Publish Date: September 26th, 2017
Number of Pages: 300 Pages
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Genre(s): YA Fantasy, Romance

To see my Fancast/Dreamcast of this book – Click HERE

Total Star Rating: 3.5 Stars

Not too bad for a debut novel!

Fantasy novels that star the Fae are always entertaining; whimsical with adventure, romance and danger work together and this title is a fun addition to read for anyone who love to read about them. It’s a sweeping adventure with a long journey with two characters who just can’t admit to each other their feelings towards each other.

It’s simple, but effective, and is surprisingly a standalone novel, which is so rare for any sort of Fantasy-genre piece of literature, especially one so short. Nonetheless, It was a nice change of pace and a simple, lighthearted, feel good, fairytale-like quick read that could be read in one sitting.

I had some doubts going into this title, basically because it has some mixed reviews on Goodreads, and the fact that I have so many more books I need to read. One of my new coworkers at my new location at work (Same company, but different location) recommended I try it, plus the reviews for the authors latest book, Sorcery of Thorns, have been absolutely glowing, so a part of me felt like I should open this one up and give it a chance, because if I read it after her other title, there’s no way I’d like it.

Also, Charlie Bowater is such an amazing digital artist! She’s one of my all time favs and is the cover artist for this title and plenty others! Seriously, check out her stuff and enjoy! (Link on her name is towards her site!)

What It’s About:

This story stars a young woman, Isobel, who is a master painter for the Fae (this book terms them as the fair folk). Her works always impress her clientele, who can’t produce their own craft, so they seek out humans to cut a deal with. Give them something, and in return they will reward one with some sort of enchantment: to make them more attractive, to make them live longer, or to help their crops for a long dry season.

One day, the Fae Prince of the Autumn Court, Rook, returns to the mortal lands after a long hiatus, and visits her in her home and has Isobel commission a portrait for him. She winds up painting human emotion within her piece; making him appear sad and lonely, and a week later comes back in a rage. To the other fair folk, he now looks weak so she must come back to the Autumn court with him to be put on trial for her offense. Part of her is terrified, but another part of her is excited to leave her town of Whimsy, a land stuck in permanent summer. What must it be like to go to the other courts and see what winter, spring, or autumn for the first time ever?

Along their journey, so many unexpected things happen; they’re both in for more than they’d ever imagined, secrets come to light, but most important of all, Rook and Isobel discover an emotion towards each other that is extremely forbidden…Love. The problem is, Fae and humans can’t be in love by law of faerie kind, and is punishable by death.

What I Liked:

Prince Rook! Rook was freakin’ adorable! He wins the MVP award of being my favorite character in the whole book. He’s the Prince of the Autumn court and he takes Isobel to put her on trial for her (accurate) painting of him, and along the way on their journey, they end up secretly falling in love with each other without the other knowing, and something about these brooding, snarky, intense guys in fantasy novels and how they act around the girl they fall for is my undoing…it’s so sweet to see their entire personality change, they show a rare smile only meant for that person…god, i’m such a hopeless romantic…Also, his inability to understand sarcasm or metaphors was a huge highlight! It was like Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy, and how he takes every spoken word literally. It was like he had some sort of version of autism (or it’s just because he’s high fae), but it was so adorable, and added so much to his character!
It’s A Standalone Novel! It seems for a lot of fantasy series now a days, it’s all series, and that’s totally cool! But sometimes it’s hard for us to be able to commit to so many at once, and sometimes it’s a nice change of pace to read a single story, which is so rare now. It’s a short, quick read that is a nice little bridge to read between major book series.
Same Old Fae Lore, But Still Felt Original! So, after reading this book, I’m starting to see a pattern with a lot of Fae fiction that’s created out there: there’s the ability to not tell a lie, the seasonal courts, the weakness to iron, the hindrance towards humans, the strength of true-name, it’s nice that it stays consistent
The Developing Romance! It felt like a bit of Insta-love, which is so played out, but one thing I really got into was the romance that built between Isobel and Rook. They had some fun chemistry, a lot of hilarious banter, but even just reading the author’s prose, I felt the unrequited love burn between them and really enjoyed it.

