 years ago that they have not been able to forget or get over each other, is kind of flimsy given that they were 19 years old at the time, and only "dated" for 3 months. The reader isn't really given much context for their past "relationship" either, other than they were extremely attracted to each other. Did they share their hopes, dreams, plans for the future? Did they even TALK to each other?
When they do see each other again and spend more time together, I just was not detecting any chemistry or attraction. I felt like I was TOLD over and over how much they were attracted to each other instead of being shown how their relationship was evolving.
This book had all of the great Halloween vibes and all of the pumpkin spice caramel apple jack-o-lantern black cat spookiness you could want...but the characters felt two-dimensional. I would not recommend this book. It was just "meh" for me.

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Review: The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really really enjoyed this book. I wasn't quite sure what I was expecting when I began this book, but I was definitely pleasantly surprised. I have been wanting to read it for more than a year, and have had it on hold at the library for several months. I was very excited when I finally got the email that I could start reading it! This is not a light-hearted tongue-in-cheek romp about Southern ladies hunting vampires with wooden stakes and bushels of garlic. But it is a compelling look at how society can marginalize people and sometimes it is up to those very people to take a stand when no one else will.
The book introduces us to Patricia Campbell, a "good Southern housewife" living in 1990s Charleston. She joins a book club with some other women from her suburban neighborhood, and they really enjoy delving into true crime novels. One day, after wishing for a bit more excitement in her life, Patty is viciously attacked by her elderly neighbor, who subsequently dies. Patty--due to her aforementioned Southern upbringing--feels compelled to take her neighbor's family a casserole. At her neighbor's house she meets a strange man who says he is the great nephew of the dead woman. He is mysterious, odd, has no ID, a great deal of cash, ...and Patty somehow feels compelled to help him. But amidst creepy warnings from Patty's dementia-stricken mother-in-law, completely bizarre deaths, and tragic incidents surrounding children, Patty begins to feel like her new neighbor might somehow be involved.
While reading this book I know that I said, "Oh no!" out loud and put my hand over my mouth once. I whispered, "No...she didn't!" a couple of times. At least once I muttered, "Why did he do that?!" I grabbed my husband's arm, squirmed, and groaned, "no...no...no...no!" out loud during one particularly gruesome part. And I am not one to react OUT LOUD to books!
One of the best things about this book that is often lacking in other stories that are intended to be suspenseful is the way the author set up the scenes. Several times we knew our characters were walking into a tense situation, or something terrible was about to happen. The author was able to describe the scenery and setting and create an atmosphere of terrible suspended anticipation without making me want to skip over the set-up and just get to the action. The description made the action that ensued that much richer, instead of feeling like filler.
This book was interesting, intriguing, gory and gruesome in places, and full of gripping characters. I loved the setting and the imagery. I would definitely recommend this book.

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Review: Little Thieves

Little Thieves by Margaret Owen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I really enjoyed this book--I have not read a YA Fantasy that I liked this much in a REALLY long time. This twist on the fairy tale "The Goose Girl" was intriguing, compelling, fun to read, and hard to put down.
Vanja, a maid servant to a gorgeous and pampered aristocratic girl, has found a way (by means of enchanted pearls) to impersonate her former mistress. Vanja is now living in a castle, engaged to a powerful man, AND...stealing jewels to fund her escape from her godmothers: Death and Fortune. If that's not enough, after stealing from the wrong person, not only does Vanja find herself under a fatal curse, but she discovers she is being pursued by a determined detective who somehow suspects Vanja is not what she seems.
I liked so many things about this book, but Vanja was my favorite. Too many times in YA Fantasy books, the main character turns out to be just plain annoying--they snark and pout and make DUMB self-centered decisions to the point that I can't stand them. But not Vanja. She has JUST THE RIGHT mix of pluckiness, sarcasm, self-preservation, capability, and vulnerability to make her relatable, realistic, endearing, and a character you want to root for, despite her mistakes.
I also really liked the tone of the book. The "fairy tale" interludes were beautiful, evocative, and poetic. Starting the book off with one of these little chapters before jumping right in to Vanja on a jewel heist completely drew me in and made me want to know more about Vanja and where her story would go.
The secondary characters were also great. Everyone from the shape-shifting "guardian" to our dogged detective totally added to the story. This, added to the wonderful world-building and completely immersive descriptions allowed me to become totally lost in the story. I could totally see everything playing out in my head, like a movie.
I just really loved this book. It wasn't at all what I was expecting and I was so pleasantly surprised by it. I would absolutely recommend it to any one who enjoys Fantasy, fairy tale retellings, YA, or YA Fantasy.

