Blog Tour Review + Giveaway: Shadow Scale (Seraphina #1) by Rachel Hartman

Shadow Scale (Seraphina #1)

Rachel Hartman

Published: March 10, 2015

Publisher: Random House Books FYR

Age Demographic: YA Dystopia Fantasy

Pages: 608

Seraphina took the literary world by storm with 8 starred reviews and numerous “Best of” lists. At last, her eagerly awaited sequel has arrived—and with it comes an epic battle between humans and dragons.

The kingdom of Goredd: a world where humans and dragons share life with an uneasy balance, and those few who are both human and dragon must hide the truth. Seraphina is one of these, part girl, part dragon, who is reluctantly drawn into the politics of her world. When war breaks out between the dragons and humans, she must travel the lands to find those like herself—for she has an inexplicable connection to all of them, and together they will be able to fight the dragons in powerful, magical ways. 

As Seraphina gathers this motley crew, she is pursued by humans who want to stop her. But the most terrifying is another half dragon, who can creep into people’s minds and take them over. Until now, Seraphina has kept her mind safe from intruders, but that also means she’s held back her own gift. It is time to make a choice: Cling to the safety of her old life, or embrace a powerful new destiny?

To Order Shadow Scale (Seraphina #1) by Rachel Hartman please visit: Amazon & Barnes&Noble

(Note: I received a review copy of this book via the publisher, in exchange for an honest review which I have posted here on the blog and on Goodreads)

Shadow Scale, is the intriguing and captivating sequel to Serephina. Rachel Hartman explores Seraphina's world and the relationship between humans and dragons, revealing twists and turns that you won't see coming. It's beautifully written and stunningly imaginative. I really enjoyed reading this one a little bit more than the first one, because I found it a lot easier for me to sink into the world and just get lost in the characters and the conflict between the humans and the dragons. For anyone who is a fan of fantasy worlds, interesting character build up, and dragons this is the book that you'll fall in love with.

Original and brilliantly written, this is a book and a world full of imagination that will absolutely wow you from beginning until end. The characters are multi-layered and the plot is equal parts entertaining and compelling. Seriously, I don't even know how to begin to tell you how EPIC this book was in every single way, how it affected ALL THE FEELS I had! I feel like I'm at a loss for words here, because while I enjoyed the first book (Seraphina) I found it a little hard to follow along with. With Shadow Scale, I had no problems at all. In fact, from the moment I started reading this book, I didn't want to put it down until I was finished with it.

It's exciting, full of heart, and has so much emotional depth that you can't help but fall deeper in love with all of these characters. The unexpected twists and turns will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you wanting more. The broad expanse of the various cultures explored within this amazing novel alone, is enough to wet any fantasy lover's pallet. If you are looking for a story that is built on layers of mythology, emotion, and various cultures then this is the book that I would recommend to you.

Full review to come soon!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Website Twitter Facebook

Rachel Hartman lives and writes in Vancouver, BC.

Her first YA fantasy novel, Seraphina, was published by Random House on July 10th, 2012. 

She is set to currently release the second book, Shadow Scale, in her YA Dystopia Fantasy series, Seraphina. It will be releasing March of 2015.

Make sure you fan her on her Goodreads page!

Blog Tour Review + Giveaway: Seraphina (Seraphina #1) by Rachel Hartman

Seraphina (Seraphina #1)

Rachel Hartman

Published: July 10, 2012

Publisher: Random House Books FYR

Age Demographic: YA Dystopia Fantasy

Pages: 512

In her New York Times bestselling and Morris Award-winning debut, Rachel Hartman introduces mathematical dragons in an alternative-medieval world to fantasy and science-fiction readers of all ages. Eragon-author Christopher Paolini calls them, "Some of the most interesting dragons I've read in fantasy."

Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.

To Order Seraphina (Seraphina #1) by Rachel Hartman please visit: Amazon & Barnes&Noble

(Note: I received a review copy of this book via the publisher, in exchange for an honest review which I have posted here on the blog and on Goodreads)

Seraphina was an awkward book for me to read, because I have conflicted feelings towards it and it was hard for me to follow along with. In a way, I look at it as challenging and in another way I'm a little disappointed in the fact that I felt as if I had to constantly force myself to keep reading. This was a book that I was really excited to read, because it was fantasy and also involved dragons, which are two things that I absolutely love more than anything. I don't know if it was the book itself or the fact that I'm such a mood reader and maybe I just wasn't in the right mood for this one at the time. I think it was a bit of both, if I'm being honest.