What I Didn’t Like:

The Climax/ Ending…The entire set up of the book was spectacularly done; the build up was so incredibly entertaining, the banter between Rook and Isobel was stellar, but the climax and ending felt so rushed, so anti-climatic. It felt like I was back in 8th Grade reading the Twilight series underneath my covers so no one would see me with how the final confrontation is actually avoided rather than given to us in some epic way we’d hope for. The book also needed maybe 50 to 100 more pages of content and I think it would have been so much more successful. It was like all of Season 8 of Game of Thrones compared to the whole rest of the show, but of course, on a much smaller scale!
It Needs more Danger!…Like Caraval, this book has a lighter tone and it’s more fun, whimsical, and fairytale-like, and that’s all fine and dandy, but there were parts where I wish more action, more drama, and higher stakes to add more to the story! It was slower paced, which was fine and acceptable, but I can’t read all books that are like that!

Conclusion:

Overall, this was an impressive debut from Margaret Rogerson! She has a specific voice in her prose; tons of metaphors and similes, which is a turn off to some readers, but worked rather well for this kind of story. If this is her first published work, I can’t wait to see what else she comes out with!

It was a fun read, but I still wanted more: It needed more magic, more danger, more development of characters besides the two protagonists, more relationships beyond the main romance, more unpredictability, more political intrigue (which is ironic coming from me).

I recommend this title to anyone looking for a lighthearted, romantic fairytale-like story, or for anyone who loves to read fiction that stars the Fae, or anyone who needs a break from the trilogies or the 4+ book series and wants to read a fun, standalone title!

Thanks for Reading!

— Nick Goodsell

YA Fantasy

My Review: Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms #1): by Morgan Rhodes

June 3, 2019October 17, 2020 nicholasjgoodsell

Publish Date: December 11th 2012
Number of Pages: 412 Pages
Publisher: Razorbill
Genre(s): YA Fantasy

Total Star Rating: 4 Stars

This series is like a YA Game Of Thrones: There’s kingdoms, knights, stolen thrones, forbidden romance, secrets that have been killed over, deadly betrayals, a hint of magic, and war on the horizon. The main thing missing is the dragons (technically Wyverns, but I won’t get into that now) and the White Walkers.

What It’s About:

In the land of Mytica, magic that was once in abundance is now a long lost memory, and the kingdoms that rule the land are reaching an unrest with a power struggle for ultimate power.

Cleo Bellos, a privileged heir to the throne, must quickly travel to enemy territory to find a magical item thought to be lost long ago.

Jonas Agallon, a poor but proud wine merchant’s son, is fueled by anger and injustice in a need for revenge and makes a deal with the devil to lead a revolution.

Lucia Damora, adopted into the royal family of the North, learns a shocking secret of her mysterious past that could change the course of time.

Magnus Damora, being trained to be a vicious ruler by his father, finds himself torn between the ongoing battle between duty and love.

Whether they know it or not, their lives and their fates are intertwined, and entire kingdoms will fall. All the while, powerful entities from another world watch from above as it all unfolds; who will reign supreme when almost all is lost, and be the last one standing?

What I liked:

The Four Different Perspectives! For anyone who’s reading my reviews so far, they’ll notice that this is a recurring favorite of mine in books. I mean, a story told from one character is good, but it’s even better when told from multiple sources. It helps create a richer, deeper story with the potential for so many bigger things to come. The four main character’s stories each follow their own path, all the while they intertwine in different ways. Each have their own good and bad qualities, so it’s harder to say that they lack depth or complexity when you see their point of view. Cleo appears as a privileged & spoiled brat, but internally she expresses a desire to break off a betrothal to a man she absolutely despises. You obviously like her until she’s seen through Jonas’s eyes when she stands and does nothing as someone he loves is taken from him forever. The complexity of the characters and their evolving relationships is an absolute driving force for this story.
The Overall Buildup! The author does an amazing job of growing tension in the story, and it only gets better and better as more happens. It’s truly exciting stuff, and makes it easy to want to keep reading to see what happens next. While the author may lack originality in this story, she definitely knows how to hit the ethos in her readers, it has a certain way about it that is addicting and keeps you interested, almost obsessed to see what happens next. The romance, the secrets, the betrayals, the spilled blood and the cliffhanger at the end!
The Cover Design! I will say this for the rest of the books in the series as well, but these may be some of the most beautiful book covers that I’ve ever seen! I mean, look at these:

What I Didn’t Like:

