Fantasy, Fiction, New Adult

City of Dark Magic by Magnus Flyte

City of Dark Magic #1 City of Dark Magic is a testament to how well Ben knows me. One fall day, a few years ago, we were partaking in one of our favorite Saturday afternoon activities of perusing the shelves of the local independent bookstore (where I now work) when he called me over to… Continue reading City of Dark Magic by Magnus Flyte

Fantasy, Fiction, Middle Grades, Retelling

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

Iโ€™ll readily admit that Ellaโ€™s dark green dress on the front cover of the first paperback edition was what first caught my attention. But given my established record as a lover of fairy tale adaptations, it should come as no surprise that this is the book that started my obsession! Synopsis How can a fairy's… Continue reading Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

Contemporary, Fiction, Young Adult

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

A few years ago I was looking for new books to listen to on my long work drives and picked up Eleanor & Park, having seen it all over the book stores and hearing lots of wonderful things about Rainbow Rowellโ€™s work. I almost didnโ€™t bother listening to it after the first 5 minutes โ€“… Continue reading Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Fantasy, Fiction, Historical, Young Adult

Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Angel, Clockwork Prince, Clockwork Princess While an undergrad at Pitt, I was book browsing before seeing a movie with a friend, I saw Clockwork Angel sitting on the shelf at the Waterfront Barnes & Noble. Not knowing anything about the vast popularity of the Mortal Instruments series, I picked it up as I was… Continue reading Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare

Fiction, Thriller

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Millennium #1 I began readingย The Girl with the Dragon Tattooย after the movie was announced (though before watching it) after one of my friends recommended it. Based on my knowledge of the friend who offered the recommendation, it was nothing as I expected. Synopsis Itโ€™s about the disappearance forty years ago of Harriet Vanger, a young… Continue reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Fantasy, Fiction

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

Knowing of our shared love of Good Omens, Ben picked up a copy of The Ocean at the End of the Lane for me from the Strand one year for Christmas! Synopsis A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm… Continue reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

Fiction, Historical, Young Adult

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I finally realized why I read so many books about young women during World War II. My grandmother grew up in Nรผrnberg during this time and she has never spoken about her childhood. From what my father has told me about her experiences, I wouldnโ€™t talk about it either. I read so many books because… Continue reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Fantasy, Fiction, New Adult, Novella

Hear Me by Viv Daniels

This book is known to my family as "the reason Sarah owns a dreaded Kindle." New Adult author Viv Daniels (aka my second favorite author in the whole wide world Diana Peterfreund), originally released this book eBook only. Two years later, I found that I could order a paperback (pictured above), but of course I… Continue reading Hear Me by Viv Daniels

Fiction, Historical, Young Adult

Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein

Verity #2 I may need to rereadย Rose Under Fire - when I first read it, I was "broken" on World War II novels - I'd read so many, I didn't really "feel" anything when I read them anymore. There are things that happen in Rose Under Fire that are absolutely horrific and I just kept… Continue reading Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein

Fiction, Historical, Young Adult

The Montmaray Journals by Michelle Cooper

A Brief History of Montmaray, The FitzOsbornes in Exile, The FitzOsbornes at War My sister told me I absolutely had to read these books, and while being told to read something is not usually a good incentive, this time I am so happy that she introduced me to these books. These are three of my… Continue reading The Montmaray Journals by Michelle Cooper