There were things that I found myself liking about this book and then there were also things, that I found a little frustrating as well. The concept of this novel and the story itself, is brilliant. However, I think the writer may have bitten off a little more than she could chew. As I was reading, I found myself constantly being jarred out of certain parts of the story due to the rhythm and the pacing of it. Just getting through the first few chapters of the book felt like a chore in itself, but I continued to stick with it because I kept hoping that it would get better. In some small ways it did, because there were things that I did find likable about it, but then there were other's that I didn't.

It was hard for me to understand certain aspects of Seraphina, because at times it felt like the story was in various different places at the same time. I had to work to keep up with it and then I had to work even hard to stay involved with it. That's something that I find a little too tedious when reading a book that I really want to enjoy. I was looking to find a lot of action and a more compelling story, than the one that I felt was written. Maybe if I hadn't gone into this book with such high expectations, I wouldn't have ended up feeling like it let me down as much as it did. The way the mythology of the dragons and their history was written, made kind of hard for me to finally understand them and their role of importance to the storyline. I could have been a little more forgiving of the "less action" if I had been better able to understand the dragons.

Seraphina, on the other hand, I really enjoyed her character quite a bit. I love that Rachel Hartman gave us such a wonderfully endearing and awesomely complex character, such as her. Part dragon and musically gifted, she was a rare gem and a breath of fresh air for me in this story. I love the tough exterior that she presented to the world, while still being a bit vulnerable beneath the facade. Her and Lucian were probably the best part of the story for me, personally. Lucian is just made of so much awesome, that it's hard to put his character into words. I found him to be wildly enigmatic, entertaining, and definitely swoon-worthy in his own way. Glisselda, is just pure amazing. There's the only thing that can be said for her, except that I love her journey and optimistic nature. For someone who came across so carefree, she turned into one of the strongest characters the book had to offer and that definitely made reading it a lot more enjoyable.

This book has some wonderful potential, that it makes me look forward to reading Shadow Scale for sure to see what's going to happen with these brilliant characters I have come to love so much. Seraphina, is an interesting novel with an intriguing concept that I feel could be built and expanded upon better. If you are a reader who enjoys fantasy novels and you like dragons too, then I would go ahead and recommend this book. It is a pretty solid read, even though it hasn't been my favorite. I urge you to give it a chance and don't just take my word for it. There are many things about it that were enjoyable, even amidst some of the conflicting elements.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

Website Twitter Facebook

Rachel Hartman lives and writes in Vancouver, BC.

Her first YA fantasy novel, Seraphina, was published by Random House on July 10th, 2012. 

She is set to currently release the second book, Shadow Scale, in her YA Dystopia Fantasy series, Seraphina. It will be releasing March of 2015.

Make sure you fan her on her Goodreads page!

Book Review: Red Queen (Red Queen #1) by Victoria Aveyard

Red Queen (Red Queen #1)

Victoria Aveyard

Published: February 10, 2015

Publisher: HarperTeen

Age Demographic: YA Dystopia Fantasy

Pages: 320

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

To PreOrder Red Queen (Read Queen #1) by Victoria Aveyard please visit: Amazon & Barnes&Noble

(Note: I received an eGalley of this book via the publisher through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review which I have posted here on the blog and on Goodreads.)

Red Queen was an incredibly fantastic and entertaining read, that definitely kept me enthralled with the story, the twist of plot, and the characters all the way through. THAT ENDING! I can say that I'm absolutely pleased that I never truly saw it coming, because it made it that much more amazing. And yet, I had this constant little niggling in the back of my brain the whole entire time reading this book, that maybe just maybe...but, spoilers. Victoria Aveyard has truly managed to blow me away with the first installment of the Red Queen trilogy and I can't wait to see what's going to happen in the next book to come. No, I NEED TO KNOW NOW! 