The Incestuous Story Arc…It’s been made to be a shocking storyline twist since the Lannister twins were discovered in the tower in the very first episode of Game of Thrones, but the author goes down a tricky path when she includes it within her story, especially when its YA. While I can say it’s daring for the author to go down this route, it’s still a disturbing subject. Incest was said to be a method amongst royal families in Ancient to Medieval times as a way for them to keep their bloodlines pure, to not dilute it. George R.R. Martin even affirmed this when he researched European history that he based his bestselling novels off of. Luckily, the author calls it out in her story and makes for what it is; a taboo perversion. No one who finds out about it reacts to it in an accepting manner, and even the character who has these feelings sees how wrong it is.
The Lack of Originality…If you’re looking for an innovative, never been done before type of book in the fantasy genre, this isn’t a story for that. It is filled with what just about every fantasy novel has had in the past: kingdoms at war, a runaway princess, a peasant that serves a greater purpose, long lost magic on the verge of returning, a prophecy that can change history, a cruel & corrupt king, the brooding bad boy trope, and whatever other fantasy cliché you can think of. Someone could basically call this fan-fiction of George R.R Martin’s work, just with their own world, characters, etc. Luckily, the story is still entertaining enough to get away with the lack of creativity.

Conclusion:

Overall, this is a fast-paced, entertaining read that is just the beginning of an impressive series that is a great addition to any fans of the fantasy genre! I recommend it to those who are beginners to the genre and want to try it out for the first time before getting into thicker and heavier material, or for anyone who loves a good story with plenty of surprising twists, daring and forbidden romance, endearing characters, dueling kingdoms with knights & princesses, and one that keeps your eyes glued to the pages until you hit the acknowledgements page!

Thanks for Reading!

— Nick Goodsell

LGBT, New Adult Romance

My Review: Red, White, and Royal Blue: by Casey McQuiston

May 29, 2019October 15, 2020 nicholasjgoodsell

Publish Date: May 14th 2019
Number of Pages: 423 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Genre(s): Contemporary, New Adult Romance, LGBT

Total Star Rating: 4.25 Stars

One thing that I love to see is that there is so much more LGBTQ representation in literature nowadays. Identifying myself as a part of the queer community, it really is uplifting and feels like I’m not only acknowledged, I feel like I’m more understood and accepted amongst in this world when there are authors that write these stories, there are publishers that release these stories, and there are fellow readers who also enjoy these stories.

Representation truly matters. People who are different and who don’t fit into the typical social criteria need to feel like they are seen and that they matter, because they do! They need to feel like that when they read stories with characters that are just like them. It normalizes the exposure of LGBTQ+, and thus, helps create a society that realizes that there is no social agenda, only a want and need for unity and respect for our differences.

Yes, books are powerful tools if they can be tools to help us achieve that!

This is a debut novel, so some could say that the writer’s style reads similar to a royal romance fan fiction, but it’s still a great love story that is receiving a surprising amount of publicity as being the big queer romance story of the summer! One of the main aspects of the story is politics, which was expected when the two main characters is the bisexual fictional half-latino son of the president and the (fictional) gay prince of Wales.

I am by no means a big fan of politics, in fact I only skimmed the parts of the story where there’s a substantial amount of information about how it all works, I can still say I immensely enjoyed this title despite all that. Compared to the love story, it’s truly such a small aspect of this book, so don’t let that be the reason to deter you from picking it up!

What It’s About:

It’s a sweet, hilarious, and thoughtful love story between the son of the President of the United States and the second born Prince of Wales.

Alex Claremont-Diaz, along with his older sister and best friend, are the “White House Trio,” the marketing strategy designed by his mom, President Ellen Claremont (Yes, a WOMAN president). They are America’s version of royalty, and are treated as such with the paparazzi that follows them around, and the rumors written in Us Weekly and People. They get invited to the Royal Wedding overseas, to which Alex is less than enthused about because it means he’ll have to see Prince Henry, his long time rival. It turns out worse than expected, and a confrontation leads to an international scandal.

With re-elections on the horizon, President Claremont issues a fake friendship as a PR stunt in order to do damage control, but Alex unintentionally starts a bigger news story; he falls for the royal prince. They begin a hot and heavy secret relationship, and everything Alex thinks he knows gets blown out of the water and he questions everything: Is it all worth it? How can you do the things you still want to do with everything stacked against you? and What can you do to be remembered in history?

