Every Single Lie | ARC Review

My Review: 3.5/5 Stars

Title: Every Single Lie

Author: Rachel Vincent

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 1/21/21

Publisher: Bloomsbury YA

Categories: Contemporary, Young Adult, Mystery, Cyberbullying, Mental Health, Teenage Pregnancy

Disclaimer: *I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

In this gripping YA novel about social media bullying and half-truths, one girl’s discovery of a dead baby in her high school locker room rocks an entire community.

Nobody in Beckett’s life seems to be telling the whole story. Her boyfriend Jake keeps hiding texts and might be cheating on her. Her father lied about losing his job before his shocking death. And everyone in school seems to be whispering about her and her family behind her back.

But none of that compares to the day Beckett finds the body of a newborn baby in a gym bag-Jake’s gym bag -on the floor of her high school locker room. As word leaks out, rumors that Beckett’s the mother take off like wildfire in a town all too ready to believe the worst of her. And as the police investigation unfolds, she discovers that everyone has a secret to hide and the truth could alter everything she thought she knew.

My Attention: read in two days

World Building: small town

Writing Style: easy to read

Crazy in Love: no, there is a troubled relationship but this is not a romance book

Creativity: A mystery that kept me guessing!

Triggers: suicide, drug use, cyberbullying, bullying, teen pregnancy, grief

My Takeaway: The truth can be shocking.

I like how raw this story is. Beckett finds a dead baby in the locker room and all evidence point to her. She hasn’t had an easy life, her dad just died from suicide – he was a veteran dealing with an injury and PTSD and had a drug problem because of it. Her mom is a cop, and unbeknownst to Beckett there has been talk about her family in town.
It is a mystery and one that was intriguing to solve. The story of a dead baby is already sad, but the conclusion just takes it to another level. It’s shocking and unexpected.
Cyberbullying and bullying in general happens in this book – all of it towards Beck because she’s suspected of being the baby’s mother. The press hounds her, the town and kids at school talk about her, crucifying her for supposed choices she’s made and tying all her family history into it as well. It was ugly. But the issue of women’s reproductive rights does get some
Beck’s father is a veteran who was injured in Afghanistan. I like how this story touched on PTSD and drug abuse. All of these are heavy topics but important topics.

Beck is clearly a girl going through a lot of emotions. She lost her dad, her mom is always at work and she’s also going through a breakup with her boyfriend. Finding the dead baby was the tipping point for her, but personality wise, she doesn’t come off as someone likable – I didn’t really connect to her character, but the mystery kept me reading.
The reveal is a shocker, a very sad one. For me it showed how everyone in Beck’s family was in their own grief and didn’t see what was going on in front of them.

I got sucked into Beck’s family history, the tragedy of her father’s death and how their family tried to cope with it’s aftermath. I think this book brings up many different issues that should be discussed like mental health, grief and teenage pregnancy or just women’s reproductive rights in general. Overall, this story was a mystery that kept me hooked and wanting to find out who was the mother and father of the baby that was found in the locker room.

💜 ~ Yolanda

2021 ~ Happy New Year!

Fireworks have been popping off here for weeks now, but last night was crazy as usual. Today is my nephew’s birthday so we are going to celebrate that and Sunday is my daughter’s birthday so we’ll be having cake all weekend it seems. 🎂

Since I didn’t do a weekly updated Christmas week, let’s do one today:

New Books Acquired:

NetGalley ~

Overdrive Online Library ~

Kindle Books ~ (bought)

TV, Movies, Etc…:

Netflix ~

Bridgerton – whoa…talk about 🔥🔥🔥…spoiler ~ there are lots of sexy times in Episode 6 haha. I mean there are some here and there in the previous episodes but yeah…episode 6? Overall, I’m a sucker for romantic period pieces so I enjoyed this one. I read a few of the Bridgerton novels years ago, but not all of them and I don’t think in order either. I don’t remember much because it’s been years but I’m definitely down for watching season 2. I LOVE Eloise, the actress who played her was great, yes Eloise and Penelope and Lady Danbury were my favorite characters in this first season of the Bridgertons. The diversity is great because we all know historical romances are usually white characters, so seeing various ethnicities in the show was fantastic.

excuse me, i love you ~ Ariana Grande’s concert documentary ugh, her voice is ridiculous. Would love to see her live in concert and this show made me miss concerts SO much. 😭 I loved concerts when I was younger and it slowed down when I had kids, but the times I can go to a concert is a TREAT. Anyway, I loved the show.