I don't even now how to describe it properly, it's like this really awesome mish-mash of Red Rising by the immensely talented Pierce Brown and the X-Men that's set in this castle where the Silver's train to do battle and fight in the war. The girls who have grown up in this environment and vying for their hand in marriage to one of these two Prince's, are just as catty as some of the girls in The Vampire Academy and Mean Girls are. It's just a brilliant concept all together and it's wonderfully written and equal parts intriguing. Tie all of that together and throw in a lowly Red girl who is so much more than she or anyone else expected her to be and you have one hell of an amazing book on your hands. Mare Barrows has this amazing ability, that is most assuredly a mistake, but in her case it could turn out to be the thing that promises hope for her people. It could possibly be the thing that saves her life and so many more from perishing or being held down, slaves to the Silver's for the rest of their natural born years.

Mare's world is filled with insufferable amounts of pain, terror, and hopelessness. Victoria Aveyard does a marvelous job at showcasing that, allowing you to feel what it's like to be so held down and kept under the thumb of the Silver's through Mare's eyes. It will make you thankful for the simple freedoms that you have, once you see everything they've had to endure from being conscripted into the war at an early age, from the loss of family and friends to the almost unbearable situations most Reds find themselves in. Mare isn't the type of girl who just falls in line and does what she's told like the good little girl. She is just as fiery and rebellious as she can be. She isn't afraid to stand up for her beliefs and she sacrifices so much of who she is for the people that she loves. Mare isn't without her faults though, she makes a lot of mistakes by trusting the wrong people, thinking that she can use them, without realizing that she's been used herself. Her self-pity wasn't something that I adored about her, but it was something that made her human and I can accept that much. 

For me, one of the best things about this book was the lack of a true love triangle, where she loses both her head and her heart to either one of the Prince's. That's not to say that Mare didn't somewhat show her heart or have these gut twisting feelings for one of them, because she did. She was just smart enough not to let it engulf her, she kept her wits about her and made sure that she did what she was there to do. For the most part, the romance and the actual plot of the story worked very well together and I was happy to see that what love story we were given didn't over step it's boundaries. It was simply enough to satisfy and that's all it needs to be for right now.

All of the characters in Red Queen, were fascinating as well as entertaining in my opinion. They all contributed wonderful things to the story in their own ways. Some of them a little more memorable than other's, but each one uniquely interesting and crackling to life with their own flaws and abilities to either win you over or not. I love Cal, he's such an amazing character in such an impossible situation. He knows that change needs to come about, yet he's bound by his duties as the Prince and heir to his father's crown one day, that he has to carry out orders as his father would. Yet, he's the one who saw to it that Mare wasn't conscripted, that she was given a job in the Castle. He liked her, was drawn to her because she saw something different in him, didn't recognize him as the King's son. The sparks and the tension that ignited between both Cal and Mare was enough to put me on their team for a while. 

Maven, on the other, he is a Prince of a different kind. He is a character that I found myself liking, despite the fact that everything inside of me was screaming that I shouldn't trust me as I was reading. I suppose I really shouldn't have been all that surprised with the ending of it, but I think there's still a part of me that wants to believe that he's not quite as evil as he's turned out to be. I want to believe that deep down inside of him, is the Prince that Mare believed there was good in. And yet, with that ending, I just don't even know. 

Kilorn. He's so much akin to Jacob in the Twilight series, that I don't even know how to feel about him. I feel incredibly conflicted, because I felt all of these feelings for him all through out the book and yet, there at the end there was even more. It's almost maddening to me in a way, because as anyone can tell you I'm pretty much not the biggest Jacob fan in the world. I loved him as Bella's best friend, but anything beyond was big fat NO for me. With Kilorn, there's just so much passion, incredible strength, and an immense streak of stubbornness that it's almost insane. He gives me ALL THESE FEELINGS, more so than Cal and I can't decide what or who I want for Mare at the moment.

What I think I want, overall, is for Mare to choose herself and her people. I want her to choose the path that she finds herself taking and I want to see the hope come alive for her people. I want to see her remain strong in her beliefs and do anything for that change she wants to see in her world, even if it means going to her grave for the cause. 

