ya books | Reading Robyn

The Age of the Seventh Sun by Lani Forbes

Posted on July 11, 2022 by Reading Robyn

There are 3 books in this series:
1. The Seventh Sun
2. The Jade Bones
3. The Obsidian Butterfly

WARNING: There is a huge cliffhanger at the end of The Seventh Sun so have book 2 ready and on deck. Now that I think about it, there’s a cliffhanger at the end of The Jade Bones too.

Full disclosure: I read The Seventh Sun in February of 2020 and then again earlier this month right before diving into The Jade Bones. When I first finished The Seventh Sun, I ran to Edelweiss and Netgalley to see if I could get an ARC of The Jade Bones. Then 2020 happened and kind of ruined all books with any kind of angst or apocalyptic themes. So despite how excited I was for the story, The Jade Bones found its way onto my backlist. But fear not! I am slowly trudging through the backlist and I am finding gems. This series is one.

We are going to cover 2 of the 3 books. I haven’t started book 3 yet. I only have one Audible credit and I have to make a hard decision between The Obsidian Butterfly and This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron. (If my mini-me doesn’t use the credit first 😒).

In case you missed it, here’s my review for This Poison Heart and you’ll see my dilemma 😂

I will mark spoilers just in case because it is harder to avoid spoilers when talking about a series.

The Seventh Sun

Robyn Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Storygraph
Goodreads

Controversy: I looked at other reviews after reading because my rating is higher than the average rating. I don’t want to spend too much time on others’ reviews but I’ll give you a heads up with the issues I found.

This is not an #ownvoices book. So if you’re looking for that, this is not it.

This book is loosely based on Aztec/Mayan culture with a little Egyptian culture sprinkled in there. Remember that it is a fictional book. If you are hoping to learn something about either culture, this book is not it.

Plot: Prince Ahkin just inherited the throne (and a slew of problems) due to his father’s sudden death. He feels unprepared for the role he has in his empire. Especially since he and his sister are the last ones of his bloodline, the last ones who can raise the sun daily. The sun is fading and everyone feels as if they are headed towards the next apocalypse. He is also being pressured to choose a wife from one of the 6 noble daughters that are sent to his city, a wife to be the other half of his duality. Those who are not chosen must be sacrificed to the gods to bless their marriage. No pressure.

I’ll cover the characters when we talk about The Jade Bones. I will add that I’ve read The Seventh Sun as an ebook and as an audio. In the audio, I want to point out that Yemania’s voice was jarring and pulled me out of the story. She was so whiny.

Review: (2020 read) Okay, I have always been interested in Mayan and Aztec culture and this book has some strong themes of both cultures. There’s drama and suspense. There is a ship that you can’t help but root for and then that ending…. I need the next book like yesterday!!! I really don’t want to spoil anything for you but I loved this one. Check it out.

2022 Reread edit: I listened to the audio this time around and some of the voices were annoying so I think it took me out of the story a bit. The blind faith that the prince has in the rituals made me roll my eyes this time around too. Mostly because I’ve seen blind faith in a lie cause destruction since I read it the first time. I will however keep the rating at 5 stars.

The Jade Bones

Did I mention that this book also ends in a major cliffhanger?

Robyn Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Storygraph
Goodreads

This book picks up right where The Seventh Sun left off. So if you haven’t read that there will be spoilers in this part of this blog post.

Plot: Mayana and Ahkin are in the Underworld, desperate to get out and reclaim the throne. They must survive several trials with impossible odds. They have to learn to trust each other, the gods, and their abilities to succeed. All with an ominous warning from the mother goddess, Ometeotl. Yemania, who survived the Empress selection ritual due to Ahkin entering the Underworld, has her own challenges she must face. She deals with betrayals and the new Empress, Ahkin’s sister, has made her the new High Healer. She meets and falls in love with an enemy and must keep that secret for fear of the empress learning of their romance. Which is made even harder by her needing to be close to the Empress to figure out what exactly she is up to.

Characters: I don’t know if there was much character growth in this book. In the end, Ahkin and Mayana show a little growth but mostly Ahkin is still overly self-sacrificing. Mayana is still trying to prove herself, whether to herself or simply to break out of the expectations she feels are placed on her. Yemania is still whiny and I spent some time mad at her decision-making.

This storyline is high stress. Yemania’s, I think, is supposed to be a reprieve from the constant life or death situations that Ahkin and Mayana are in. However, Yemania’s situation is also full of narrow escapes from death.

I did listen to the audio of this book. I decided to since I realized that I butchered all of the names of the characters and places in the first book. So I would suggest at the very least looking up how to pronounce them online.

As always, I’m here to help you with your challenges so…
Read these books for the following:
Underworld (book 2)
Forbidden Romance (book 2)
Dual POV (both)
Betrayal (both)
Mythology (both)

I’m off to start another book! As I mentioned earlier I have an extensive backlist 🙈🙈 and I’m slowly chipping away at it.