Adulting:

My nephew’s birthday is on 1/1 and my daughter’s birthday is on 1/3. She expects more presents and honestly, all I want to get her is a cake haha…she has way too many toys. I donated a bunch of clothes, toys and books the past two weeks to make room for more things coming into the house. But now I just want to clean house again. 🤦🏻‍♀️
I wanted to get a dog halfway through the pandemic. It’s been 2 years now since our fur baby Sky (a husky) has passed and seriously…this year was so trying I missed having a doggy. So I thought I was ready, it hurt losing Sky…but wow, is everyone buying the puppies and how are they buying them because the ones I’ve seen are SO expensive? I looked on humane society and the spca a bunch but the small dogs are usually adopted so fast and though I love big dogs, this time around I’m looking for a small dog, even small/medium is fine. My doggy nephew jumped into my car this past Christmas, I was about to take him home haha – he must remember that I dog-sat him when he was a puppy and he slept in my daughter’s bed for a week! Yes Aunty spoils him with lots of love.
I got to sleep in this week, meaning I slept in until 7:30am! HOORAY! lol…I honestly do not look forward to remote schooling coming back again. We’ll see if my son’s school makes any changes tot he schedule.
Etsy shop: I have a 25% off sale going on to clear out items before I start making anything else. Honestly I haven’t poured resin in almost 3 weeks now! Maybe I had a little bit of burn out. So I’m gonna rest for a bit and decide what I want to do next.

Have a great weekend everyone! And happy new year!

🎆 ~ Yolanda

Monthly Wrap Up | December 2020

Here we are at the end of 2020 – HOORAY! We made it! I pray for a better 2021, I really do. Here’s what I read during this busy month ~

Light Singer by. Audrey Grey – 4/5 Stars

Maybe This Time by. Kasie West – 3.5/5 Stars

Uncaged by. Celia McMahon – 3/5 Stars

You Have a Match by. Emma Lord – 4/5 Stars

Moon Claimed by. Kelly St. Clare – 3/5 Stars

Among the Beasts & Briars by. Ashley Poston – 4.5/5 Stars

Unleashed by. Celia McMahon – 3.5/5 Stars

The Fallout by. Frost Kay – 3.5/5 Stars

To Whatever End by. Lindsey Frydman – 3/5 Stars

That’s all I read this month – it wasn’t a lot because there was just too many to do with the holidays. I had to help my son finish up his work and projects for school, we celebrated Hanukkah and Christmas so gift shopping, baking, cooking, and yes donating things to make room for new toys that my kids got. So packing up donations and carrying it off to be dropped off was work.

And then entertaining the kids during winter break AND making sure I got all my Etsy orders shipped on time. So I am glad this year is over, glad this month is over and on to the next. Let’s have a great 2021! Happy New Year everyone!

Year in Review | 2020

In review it was the worst year ever – lost family members to COVID, the anxiety was unreal, turn to stress eating and a daily coffee drinker now 🤦🏻‍♀️. Cancelled the family Disney Cruise which my daughter keeps insisting we are still going on when the virus disappears (not happening). BUT my friends and family are safe and healthy despite the crazy year…we got through it! Books got me through it so let’s see what I read!

According to Goodreads.com:

My goal was to read 70 books because I read close to 200 last year. Well…I tried getting to less than a hundred but in a pandemic year? Forget it!

151 sounds about right and wow, I rate books fairly high huh? 😁

And here are the books I read…

You know I did read more than this, a few were kindle unlimited series that I wanted to review all together in one post, but I’m waiting for the final book of the series to do it. Oh well…I’ll write them in 2021. There really were some amazing books this year!

As far as my blog format is concerned, I changed up the look a little this year by adding different banners for sections. More changes may be coming because I learn as I go and I may change how I write my reviews (again)…haha, I know, I know, more changes?!…I want more fun bookish content,. I just wish I had the time to spend on the blog. Anyway, we shall see how I feel! How did you do this year?

🎆 ~ Yolanda

WWW Wednesday | 12/30/20

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam over on Taking on a World of Words.

The idea is pretty simple, every week you dedicate a post to the three W’s:

What are you currently reading?

What have you just finished reading?

What are you going to read next?

What are you currently reading?

What have you just finished reading?

What are you going to read next?

I had to get some kind of holiday book in there right? So New Year’s Kiss it will be! 😘 What are you reading?

~Yolanda

Top Ten Tuesday | 12/29/20

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Please check out her website for more TTT topics!

This week’s topic is:

Favorite Books of 2020

I can’t believe we have come to the end of 2020! I never want to have a repeat of this year, EVER again. But I will say, books did get me through it as did Netflix and music. But here are my top TWELVE books of 2020 in NO particular order…

Okay…so I picked my top twelve instead of ten because 2020 had some really good releases!! Drop me a comment and tell me what was your favorite book of 2020.

📚 ~ Yolanda

Merry Christmas | 12/25/20

We made it to Christmas 2020, y’all! If you celebrate, Merry Christmas, if not, happy Aloha Friday! The ones who are super excited for today are my kids and the opening of gifts. I got a haircut and massage on Sunday so that was my Christmas gift and it was AMAZING. The massage was so needed. We are going to my mom’s for Christmas Lunch with my family, and all I want to do is chill.