The wonderful element of betrayal and the misplaced trust in people that shouldn't have been necessarily trusted, was a big thing showcased throughout Red Queen and it brought about interesting surprises and revealed more lies and manipulation than I could have ever imagined. I was very pleasantly surprised as I sat reading the pages of this incredibly captivating book. There may have been a little bit of foreshadowing, but it wasn't enough that it bothered when I finally figured out one particular thing that's revealed at the end of the novel. For this to have been Victoria Aveyard's debut YA novel, I have to say that I'm definitely impressed with her writing style, the imaginings of her world, and such a vast array of entertaining and interesting characters. The action and suspense of this novel, left me clinging to the edge of my seat wanting so much more.

I'm operating on feels here guys and this book has ALL OF THEM!

Victoria Aveyard

Blog Twitter Facebook

Victoria Aveyard is a screenwriter/YA author who likes books and lists. This site is the nexus of her universe.

Her YA debut novel RED QUEEN will be published Winter 2015 from HarperTeen at HarperCollins. She's repped by the incomparable Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc. 

The genres she's into include YA, Fantasy, Historical, Adventure, Apocalyptic - if people are dying, she's buying.

The Sunday Post: For the Month of January 2015

Hosted by Kimba
The Caffeinated Book Reviewer

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely Kimba, where you can share any news that has to do with your blog, re-cap the week or month, and/or show off what you received in your mailbox. All you have to do is link up your post on Sunday’s and hop around to the various other blogs participating and see what news they have to share. I've decided that I’ll be doing this once a month, just to keep you guys aware of all the things happening here.

Anyone can participate as long as you can...

• Enter your link on the post- Sundays beginning at 12:01 am (CST) (link will be open all week) 
• Link back to this post or this blog 
• Visit others who have linked up

For the Month of January 2015

In the month of January, I feel like I've gotten a bit more organized on the blog, did some cleaning up, and was able to set a pretty good pace for myself where my reading goals are concerned. During the first week, I averaged reading about 2 and a half books, managing to get two reviews written and posted, as well as making sure I had at least 4+ posts scheduled in advance at all times. I decided that I was going to start my new year off with getting things ready, a little more organized, and set-up to where it would be easy for me to meet the goals that I've set for myself. I posted them here, if you'd like to take a look at them. If you have any tips on helping to keep myself organized, as far as keeping track of my TBR and review piles or any other tips in general that might help out, link me to them or let me know in the comments below. I always welcome any advice from a fellow blogger. 

And the big wow for me, is that I actually managed to read 16 books this month. Well, actually, if you break it down I read a total of 9 actual books and 6 novellas. This ended up putting me 9 books ahead of schedule on my Goodreads Challenge for this year. So I'm pretty much all...

You can also find me on the new social media platform, Tsu as @suzinbooks. If you're on there too, just friend me and send me a request and I'll be happy to add you to my list!

A Month in Book Reviews

• Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley
• The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events) by Lemony Snicket

Blog Tours + Media Blitz

• Media Blitz featuring Shadow Fire by Kimber Leigh Wheaton
• Media Blitz featuring Take Them By Storm by Marie Landry 
• Media Blitz featuring #Hater (Hashtag #2) by Cambria Herbert
• Book Blitz & Interview: The Queen's Gift by T.R. Allardice
• Release Day Blitz + Giveaway: A Cold Legacy (The Madman's Daughter #3) by Megan Shepherd

Features on the Blog

• Wishful Wednesday: All Fall Down by Ally Carter
• Feature + Follow Friday: What Other Collections Do You Have Besides Books?
• Wishful Wednesday: I Was Here by Gayle Forman
• Feature + Follow Friday: Do You Have Any Collections Besides Books?
• Discussion: Once Upon A Series (Series I'll Be Finishing In 2015)
• Challenge: Take Control Of Your TBR Pile
• Challenge: Book Blogger Organization
• Feature + Follow Friday: Do You Own Any Doubles?
• Discussion: Blogging Problems 101: Getting Organized & Staying That Way
• Personal: Where I Get My Inspiration For My Custom Made Jewelry
• Book Gossip for the Soul: January Book Haul 2015
• Feature + Follow: Where Else Do You Post Your Reviews?

