To all the books I Failed to Review #1

This is exactly what you think it will be; me doing mini reviews of the books(mostly ARC's) I was too lazy to review fully and in a timely manner(well for the most part). And yes this post is numbered because let's be real, I'm lazy and no doubt I will need to do this again in the future.

Starflight by Melissa Landers
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Publication Date: February 2nd, 2016
Pages: 369
Series: Starflight #1
Source: ARC from publisher
Rating: 4/5
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Starflight did a really good job of momentarily filling my Firefly shaped void. Space and a ragtag group of outlaws is epically my thing. And the added bonus of space pirates, yea you head me, just took Starflight to a new level of cool. Landers does a really good job of writing romantic sci-fi tales that leave me hungry for me. In this case the romance was both love to hate and slow burning. Come on, those two tropes are like made for each other. Solara is finally a YA heroine that isn't "secretly beautiful". She's a tough girl with a spunky personality and a skill set that is useful(I wish I could fix shit even a quarter as good as Solara). Doran is an entitled douchebag, but you know how it is, he learns that his money and charming personality won't always save him. Thus his better side starts to show and I couldn't help but be charmed by him. Eventually. Their banter really locks you in. It was both hard and easy to imagine that Starflight takes place over months. Both reading and the time in the book flew by and I think that's the best part. I loved being sucked into something so much that I have no concept of time. Starflight isn't totally about the world building; it's all about the cool cast of disheveled characters on board the Banshee going on an intergalactic adventure full of crazy schemes and action. I might have also been brainwashed into needing a sugar glider because ADORABLE.

A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab
Publisher: Tor
Publication Date: February 23rd, 2016
Pages: 512
Series: Shades of Magic #2
Source: ARC from publisher
Rating: 4/5
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It's funny that this book can be both a good time and horrifying. Which is a total compliment. I feel like Schwab was trying to lessen her readers anxiety by throwing in a magical tournament. It was like the Twi-Wizard tournament on acid minus Voldmort ruining life. Because this world got enough problems without Voldmort. Anyhow, weird comparison...  Besides the obvious that carries over from book one, Lila being on a pirate ship was everything I wanted. Because you know what pirate ships bring? A captain my friends. And Brittany is like a moth to a flame when a character that dawns the title captain is involved. Alucard is like the missing puzzle piece to this series. He fits right in with his jagged edges full of secrets, intrigue and wit. Add in that "development" with Rhy and GIMMIE MORE. But it's not all about Alucard. Lila is certainly proving to be a force to be reckoned with. After book one I just knew she had so much more in store. And yup, that lady is truly kick ass in her troublesome ways. Can't say the same for Kell. He is withdrawing into guilt which is really isolating him. Loneliness hello thy name is Kell. He is constantly worried over Rhy's safety. And well he's not a happy guy. Rhy is pulling away from Kell. He's festering with resentment towards Kell. And really the toll in their relationship is spiraling downwards. A Gathering of Shadows is again ripe with coat porn and imagery of London(s). I ultimately was not surprised with the climax or some of the events. But that does not take away from the painful and nasty cliffhanger. Schwab is a cruel cruel human.

Undecided by Julianna Keyes
Publisher: Julianna Keyes
Publication Date: April 4th, 2016
Pages: 292
Source: Netgalley
Rating: 5/5
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For a massive NA reader like myself it is absolutely the best feeling to find such a gem as Undecided through all the sameness that is out there now. Besides the obvious that is the characters(which I'll get to in a moment), the main thing Undecided has going for it is the lack of unnecessary drama. Yup, that's right. Just a college girl trying to find herself through mistakes and experience. Isn't that exactly how we learn to be ourselves? Nora is so easily relatable. It is pretty much impossible not to connect with her. Yea, she doesn't know exactly where she fits in but that sure doesn't mean she's lacking in the awesome department. Nora is witty, funny and down to earth. And than there's Crosbie. Which just YES. So much yes. He's my newest crush and boyfriend, so back off you fiends. Unlike Nora he was seen freshman year. But like Nora he's also trying to find himself through being a college kid. Crosbie is a sweet, hard working guy who has a thing for magic. Which apparently is super swoony. Guys, the banter. I LIKE. GREAT SUCCESS. Nora and Crosbie are the show, but that doesn't mean the cast of characters are lacking. They are all chalk full of personality. And absolutely none of the side stories get thrown to the wayside. There is closure. I love this book. I ate it as fast as I can devour a cake. And just like a cake, I need seconds and thirds and a billion more slices.

Dear Thing by Julie Cohen
Publisher: St.Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: March 29th, 2016
Pages: 432
Source: ARC from publisher
Rating: 4/5
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Dear Thing turned out exactly how I expected it to be; messy adult drama. Romily essentially offers to become a surrogate for her best friend Ben and his wife Claire. The hitch, Romily has been in love with Ben for years. So although Romily might believe she's doing this help her friends have what they so desperately want, deep down it was never going to be quite that easy. Dear Thing is a story about feelings and how they develop and change. At least that's what I took from it. Ben and Claire both so desperately want to be parents but it turns out that the "normal" way is just not in the cards for them.Claire understandably feels done. Her body is tired. But Ben sees Romily as this savior of sorts. And Romily just wants to give back to two of the most important people in her life that helped her raise Posie(her daughter(she's a single mom)). As an outsider you can see where everyone's at and feeling; understand every side to this tricky triangle; Claire's resentment, Ben's rose coloured glasses, and Romily's evolving, let's call it predicament. Hurtful things are said, actions are misinterpreted, like I said so much mess. Posie is a great kid. She's an oddball and super intuitive. And kind of helps all the adults not to completely lose their minds. I also adore Jarvis and his roll. He acted so spot on for the situation. I was scared for a few pages that things were all going completely to hell. I most definitely would have thrown the book. Luckily no books were harmed. This time. I know I'm being some what vague, but I don't want to take away from the emotions that this book doles out. I will admit to having a bit of a disconnect, but that in no way kept me from feeling for all the characters.



You guys read these books? Thoughts?

Happy reading!

Brittany