Happy Reading!
-Robyn

This Poison Heart ♥️

Posted on June 27, 2022 by Reading Robyn

I’m going to try something out. Covid knocked me off the creative path I was on going into 2020. But this blog is one of the things that haunt my dreams because it is something I have always wanted to do. So, I’m going to just organically type up my thoughts here as a draft while I’m reading books if I am moved to do so. No commitment. No hassle. All so I can express myself (and my thoughts on the books I read.) That’s all this was supposed to be anyway. So if you’re here for the ride and the recommendations, thank you for your time. If not, I’ll just be over here in my little corner of the internet still (hopefully) yelling out about the books I love (and a few that I don’t.) 😂

Up first!

This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron
Add it to your TBR below:
Storygraph
Goodreads
Robyn Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

I tend to go into a story blind. I didn’t read the synopsis, I avoided spoilers on social media and I didn’t ask any questions when a friend read it. I just knew that the cover was everything. The moment I held my Owlcrate copy I vowed to display it on my shelf even if it sucked. It’s just that gorgeous.

When my daughter saw the cover, she said, “Oh! This is pretty. What is it about?” My response? “Black Girl Magic”

Now, as I am typing this up, I see that this author also wrote Cinderella is Dead. That one got a 4/5 rating from me and it was such a unique retelling of Cinderella that it stuck with me. So I should’ve known that this book was going to be good but it was better.

I had barely started the book and the main thought running through my head was “omg yessssss to a black girl fantasy.” I was so geeked about it that I ended up having to restart it because I missed parts. I could relate to the characters in this fantasy and it was amazing. There were times that a character would say exactly what I was thinking in response to what was happening.

Plot: Briseis is a teenage girl living in Brooklyn with her moms. They own a flower shop and Bri loves plants. She can make them grow with just a touch. Every day it is a struggle to keep her powers a secret. Then an aunt, that she didn’t know of, dies and leaves her an estate surrounded by plant life and a garden with every known species of poisonous plants in it. Brie is the only person left who can safely tend to the garden thanks to her gift. Before she can get settled in her new home, she meets some colorful character and uncovers dangerous secrets. Soon Bri is drowning in secrets, questions, and warnings about her birth family. Who can she trust?

Characters: I loved all the characters. Bri’s moms were great. They loved the hell out of Bri and neither of them hesitated to show her that. They were funny and protective and it was refreshing to see a black character with a good home life. They were just happy and dealing with having a magical daughter the best they could.

Briseis very quickly moved onto my Fave Female MC list. She was a good-natured, down-to-earth (literally 😂) girl. She was a bit lonely since she had to keep her powers secret. Then when she moved to the estate she made a few choices that made me 🤦🏽‍♀️ shake my head but I understood why. Plus baby girl needed some support because as she said “some of the people here were clearly on some other shit.” Which made me laugh out loud because it was exactly what I would’ve said.

I don’t want to spoil any of the book because it is such a fun story. I’m getting ready to start book two since it was released this week. I cannot imagine what I would have felt like if I had read this when I was supposed to (hides behind the backlist in shame 🙈) I was almost finished with the book, in a high-stress moment, and realized that there was wayyy too much to wrap up in the amount of book I had left. Now I just have to use some self control and wait until tomorrow to start. #TeamNoSleep

It looks like Kalynn Bayron is officially on my watchlist.

In the spirit of helping y’all get your reading challenges…

Read this if you are looking for: BIPOC, f/f, black girl magic, fantasy, mythology, plants/flower shop, apothecary

Happy reading,
Robyn

Blog Tour: The Year Shakespeare Ruined My Life

Posted on September 13, 2020 by Reading Robyn

A Reading Robyn Review

Y’all I am not good with time zones so I thought I had another hour or so to finish typing this up. I made a mistake and started Hamilton (again, don’t judge me) and was just sitting here crying to “It’s Quiet Uptown” when I remembered that EST is actually an hour ahead of me soooooooooooo the deadline is in 18 min andddddd I am now working diligently to get this post up for you.

Can we talk a about how absolutely adorable this cover is? That is originally what made me what to read this book. Then I was curious about how much Shakespeare would be in it since I have always be interested in Shakespeare.

Since the book does not released for another 9 days or so I will try reallllllllllyyyyy hard not to get spoilery in my review. Here’s the synopsis:

Alison Green, desperate valedictorian-wannabe, agrees to produce her school’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. That’s her first big mistake. The second is accidentally saying Yes to a date with her oldest friend, Jack, even though she’s crushing onCharlotte. Alison manages to stay positive, even when her best friend starts referring to the play as “Ye Olde Shakespearean Disaster.” Alison must cope with the misadventures that befall the play if she’s going to survive the year. She’ll also have to grapple with what it means to be “out” and what she might be willing to give up for love.