What I liked:

The Romance! I am a hopeless romantic at heart, and while I’m not the biggest fan of “fluff,” this story had equal fluff with steam and humor to this a definite worthwhile story. Alex and Henry had a great relationship and were incredibly easy to like and support as they fight for their love despite all that threatened to tear them apart.
The Theme About The Importance of Family! It was a major theme of the story and was shown in many different ways: Alex and his relationship with his best friend along with his sister, Prince Henry and his sister, Alex’s relationship with his estranged father, Henry and his older brother and mother, his friendship with his BFF Pez (picture a flaming male version of Awkwafina in Crazy Rich Asians) even both of their relationships with their heads of security. One of my favorite scenes was one where President Claremont organizes a family dinner one night, and turns off the “power suit” and just switches personas and becomes just their mom again; it was a warm and really touching scene.
There is a Woman President! A female President who’s a badass in the office, and a badass mom who loves her family on top of it, and still makes time for them. I totally picture her being portrayed by Connie Briton if they ever make this into a movie!
The LGBTQ Representation! Like I said earlier, it’s so relieving to see a novel with two gay male characters get so much attention and so much mainstream hype. Back in the earlier 2000’s, it felt like these kinds of books, or any books where LGBTQ was a main aspect of the story, it was pushed aside or kind of taboo, so they didn’t get as much hype, and there was no big excitement over the release of titles like that. Now it’s 2019, and this book is on the New York Times Best Sellers list! I hope to keep seeing this as more and more titles come out in the future.

What I Didn’t Like:

Politics…I’m not a big fan of Politics; while it worked for this story, if they could’ve had parents in different occupations, that would’ve been fine too. This has nothing really against the story or how it was written or even against the author, it’s more just a small personal quirk for me. Luckily, the author didn’t become too technical in matters of terms or explanations behind anything that happens concerning Politics.

Conclusion:

It’s a sweet and sexy romance that’s perfect for the warmer months of summer, and I enjoyed this story so much, it was such a joy to read. Alex is a strong willed, smart mouthed protagonist that I would just adore having as an actual friend. The author crafted such a heartwarming story in the aftermath of the 2016 elections and what it’s done to our country ever since.

I won’t ever really talk about Politics or what my opinions are with anyone, not even most of my family, but it was interesting to read an almost alternate-universe kind of story where a woman actually won and became a great President. Even if it stars two men as the two romantic interests, I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good, well written romance, fiction about politics and stories that showcase the importance of family.

Thanks for Reading!

— Nick Goodsell

YA Contemporary Fiction

My Review: Thirteen Reason’s Why: by Jay Asher

May 26, 2019October 15, 2020 nicholasjgoodsell

Publish Date: October 18th 2007
Number of Pages: 352 Pages
Publisher: Razorbill
Genre(s): Contemporary, YA Fiction

Total Star Rating: 3.5 Stars

You can’t stop the future, you can’t rewind the past, the only way to learn the secret…is to press play.”
– Jay Asher, “13 Reasons Why”

So, ever since I watched the Netflix series when it first came out, of course my love of reading made me curious to look into the novel that it was based off!

I read through it rather quickly and enjoyed it for the most part; the themes remain the same about bullying, suicide, friendship, and self acceptance. I can also say that I personally thought the book surprisingly wasn’t as strong in conveying the message it wants to give readers, and I didn’t enjoy it as much as I enjoyed the TV show. I guess I just resonated with the show better than the book and thought that it was more impactful in a cinematic way, but there’s still plenty to enjoy about this story in the written format too.

What It’s About:

The story revolves around Clay Jensen, the typical nerdy, wallflower type of guy who is dealing with the fact that the girl he’s always secretly had a crush on, Hannah Baker, committed suicide two weeks prior to the start of the book. While she’s no longer around, she left behind thirteen cassette tapes that explain the decision she made when she felt like she had nowhere else go and no one else she could turn to. Depression is a serious thing that many people suffer with, and it has a way of making those who really suffer from it to feel like they’re alone in this unforgiving world, that no one loves them or understands them, and so they alienate themselves and fall down a deep, dark hole that not everyone can climb out of, and for people like Hannah Baker, the fight is just too much to take.

