11 paper hearts book review read Febuary 2023

Title: 11 paper hearts

Author: Kelsey Hartwell

Number of pages: 320

Genre: Romance/young adult

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 Ella thought her life was going smoothly, she had her friends, a boyfriend, so why did she felt like something was missing? Ever since her accident she kept feeling like something was off, she couldn't explain the weird feeling she got when she was around her boyfriend and her best friends. When Ella starts to receive paper hearts from a secret admire a year later telling her that they might help her regain her memories nights before the accident and starts to follow where they say to go, she realizes this may be her only chance. But when everything comes together is when it all falls apart. As Ella slowly finds the paper hearts, she realizes her relationship with her best friends and boyfriend is not what it seems. One of my favorite books I have read in February. I loved the whole scavenger hunt plot especially it being on Valentines Day. I loved the locations and the two main characters. Yes, it's a bit cheesy but it's a cheesy I can kind of dig. 😅 

Pros: Creative plot.

Cons: A bit cheesy 

Recommended for: Those who like young adult romance.

 

Fireworks book review read February 2023

Title: Fireworks

Author: Alice Lin

Number of pages: 320

Genre: Young adult and teen/Romance/fiction

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This last summer before collage is all planed out for Lulu, but out of everything she had in mind she never thought she would be rekindling her things with her childhood friend and neighbor Kite now a Huge K-pop star in a boy band called Karnival.  After the band announces that Kite will be taking a break from the stage, with reasons unknown reasons, Kite returns home and run into Lulu. When bonding and reconnecting makes them closer Lulu begins to deny her feelings for Kite thinking someone like him would never fall for someone like her even if they did grow up together. When the drama with Kite and his bandmates come to light, Lulu decides to stay by his side and helped him through it, even after his sister Connie had warned her to not get too involved. While this book is cute it's kind of too teen for me which is why I gave the four rating. 😅 I found it to be a bit slow I didn't really get much of a progression in Lulus and Kites relationship, the drama is a bit much but not sloppy it fits well with the story though. I do love Lulu's relationship with her friends. They just seem so genuine even with one of them being obsessed with the band that Kite is in she behaves herself even when she asks him for an autograph from one of his band mates. It's not such a bad read if teen K-pop romance is your thing.

Cons: A bit slow

Pros: Cute plot

Recommended to: Those who like teen K-pop romance.  

 

Salaam with love book review read February 2023

Title: Salaam, with love

Author: Sara Sharaf Beg

Number of Pages: 288

Genre: Teen and young adult/romance/fiction/religion 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dua didn't really take the holiday Ramadan very seriously, no matter how hard she tried, she was used to breaking her fast before it was time and doing her prayers when she felt like doing them or sleeping trough them. So, when she was told that her parents have decided to go to New York to visit her dad's brother and his family for the whole month of Ramadan who they haven't seen in about five years, Dua isn't exactly excited but had no choice in the matter and thought she was going to have to bear and grin it her entire time there. She figured while there she would at least try get closer to her cousins, especially Mahnoor. When Mahnoor took Dua to one of their shows she didn't she didn't expect to hear them play religious songs in their language, and definitely not in the way it was sung. Finding out Mahnoor is best friends with the lead singer and engaged to the leads singers' brother, Dua gets to spend a bit more time with them and sees her religion in a different light. She decides to give Ramadan a chance and take it more seriously, making a list of what she wanted to accomplish in that month she was determined to do better. She begins to realize she learned a lot more then she expected in that month, about herself her faith, and her family. I felt this was a very well written book, I did like it very much, I cried and learned just a bit about the holiday of Ramadan which I find truly inspiring. I loved the music involvement. I loved all the characters and how relatable they are. A good mix of family, romance, and drama oh though the ending felt a bit rushed, and a tad bit sloppy, there's also a very dramatic part in the book (I try not to give off any spoilers) that I felt was a bit much, maybe too dramatic, it didn't clash well with the story as if it just didn't fit right. But other than that this is definitely one of my favorite reads!

Cons: Ending is a bit rushed, part of the story doesn't fit well.

Pros: Well written with enough drama romance and family oriented

Recommended to: Those who love music and reading about other cultures

 

West Side Love Story book review read in February 2023

 Title: West side love story

Author: Priscilla Oliveras

Number of pages: 331 pages

Genre: Adult/Romance/Contemporary/Fiction

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Marianna and her sisters intend on not only giving their all in the battle of the mariachi bands. With the winning money they can help save Casa Capuleta. Which meant going up against Hugo Monteros group. Mariana knew to stay clear of them after what happened between Papo and Hugo so many years ago. When Marianna meets Angelo and realizes he is the same guy she had kissed at a New Years party, she tries with all her might to keep away from him, but Angelo didn't care what his uncle thought and kept trying to get closer to Marianna, soon she found herself falling in love with him and couldn't stay away from him realizing his kindness and modesty. As their romance grows stronger, and being caught up in rivalries, and broken ties, they try hard to keep the peace. Will their love for each other get in the way of the competition? Or bring more trouble for their family? Find out for yourself in this great read! I absolutely loved this book! It's became one of my favorites. A more modern Hispanic version of Romeo and Juliet with a twist of West side story without completely ruining it or making it cheesy. It had a hint of spice to it as well! Very family oriented, I loved the sisters relationship and how much they support each other, I loved the family vibes, all in all I loved this book, and most definitely recommend this book! 