Dani Jansen is a teacher and writer who lives in Montreal. She should probably be embarrassed to admit that she has performed as part of her school’s Glee Club for eight years. She should probably also be ashamed to tell people that she named her cats after punctuation symbols (Ampersand and Em-Dash, in case you’re curious)

You can find her at the following links:

https://twitter.com/DaniAJansen
https://www.instagram.com/daniannejansen/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20027034.Dani_Jansen

Review: I spent a lot of time relating to Alison. She was awkward around her crush and often made missteps but with good intentions. She is one of those people that have a goal and do everything within their power to accomplish that goal even if sometimes that might be detrimental to herself. This is a cute book and the voice it gives to teens who are LGBTQ+ is important because not every experience is the same. There is no rule book on being who you are and how to navigate those around you who may or may not have a reaction to you simply being who you are. I would definitely recommend this book to others to read, especially teenage readers. I did hope for a little more Shakespeare though especially since A Midsummer’s Night Dream is my favorite play.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51372783-the-year-shakespeare-ruined-my-life

Here is where you can buy the book (I’m going to give you some options):

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository
Indigo

If you want to see who else is participating in this blog tour to get other opinions about the book go here. (There might even be some giveaways going on)

Anddddd I’m a couple min late but we are done! I can’t wait to see what else Dani Jansen has for us and I hope you enjoy the book.

Happy Reading

Where Dreams Descend: A Reading Robyn Review

Posted on August 28, 2020 by Reading Robyn

We need to talk about this book yall. I have tried to start 3 other books since I finished Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles this morning and I am not able to concentrate on a single one because all I want is the next book in this series! (Wow that was a run on sentence. Eek.) So I decided that I needed to post my review for it immediately.

I want to start off by saying I was shocked by some of the lower reviews on Goodreads but to each their own because I loved this book. Maybe it is because I am a heavy heavy fantasy book reader or maybe it is because as a heavy fantasy book reader I am used to having unanswered questions. Y’all… this one still threw me for a loop so I gueesssss I can understand the hard feelings for it. (Not really) Anyways, on to my review!

Rating: 4.5/5

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40144224

Review: It’s important that I get these thoughts out while I’m still reeling from this book.

Let’s get the formalities out of the way first. Thank you Wednesday Books and Edelweiss for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Y’all… 😭😬 I just made a false claim that I would no longer request arcs for book ones of a new series. Why? Because when I finish a good one I need the next book right away and waiting a year (forever) for the next book is painful. And I need book two of this series ASAP. Lemme tell you why…

Where Dreams Descend is a fantasy mystery. There’s magic so obvs fantasy but there’s something dark at work here and we don’t exactly know who or what it is at the start of the book. As each Act is complete we learn more and more about the pasts of the characters on the center stage. Kallia, our fierce female lead, is a solid character but she’s a unreliable narrator because of Jack. Jack is a powerful magician (or something stronger 🤷🏽‍♀️) who deals in memories. Early on we learn that he has been taking memories and creating illusions and despite their strange relationship, Kallia is not safe from him toying with her mind. Daron “Daring” Demarco is a born magician who has a tragic past that has caused him to stop using magic. He is a judge in a show that Kallia enters against Jack’s wishes. Y’all know there’s a love triangle right? Kinda. Not really but kinda… I mean it’s complicated anyway despite Daring Demarco’s best intentions he cannot seem to resist Kallia.

Now the reason why I need the next book now is that as usual book one ends with a cliffhanger. It was expected however what I didn’t expect is to be left with some fundamental questions being left unanswered. Throughout most the book (SPOILER ALERT HERE) we are led to believe that Jack is the antagonist. He is the big bad and every time he enters the story we are on edge. But… nope. He’s not. There is a bigger problem than Jack. A stronger, darker force behind all the horrible things that happen in this little forgotten town in the middle of a cursed dark wood that is from a different dimension. And we don’t know who or what it is. We also don’t know anything about this mirror dimension. (I’m going to call it the Shadow Realm.)

At the end of the day, I have plenty of crazy theories.

The town is a gateway to hell.

Yeahhhh I should have started with a different theory first because now that I’ve said that one… it’s definitely a gateway to hell because I can’t understand how it can be anything else. Other than like the land of the dead which is just a cooler way of saying hell. (SPOILER ALERT OVER)

Anyway, I enjoyed the story and I need more of it. Now. This review is much more spoilery than my typical reviews but I did hold a lot of stuff back. I texted my friends when I was about 30% into it and said “I feel like I’ve read a lot of this book because there is so much happening but I’m only 30% in.” It’s well written, intriguing, dramatic and fully immersive if you love fantasy, magic and stubborn, fierce female leads.

New Releases!!! Aug 18th,2020

Posted on August 18, 2020 by Reading Robyn

It’s the best day of the week!!!! If this post looks weird it’s because I am experimenting with the website version of WordPress because the app is not working for me today. (Le sigh.)

Rating scale: ⭐️ = 1 star 💫 = half star

Loathe at First Sight by Suzanne Park

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫/5

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48716987

Review: I had a hard time rating this one. Overall I liked the book but I felt like things didn’t always flow naturally. I also think that the romance took a back seat to the gaming, sexism and diversity topics. They are very important topics so that’s a good think but the title makes you think romance. I also expected this hated filled coworker relationship but it’s a misunderstanding that’s resolved at the very beginning. I honestly like the characters and I was rooting for melody but I just wanted more of her and Noah.

