October '23 Reading Recap: Star-Studded Book Reviews with Optional Spoilers

As I focus on my personal reading journey, I've relished every opportunity to share my reads

with fellow book lovers. Last month, I took a step further by sharing not just the gems but also the not-so-shiny reads on my social media, empowering friends to curate their reading lists with precision. Now, in the spirit of sharing, this month I'm introducing star ratings while offering you a quick glimpse here. Given that the first week of October was dedicated to celebrating Banned Books Week, I've delved headfirst into this controversial genre throughout the entire month. For your convenience, spoilers will be tucked away in expandable sections beneath each book title, granting you the freedom to dive deep into the details of my book reviews with optional spoilers. And if you're tempted to explore these literary treasures further, simply click on the book titles to access digital or physical copies.

You Shouldn't Have Come Here

You’ve opened up your house and your heart to a total stranger … What could possibly go wrong?

Grace Evans, an overworked New Yorker looking for a total escape from her busy life, books an Airbnb on a ranch in the middle of Wyoming. When she arrives at the idyllic getaway, she’s pleased to find that the owner is a handsome man by the name of Calvin Wells—and he’s eager to introduce her to his easygoing way of life. But there are things Grace discovers that she’s not too pleased about: A lack of cell phone service. A missing woman. And a feeling that something isn’t right with the ranch.

Despite her uneasiness, the two bond and start to fall for one another. However, as her departure date nears, things change for the worse. What began as a playful romance soon turns into a complicated web of lies. Grace grows wary of Calvin as his infatuation for her seems to have morphed to obsession. Calvin fears that Grace is hiding something from him—including her reason for staying at his ranch to begin with. Vacation flings typically end in heartbreak, but for Grace and Calvin, it’ll be far more destructive.

I kicked off October by diving into this novel, courtesy of my local online book club. To be honest, this isn't a book I'd have naturally gravitated towards on my own, primarily due to the promise of a love story. I've always been somewhat skeptical of the 'shove a love story in the middle' trope when the plot could easily stand on its own. Sadly, my initial reservations held true as I delved into the story. The characters, while interesting, seemed unfinished; there were hints about their complexities that were never fully explored, leaving them feeling less like real people and more like sketches. Nevertheless, amidst these reservations, the narrative held a few unexpected surprises and twists. One was admittedly on my radar, but the other caught me completely off guard. It's these unforeseen twists that added an extra star to my rating, for there's a certain thrill in being blindsided by a well-crafted curveball.

Spoilers:

As the cover synopsis suggests, Grace and her AirBnB host Calvin "start to fall for each other." Honestly, it felt like an easy way to throw in a teensy bit of spicy where it otherwise wouldn't fit. It came across as a purely physical attraction to me, which also made it more unbelievable that Grace would insert herself into Calvin's daily life and friends the way she does. It happens so quickly upon her arrival that I just can't imagine someone making themselves that comfortable in a stranger's life. The focus spent on making Calvin's brother appear guilty for the missing woman, in my opinion, made it quite obvious it wasn't him. For a regular reader, the signs were all pointing to Calvin and it was easy to deduce that he was actually a predator from early on. However, what I did not expect was that Grace was an even better predator. I liked that twist, but at the same time it felt disjointed from the rest of the story because it quite literally came out of nowhere at the end. Suddenly, Grace is this lone wolf sociopath who could care less who lives or dies, who seeks out potential evil men to kill them while at the same time having to contemplate saving the victim of the potential evil man because taking the time to do so almost doesn't feel worth it. That didn't sit right for me in terms of her character creation. Finding out that neither main characters were who they were pretending to be did kind of excuse the lack of them feeling like fully developed and real people.

The Truth About Alice

Everyone knows Alice slept with two guys at one party. When Healy High star quarterback, Brandon Fitzsimmons, dies in a car crash, it was because he was sexting with Alice. Ask anybody. Rumor has it Alice Franklin is a slut. It's written all over the "slut stall" in the girls' bathroom: "Alice had sex in exchange for math test answers" and "Alice got an abortion last semester." After Brandon dies, the rumors start to spiral out of control. In this remarkable debut novel, four Healy High students tell all they "know" about Alice--and in doing so reveal their own secrets and motivations, painting a raw look at the realities of teen life. But in this novel from Jennifer Mathieu, exactly what is the truth about Alice? In the end there's only one person to ask: Alice herself.

