The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas, 336 Pages

I've mentioned it in my reviews before but... I. LOVE. KARA. THOMAS! This is the last book of hers that I had left to read that was written by her, and it didn't disappoint. The Darkest Corners gave me major Gillian Flynn vibes, who happens to be another favorite author of mine! 

Tessa left Fayette, Pennsylvania with the goal of never returning. But when her incarcerated father passes away, she is forced to return and face everything she painfully left behind. When Tessa left, she drifted apart from her best friend, Callie. Callie's family welcomes Tessa with open arms when she returns to town, which causes the two girls to reconnect and remember everything that happened before Tessa left- including when they both were forced to testify that they saw Wyatt Stokes kill Callie's cousin, Lori. Both girls question what they actually saw that night, and begin to uncover secrets that bring them extremely close to danger. 

The Best Man by Richard Peck 232 pages

I absolutely loved this book.  It's told first person in one of the most believable young voices I've ever read.  The boy telling the story isn't super smart, in fact, it's a running joke that it takes him a while to figure out all the random subtexts of life.  He has three men in his life that he knows are what men should be.  His grandfather, his father and his uncle.  By the end of the book, he'll add a fourth.  This is a brilliant, subtle and engrossing look at family dynamics and what really makes a good man.  There are no unrealistic characters and the introduction of a gay character is done with finesse, straightforward and unapologetic frankness.  In my opinion, this is as close to perfect as a book for young people can get. 

The Secret of Goldenrod by Jane O'Reilly 370 pages

This book made the preliminary nominees for the Mark Twain award, but didn't make the cut to final nominee.  It gave the impression that it was going to be a ghost story, but certainly never followed that track.  I'm still not sure what the explanation for the odd...very odd happenings would be, if not haunting, but it was made very clear throughout the book that this was not the solution.  Most of the children who have read it tell me they absolutely love it, so I'm going to go with their review.  It was a sweet story about a lonely girl finding her place in a new setting, but it never really wowed me.  That being said, there were some very nice touches to the book, so it's worth placing in the hands of kids 3rd grade and up. 

Cress: the Lunar Chronicles book 3 by Marissa Meyer 552 pages

The third book in the sci-fi/dystopian twist on fairy tales that is The Lunar Chronicles ramps up all the pre-existing tension of the first two books.  The romance, violence, and drama are all set to new highs.  This had just the right amount of romance for me, since I don't care for the bodice-rippers.  It really takes a back seat to the adventure and action surrounding all the main characters.  Cress (Rapunzel) has been held captive on a space station for years, using her tech skills to hide Lunar ships, spy on Earthens and do the bidding of the horrible Sybil Mira.  When her story gets woven into the main story of Linh Cinder, everything starts to get buck wild.  I can't wait to read the fourth book!

Scarlet: Book 2 of The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer 454 pages

Scarlet's grandmother is missing and the police refuse to accept Scarlet's theory that she was kidnapped.  A mysterious street fighter named Wolf offers to help, but how far can she trust him?  Meanwhile, Cinder is going to have to break out of prison and start figuring out how to take down Queen Levana.  This installment is full of action and adventure.  This is a solid sequel that only makes you want to snag the next book immediately!

Shelter In Place by Nora Roberts, 439 Pages

I had never read anything by Nora Roberts until Shelter In Place. I have a list of authors that I know I need to read at least one book by them, because our patron's are always checking them out and they're just extremely popular. The description of Shelter In Place caught my eye, so I thought I would give it a try. **Trigger Warning** This book centers around a mass shooting. It's extremely difficult to read, but I enjoyed the book for the most part. Any sort of romance makes me cringe, and this was borderline too much for me.. but I stuck it out and finished it.

Down East Mall is bustling with shoppers, diners, movie-goers, etc. Everything changes when 3 shooters walk in, causing mass chaos and carnage. Everyone's lives are changed during the 8 minute shooting. Now years down the road, Simone is hiding out from life and reality, and Reed dedicated his life to preventing other incidents like the shooting and is now in the police force. Their paths will cross, and they'll realize that a third piece to this unfortunate puzzle was unhappy with the outcome of that horrible day, and plans to take matters in her own hands to make it have the ending she prefers.

Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes 400 pages

I could not put this book down at all! There was mystery, a kidnapping, a masquerade ball, and plot twists. This is a must read! I was able to get an advanced reader’s copy thanks to NetGalley.

Sawyer Taft signs a contract with her grandmother stating that if she lives with her for 9 months, Sawyer will get $500,000. The catch, she must spend that time as a debutante. Sawyer never knew her mother’s family, it was just her and her mother. However, amidst the masquerade ball, scavenger hunt, and other not so legal activities, Sawyer grows closer to her cousin Lily and Lily’s best friend, Sadie Grace. Sawyer does have an ulterior motive for coming to stay with her grandmother. She is in search for her biological father.

The Chaos of Now by Erin Jade Lange, 352 Pages

First of all, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Advanced Copy of The Chaos of Now by Erin Jade Lange in exchange for an honest review! This book is set to be released around the beginning of October 2018.

After much deliberation, I decided to give this book 3/5 stars. I had a difficult time staying interested with this book, but I'm glad I read it because it focuses around important topics such as bullying and mental illness. The age recommendation I saw was 14+, but I'm not sure that I would recommend this book to patron's that are that young in my library, as some of the book is very graphic. I debated on giving The Chaos of Now 4 stars, but the ending knocked it down to 3 for me, I wish the author would have given me a little more!

Eli Bennett is a Sophomore at Haver High. He doesn't consider himself popular, or anything really- he's just Eli. He's getting through school by putting in minimal effort and spends most of his time in front of his computer. Eli is a teen hacker, and very good at it. He's frustrated, along with many other people in his school, when new laws are put in effect after his classmate, Jordan Bishop, commits suicide after relentless online bullying. Eli is approached by two classmates, Seth and Mouse, who also spend their time coding and hacking. They ask Eli to join their team in a coding competition, and he quickly accepts so they can get to work. Eli soon realizes that winning the competition isn't the only thing Seth and Mouse are after. The two boys had been friends with Jordan prior to him committing suicide, and their ultimate goal is to expose and humiliate anyone who contributed to his death. Things start off seemingly innocent, but quickly spiral out of control. Lives are changed forever and Eli realizes he may be in over his head.

People Kill People by Ellen Hopkins 448 pages

I have never read a book by Ellen Hopkins before. I found this one interesting. The story is told in verse and narrative. The narrative follows six teens living in Tuscon, Arizona. Each teen has a different idea on gun control and immigration. In the span of a week, all of their lives are changed. Someone will shot a gun and someone will be shot. Who will it be?

See, the absolute truth is people do kill people. A gun just makes it easier. 

I received an Advance Reader's Copy thanks to NetGalley. 

#MurderTrending by Gretchen McNeil 352 pages

I can’t believe that I finished this book in only two days. I’m actually surprised I finished it at all. The description of this book intrigued me but when I started reading, I wasn’t sure if I’d like it. It’s intense, suspenseful, and gruesome at times. I just couldn’t stop! I would recommend to teens who are not afraid of horror movies. Warning: this is not for the faint of heart!

Dee Guerrera wakes up in a dimly lit warehouse wearing a ballgown. She has been transferred to Alcatraz 2.0, a prison island where convicted felons are hunted and killed live on the Postman app.  Dee's only goal is to stay alive long enough to clear her name. She was accused of killing her step-sister. Dee teams up with other teens on the island, where they are deemed the Death Row Breakfast Club. Will they be able to clear Dee's name or will the Postman's executioners get to them first?  

I received an Advanced Reader's Copy thanks to NetGalley. 

Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage, 320 Pages

First and foremost- I was graciously granted an advanced copy of Baby Teeth by Netgalley and the publisher.

This book was honestly terrifying. I don't scare easily in terms of books, but this one really got to me. I felt the need to look over my shoulder the entire time I read this. I can't imagine being in the position of not trusting your own child, and being afraid of her. I will definitely recommend this to anyone who is a horror fan like myself.

Suzette and Hanna have an explosive relationship. Suzette, the mother, is terrified of her daughter, Hanna. Hanna has never spoken a word, but finds other ways to terrorize her mom on a daily basis. The minute her dad gets home, Hanna morphs into a sweet angel, incapable of doing the terrible things her mother claims she does. As Hanna's outbursts become worse, Suzette begins to realize something is seriously wrong with her daughter, and it could be life-threatening for her.