Review: The Remedy by Suzanne Young

Series: The Program (.5 or 3)
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 401
Rating: 4 Stars
How I Got It: Purchased or Chirstmas Gift
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Simon Pulse

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

Quinlan McKee is a closer. Since the age of seven, Quinn has held the responsibility of providing closure to grieving families with a special skill—she can “become” anyone.

Recommended by grief counselors, Quinn is hired by families to take on the short-term role of a deceased loved one between the ages of fifteen and twenty. She’s not an exact copy, of course, but she wears their clothes and changes her hair, studies them through pictures and videos, and soon, Quinn can act like them, smell like them, and be them for all intents and purposes. But to do her job successfully, she can’t get attached.

Now seventeen, Quinn is deft at recreating herself, sometimes confusing her own past with those of the people she’s portrayed. When she’s given her longest assignment, playing the role of Catalina Barnes, Quinn begins to bond with the deceased girl’s boyfriend. But that’s only the beginning of the complications, especially when Quinn finds out the truth about Catalina’s death. And the epidemic it could start.

Review

This was quite a roller coaster. It gave me a lot of the same fee

lings as The Program. Ms. Young does a great job of addressing serious topics like death and suicide.

The main feeling I had while reading this was trippy. Quinn is like the most intense method acting. And this is a great use of first person. As she gets confused about who she is, so did I as the reader. It was a really weird feeling, but The Program was the same.

I definitely got emotional while reading this-there were tears. And this was a good addition to the Program series. And I'm eager to read the next book and she what happens next.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Review: The Deal by Elle Kennedy

Series: Off-Campus Book #1

Format: Ebook

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Publisher: Self-Published

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

She’s about to make a deal with the college bad boy...

Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she’s carting around a full set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction. If she wants to get her crush’s attention, she’ll have to step out of her comfort zone and make him take notice... even if it means tutoring the annoying, childish, cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date.

...and it’s going to be oh so good.

All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey after graduation, but his plummeting GPA is threatening everything he’s worked so hard for. If helping a sarcastic brunette make another guy jealous will help him secure his position on the team, he’s all for it. But when one unexpected kiss leads to the wildest sex of both their lives, it doesn't take long for Garrett to realize that pretend isn't going to cut it. Now he just has to convince Hannah that the man she wants looks a lot like him.

 

Review

This book is full of things I don’t like. There’s unrequited love (sort of), a bet or deal storyline, and some other things. But this is also an example of how enjoyable a story can be if written well even if you don’t like the basics.

So, yeah I enjoyed this. I definitely like the second book in the series more, but it’s still a great new adult novel.

Hannah is really easy to like. I would totally be her friend. I love that Ms. Kennedy doesn’t make her female characters pristine or pure. Ladies can swear, too. She could be super mopey about being a rape survivor but she isn’t. It’s nice to see a different perspective on that story line.

And Garrett is great. Ms. Kennedy is really good at writing the manwhore guy without falling into the stereotype. He has the arrogance of Jace from The Mortal Instruments and is fairly light-hearted. I find him very charming…and he knows it.

I think I touched this in another review recently, but I do like male friendships in this series. It isn’t a huge part of the story, but she shows that guys can have real emotions and relationships separate from the women in their lives.

I wish I could tell you why this isn’t a five-star read, but I can’t. I think it really just comes down to personal preferences. You probably like this on the second book more.

Now, when is she going to publish the third book? I want more and I can’t understand why those two characters will end up together.

Trigger Warning: Mention of rape

Thanks for reading!

Review: When I’m Gone by Abbi Glines

Series: Rosemary Beach Book #11

Format: Ebook

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

I feel like this is common when I read an Abbi Glines book, but I’m conflicted. She definitely knows how to write an engrossing story, but I do have some issues. But I keep reading them so she’s doing something right.

Generally, I liked the characters in here. But I liked Mase in Harlow’s story so that wasn’t much of a surprise. And it was nice to see Jimmy again. But Mase was a little bit of a freak-which I mean in the nicest way possible.

Reese is very easy to like. But in the first few chapters she was written kind of dumbed down. I understand she has problems, but she sounded like a ten year old inn those chapters. That did go away so it wasn’t a hug problem for me.

For the most part I like Mase and Reese as a couple. They have chemistry. But they also talk a lot which is kind of a breath of fresh air in the World of New Adult. (Is this even still classified as New Adult?) And Mase is a very supportive partner.

However, there were some things I found a little problematic. Because of her past I think Reese is a little naïve so sometimes she seemed to not have any agency in their relationship. And Mase’s words sometimes felt too possessive and a little manipulative. Looking at other parts of his character I don’t think he’s a bad guy, but it still rubs me the wrong way.

I definitely plan on reading the next book in this series and it will probably be my next read.

Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault/Abuse

Thanks for reading!

~Holly

Book Review: Asking for It by Lilah Pace

Series: Asking for It Book #1

Format: Ebook

Rating: 5 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

I just finished this and I feel like I won’t be able to move onto another book unless I get my thoughts out. I went into this unsure if I would like it or not, but with an open-minded. Some things did make me uncomfortable, but I still greatly enjoyed it.

The book is very clear that this contains rape and fantasies that surrounding lack of consent. But in case you found this review without seeing that: please be WARNED.

I know some people don’t like that Vivienne is a rape victim who has rape fantasies, because they wonder why can’t someone just have a kink? I get that opinion, but I find it refreshing to have a female victim of sexual assault that doesn’t just shut out all men. Everyone is different and no way of coping is particularly wrong.

This book is told in first person. I’ve been clear that I’m not a fan, but it completely works. I think it’s because so much of this story is psychological and the reason I liked it so much is how deeply I was able to get in her head. And I like her as a character. She’s funny and I appreciate her outlook on life.

And the side characters are developed perfectly. They are fully formed people and create a new family for Vivienne. I recently read a review of Pitch Perfect 2 (on Smart Bitches Trashy Books)-I think it was by Redheaded Girl. She talked about it being about a found family. To me, that’s what this story has and I’m realizing I love that kind of story.

Let’s discuss the sex. There is a lot of it and it is very descriptive. I feel like sex can often serve as a characterization tool and that’s very true here. In a lot of ways I learned more about these characters because of how they acted and reacted during different sexual situations. Especially when it comes to Jonah-I had some real epiphanies about him during these scenes.

And Ms. Pace was incredibly respectful. I never questioned if Vivienne was fully consensual and that is probably the most important thing for this story to work. She also makes Vivienne and Jonah have 

open/honest conversations about what they do and do not want. You know, like healthy adults should have.

This book is not for everyone. And if you would even come close to being triggered by this material I would stay away. But if you can read this kind of content I suggest at least giving it a try.

I’m very excited for the next book. Like, I can’t wait. And I want to know who Lilah Pace is so I can read more books by her.

Thanks for reading!