Kelsey's World of Books!

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver With this stunning debut novel,  New York Times  bestselling author Lauren Oliver emerged as one of today's foremost authors of young adult fiction. Like Jay Asher's  Thirteen Reasons Why  and Gayle Forman's  If I Stay ,  Before I Fall  raises thought-provoking questions about love, death, and how one person's life can affect so many others. For popular high school senior Samantha Kingston, February 12—"Cupid Day"—should be one big party, a day of valentines and roses and the privileges that come with being at the top of the social pyramid. And it is…until she dies in a terrible accident that night. However, she still wakes up the next morning. In fact, Sam lives the last day of her life seven times, until she realizes that by making even the slightest changes, she may hold more power than she ever imagined. Audience: 13+ Review: I loved watching Sam grow as a person, and continue to learn every day she repeated!...

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier  Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era! Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.   Audience: 13+ Review: This is a three book series, and I LOVED it! Such amazing characters! She does a great job with the time travel, mystery, outfits, and just tying it all together! It was a fun read, and you definitely want to have all three with...

Weregirl by C. D. Bell Eager to escape her small hometown, high school junior Nessa Kurland is focused on winning a college scholarship for cross-country running. A chance encounter with a trapped wolf while out on a run leads to powerful and frightening changes, and one day, Nessa is transformed into a full werewolf. Now Nessa must navigate the challenges of high school while coming face to face with true human darkness, as she tries to make peace with her new wild nature.   Audience: 13+ Review: Let's just start it off with I LOVE wolves!! They're fascinating. But this story is more. A town ruined by a chemical company, which instantly made me think of Erin Brockovich. But something isn't right and the wolves need Nessa to uncover the truth. As she tries to navigate her new life you get to see the mystery unfold while also getting invested in each relationship surrounding her. With lots of mystery, shapeshifting, and competitions I couldn't put it down. I ne...

Wicked Lies by Lora Leigh Jazz has never been known as a good boy. A good drinker. A good partier. A damned good builder, and a hell of a good liar. Those are all descriptions that come to mind when the citizens of Loudon, Tennessee, think of the tall, muscular, laughter-filled charmer they know as Jazz. And Jazz will admit to all of them: he likes to play; he likes to tease. And a little white lie surely never hurt anyone. Until the sexy, too-shy kindergarten teacher, Annie. Annie sets fire to his lusts as well as to his heart. But Annie has a past he wasn’t aware of. A past that will draw Jazz into the heart of a conflict he had never expected to face. Now, Jazz has to pull in some serious favors, just as he finds himself fighting a woman determined to save the charming liar who has never been serious. A man who has sworn to pass on love. A man who is now is telling the most wicked lies of his life to steal the heart of the woman who has stolen his soul. Review: Steamy mystery ...

Nobody's Princess by Esther M. Friesner She  is  beautiful, she  is  a princess, and Aphrodite  is  her favorite goddess, but something in Helen of Sparta just itches for more out of life. Not one to count on the gods—or her looks—to take care of her, Helen sets out to get what she wants with steely determination and a sassy attitude. That same attitude makes Helen a few enemies—such as the self-proclaimed "son of Zeus" Theseus—but it also intrigues, charms, and amuses those who become her friends, from the famed huntress Atalanta to the young priestess who is the Oracle of Delphi. In  Nobody's Princess,  author Esther Friesner deftly weaves together history and myth as she takes a new look at the girl who will become Helen of Troy. The resulting story offers up adventure, humor, and a fresh and engaging heroine you cannot help but root for.   Audience: 13+ Review:  I loved watching Helen grow up, I love seeing female characters g...

I read this book alongside The Stranger by Albert Camus (for a class), and it was interesting to compare the characters in certain aspects... Won't jump into that in case you haven't read both, but it was interesting!! Read full review below!!! Dear Killer by Katherine Ewell Rule One—Nothing is right, nothing is wrong. Rule Two—Be careful. Rule Three—Fight using your legs whenever possible, because they’re the strongest part of your body. Your arms are the weakest. Rule Four—Hit to kill. The first blow should be the last, if at all possible. Rule Five—The letters are the law. Kit takes her role as London’s notorious “Perfect Killer” seriously. The letters and cash that come to her via a secret mailbox are not a game; choosing who to kill is not an impulse decision. Every letter she receives begins with “Dear Killer,” and every time Kit murders, she leaves a letter with the dead body. Her moral nihilism and thus her murders are a way of life—the only way of life she has eve...

Hey guys!!! We hope everyone had an awesome break, if you were given one! If not, we hope you had great holidays!! So many fun things have happened!! Both Emma and I have taken trips up to the frigid North! We're both from there, her from Wisconsin, and I'm from Iowa, but we both moved to Texas!!! Emma got new glasses (YAYYYY!), so she'll be reading more and posting soon!! Super exciting, especially from you all, so you don't have to JUST listen to me!! :) But until then...here's one I just finished!!! Royally Screwed by Emma Chase Nicholas Arthur Frederick Edward Pembrook, Crowned Prince of Wessco, aka His Royal Hotness, is wickedly charming, devastatingly handsome, and unabashedly arrogant; hard not to be when people are constantly bowing down to you.  Then, one snowy night in Manhattan, the prince meets a dark haired beauty who doesn't bow down. Instead, she throws a pie in his face. Nicholas wants to find out if she tastes as good as her p...