Buy here: https://amzn.to/2E8qT2X
Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From by Jennifer De Leon

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52766921

Review: Liliana is accepted to Metco, a program to bus intercity kids to better schools in the suburbs. Those schools are attended by majority white and well off students. She didn’t know she was even on a list to go. Her parents signed her up years earlier. Her father has been gone for a few months and she is missing him. He occasionally takes breaks away from his family but he has been gone longer than usual. Her parents are immigrants from El Salvador and Guatemala. Her parents are very strict and she is not allowed to date or spend the night at friend’s houses. When she starts attending her new school we get to see liliana navigate her two separate lives, her new school and her home. She says she likes to keep her corn with the corn. The book follows her struggles at home and her struggles to excel in a school where she feels out of place and has trouble adjusting. She is also dealing with racism at her school. I really enjoyed this book. It has something very important to say and I think it should be a must read for all kids in high school. People need to learn about other cultures and embrace diversity.

Buy here: https://amzn.to/3aAiwZE
All Eyes On Her by L.E. Flynn

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44280859

Review: This is a must read if you like thrillers and YA. I was hooked. It is really an easy and fast paced read! The main characters made me go through all my emotions. I loved them and hated them. The book had so many twists and turns and uses my feelings and emotions against me! The ending gives you no easy answers either! In short, I loved it. Go read it lol

Buy here: https://amzn.to/3iYVXRD
Little Disasters by Sarah Vaughan

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

Goodreads:

Review: TW: postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, violent thoughts towards infants

This was a tough read for me and I’ve hesitated to write this review. I want to preface this by saying that I am not typically a thriller person and I always second guess my initial thoughts upon finishing a thriller novel if they don’t blow me away initially. As a Creative Writer Major I can say that this story was very well written and told in a way that made me need to know how the story ended. While the content was a bit underwhelming at times I think it was a good look inside what could potentially go on in the mind of a mother with postpartum depression and anxiety. As a mother I could sympathize with the main characters, the struggle of maintaining a household with small children, the pressure from your significant other, family and ultimately yourself. I haven’t personally experienced postpartum depression so I can’t say whether the characterization is accurate or not. If it is, how absolutely terrifying.

My main takeaway from this book is to check on your friends who are moms, whether they are new moms or just had their second or third child. Offer to babysit just so they can sleep. Or drop off wine if you aren’t a baby person. Moms, it’s okay to not be okay and sometimes you might need help. Reach out, don’t let your pride or fear of judgement stop you from getting the help and support you need.

Buy here: https://amzn.to/2YbAcWs
Skywatchers by Carrie Arcos

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48929914

Review: Y’all… this book!! As an avid fan of Stranger Things I KNEW I had to have this book when it was suggested for people who enjoy that show. They were not wrong. While this book starts out slow, it is well written and you learn a lot about the characters in the beginning. I was on the edge of my seat (figuratively not literally) while reading this because I knew there was going to be some aliens or something from another dimension coming. The reader is kept in the dark for most of the book but that is because the characters are as well. We find out things at the same time and despite the clues that I am sure were there for the characters and the reader, I was completely caught off guard when the big reveal happened. I wish the ending was paced slower since the rest of the book was but it was good. The only way for this to have been paced slower at the end would be if the author decided to make it into a series but as it is now, that is not necessary. Well done. Would recommend.

Buy here: https://amzn.to/2Q7jEKR

It was a good week!!!

What new books did you get this week?

As usual, thank you for stopping by my little corner of the internet. Enjoy your week and Happy Reading!!!!

New Releases! Aug 11th, 2020

Posted on August 11, 2020 by Reading Robyn

Whew we made it through another week of the year 2020 and we have new books to talk about!

How is everybody doing? Are you taking care of yourself? Drinking water? Popping an unnecessary amount of vitamin C? Washing your hands? We have to stick together if we are going to make it through this Monday of a year. (Seriously, doesn’t the ENTIRE year feel like a Monday? Every single day???)

Okay, enough wallowing… Let’s get to the books!

1. Ghost Wood Song by Erica Waters
(BACKLIST Published July 14th, 2020)

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫 (4.5)/5

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53098065

Review: I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one but I really loved it! This is an amazingly eerie debut about a girl desperate to save her brother and a fiddle that raises ghosts. I didn’t realize that this was a magical realism novel and was surprised by the modern setting. However I found that the author did a great job blending the magic into the contemporary to make a very spooky atmosphere. There are a lot of secrets and really make this into a mystery as well. Overall it is a great read and I’m sad it’s the authors first book. I need more! 😂

Buy HERE: https://amzn.to/2PJTDBg

2. Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust
(BACKLIST Published July 7h, 2020)

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫 (4.5)/5

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51182650

Review: I really loved this book! I’m always here for a story about a princess and this one had a little twist! The authors writing and world building was amazing! It is an original story but I could feel some other fairytales in it like Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast and Repunzel. The story was all about magic and powers but wasn’t too whimsical which is my favorite! I would highly recommend this book. I need to read the authors other book!