Around the Blogosphere

• Rachel @ Parajunkee's View has been hosting a Book Blogger Challenge, where each day she has been sharing some amazing tutorials and blogging tips&tricks to help keep you organized. It's definitely worth checking out.
• Brittany @ The Book Addicts Guide is hosting an awesome Book Blogger Organization Challenge that will be running from January to June. It's goal is to help you get a little more organized and focused on your blog.
• Alright guys, the Take Control of Your TBR Challenge hosted by the lovely Kimba @ Caffienated Book Review is back and rearing to get started in March! If you want to take part in it, just click on the link above and sign up!

Book Review: The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events) by Lemony Snicket

The Bad Beginning
A Series of Unfortunate Events

by Lemony Snicket

Published: September 30, 1999

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc

Age Demographic: Middle Grade Mystery 

Pages: 176

Dear Reader,

I'm sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and clever, the Baudelaire siblings lead lives filled with misery and woe. From the very first page of this book when the children are at the beach and receive terrible news, continuing on through the entire story, disaster lurks at their heels. One might say they are magnets for misfortune.

In this short book alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, and cold porridge for breakfast.

It is my sad duty to write down these unpleasant tales, but there is nothing stopping you from putting this book down at once and reading something happy, if you prefer that sort of thing.

With all due respect,

Lemony Snicket

To Order a copy of The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket please visit: Amazon & Barnes&Noble

(Note: I have purchased my own Kindle copy of this book and am sharing my honest opinion in this review.)

The Bad Beginning is a cleverly written and fun read for anyone who enjoys middle grade books. I'm really starting to finally understand the appeal of reading them. I honestly can't believe I haven't already read this series in its entirety already, because it's right up my street. 

Whimsical and full of mystery, these characters are wonderfully developed and interesting. Snickett pens an extraordinarily wonderful and uniquely entertaining story revolving around three young children who become orphans after their parents die in an unfortunate house fire and they are sent to live with a distant relative until they are of age. The use of mature words and the interesting way that Snickett gives their meaning, flows wonderfully well with the voice he uses to tell the story. I had thought at first that it might annoy me if it were to continue on throughout the book, but it actually didn't. It's smart, fun, and intelligent in a very captivating and clever way. This book reads as if the author himself is talking directly to you, which gives it more of a personal feel and was something that I came to truly enjoy quite a bit. 

There's this dark and creepy, unfortunate gloom to the atmosphere that manages to put a chill in your bones. Unquestionable things happen in this book, abominable things that would turn anyone's stomach most especially Count Olaf's intentions where Violet is concerned. The kicker for me is that there is so much dry humor injected into this tale of woe and sorrow, that it truly is a series of unfortunate events, that have become far too clever for its own good. I will definitely be continuing on with the series to see what happens next, as far as the Baudelaire children are concerned.

The Bad Beginning is a wonderful start to a very incredibly fun, entertaining, and captivating middle grade series that I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys them.  

About Lemony Snicket

Lemony Snicket

Website Facebook Goodreads 

Lemony Snicket had an unusual education and a perplexing youth and now endures a despondent adulthood. His previous published works include the thirteen volumes in A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Composer is Dead, and 13 Words. His new series is All The Wrong Questions. 

Book Review: Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley

Lies We Tell Ourselves

by Robin Talley

Published: September 30, 2014

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Age Demographic: YA Historical Contemporary 

Pages: 324

In 1959 Virginia, the lives of two girls on opposite sides of the battle for civil rights will be changed forever.

Sarah Dunbar is one of the first black students to attend the previously all-white Jefferson High School. An honors student at her old school, she is put into remedial classes, spit on and tormented daily.

Linda Hairston is the daughter of one of the town's most vocal opponents of school integration. She has been taught all her life that the races should be kept "separate but equal."

Forced to work together on a school project, Sarah and Linda must confront harsh truths about race, power and how they really feel about one another.

Boldly realistic and emotionally compelling, Lies We Tell Ourselves is a brave and stunning novel about finding truth amid the lies, and finding your voice even when others are determined to silence it.

To Order a copy of Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley please visit: Amazon & B&N

(Note: I received a beautiful finished copy of this book for review via the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.)

Beautifully written and incredibly brave, Lies We Tell Ourselves, is an emotionally captivating novel that will stay with readers long after the last page has been read. Set during a tumultuous time of hatred, intolerance, and ignorance this book sheds light on the truth amidst a web of lies. The sheer amount of courage, bravery, and determination these two young women possess as they endure all they have to go through is incredibly inspiring and hopeful in so many ways. This book moved me in so many ways, that it will definitely be an unforgettable read. It made me angry, it made me cry, and it gave me hope that things can start to change for the better. As I sat there reading, I felt transfixed to the story that was being told and I felt ashamed that the things that were happening, do still continue to happen in today's society. 

