I managed to finish 3 books this month. I did start another one and still had my two other books that I started in February but I didn't get around to reading them because March was a busy month.
I'm now at 14/60 finished books for my 2018 Reading Challenge! Check it out here - https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/7501-2018-reading-challenge
You'll find each book's review and synopsis below
1) BY YOUR SIDE - BY: KASIE WEST - 342 PAGES - 4/5 STARS
MY THOUGHTS: It took me a bit to get into reading this month but I'm glad I started off with this book! I didn't read the synopsis before I bought it, I just liked the cover and knew the author was good because I've read P.S. I Like You. I was not disappointed.
First off, for a good chunk of the book the main character, Autumn, is stuck in a library...that in itself is basically a dream come true. It would be ridiculously calming to be stuck in a library overnight, probably only if you were with a couple people you knew or even just by yourself. Think of all the books you could read without being interrupted?!
Something else I really enjoyed with the character development in this book was that the main character has anxiety. Throughout the book Autumn is working through her anxiety, and how it impacts her various relationships/friendships was very relatable for me.
I'm ready to find some more books by Kasie West to read! If you're looking for a nice light read, this book should be on your TBR list.
SYNOPSIS FROM GOODREADS: When Autumn Collins finds herself accidentally locked in the library for an entire weekend, she doesn’t think things could get any worse. But that’s before she realizes that Dax Miller is locked in with her. Autumn doesn’t know much about Dax except that he’s trouble. Between the rumors about the fight he was in (and that brief stint in juvie that followed it) and his reputation as a loner, he’s not exactly the ideal person to be stuck with. Still, she just keeps reminding herself that it is only a matter of time before Jeff, her almost-boyfriend, realizes he left her in the library and comes to rescue her.
Only he doesn’t come. No one does.
Instead it becomes clear that Autumn is going to have to spend the next couple of days living off vending-machine food and making conversation with a boy who clearly wants nothing to do with her. Except there is more to Dax than meets the eye. As he and Autumn first grudgingly, and then not so grudgingly, open up to each other, Autumn is struck by their surprising connection. But can their feelings for each other survive once the weekend is over and Autumn’s old life, and old love interest, threaten to pull her from Dax’s side?
2) GATED - BY: AMY CHRISTINE PARKER - 335 PAGES - 4/5 STARS
MY THOUGHTS: This was another solid read. I typically stay away from thrillers, but this book was another pretty cover buy. I'm not regretting my decision to purchase this book one bit.
The first thing to note is that I'm also not always a fan of cult books because they can get a little too weird. This one strayed close to the line but never went over it. It was a great portrayal of what it would be like to live in a community where you don't interact with the general population and just stick to yourselves, and some of the questions you'd start asking yourself when the world you live in starts to seem off. The way the community works is also realistic so you can really start to imagine that the story could be real. It shows all parts of how this community can be sustainable on it's own.
I don't want to give too much away because it's best if you just let the book surprise you. I definitely didn't see everything the end of the book brought coming beforehand.
Gated is part of a duology, the second book is called Astray, so if it sounds interesting to you I would go ahead and look into getting both of them at the same time. I'm hoping I get to read the second one soon!
SYNOPSIS FROM GOODREADS: A fast-paced, nerve-fraying contemporary thriller that questions loyalties and twists truths.
Appearances can be deceiving.
In the Community, life seems perfect. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Pioneer invited Lyla’s family to join his group and escape the evil in the world. They were happy to be chosen, happy to move away from New York and start over in such an idyllic gated community. Now seventeen, Lyla knows that Pioneer is more than just their charismatic leader, he is their prophet . . . but his visions have grown dark.
Lyla is a loyal member of the Community, but a chance encounter with an outsider boy has her questioning Pioneer, the Community—everything. And if there’s one thing not allowed in the Community, it’s doubt. Her family and friends are certain in their belief. Lyla wishes she could feel the same. As Pioneer begins to manipulate his flock toward disaster, the question remains: Will Lyla follow them over the edge?
From the outside looking in, it’s hard to understand why anyone would join a cult. But Gated tells the story of the Community from the inside looking out, and from behind the gates things are not quite so simple. Amy Christine Parker’s beautiful writing creates a chilling, utterly unique YA story. Perfect for fans of creepy thrillers and contemporary fiction alike.
3) MAGNOLIA - BY: KRISTI COOK - 306 PAGES - 4/5 STARS
MY THOUGHTS: This book was such a fun read! After my first glance at the cover I was just like meh, but after I read the synopsis and opened it to the first page I was sold. That just goes to show you that you shouldn't judge books by their covers, something I'm definitely guilty of.
The book is written in a really interesting and clever way. It's split into three acts and the chapters are scenes within the acts. Maybe I think that's cool because of my days doing stage crew in high school, but I don't know. The acts are made to reflect the character development throughout each act as this book has a cute twist to a Romeo and Juliet style story incorporated into the plot.
The setting is in the South, which always intrigues me because it brings up some of the older family traditions and ties that Southern books usually do. One of my favorite classic books is Gone with the Wind for this same reason. It just takes me into a whole new world that I'm not familiar with but has such interesting touches.
This would be another fun read if you're looking for something light and fluffy but also a little different then your typical contemporary young adult novel.
SYNOPSIS FROM GOODREADS: In Magnolia Branch, Mississippi, the Cafferty and Marsden families are southern royalty. Neighbors since the Civil War, the families have shared vacations, holidays, backyard barbecues, and the overwhelming desire to unite their two clans by marriage. So when a baby boy and girl were born to the families at the same time, the perfect opportunity seemed to have finally arrived.
Jemma Cafferty and Ryder Marsden have no intention of giving in to their parents’ wishes. They’re only seventeen, for goodness’ sake, not to mention that one little problem: They hate each other! Jemma can’t stand Ryder’s nauseating golden-boy persona, and Ryder would like nothing better than to pretend stubborn Jemma doesn’t exist.
But when a violent storm ravages Magnolia Branch, it unearths Jemma’s and Ryder’s true feelings for each other as the two discover that the line between love and hate may be thin enough to risk crossing over.
I might have only read three books this month, but I seriously enjoyed all of them. My favorite thing about the mix of them was that they all had pretty different plots! Keep on the lookout for my April reads, and if you have any questions or want to discuss any of my reads just let me know!