Buy HERE: https://amzn.to/2FguU5B

3. All Our Worst Ideas by Vicky Skinner

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46223269

Review: All Our Worst Ideas is all about the power of love. I loved it and wanted more! It is so well written! The heartache and drama was realistic and relatable. The sarcasm and wit made me smile and laugh. It just really made me feel all emotions. It felt like a bridge between YA and new adult. I loved all the music and when the main characters find their song 💕 This is really a perfect book!

Buy HERE: https://amzn.to/2PL1ApS

4. Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫 (3.5)/5

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46223269

Review: I really don’t know what I feel about this book
And how I should rate it. I feel like this is two different books. The first half is beautiful and has something to say about discrimination, sexual assault and immigration. When I started I couldn’t put the book down. The second half involved aliens and went somewhere I wasn’t expecting. It was still interested but I didn’t have the same pull. I really don’t know how I feel about the 2nd half. Maybe I need to process more. If It has continued on the same path as the first half easily 5 stars. They even mention one of my favorite books. If I’m rating the 2nd half 3 stars. It’s not bad just really different and I wasn’t prepared. I may have to revisit this review.

Buy HERE: https://amzn.to/3ah0vzn

5. Lobizona by Romina Garber
(Backlist published Aug 4th, 2020)

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫 (4.5)/5

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51179882

Review: I’m torn because I really loved this book and I’m really excited for the sequel. It’s relevant to today but It lagged just a bit so I docked it half a star. Manu is an illegal immigrant who lives with her mom and 95 Perla. Manu is trapped inside because she has different color and shapes eyes. If she was discovered her mother and her could be deported or could be in danger. She lives her life thru books and dreams. When ICE takes her mom, she runs off and ends up in the place from her dreams. This book Tackles immigration, sexism, and individuality. It’s steeped in folklore and fantasy and magical realism. It comes together beautifully. It’s very vivid and excited. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends.

Buy HERE: https://amzn.to/2PLPpsJ

Thanks for stopping by! I’ll be back next week with some more books!!!

Take care of yourself! Happy Reading

#TBT Throw Back(list) Thursday

Posted on August 6, 2020 by Reading Robyn

OMG TWO posts in a week?!?!?!?!

So as you all know there was a significant amount of time that passed that where I was not posting and not reading but WE ARE BACK ON THE GRIND!! Which means there are quite a few books that were neglected that I have to tell you all about.

So I introduce you to our new weekly feature:

Throw Back(list) Thursday #TBT

1. Take A Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49976087-take-a-hint-dani-brown

Review: Another great book from Talia Hilbert. If you are in search of a smart, funny, sexy love story you found it. Dani is a professor who hasn’t been a relationship since the first guy broke her heart. Zafir works security at her university. He is large and grumpy and everyone is afraid of him but Dani. She was honks he is a teddy bear. Zafir was a former soccer player who quit when he lost his brother and father in a car accident. He doesn’t believe in sex without a relationship, and Dani only wants sex with no strings attached. When dani gets trapped in the elevator during a drill, zafir rushes to her aid and carries her out of the building. That footage is leaked and it brings a lot of attention to Zafir’s foundation to help boys. Zafir is convinces by his family that this great publicity for his foundation. He has Dani to be his fake girlfriend and they begin a “relationship”. Their chemistry is undeniable and Dani finds zafir’s understanding of her schedule endearing.
I would definitely recommend this. I love all the worry dialogue and the steamy love scenes.

Buy here: https://amzn.to/3gAVeVD

2. Stay Gold by Tobly McSmith

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45306326-stay-gold

Review: This reminded me of If I Was Your Girl except it’s a trans boy. It’s heartbreaking, and thought provoking. Pony is has transferred to a new school because of all the attention at this old school. His father isn’t addressing him with his preferred pronouns. He just wants to fly under the radar at the new school. Georgia is a cheerleader who just broke up with her jock boyfriend. She is starting to feel like there is more to life. She promises herself she will stop dating but when she meets Pony sparks fly. Pony isn’t out and isn’t ready to be out but has feelings for Georgia. I love how the story unfolds. I would definitely recommend this book to others but it is a hard read.

Buy here: https://amzn.to/3gAJjaz

3. Cinderella is Dead by Kalyan Bayron

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43900612-cinderella-is-dead

Review: This was a very unique take on the Cinderella story. I cheered for Sophia the entire time and enjoyed every bit of her journey. There is absolutely no way for me to summarize this story without giving spoilers so here are some things I want to highlight. Sophia is black obviously from the cover. This does feature a f/f couple and nothing is as it seems. Like I mentioned before, this is a very unique take on this particular fairytale that we have seen done hundreds of ways. I’ll recommend it to anyone who likes retellings and strong female leads.