This book got the boot for questionable teen content—ya know, the kind that involves alcohol and poor decisions. But let's be real, it's not exactly breaking news. I was a small-town high schooler, and these characters hit close to home. No pigeonholing here—I was a cheerleader who shared lunch with a mishmash of jocks, tech geeks, rebels, skaters, music buffs, party animals, and brainiacs, but the characters in this book were easily some of my classmates. The gang's all here—the Queen Bee, the Sports Star, the Weird Kid, the Outcast. Alice handles her business like a champ, but you catch glimpses of the mental toll the school gossip takes on her. This book stirred up some strong feelings; I got mad at times, but had to cut the kids some slack—they're just navigating the wild world of high school. Yeah, they made questionable choices, but let's blame it on the underdeveloped brains and personal agendas. Still, there were some points that should've been buzzworthy if the town's gossip mill worked as advertised that were never even whispered along with the rumors about Alice. And honestly, a bit more action from some of the characters wouldn't have hurt either.

Spoilers:

Okay. The breakdown of this story is that beloved Brandon was actually a major jerk. He cheated on all his girlfriends, made it a game to get girls in bed, spent much of his free time getting drunk on his roof, and key to this story - he lied about him and his friend having sex with Alice at a party because she turned him down. He couldn't fathom a girl not wanting to be with him, so he created a story that would ruin her in the eyes of all her peers. Alice only tries to dispel the rumors to her best friend Kelsie, but even their close friendship isn't enough for Kelsie to believe her over the superstar athlete womanizer. Queen Bee Elaine runs with this theme and spreads the lies because of a grudge she holds against Alice over a middle school kiss she shared with Brandon. Even Weird Kid Kurt, who is in love with Alice, is aware that it's all rumors because Brandon told him this during a late night drunken conversation they shared on Brandon's roof, but he hides this information away in fear that discussing the rumors at all will turn Alice against him. It comes to light through the voices in the book that Brandon was highly intoxicated and driving irresponsibly when he wrecked and Alice was not sexting him. It felt a little anticlimactic, as Brandon reveals to Kurt in a flashback during a Kurt-led chapter that it was all a lie with no realization of the effect on Alice. He dies and is remembered as this magical, wonderful being while Alice lives on being shunned by all her peers. And the one person that sees through all the lies and truly appreciates her, Kurt, is then shunned by Alice when he finally gets the courage to let her know that he believes her and that Brandon had confirmed to him that the sex-capade at the party never happened. There was no resolution. No one learned anything. It was frustrating to no end.

Speak

"Speak up for yourself—we want to know what you have to say." From the first moment of her freshman year at Merryweather High, Melinda knows this is a big fat lie, part of the nonsense of high school. She is friendless, outcast, because she busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops, so now nobody will talk to her, let alone listen to her. As time passes, she becomes increasingly isolated and practically stops talking altogether. Only her art class offers any solace, and it is through her work on an art project that she is finally able to face what really happened at that terrible party: she was raped by an upperclassman, a guy who still attends Merryweather and is still a threat to her. Her healing process has just begun when she has another violent encounter with him. But this time Melinda fights back, refuses to be silent, and thereby achieves a measure of vindication. In Laurie Halse Anderson's powerful novel, an utterly believable heroine with a bitterly ironic voice delivers a blow to the hypocritical world of high school. She speaks for many a disenfranchised teenager while demonstrating the importance of speaking up for oneself.

I did enjoy this book. It was an interesting and eye opening perspective to get the point of view from inside the mind of Melinda as she processed her trauma while remaining silent on the outside. There's no secret unveiled, no twists, and therefore no spoilers on this one. It's a very straight forward writing about a very traumatic event. It could likely be very triggering for someone struggling with a similar traumatic event, but could also be very informative for people who have not experienced something like this. It gives a great example of how trauma can affect people internally without their permission or control, as Melinda knows what is happening within her isn't normal but can't understand why she can't change it or stop it. This was turned into a movie many years ago, and I actually watched the movie as a teen but didn't connect the movie to the book until I was almost halfway through reading. You can watch the movie, starring Kristin Stewart, on Hulu, Prime, Paramount Plus, Spectrum, and Showtime, and DirecTV.

Dear Martin

After a traffic stop turns violent at the hands of the police, a young Black teen grapples with racism—and what it means for his future. Critically acclaimed author Nic Stone boldly tackles America’s troubled history with race relations in her gripping debut novel.

Justyce is a good kid, an honor student, and always there to help a friend—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs without cause.

When faced with injustice, Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out.

Then comes the day Justyce and a friend spark the fury of an off-duty cop. Words fly, shots are fired, and the boys get caught in the crosshairs. But in the media fallout, it's Justyce who is under attack.