My sister got the covid vaccine this week because she works at the hospital and honestly, I think that could be the best gift ever this year. I wish I could get the vaccine but I’m not essential. I hope this means things are going to be better for 2021. Looking back on this year, my husband lost his aunt to covid and my aunt lost her granddaughter. This virus doesn’t discriminate, it took young and old. Prayers to all of those who lost someone to this virus this year…it really is my Christmas wish, for everyone to stay healthy and safe.

Thank you for all the bookish content you post for me to read, it helped me get through this crazy year bonding with all you fellow book lovers. 🥰 I hope you get some awesome book gifts and Merry Christmas!

💚❤️ ~ Yolanda

Books Under the Tree Book Tag

I saw this on AceReader‘s blog and thought it was a fun Christmas theme post to do since I don’t think I did any holiday posts yet – and with Christmas a day away…let’s try this one out!

1. What book would you like to find under the tree this year?

I don’t usually get book gifts under the tree but this would make a great collection to my Cruel Prince series!

2. What is the best book you have ever received for Christmas?

Like I said, I don’t get many book gifts so I’ll say…the book my mother-in-law got me…

3. What book gives you all the Christmas feels?

I read this last year and it was super cute – lots of family Christmas vibes and romance of course.🥰

4. What book do you plan on reading to put you in the Christmas spirit this year?

I honestly have no plans to read a book to put me in the Christmas spirit this year…lol…I did read the In a Holidaze arc but that was months ago. And I didn’t join any winter blog tours this year, just didn’t have the energy!

5. What book have you read this year that you would like to throw out with the Christmas tree after the holidays?

I have a fake tree so I don’t toss a tree out after the holidays 😅 but this one right now is trying my patience and might end up a DNF, which is rare for me! I love the cover but I think I expected something else? It’s not for me.

6. What is a book from this year that you would like to place under a friend’s tree?

I would gift this to a few people ~ it’s an inspiring story!

7. Challenge: Create a stack of books in which the spines alternate green and red! Share the titles.

I’m tagging whoever wants to do this tag! Well here we are, one more day until Christmas and I hope those of you who do get books under the tree get all the ones you have been wishing for. 😘

Happy Holidays! 🎄 ~ Yolanda

To Whatever End | ARC Review

My Rating: 3/5 Stars

Title: To What Ever End

Author: Lindsey Frydman

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 3/2/20

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Mystery, Thriller, Contemporary, Paranormal

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

What if with every person you met, after just one touch, you have a vision of the last time you’ll see each other? Ever. Normally, these visions are innocent—two friends just drifting apart, a random stranger that brushed past you then never crossed your path again.

But not today.

When I accidentally touch him, within only moments of our first meeting, I’m bombarded by visions of his death.

And from what I can see, I’m the reason he dies.

Now I just need to figure out why, and how to stop this from happening. Because not only am I to blame, but his very last words to me are…I love you.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from reading the synopsis but I was pleasantly surprised at how the mystery kept me engaged in the story. Quinn is cursed with visions when she touches someone. She can see how she and that person comes to an end, like her last memory with them. Quinn meets Griffin and her vision of him is not good so she tries to stay away, but that’s hard to do when they run into each other again.
Now that she has this vision, Quinn needs to decide to either stay away from him or maybe someone change the future. But can she change the future? Is Griffin worth it? She thinks so.
Not only does Quinn have to figure out how to change Griffin’s future, someone is harassing her and Griffin with threatening actions and notes. Is it something from Griffin’s past or Quinn’s?
The romance is instant, but I think it develops nicely where Quinn and Griffin get to know each other over dinner and coffee before things get serious.

Triggers: stalking, violence, grieving
Even though the mystery kept me engaged, you could pretty much connect the dots and see what was coming.
I’d like to know more about the curse. We know it’s in her family, her mom had it and her grandmother does too, but it seems they have it in different degrees? I didn’t really connect to any of the characters.

I think the premise of the story was interesting and kept me engaged with the added mystery and thriller aspect. I would have liked to know more about Quinn’s abilities and maybe not have the story be so predictable. I think there will be many readers that enjoy this paranormal romance mystery story.

💜 ~ Yolanda

Top Ten Tuesday | 12/22/20

This week’s topic is:

Books I Hope Santa Brings

I only get book gifts from my mother-in-law usually! So I usually do my own book gifting to myself haha. I can’t think of 10 since I just bought a few on my kindle app, but here are 5 that I’d like to get next:

The only one I’ve read in this list is These Violent Delights and it was as an arc so I’d love to have the physical copy on my shelf. I’m in love with the cover.

What book gifts do you want this Christmas?

🎁 ~ Yolanda