Thank you Netgalley and edelweiss for a copy of this eARC in exchange for a honest review

Buy here: https://amzn.to/3gBldfT

4. A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39085465-a-song-below-water

Review: The best part of this book was the sisterhood between the two main characters. Their story was about discovering themselves and each other and it was not romance driven at all. The worst part of the book was the use of the word legiterally. I cringed every time I read it.

This is a powerful book to read right now as it speaks about discrimination, prejudice and the fallout from both. It speaks about how to the characters handle being “different.” It speaks about sisterhood and the importance of having at least one person in your corner.

Buy here: https://amzn.to/3kh8RvA

5. Burn Our Bodies Down by Rory Power

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52748041-burn-our-bodies-down

Review: This book was so good! I went into it blindly and I’m so speechless. It gets the best after 50% just so you know. Once you hit that part you won’t be able to put it down! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! So many twists and turns at the end! The writing style was spectacular! I can’t wait to read more by this author

Buy here: https://amzn.to/2PuhyEu

Thank you for stopping by! Again, I am an Amazon affiliate so those links do pay out to me (got to make extra money somehow in a pandemic.)

Stay Safe! Happy Reading!

NEW RELEASES!!!! Aug 4th, 2020

Posted on August 4, 2020 by Reading Robyn

Guess who’s back!!! Omg this… (gestures everywhere) has thrown off our reading schedules but I think we are back. June was a rough month reading wise, so bad we shall never speak of it again.

(Ugh I just broke an important key on my keyboard 🤦🏽‍♀️ the freaking delete button. 😩)

Let’s get started!!

Here are the ones we got through for today!

1. More Than Just a Pretty Face by Syed M Masood
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42655335-more-than-just-a-pretty-face
Rating: ALL THE STARS
Review: I loved this book. It made me feel the full range of emotions and it made me think. That’s all it takes from me to give a book all the stars. Danyel is a senior in high school. He doesn’t do well in school. He wants to be a chef and marry his best friend’s sister. She is a beautiful girl. Danyel’s mother doesn’t think she is the one and neither do his friends. Danyel’s parents have arranged for him to start meeting girls and their families so his marriage can be arranged. Bismal has a past and her parents don’t think any of the boys will agree to marry her but they keep trying. It’s breaking her spirit. Danyel is chosen to represent his class on a renaissance man competition. His teacher has given up on him. Everyone has. Bismal begins to help him and open his eyes to the world, to love and religion. Danyel begins to help her remember what being happy is again. I would recommend this to everyone. -S

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3fx49WW

2. You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52886627-you-had-me-at-hola
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5
Review: Loved it. Everything I want in a romance bonus the characters are all Latinex. This book is fun and sexy. Jasmine has just been dumped on tv by her rockstar boyfriend. She is moving from LA to New York to start working on a new show for flix. Her family lives in New York and although she loves them, it is easier when they aren’t in the same city. Ashton has been in Miami starring in telenovelas but he wants to make the leap to larger productions. His family and his son live in Puerto Rico. He had a stalker when his son Yadiel was a baby and he decided to keep him out of the spotlight. They both plan to keep the set strictly business but fate has a different plan. They have chemistry and when they start to rehearse together, they start to have feelings for each other but things get complicated. I won’t go further but I definitely recommend picking this up for a steamy, fun read! -S

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Dv0QSS

3. Bookish and the Beast by Ashley Poston
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45167534-bookish-and-the-beast
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5
Review: Excuse me while I wipe away my tears from that extremely cute ending…

Thank you Edelweiss and Random House for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Since I absolutely adored the first 2 books in this series I knew I had to get my hands on this one.

Rosie meets a super cute and intriguing guys at Excelsicon and has a great night but they don’t exchange information or even tell each other what their names are. Ahhhh I don’t want to spoil it! Read the book!! If you’ve read book 1 and 2 and loved them… get ready for this installment of this feel good romance series. For those who haven’t started the series yet… do you like comic cons? Fanfics? Sci-fi and space adventures? With a heavy sprinkle of YA romance? Pick up this series. -J

Amazon: https://amzn.to/33pjW7J

4. The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed
Goodreads:
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ /5
Review: This book is well done. It’s very relevant to what’s going on as you read this. It addresses identity, racism, institutionalized racism, mental illness. It’s a hard read but it’s real.

