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

Fiction, Historical, Mystery, Pastiche

Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz

Sherlock Holmes #2 I'm not the biggest Sherlock Holmes fangirl, but when Anthony Horowitz came to the bookstore I work at, I figured I should pick out one of his books to read, and to break out of my reading comfort zone! Synopsis Internationally bestselling author Anthony Horowitz's nail-biting new novel plunges us back into… Continue reading Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz

Memoir/Autobiography, Nonfiction, Travel

The Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson

Adventures of an American in Britain My mother had a copy ofย A Short History of Nearly Everythingย in our minivan for pretty much my entire adolescence. Intrigued, I figured that when I finally wanted to read nonfiction (once it was done being assigned to me), I would read a book by Bill Bryson, especially as I… Continue reading The Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson

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

Fantasy, Fiction, Historical

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

While waiting for a flight to Ecuador, I realized I had not brought a book to get lost in when I would need to get away from the stress of traveling for a wedding. I figured the magical circus would be the perfect escape. Synopsis The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It… Continue reading The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

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

Fiction, Historical, Retelling, Young Adult

Scarlet trilogy by A. C. Gaughen

Scarlet, Lady Thief, Lion Heart Iโ€™d been debating picking this book up for a while and decided to just go ahead and order it. I flew threw it โ€“ I definitely should have started it sooner! It has now led to me re-watching all the Robin Hood adaptations I love โ€“ starting with the BBC… Continue reading Scarlet trilogy by A. C. Gaughen

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