Last spring I posted a rave review of A Deadly Education: Lesson One of the Scholomance by Naomi Novik This slowed the pacing, but I felt less impatient about it than I did in book one, when Novik outlined

Characters' careless behaviors in the face of known danger frustrated me for much of the book.

glimpses of dramatic moments (as at the movies), and spoken zingers that ended brief scenes made the pacing

for a young adult reader--if not averse to Lila's occasional and wonderfully foul-mouthed fury in the face

And the carefree vacations of the past feel light years away, because Rocky's menopausal rage threatens Characters scoff, become resigned, or work to control their futures as they face issues surrounding their Here One Moment  traces what begins to happen as the first of the Death Lady's predictions seem to come

Illuminating Memoirs to Lose Yourself In Six Foodie Memoirs to Whet Your Appetite Six Powerful Memoirs about Facing

I loved the facing of mortality in the story--as well as the focus on literature and its power. Rae Dunlap Dunlap's debut novel explores early Edinburgh surgical schools, questionable methods of obtaining

The pacing of First Light is a little slow at first, and I would have liked to see more science-based This is Phillips's first book, and the author builds the story's pace steadily toward a crescendo. beautiful nonfiction book, which includes striking black-and-white photographs by Frank Hurley, Alexander traces Night by Christiane Ritter, The Captive by Fiona King Foster, Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice

Graces, truths, and beauties of brutality.

full review, please check out The Fraud . 04 Buckeye by Patrick Ryan Patrick Ryan's literary fiction traces drug-addled decision-making, and terrible mistakes are all essential components of the novel, yet the pacing

Graces, truths, and beauties of brutality.

working in a restaurant and the twisted but familial community forged among the stresses and frantic pace

beautiful writer who is so smart, reflects deeply, and candidly shares the many heartbreaking aspects of facing family but also holds meaning for anyone considering the way they live and how they might choose to face

Casey's experience working in a restaurant and the twisted community forged in the stresses and frantic pace

the same name, and in it, author William Ritter provides memorable main characters as well as great pacing

single-minded, relentless would-be performer and builds tension and outrageously high stakes as the novel traces father has more kids spread across the country as well--Rube and Mad head out on an awkward, nerve-racking

Reid is a straight-laced young man for whom things are black-and-white, clearly right and wrong.

This is a gentle, slow-paced story from the heart-wrenchingly gorgeous writer. 05 Daughter of a Daughter The character growth surprised me and felt in line with the tone and pacing of the story.

But wars are being waged, and Rae quickly figures out that she's not the heroine of the story. Characters scoff, become resigned, or work to control their futures as they face issues surrounding their Here One Moment  traces what begins to happen as the first of the Death Lady's predictions seem to come Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll Knoll's novel was inspired by real events; Bright Young Women  traces

or more strenuous work; manage the implications of a backlash against artificial enhancements; and face

The pacing flagged for me throughout the middle of the story, during the slog through various avenues

Disappearing Earth is Phillips's first book, and she builds the story's pace steadily toward a crescendo

: living life as truthfully and joyfully as possible, fighting against unjust systems, and offering grace

path as set out by the men in her life; and Namesake is Adrienne Young's follow-up to Fable, which I raved discovers the truth behind the secrets her mother took to her grave, establishes their link to the dangers facing

The tone is spooky and the story moves at a measured pace. And Eugene, who has the rare genetic condition Angelman syndrome, cannot communicate to tell her what

The injustice of this leaves Eli in a murderous rage. He can't face any other possibility. In many ways, Boy Swallows Universe defies categorization.

, unplanned pregnancy, substance abuse--and also the complicated joy of having friends like family, facing

#postapocalyptic, #dystopian, #youngadult, #fourstarbookreview 02 The Grace Year ​ The Grace Year is

But when her last remaining parent figure disappears without a trace, Tamsin is forced to go to great And a typical day might involve facing mortal danger from roving pirates, cyborg animals, certain AI

The series was published over a period of almost twenty-five years, and the story trail traces the charismatic feels real, and for a year she can't get him out of her head, searching everywhere she goes for that face

The Revenge Fantasies...and Revenge Enacted Whether it's about righting wrongs, saving face, renegade

Riordan's modern take on Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea offers up his signature fast-paced

This book traces the history of the Tearling as a kingdom crushed by famine, feudalism, corruption, greed opportunity to act upon cruel whims, and insufferably atrocious exchanges of money, drugs, and paid-for rape Some of the characters I loved from the rest of the series (I'm looking at you, Mace, and also the Fetch

And a typical day might involve facing mortal danger from roving pirates, cyborg animals, certain AI

I will tell you, if there is a thing harder than facing danger, it's knowing it's headed your way.

She must cobble together the various bits of knowledge and savviness she's gained through tracing the optimistically planned during her mom's illness, and she's set on revisiting the places her mom has raved When Katy wakes up one day faced with her actual own mother standing in her hotel lobby in the prime But she is incapable of BS and full of rage, fear, unquenched revenge fantasies, vulnerability, and the

attraction is sometimes steamy, the supporting characters are all wonderfully wrought, and I loved tracing , unplanned pregnancy, substance abuse--and also the complicated joy of having friends like family, facing

The group faces real challenges, and some characters don't make it through the battles and sometimes-messy For my full review--and for a link to my rave Bossy review of Croucher's Gwen & Art Are Not in Love (

in small-town Australia with dark secrets and twists and turns, and she offers more of her excellent pacing

I loved it and rated the collection five stars. The relentless pacing, romantic obsession, twists and turns, dramatic setbacks, exhilarating success,

I had some trouble adjusting to the pacing of the book; it's structured into 1,001 short segments in

, unplanned pregnancy, substance abuse--and also the complicated joy of having friends like family, facing

Whether it's about righting wrongs, saving face, renegade justice, or playing the long game, I love a

A lady’s maid in love with the lady, racy scenes, angst, wonderful details of a life in service to a

in small-town Australia with dark secrets and twists and turns, and she offers more of her excellent pacing Romantic Comedy. 03 You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith Poet Maggie Smith's memoir traces

01 Fable by Adrienne Young There's a freckle-faced young lady staring unflinchingly at the reader from

pivotal moments with each of his living sisters, discusses his sister Tiffany, who died of suicide, and faces

the same name, and in it, author William Ritter provides memorable main characters as well as great pacing

Six More Favorite Fiction Reads I love spending Fridays raving about books I've loved! --she has to face facts: It really seems undeniable that Max...is a superhero.

what sometimes feels like fragility, Lucy is often able to see the difficult truth in situations and face