Ashley lives in la with her parents. She lives in Brentwood and goes to a private school. All of her friends are white. Her sister dropped out of college and moved closer to downtown LA and eloped. Ashley is trying to discover herself thru her relationships and family. She is graduating this year. At the same time, LA is awaiting the results of the Rodney King Verdict. She has been friends with the same three girls since elementary. She knows their friendship isn’t the same anymore but it’s graduation year. We watch her and her family react to the verdict. As things begin to happen, her family begins to learn more about themselves and each other. There are family secrets that have been hidden. Ashley’s parent have been trying to protect her and her sister but when your black you have to grow up faster. You have to be better.
I really enjoyed where the story went and how things come together. I would definitely recommend this to everyone but especially to high school students. I think it’s a must read. -S

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3fuFMZS

5. They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43785478-they-wish-they-were-us
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5
Review: Fast paced read. It definitely kept me interested and I finished in one day. Murder, rich children from important families and lots of secrets. Jill attends a prep school. She is on scholarship. She is in a very exclusive club called The Players. Her best friend was killed freshmen year and she still has nightmares about it. The killer is in jail, her loving boyfriend. Jill gets a message from his sister and things begin to unravel. I would definitely recommend this to my friends. -K

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3guOQ2e

What my goodreads makes it look like I am doing. 😂

I hope you guys enjoy these books if you happen to check them out. Also fyi, I am an Amazon affiliate so the links here do pay me a small commission if you use these links to buy.

Stay safe, take some time for yourself and relax (the world is crazy) and wash your hands.

Happy Reading!!

BLOG TOUR: The Mall by Megan McCafferty

Posted on July 31, 2020 by Reading Robyn

Omg y’all this is our first blog tour!!!

I have been super stressed about it, so much so that I haven’t even signed up for any others because I had to know if this one went well first.

Let’s talk about the book shall we? First, y’all know I am a sucker for covers so check this beauty out.

If there was someway to make this light up on my bookshelf without ruining the book… I would figure it out because I am in love with this design.

Now for the nitty-gritty stuff.

Synopsis: New York Times bestselling author Megan McCafferty returns to her roots with this YA coming of age story set in a New Jersey mall.The year is 1991. Scrunchies, mixtapes and 90210 are, like, totally fresh. Cassie Worthy is psyched to spend the summer after graduation working at the Parkway Center Mall. In six weeks, she and her boyfriend head off to college in NYC to fulfill The Plan: higher education and happily ever after.But you know what they say about the best laid plans…Set entirely in a classic “monument to consumerism,” the novel follows Cassie as she finds friendship, love, and ultimately herself, in the most unexpected of places. Megan McCafferty, beloved New York Times bestselling author of the Jessica Darling series, takes readers on an epic trip back in time to The Mall.

Author bio:
Megan McCafferty writes fiction for tweens, teens and teens-at-heart of all ages. The author of several novels, she’s best known for Sloppy Firsts and several more books in the New York Times bestselling Jessica Darling series. Described in her first review as “Judy Blume meets Dorothy Parker” (Wall Street Journal), she’s been trying to live up to that high standard ever since.

But wait! I haven’t even told you how we here at Reading Robyn felt about the book. We totally loved it.

Jen- ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

Everyone who know me knows I love the 90s! Not only was life simpler back then but the music was incredible no matter the genre! And every 90s kid knows how important being at the mall was for your social life and entertainment.

Cassie, our main character, suffers a heartbreak early in the book but that heartbreak leads to adventure, friendship and most importantly self discovery. This book is about learning who you are and what your boundaries are. It is about learning to be the very best version of yourself despite what life might throw at you or in the case of most teenagers in the world, what situations you find yourself in.

If you want a nostalgic read that takes place in The Mall of old (because lets be honest malls have lost their shine these days) then this is a book for you.

Kaitlin- ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

I loved this book from the beginning. It’s a very quick and easy read. The authors writing style pulled me in and didn’t let me go. It was very nostalgic and fun. The perfect carefree entertainment that we all need right now. We can’t go to the mall right now so you can read about it 🤪 I highly recommend this book! I need to read more by this author.

Steph- ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

I was immediately into this book. I was in high school in the 90s so it was really nostalgic. It’s a quick and fun read about a girl finding out who she really is. Cassie has just graduated from high school. It’s the summer before she leaves for college and she has it all planned out but she is in for a surprise. Things go very differently than she has planned but it’s for the best. She reconnects with an old friend Gia. She helps Gia solve a mystery and starts to find herself in the process. I would definitely recommend this book.

All the important links for this book are here below:

goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40032339
Buy here: https://wednesdaybooks.com/the-real-deal/the-mall/

Or buy here: https://amzn.to/39M1Xtt

Wanna follow Megan?? Here you go! https://twitter.com/meganmccafferty

Thanks as always for stopping by and reading what I put up on my little corner of the internet. Stay safe out there, wash your hands and happy reading!!!

May New Releases!!

Posted on May 27, 2020 by Reading Robyn

Alright… I’ve been slacking. Finals and homeschooling my kids completely wrecked me this month so I owe you some reviews. My backlist definitely took a hit this month. Let’s get right into it!

1. Happy & You Know It by Laura Hankin
Rating: ALL THE STARS
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52358404
Review: Highly entertaining and hilarious. Claire has been kicked out of her band right as they are becoming famous. She is broke and accepts an offer to sing at a mommy and baby playgroup. The moms are beautiful and perfect and seem to have it all together, but nothing is as it seems. They are all keeping secrets. This was really well done and I could not put it down. It does get dark as the secrets are revealed. Definitely prepare for some twist and turns. I would highly recommend this book.

