Forever Safe by Jody Hedlund

Review by Thela Preisman 

Forever Safe is about a young woman named Victoria, who doesn't really know what's going on in her life. She has left two men waiting for her down the aisle, and has a fiance right now. She has a bodyguard named Tom who thinks taking her to his parents house will keep her safe from the person trying to kill her. Tom promises her father that nothing will happen between them even though they are married only in name, but Victoria is almost needing Tom. She doesn't realize her fiance isn't for her. At the end though, Victoria realizes what she needs in life, but almost leaves Tom until he finds her and realizes why she's scared to get married. She's afraid of her future, since it happened to her mother. 

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

Review by Mrs. Lehman 

Don't we all wish, at one time or another, we could see a glimpse into our future for just a moment? That is the premise for the book, In Five Years. The endearing main character, Dannie Kohen, plans everything. She is in full control of her career as a corporate lawyer, and lives in a great apartment with her perfect boyfriend, David. She always knows what to expect and has made all the right choices for a wonderful future. One night in particular, though, Dannie has a dream, a vision, of one night in her life five years from now...and it is not at all what she has planned. In Five Years, is the story of how Dannie's life unfolds with David, her best friend, Bella, and her promising career in the five years after her dream. Even with all of her careful planning, can she keep the vision from coming true? Does she even want to change it? 

Readers will quickly be drawn into Dannie's internal and external conflicts. Serle also takes readers on a final twist at the end. I enjoyed this book, and wanted to keep reading to see how the plot would turn. I would give it 4.5 stars.

One of Us is Next by Karen McManus

Review by Mrs. Lehman

Fans of One of Us is Lying have been waiting for this sequel for what seems like forever, and McManus doesn't disappoint! Written in a similar format, the sequel picks up a few months after Simon's death. McManus continues the story of the Bayview Four, by introducing characters who were connected to the originals, but soon create a new and twisted plot. Points of view switch again by chapter, as Bayview High begins a dangerous digital game of truth or dare. Like before, relationships slowly unfold and revenge simmers up as the underlying plot. McManus does a masterful job developing the characters, as readers try to piece together the clues to figure out who is behind the deadly social media game. The twists and turns of the plot and the follow up ending, leave readers hanging on to every last word of this Bayview sequel. 

This book is a enjoyable, quick read that doesn't require the reader to think too deeply. It was a great way to escape reality for a few hours. It left me hoping for a third...

I would give this book 5 stars. A must read for Bayview fans!

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Review by Mrs. O'Dell

As the title suggests, Little Fires Everywhere has many conflicts.  As a reader, I find myself rooting for and hating almost every character at some point. 

This novel follows the lives of the Richardsons, mom, dad, and four kids, and their tenants, Mia and Pearl Warren.  Told in a non-confusing non-chronological order, readers follow each character through minor conflicts and major misunderstandings. 

Mrs. Richardson is involved in everybody’s business, but can’t see the problems in her own house.  Mia Warren seems to be running from a mysterious past.  Lexie Richardson turns out to be a major hypocrite, judging others’ choices when she falls into a similar terrible situation.  Pearl Warren hides the truth from nearly every character in her life, and although not her fault, she might have the most to lose in the conflict resolution.  And Izzy Richardson, the youngest and most troubled of the Richardsons, literally starts the figurative fires of each character. 

Although a little dark in content and more mature than YA, Little Fires Everywhere provided many lessons to all types of readers.  I saw many mirrors and windows in these characters, leaving a lasting imprint on my soul.  

Five stars! Two thumbs up! Must read! 

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

Review by Mrs. O'Dell

Dear Martin is about Justyce, an honor roll student in his senior year who is on his way to Yale. He wants to live his life like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and so he writes journal entries to the doctor himself (hence the title).  Before he can get through senior year and on to college, the police have him in handcuffs over a major misunderstanding.  And though he isn’t arrested, he can’t shake the feeling of his wrists being in those handcuffs.  He goes from knowing it all, to questioning everything, especially about race, prejudice, and stereotypes.  Even from his own momma, who would not approve of Justyce possibly falling in love with a white girl.  Then, in one of the major climaxes of the novel, Justyce and his buddy find themselves in a verbal confrontation with a white man (over their loud music) at a red light.  A gun is pulled, shots are fired, and someone dies.  After this news-worthy crime, things just aren’t the same for many characters.  Bad choices are made, choices that almost ruin the lives of many. 

Great book.  Easy to read (although hard to digest).  

– 4 stars

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Review by Mrs. O'Dell

Jackson’s debut novel, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, had me fully engaged, turning pages faster than I thought I could.  This is a clear favorite in my last dozen books or so. 

What started as Pip’s Senior Capstone Project, “Working title: ‘Research into the 2014 Missing Persons Investigation of Andie Bell in Fairview, CT’” (Jackson 1) quickly turned into a run-for-your-life freaky adventure.  She digs up evidence in a closed case murder in her hometown, finding and piecing together clue after clue.  Pip doesn’t tell anyone that she keeps getting threatening notes in her locker and texts from an anonymous number, urging her to stop digging into the past.  And when someone takes her dog as ransom, she almost gives in.  The ending will have you sweating for Pip and the rest of the victims involved. 

This book has a One of Us is Lying/Two Can Keep a Secret feel.  

Five stars!  Two thumbs up!  Must read! 

Midnight Sun by Trish Cook

Review by Mrs. O'Dell

Midnight Sun has a very Five Feet Apart feel, with a protagonist suffering from a rare disease that keeps her quarantined (see what I did there) to her home during daylight hours.  Katie home schools herself and has zero social contacts besides her father and her one friend.  One night, she has an awkward face to face encounter with the cutest boy in school, (after sunset, of course) a boy she has watched from her bedroom window for years.  Katie and Charlie begin a cute night-time, summer courtship.  Katie finds it difficult to tell Charlie the truth about her medical condition, and one night, they lose track of time and find themselves racing home at sunrise.  Let’s just say, bad things happen. 

If you are looking for a cute, YA, quick-read, Midnight Sun would be a good choice.  Coming in at 258 pages, I think I read it in about 24 hours.  

– 4 stars

Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes (sequel to You)

Review by Mrs. O'Dell

This novel is for mature audiences.  In fact, I found this novel to be quite raunchy at times, and I nearly abandoned it.  The only reason why I didn’t is because I was curious about whether or not Joe was going to get away with the murders he committed in You.  In this novel, he runs from his past crimes (in New York) while following a girl (to Los Angeles) who wronged him.  There, he restarts his life, gets a new job, a new apartment, and a new friend group.  But Joe’s biggest problem is that he can’t let things go.  He becomes obsessed with one girl and then another, killing people who could possibly get in the way of Joe’s love-life.  And it looks like he is free and clear, until a Taco Bell run with his love (named Love, isn’t that a coincidence?) ends poorly.  The ending of this novel suggests a part three.  I probably won’t read it.  

– 3 stars

Far from the Tree by Robin Benway

Review by Mrs. O'Dell

This YA FIC novel is told by three narrators, Grace, Maya, and Joaquin, siblings all abandoned by their birth mother.  Each character struggles with his or her current identity based on the lack of knowledge about the past.  Grace and Maya were adopted at birth by separate families, while Joaquin, the older brother, bounced around from foster home to foster home. They don’t know about each other until Grace, going through the ultimate internal conflict, goes on a journey to find her biological parents.  Although messy, the trio follows clues back to their birth mother, seeking answers to tough questions, and though they might not find what they are looking for exactly, the new-found bonds between siblings are worth the troubles.   

– 4 and a half stars