It gets even worse; it turns out that Clay is one of the reasons that she recorded. Through the span a single night, Clay races across town through the guidance of Hannah’s recordings and learns more about the pain and trauma that she was facing all alone the entire time, and will be forever changed at what he learns…

What I Liked:

The Theme/Message! bullying, depression, acceptance, coming of age, high school and all of it’s drama are major components that make the story so striking. I can say I’ve felt similar feelings that Hannah felt in the story at certain points in my life and I feel like a lot of people can say that too. Some people state this book glorifies suicide or makes it look kind of glamorous in a tragic way, but I truly didn’t get that when I read the book. I got the whole message of treating others the way you want to be treated; you have no idea what someone could be going through in their lives at that exact moment, and even a small interaction can actually make such a huge impact. It’s a great way to make many people more aware about that ideology in a work of fiction with characters and situations that they can can relate to, and will hopefully connect to, hence making the story’s message truly stick.

What I didn’t Like:

We Only Have Tonight…I’m trying not to compare the book and the TV series, because they are two different styles of media that have different methods of making an impact on its audience, but for the book, I wasn’t a big fan of the fact that the story only took place in one night. Clay was getting a lot of shocking information all at once through the tapes, some of that info could ruin certain people’s lives, but some could lead to justice for their wrongful doing, but either way it’s a lot to take in! The show has it all spaced out more over a longer period of time, and I think that’s a lot more realistic and impactful. It feels less crammed and gives each action all the characters had when they interacted with Hannah more meaningful.
All By Myself…In the book, Clay is the almost the only character that makes a present day appearance. Most of the minor characters, except for a very select few, are only shown through flashbacks while Clay listens to whatever tape he’s while lurking outside the person’s house in the middle of the night. I wished we would’ve seen the book versions of the other characters like Justin Foley, Jessica Davis, and even Bryce Walker more than just through that.

Conclusion:

Of course, the show and the book have a lot differences, that’s always the case with two different mediums like them, but I’m never one to be upset about that. Some things just don’t make the jump from page to screen all that well, and for me that’s fine; TV shows and movies are ‘based’ off the original book, but can’t be the exact same thing. I say, as long as the main plot remains the same, it’s not an issue.

I say the book is definitely one to check out and read if the synopsis and subject matter draws you in; it’s an interesting story that I feel like a lot of people can relate to, young and/or old. Let’s face it, High School was not a great place for A LOT of people, but this book could help some people realize how their actions have consequences, but maybe help those who are secretly suffering to realize they actually aren’t alone, and that they do have a support system out there even if it doesn’t feel that way. They just have to simply look for it and be willing to ignore the rumors, and to look past all the BS social hierarchy of high school, and to be willing to let people in (I know…easier said than done).

I agree suicide shouldn’t be an option for anyone! Every life matters, but it’s devastating that it still occurs because people feel so empty, so alone that they don’t feel like their life is even relevant anymore, but for anyone reading this who is suffering and going down this dark path: please know that you matter to people, even if it doesn’t seem like it. People care about you and love you! Depression is a deadly thing, but what we need to remember is that it’s actually so easy to treat, that there are many options to choose so long as one is able to seek help and also choose to do so.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline phone number is the following:

800-273-8255

Thanks for Reading!

— Nick Goodsell

YA Contemporary Fiction, YA romance

My Review: Again, but Better: by Christine Riccio

May 18, 2019October 15, 2020 nicholasjgoodsell

Publish Date: May 7th 2019
Number of Pages: 373 Pages
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Genre(s): YA Fiction, YA Romance

Total Stars Rating: 4.25 Stars

FIRST EVER BOOK REVIEW FOR THE WEBSITE!

Upon finding this book as a highly anticipated release for early 2019, I was immediately drawn towards it. While I’ve never followed the author on her YouTube channel or read any of her reviews, I decided to give it a chance.

What a great decision it was!

Not only did I love this book, but I didn’t realize how much I needed it on an emotional level; how it gave me strength and hope when I wasn’t in a good place mentally and emotionally, but I’ll get more into that later. This book was just such a feel-good journey about second chances, first love, self acceptance, and finding oneself in this crazy world we all live in!