2. Beach Read by Emily Henry
Rating: ALL THE STARS
Goodreads:
Review: This wasn’t what I was expecting and I absolutely loved that. I was thinking a rom com but it’s so much more. It’s is funny in a wonderfully sarcastic way. There is definitely also romance but in a slow all consuming way. This isn’t an immediate love at first site. There are layers. January is a broke romance writer, who has been unable to write since the death of her father. She found out he wasn’t the man she thought he was. He had a secret life that everyone but her knew about and she is struggling to come to terms. She goes to the beach house (his love best with the other woman) he left her. She plans the wrote the book she owes her agent and prepare the house to be sold. She fights with her neighbor the first day. He turns out to be her college Nemesis Gus. I feel like this book is way more realistic. They both have flaws and fears and they are dealing with their pasts. They are trying to figure out their next moves and write their next books in the process. I don’t want to give away to much but this book is heartbreaking and beautiful and funny. It’s a must read for everyone.

3. Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson
Rating: 2/5
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51351884
Review: I was Excited for this book but it just didn’t live up to the hype. It’s told from two different perspectives. The problem is they aren’t written well. Its very predictable and there isn’t much of a romance.

4. A Taste of Sage by Yaffa S. Santos
Rating: DNF 25%
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52219879
Review: I wanted to love this but sadly I didn’t. It isn’t written well and there is much character development. It’s a predictable and dry. I’m sad to write this I had high hopes.

5. The Fascinators by Andrew Eliopulos
Rating: 2/5
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/work/best_book/70026994-the-fascinators
Review: I was so excited for this. I mean it mentions Simon vs the Homosapiens as a comparison but atlas it did not deliver. I’m really sad. The premise and cover had me hoping as well. Unfortunately the plot moves at a snails pace and then it rushes at the end. There is no character building so you don’t fall in love with anyone. It’s just never got anywhere.

6. By the Book by Amanda Sellet
Rating: 4/5
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45861077
Review: Mary lives in her own private classic literary world. Her parents are both professors and most of her family is obsessed with books. She is moving to a new school and she only has one friend. Her friend dumps her on the first day of school. Now is alone and since she lines in her world of books she has t spent a lot of time socializing. She accidentally steps in to cover a bookstore and meets three popular classmates. She drops in on their conversation to save one girl from a guy she thinks is bad news. She uses literary examples and titles of characters and the girls welcome her to their friend group. They work to introduce her to her new social world while she helps them to navigate the available boys using her literary knowledge. It’s a cute book. Great for the book loving public. If you live classics you may really enjoy this one.

7. The Paper Girl of Paris by Jordyn Taylor
Rating: 4/5
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52462895
Review: Alice’s gram has died and left her an apartment in Paris along with a many family secrets. This was an interesting read with lots of feels towards the end. It told from Alice’s perspective in present day Paris and gram’s sister Adalyn’s perspective during WW2. Its very exciting to watch the story unfold. My only issue is the portrayal of depression. I won’t go into detail but they make it seem so easy to resolve. Warning this isn’t light reading. There are some horrible stories about the treatments of Jews and the resistance in Adalyn’s narrative. No worse than other books about World War II, but it is always hard to learn about. I would recommend this book to anyone. It kept me engaged and I didn’t want to stop reading.

8. Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner
Rating: 2/5
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/work/best_book/70730596-something-to-talk-about
Review: Average. I was excited about this but it’s written oddly and just not interesting. I’m sad I was looking forward for this f/f romance.

9. Recipe of Persuasion
Rating: 4/5
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52695036
Review: Trigger warnings: rape, suicide, panic attacks
This isn’t your normal rom com. There are real issues being dealt with. That being said there is great character building and story building. There is a lot of chemistry between the main characters Ashna and Rico. I couldn’t put it down and would definitely recommend it. I truly enjoyed the first book in the series as well. Her stories are deep and passionate and beautiful.this is told from three different perspectives, ashna, Rico and Shobi, Ashni’s mother. Also it does go back and forth from past to present but I think it’s done seamlessly. It’s basically about mending past relationships.

10. The Black Flamingo
Rating: ALL THE STARS
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41020406
Review: Wow, just wow. What a powerful beautiful book written in verse. It is the story of Michael. He lives with his mother and he half Black, half Greek. His father isn’t in the picture, although his uncle is. A five Michael knows he wants a Barbie for his six birthday. He knows he can’t dress the way he wants. He knows he isn’t black enough, he isn’t man enough. He isn’t enough. This is a story of loving yourself, of embracing your uniqueness, of coming out in your own terms. This is a must read for anyone struggling to be themselves, for those who are never enough. It deserves all the stars!

Can we just give Stephanie a huge round of applause?? Because these are alllllll her reviews. She killed it this month and I would not even begin to be able to do this without her. And maybe talk to her about us starting a book club because she says no allll the time. Thanks guys!

#WashYourHands #HappyReading