Two young women, who are as different as night and day, have grown up in two different worlds. As their world's begin to collide, a lot more than sparks begin to ignite between them. Linda is a privileged white girl and Sarah is one of the first African American girls to set foot in an all-white privileged school. It's hard to find anything likable about Linda in the first half of the book, but at the same time you begin to realize that you can't necessarily blame her for her attitude. It's an attitude that is learned from her parents, her peers, and their parents as well. In some ways, as you read through her story, you will start to understand that she's just as much a victim in her own way as Sarah is. 

Growing up in a home where she is ignored by her father and often times criticized as well as repressed, Linda knows there is something different about her and she's terrified of it. She is terrified of change and to speak out against it, but once she meets Sarah and the two argue constantly as much as they get to know one another in all of the little ways that counts, she begins to realize that maybe what she's been taught to believe isn't right and that change starts within and only you can do that for yourself if you're brave enough. The way she's been taught to view the world starts to make less sense to her and you can start to see the changes in her attitude shift slowly throughout the story being told. 

Sarah is this amazingly strong, beautiful, talented, and courageously brave young African American woman who is attending this all-white privileged school. The strength she possesses is awe-inspiring and incredibly amazing, in the face of what she has to go through as she attends this school that doesn't want her or anyone of her kind there. Despite the number of times the rest of the students that attend this school try and make her existence there as miserable as possible, Sarah stands up to it and she endures it, and she never lets it break her. She's not afraid to speak her mind, when she witnesses the injustice that happens to the rest of the African American students that have integrated and she does everything humanly possible to protect her younger sister Ruth, so that she doesn't have to endure it to the extremes that she has herself. 

Lies We Tell Ourselves is an eye-opening, heartbreaking, and beautifully written novel that will leave an everlasting impression on you. The courage and integrity that went into this story, is incredibly awe-inspiring that it will leave you feeling all of the emotions as you try and sort through them. There is a definite need for more books like these written in both the YA and NA world of literature. It doesn't just touch on what it was like during the Civil Rights movement, when integration was first coming into existence and it doesn't just touch on racism, it also touches on LGBTQ rights as well. Robin Talley did a marvelous job at showing us how these two beautiful young women navigated the muddy waters of integration and dealing with the fact that they are both attracted to girls instead of boys, let alone each other. I find it incredibly hard to put into words how much I enjoyed reading this book and just how inspired I was by it. 

There were just so many incredibly sad moments that broke my heart into a million pieces and some truly wonderful surprises within the pages of this beautiful book, that I know without a doubt is a story that will stay with me forever. It is something that made me stop and think twice, as I read all of the horrible miserable things that Sarah endure and as I sat there trying to understand where Linda was coming from. There were also some incredibly powerful moments within the story as well, that can and will offer hope to anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation. I don't know how and I honestly don't know why just yet, but I feel as if there are some wonderful healing power contained within the pages of this book. This is a book that I would love to see as assigned reading curriculum in schools nation-wide, because I believe it is that important. 

About Robin Talley

Robin Talley

Website Twitter Facebook 

Robin Talley grew up in Roanoke, Virginia, and escaped to Washington, D.C., at the first opportunity. She now lives with her wife, their antisocial cat, and their goofy hound dog on Capitol Hill and work for a progressive nonprofit organization. She spends her nights and weekends writing young adult fiction about LGBT characters, reading books, and enjoying The Daenerys Show (you may know it as Game of Thrones). 

Her first novel, Lies We Tell Ourselves, was released September 30, 2014, by Harlequin Teen. It's set in 1959 Virginia, and it's about a black girl who's one of the first to integrate an all-white high school, and the white girl with whom she ultimately falls in love. Her next book, Unbreakable, follows a high school couple -- Gretchen, who identifies as a lesbian, and Toni, who identifies as genderqueer -- whose relationship is tested when they're separated for their first year of college. 