What It’s About:

The story is about Shane, an incredibly shy girl who impulsively decides to study abroad in London for a semester her junior year of college because she had the overwhelming need for change. She was sick of her old ways; staying in and binge watching whatever show she could find on Netflix, not making any deep friendships, not going out with guys, not having her first kiss, and going home every other weekend. She knew she had to make a major change, a fresh start. She gets to her flat and meets four new people that she will be living with: Babe, Sahra, Atticus, and Pilot. Together, they continue their studies, work at their internships and travel on weekends, and Shane soon discovers that feelings develop for a certain someone. The big question to start off was: can she overcome her doubts, her fears, her insecurities and truly change for the better?

The book is split into two parts. Her time in London in 2011 and 2017. Years later in 2017, Shane returns to that person, full of regret and disappointment over how she left things with them and the path she chose to take in life. They reacquaint themselves, and without revealing too much, have an opportunity to have a second chance at the choices they both made. Do they do it? Is it worth it? Will it all work out in the end?

What I liked:

The Story’s Themes/Message! It’s about change and growth. Shane was a relatable character to me because so much of my life I’ve also been that shy, wallflower type that cares way too much about what others think, and sometimes I’m still like that. She really grows through the story, and when readers see her later on, she’s much more bold, brave, and outspoken. The story made me really think about the path I’m on and reflect on the decisions that I’ve made along the way, and if I’m still on the right path. Honestly, there is no clear cut written way, everyone’s is different, but that doesn’t mean we can’t all have the same successful ending.
It Gave Me Hope! This book gives me hope for me, and for my future. The piece of advice it gives readers is to never give up on your dreams, no matter what. Go for it, whatever it is, and stick with it. In the story, Shane realizes the struggle of balancing everything going on in her life: specifically boys, her classes and her internship. She became so enamored with a boy that she doesn’t realize how little she paid attention to the other parts of her life until it all blew up in her face, and she felt the rug ripped from under her feet. The end of the book was so warm, so fluffy, that I could imagine how that must’ve felt for the characters, and the inspiration it gave me to want to experience those feelings for myself someday. It gave me a drive to keep going on the WIP that I’m currently typing away at.

What I didn’t like:

The Datedness of the Different Time Periods…At first, it was incredibly charming how the author mentions things that were important to the certain year, like with books and movies. In 2011, She was reading the third Mortal Instruments book to prep for the fourth one releasing soon, the mention of a new app game that just came out named Angry Birds, and T-Swift’s new album, Red. In both parts of time, the author makes it a point to remind readers of what year the story was in, and it became kind of “ehhh” for me. I think it makes the book incredibly dated for the current moment in time, and even five years later, this will affect the overall quality of the story for whatever GenZ, Q, TQ47 or whatever terms they come up with for the next generation.
The Magical Twist…Halfway into the story, when Shane meets up with a certain someone in 2017, there’s a twist that comes along with a mysterious woman who had appeared out of nowhere on occasion, and I’ll admit, I was not all that excited about it for the overall story. After reading further into the story, it grew on me a little bit, because its dramatic, unrealistic addition to the story allowed the two main characters to have a second chance at their time in London that changed not only their relationship, but their futures in general. It gave them something we all wish to have and ask ourselves constantly: “What would we do differently if we could go back in time with what we now know?” I ended up liking this aspect simply because its a major component of the plot and drove it forward, but it does feel incredibly random, cheesy, Disney Channel Original Movie-esque from the 90’s at some points.
The Prose…It’s pretty plain to see that this is the author’s first book, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. For a debut work, its an incredibly strong one, but her prose/ word choice seemed very amateurish and basic at certain parts. an example was how she used the same words a lot. “Snorted” was probably the worst; there was lots of snorting going around. Another one was “the fluffy sponge” I just didn’t like that sentence for some reason…

Conclusion:

Overall, this book does feel like a young author’s first release, but that’s okay. No book is ever perfect, and the overall message that the book sends to the reader is still very strong and heartwarming like a classic Disney Channel Original Movie.

It’s a coming of age, romantic, with international travel kind of story that reminds me of another similar story, Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. Both are about a girl who goes to a foreign, European country and find friends, romance, and themselves. Both, however, have what the other needs: AATFK was a much better written story, but A,BB was so much more impactful of a story. This book, while it has its faults, now holds a special place in my heart because it reminded me to keep going for my dreams, and to work hard to get where I’m at.

It’s like what I said at the beginning: I didn’t just love this book, I NEEDED this book. It even helped convinced me to finally start this blog!