This novel is AMAZING. It's a quick read with a raw and heart-wrenching look at a significant social issue that continues today - racism, inherent bias, and media fodder. It's an unfortunate coming of age tale, in which the main character Justyce must adjust to the realization that the world is not looking out for him regardless of all his good qualities simply due to his appearance. And on the flipside, it also shows how the systemic and social racism creates a bias in return through the responses of Justyce's mother to an interracial relationship. It easily and clearly depicts the cycle of harm caused by these things, all from the perspective of a teen trying to reconcile the loss of his childhood innocence with his newfound knowledge. No spoilers here, either. Just read it!

Dear Justyce

The stunning sequel to the critically acclaimed, #1 New York Times bestseller Dear Martin. An incarcerated teen writes letters to his best friend about his experiences in the American juvenile justice system.

An unflinching look into the tragically flawed practices and silenced voices in the American juvenile justice system.

Vernell LaQuan Banks and Justyce McAllister grew up a block apart in the Southwest Atlanta neighborhood of Wynwood Heights. Years later, though, Justyce walks the illustrious halls of Yale University . . . and Quan sits behind bars at the Fulton Regional Youth Detention Center.

Through a series of flashbacks, vignettes, and letters to Justyce--the protagonist of Dear Martin--Quan's story takes form. Troubles at home and misunderstandings at school give rise to police encounters and tough decisions. But then there's a dead cop and a weapon with Quan's prints on it. What leads a bright kid down a road to a murder charge? Not even Quan is sure.

This is a great follow up to Dear Martin. My favorite part may even be the author's note and not even the content of the book. In the author's note Nic Stone explains that she didn't intend to write another book like Dear Martin until 2 African American boys asked her when she would write a book with characters like them - boys growing up in rough areas with little to no support systems to help pull them out of the trouble may encounter in their search for belonging and survival. That's exactly what Quan is, and we get to see his side of things leading up to his involvement in Dear Martin.

Spoilers

Through Quan's letters to Justyce and Justyce's support system, Quan does eventually get the support he deserves. Stone stated that this book was very hard for her to write because the "most fictional part" was that support. If that doesn't make you question the way our society is running, no - FAILING the people, you may not have a heart or conscience at all.

During October I also began the ACOTAR Series. I finished A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, and A Court of Wings and Ruin. However, I am going to hold off on giving my full review of these books until I have finished the entire series. I attempted to review one book at a time, but it was far too difficult to separate out the storylines due to Sarah J. Maas's keen ability to intertwine the books with each other so seamlessly that it feels like just one extra long book. I'm not typically a fantasy fan or one to read books with sex scenes, but these have been addictive! For now, I'll just leave you with the star ratings I've given so far and the general book descriptions:

A Court of Thorns and Roses

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a terrifying creature arrives to demand retribution. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she knows about only from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not truly a beast, but one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled her world.

At least, he's not a beast all the time.

As she adapts to her new home, her feelings for the faerie, Tamlin, transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But something is not right in the faerie lands. An ancient, wicked shadow is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it, or doom Tamlin-and his world-forever.

From bestselling author Sarah J. Maas comes a seductive, breathtaking book that blends romance, adventure, and faerie lore into an unforgettable read.

A Court of Mist and Fury

Spoilers:

Feyre has undergone more trials than one human woman can carry in her heart. Though she's now been granted the powers and lifespan of the High Fae, she is haunted by her time Under the Mountain and the terrible deeds she performed to save the lives of Tamlin and his people.

As her marriage to Tamlin approaches, Feyre's hollowness and nightmares consume her. She finds herself split into two different people: one who upholds her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court, and one who lives out her life in the Spring Court with Tamlin. While Feyre navigates a dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms. She might just be the key to stopping it, but only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future-and the future of a world in turmoil.

Bestselling author Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her dazzling, sexy, action-packed series to new heights.

A Court of Wings and Ruin

Spoilers:

Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin's actions and learn what she can about the invading king threatening to bring her land to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit. One slip could bring doom not only for Feyre, but for everything-and everyone-she holds dear.

As war bears down upon them all, Feyre endeavors to take her place amongst the High Fae of the land, balancing her struggle to master her powers-both magical and political-and her love for her court and family. Amidst these struggles, Feyre and Rhysand must decide whom to trust amongst the cunning and lethal High Lords, and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

In this thrilling third book in the #1 New York Times bestselling series from Sarah J. Maas, the fate of Feyre's world is at stake as armies grapple for power over the one thing that could destroy it.