Bookish Boyfriends: A Date With Darcy by Tiffany Schmidt
Grade: DNF
Release date: May 1, 2018
An e-galley was provided by Amulet via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Summary: In this contemporary YA, a teenager’s favorite literary heroes woo her in real life
The first of two books in an intended paperback original series about a girl whose classic literary crushes manifest in real life. Merrilee Campbell, 16, thinks boys are better in books, chivalry is dead, and there’d be nothing more romantic than having just one guy woo her like the heroes in classic stories. She’s about to get the chance to test these daydreams when she, her best friend, Eliza, and her younger sister, Rory, transfer into Reginald R. Hero High, where all their fantasies come true—often with surprising consequences.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Man, I'm so bummed to be let down by this title. I started it, and I didn't jive with the story after a few chapters so I knew I couldn't read any more. My main problem was that the voice read as a little inauthentic. It didn't sound like a teenager to me. Hero High came across as ridiculously unrealistic to me. It didn't even feel like a Disney Channel Original Movie high school.
The Verdict: May not be for everyone, but don't write this one off yet! This was definitely a case of "it's not you, it's me."
Will I be adding this book to my library?: Nah, son.
The Rose Legacy by Jessica Day George
Grade: C
Release date: May 1, 2018
An ARC was provided by Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review.
Grade: C
Release date: May 1, 2018
An ARC was provided by Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review.
Summary: Orphaned Anthea Cross-Thornley has been shuttled between family members her whole life. When she receives a letter from a long-lost uncle, she dares to dream that she will finally find a home. Upon her arrival she is shocked to learn that her uncle secretly breeds horses--animals that have been forbidden in their kingdom for centuries. More alarming is Anthea's strange ability to sense the horses' thoughts and feelings, an ancient gift called The Way. Confused and terrified, Anthea is desperate to leave, but when dangers arise that put her family and her kingdom at risk, she has no choice but to embrace The Way and the exciting future adventures it will bring her.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Jessica Day George's books are some of those quiet titles that I keep coming back to. I adore her 12 Dancing Princesses trilogy, and I love the Castle Glower series. Unfortunately, I don't have quite the same feelings about The Rose Legacy, her latest middle grade book. The good news is, many younger readers will probably love it.
I struggle to buy into stories where human characters have telepathic connections with animals. It vaguely works for me in Shannon Hale's The Goose Girl, but it comes across as childish and too farfetched in most books/movies.
I was interested in most of the characters, however. They definitely carried the story well.
The Verdict: Just not for me.
Will I be adding this book to my library?: Likely not.
Bookish Boyfriends is on my list this month! I'm not expecting to be wowed by it but maybe it will surprise me.
ReplyDeleteVee @ Under The Mountain