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Review: The Mother Next Door

The Mother Next Door by Tara Laskowski
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I am rounding up a bit on this review. Was it an amazing book? No. But was it a fun, easy read that quickly satisfied my desire for a fall-themed thriller full of secrets and lies? Absolutely. The Mother Next Door takes place in an upscale neighborhood on an exclusive cul-de-sac full of a group of moms who most everybody else in the neighborhood envies. They stick together through thick and thin, and Theresa, who recently moved to the street, would love to join their clique. When Theresa seemingly gets her wish, she discovers that the moms may not all be quite what they seem, especially the "Queen Bee" Kendra. But Theresa has some secrets in her own past that could not only threaten her standing with her new friends, but also could destroy her life as she knows it.
One of the best things about this book was the fact that it is set in the lead-up to Halloween. It begins just as the school year starts, and then concludes with the annual epic Halloween neighborhood party thrown by the moms of the cul-de-sac. I found it a perfect read for this time of year, to get you in the mood for all things fall. That being said, the descriptions could have been more immersive--if you are looking to feel transported to a place full of crisp breezes with brittle leaves dancing in the air, creepy moonlit mists, and the smell of cider, this isn't where you'll find it. But pretty much everything you would associate with fall is mentioned, from pumpkin coffee to candy corn to inflatable lawn decorations to slasher movies to backyard bonfires. But as I stated, it felt as though these things were thrown in with an intended "casualness" that didn't quite hit the right note (almost like there was a check list of things that should be included in the book). These things really made me see and smell and FEEL the season.
My favorite character in the book was Kendra. I feel like her motivations and personality were really explored well. I knew where she was coming from, and even if I didn't always like her actions or agree with her decisions, she felt like an engaging character. I had a hard time relating to Theresa, however. She just felt a little flat to me and I couldn't connect with her. The problem this created was that, as the reader, I was supposed to sympathize with her and feel her anxiety... But I didn't. And this may be a spoiler, but--(view spoiler)[the character of Alice ended up confusing me a bit in the end. I kind of felt like there was more there that could have or should have been explored. Or maybe that I had missed something... (hide spoiler)]
The plot was good. I followed along on Theresa's journey to fit in as the school year progressed through bake sales, football games, and committee meetings--all while someone is out there threatening the tenuous status quo of Theresa's new neighborhood. I guessed a couple of the secrets and twists, but some were a complete surprise. I did like the ending; it felt like if fit the tone of the book very well.
I have read other books that evoke that feeling you get in autumn much better than this book did. I have read thrillers that really ratchet up the tension better than this book did. I have read books about seemingly idyllic neighborhoods that reveal the painful reality behind the "perfect" residents better than this book did. Which made me want to give it 3 stars. BUT...over-all I did enjoy this book quite a bit! It was fun. It was a quick read that kept me wanting to know what would happen next. It really got me in the mood for fall. It had just the right amount of "soapy" elements to keep me entertained without making me want to roll my eyes. The characters might have been slightly one-dimensional, but sometimes you want a book like that! (SO many books have tortured, deeply flawed, terribly complex characters these days that a break from that can be nice.) So, because I liked the book, despite its shortcomings, I am giving this 4 stars. If you are looking for a fun, light thriller to get you ready for Spooky Season, then I would recommend this book

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Review: The Love Hypothesis

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I enjoyed this book. It was a fun read about two people who pretend to date each other (one of my favorite tropes) and what ensues as their feelings grow and their relationship begins to become real. The characters were well-drawn out and the story moved along at a believable pace. Olive and Adam were each compelling and relatable and it was easy to root for them. I enjoyed the academic setting, and it was clear that the author knew what she was talking about as she described the situations that arose in a post-grad science department. I also liked how everything moved along in a realistic fashion. It was more interesting and more realistic to see things unfold slowly than watch "insta-love" happen. And I was never quite sure how everything was going to end up; and I liked it that way! I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance, the "fake-relationship" trope, or just a good romance novel!

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