Book Review: Even In Paradise by Chelsey Philpot

Even In Paradise

Chelsey Philpot

Published: October 14, 2014

Publisher: HarperCollins

Age Demographic: YA Contemporary 

Pages: 368

When Julia Buchanan enrolls at St. Anne’s at the beginning of junior year, Charlotte Ryder already knows all about the former senator’s daughter. Most people do... or think they do.

Charlotte certainly never expects she’ll be Julia’s friend. But almost immediately, she is drawn into the larger than-life-new girl’s world—a world of midnight rendezvous, dazzling parties, palatial vacation homes, and fizzy champagne cocktails. And then Charlotte meets, and begins falling for, Julia’s handsome older brother, Sebastian.

But behind her self-assured smiles and toasts to the future, Charlotte soon realizes that Julia is still suffering from a tragedy. A tragedy that the Buchanan family has kept hidden … until now.

To Pre-order a copy of Even In Paradise by 
Chelsey Philbot please visit: Amazon & B&N

(Note: I received an ARC of this book for review through ATW ARC Tours, in exchange for an honest review.)

Beautifully wistful, full of soaring hope, and bittersweet love this book will grip your heart in the palm of its hand and never let it go. It's emotionally compelling in every way and you will find yourself wrapped up in the greatest love story of all, even if it's only for a fleeting moment. Wonderfully human and full of flaws, Even In Paradise, will show you what it's like when you find out that you're only human after all and that sometimes life can be unnaturally cruel. I loved falling in love with this story from the moment that I picked this galley up and began reading it. It's one of those books where you just feel like you're watching what's happening roll by in vibrant technicolor before your eyes, streaked with pain, guilt, glamour, and the feeling of just wanting to belong to something you normally wouldn't be a part of, even if only for a moment. 

Told in a brilliantly stunning past tense point-of-view through Charlotte's (Charlie's) eyes and reminiscent of the Gatsby concept, Even In Paradise, possesses this charm and magical appeal to it that makes the you want to fall in love with the Buchanan's too the way that Charlie has. She's a girl on the outskirts of their world, skating along the fringes and is accepted into the fold once she befriends Julia, who is beautifully broken and tormented in so many ways. Together these two form a close bond that seems as if it cannot be severed, but through lies, hidden half-truths, and secrets step by step they seem to lose their footing. Through growing up, getting lost in who Charlie feels she's supposed to be as the Buchanan's see her, and dealing with the anxiety over having to always take be the one to look out for and take care of Julia, this book is hauntingly tragic just as much as it is timeless and magical. All of this is compounded with Charlie's first love being, none other than Julia's brother, Sebastian Buchanan. These two are dizzy and drunk on each other, sweet and charming, and so much fun to read about. It's a wistful sort of windswept romance, that will pull at your heartstrings and make you want these two to last as long as the time will allow.

The story that Chelsey Philpot weaves throughout the narration of Even In Paradise is both intoxicating as it is thrilling. There is so much more to this emotionally intense story, than just a fleeting moment in one's life where they were caught up in such a dizzying frenzy of wanting to belong and then realizing they had come and then overstayed their welcome. It's almost hard to sum up these feelings without borrowing a line from the book itself, "I don't belong here, Sebastian. I'm just a visitor who stayed too long." It's a story of so much more than just survivor's guilt, wanting to escape the pain that you feel you're trapped in, experiencing love for the first time, traversing the waters of a friendship that you feel will always be there that's been built on half-truths and lies, and being enamored with the things that you can't have - the beautiful people - and being accepted into their circle. It's about hope, love, loyalty, friendship, discovering who you are and where you belong in life. It's a book about a precious moment in your life that you will never forget and always look back on fondly, even if it only lasted for a mere moment of your life. It isn't a story that's riddled with regrets, it's a story of what is just is and it's a beautiful one.

Even In Paradise is the absolute perfect summer read to get swept up in this summer when you're sitting poolside or spending a day at the beach. It's a read that will leave you dizzy with hope and longing.

Website Twitter Pinterest 

Chelsey Philpot is a bibliophile and a library devotee.

She writes about books, culture, travel, and the arts for the Boston Globe and teaches writing at Boston University. Before moving to New England, she was a book reviews editor at School Library Journal in New York City.


HarperCollins will publish her first young adult novel, Even in Paradise, in fall 2014.