Pros: Well written, family oriented hint of spice!

Cons: Its such a fast read!

Recommended to: Those who are fans of Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story. Anyone looking for a good romance.

As Old as Time book review read January 2023

Title: As old as time

Author: Liz Braswell

Number of pages: 484

Genre: Young adult/fiction/fantasy/fairy tale

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

What if Belles mother was the one who cursed the beast? In this twisted tale where we read between Belle's present and her parents past, we learn that long ago there was a kingdom that homed both humans and mythical creatures of all kinds, but the humans were scared of the creatures seeing the things they can easily do with a wave of a wand or hand, scared of what these creatures could do to them. All except for Marice wasn't afraid of them, he understood them, and felt bad for them being treated so poorly. And one enchantress named Roselind caught his eyes when she used her magic to defend herself. Soon they are married and are expecting their first child, but it's not happily ever after for them when slowly the creatures began to disappear. Things take a turn for the worse when Roselind's friend who was to help with the birth of their daughter has gone missing without a sign, as more and more creatures go missing Roselind and Maurice are left with no choice but to leave their home for the safety of their little family. So you get the whole small village thing with the same people Belle trading herself for her father bit which remained the same, the whole curse thing, but as it gets to the part where she's in her room, that's where things start to take twists and turns for the story we know. I really wanted to love this book, but it wasn't what I expected, I wouldn't say the story is bad, I did enjoy it, I just think it's more along the lines of what I kept thinking would happen just kind of didn't so it may just be me, 😅 I get that this is a twisted tale and it's supposed to be different but it's TOO different, it just didn't give me Beauty and The beast vibes. I also hated the ending, I expected it to have the same outcome as the end of them movie, it was well thought out, but just wasn't it for me.

Pros: Well thought out.

Cons: Didn't have Beauty and The Beast vibes.

Recommended to: Disney fans and those who like twisted tales.

Conceal don't feel book review read January 2023

Title: Conceal don't feel

Author: Jen Calonita

Number of pages: 312

Genre: Young adult/retelling/fantasy/fairy tales/fiction

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What if Anna and Elsa never knew each other?  Elsa grew up learning how to be queen in her castle in Arendel, with her parents by her side all the way everything seems perfect, but Elsa feels like something is missing, or maybe someone. She always felt lonely and longed for sibling, maybe even a sister, even though she knows her mother couldn't have any more children after Elsa making her the only child. But after her parents had passed away on a trip overseas her pain forced a power out of her body, she didn't know she had, the power of ice. While preparing for her coronation and trying to keep her powers hidden from those around her, she begins to have flash backs of memories that couldn't have happened, baking cookies and building snowmen with a girl just a few years younger than her. After finding a painting in a box given to her by her father, all the answers Elsa needed come to light and she sets out to find someone she was made to forget a long time ago. Anna grew up in a small village by a couple who own a small bakery that's popular for their snowman cookies. As much as she loved her parents and the bakery, she felt like she was meant to do more, she wanted to travel down to Arendel and stay with her mother's friend and meet her daughter maybe even become friends with her, sadly her parents tell her to wait until she is eighteen to do so, saying she's just not ready, but when a strange and powerful snow storm hits the town in the middle of spring Ana decides she's the only one who can figure out what is going on and maybe how to stop it. With the help of a boy names Kristof and his reindeer Sven, they venture to find the princess of Arendel for help not knowing just what else they will find. I am a huge Disney fan so of course I really enjoyed this book, it's a fun twist on Frozen. I felt it was well written, makes sense, the ending is practically the same and I loved that. It did seem to drag just a bit at first, but not for very long. I found it to be a wonderful read and I highly recommend. 

Pros: Well written, makes sense.

Cons: Drags a bit at first

Recommended to: Disney fans, Frozen fans, and those who like twisted tales and fairy tales.

The Holiday Switch book review read in December 2022

Title: The Holiday Switch

Author: Tif Marcelo

Number Of Pages: 272

Genre: Young adult/romance/holiday/contemporary/fiction

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lila loves her job at the bookstore in the Local Inn, which is a hot spot around the holidays because the movie Holiday by the lake was filmed there, it's also one of her favorite movies, but all Lila's ready for is her last winter break of high school. with intentions of saving up enough money for college, she was going to ask her boss if she can have extended hours gets but her plan gets foiled by her boss's nephew Teddy who came to stay for a while and also work at the bookstore while there. Upset but putting up with it, Lila has to train him the first few days which isn't an easy task for her because Teddy refuses to do things the way their meant to be, even if he always meant well. After accidentally switching their phones, they end up getting to know each other...and their secrets, which they promise each other they won't tell anyone. But when an unexpected storm hits, they start to share a bit more than just secrets. 💓This one was actually my second favorite, it's not as cheesy as the others, its more realistic, more relatable, has some great family values, not too dramatic. It's not too Hallmark if anything it's got more of a Disney channel movie vibe, and I used to love those, 😁 this is the book that actually inspired me to make my own book blog. The only thing I had a bit of a problem with was their secrets, I found them to be unrelatable, and just makes no sense and a bit to dramatized. All in all, I highly recommend!

Pros: Good read not too dramatic.

Cons: Their secrets don't seem realistic. 

Recommended to: Holiday and romance lovers.