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Dark Matter by Blake Crouch F***ed my life up. Why, you ask? Because it was the BEST book I've ever read in my entire life. And when I say I KNOW I will never read a book better than it, I say it with such certainty- which is why I've been in a reading drought ever since I finished it. I've picked up six books since then not being able to get past page thirty. I'd abandoned all of them, calling it quits. That's when I decided to take a break and give my soul a rest for awhile. It wasn't until I was taking a trip which required me stepping on a plane that I decided to grab a book off my shelf and give it a go again. I had never read anything by Colleen Hoover before, but her books were always on my Instafeed and she seemed to have a huge fan base. So, "Confess" caught my eye and I hoped for the best. It certainly pulled me out of my slump because I devoured the book in three days. Hoover created a magical and pure love story where the characters' connection was addicting. I loved the alternating perspectives in first person point of view through Auburn and Owen. This structure was easy to follow and was a great way to build the intensity of the plot. I enjoyed reading each viewpoint equally and I loved the twist at the end. Hoover gave Auburn a sassy, yet innocent tone and you couldn't help but adore her. Owen was artsy and a gentleman and you loved the way he loved Auburn. Complimenting the title of the book, Hoover included real life confessions submitted anonymously by readers. She infused them throughout the novel as a part of Owen's art. I thought this was extremely creative. I have to admit, some of them were disturbing to read, but it gave the book such a unique human kind of quality to it. Overall I give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5 stars and I'm thankful it got my out of my reading slump.

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I SEEM TO BE IN SOMEWHAT OF A READING SLUMP. After finishing Dark Matter by @blakecrouch1 I've tried starting six different books, all books I normally would be interested in. But with each book, I couldn't seem to get past page 30 because I couldn't seem to get my mind off of Dark Matter. I think it is probably the best book I've ever read. Since I can't seem to commit to a novel, I'm going to read some short stories for awhile. Ray Bradbury is one of my favorite authors and every single short story I've read by him I've absolutely been intrigued by. He has a gift for creating an eerie mood that claws at your core.

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BOOK REVIEW: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

You know a book is truly a masterpiece when it makes you THINK, makes you WONDER, makes you FEEL, makes you not want it to end. Halfway through the book, when I realized what it truly was, I was brought to tears because Crouch artistically touches on so many important parts of the human psyche: identity, choices, regrets, love, sacrifice, family. I kept thinking, what am I going to do when I finish the last page? Just like Jason’s box and its infinite worlds, I wanted the book to last forever….. because stepping into the world Blake Crouch created was an experience that will change me forever. Truthfully, he had me at the dedication page-when he wrote: “For anyone who has wondered what their life might look like at the end of the road not taken.” Pretty deep, right?! The plot is based on this idea using the theory of quantum mechanics and superposition. But Crouch skillfully breaks this down and explains it on a level that most people can understand while using two characters you will fall in love with: Jason and Daniela. I loved how perfect, yet flawed they both were. I loved how much they sacrificed to build their life together. I loved how much Jason loved her. There are two storylines- but you won’t know this until chapter four because the first three chapters are written in first person point of view from Jason’s perspective. You’re thrown through a loop when chapter four reads from a third person omniscient point of view. That’s when you realize you’re witnessing the work of a genius- and yes, I’m talking about both the author and our main character, Jason. The book goes back and forth like this and Crouch structures it this way on purpose- you’ll see why. From the first to the last page Crouch takes you on a gripping ride that makes you think and question the world you live in. At the end of it all, Crouch will make you thankful for all the seemingly meaningless things in your life. He will make you feel a sense of calm and panic at just how small you really are to the universe. He will make you appreciate and accept how life has unfolded from the multiple choices that you’ve made that led you to where you are in this moment. He does this so beautifully that the second you close the book, you will feel an overwhelming sense of peace. I give “Dark Matter” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐5 stars. This may be my favorite book of all time. I normally do a figurative language spotlight at the end of my reviews, but the truth is, Crouch used such imaginative imagery throughout the novel that I couldn’t pick any one in particular. Rather, I will leave you with one of my favorite parts of the book: “I can’t help thinking that we’re more than the sum total of our choices, that all the paths we might have taken factor somehow into the math of our identify.”

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As 2016 comes to a close, I want to take the time to share my top three FAVORITE books that I read and that were published this year. #1: I'm Thinking of Ending Things #2: Security #3: The Vanishing Year

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BOOK REVIEW: A big thank you to Atria Books for sending me an ARC of "Everything You Want Me To Be" by Mindy Mejia. The structure of the book is written in first person point of view from three different perspectives that go back and forth in time. Each perspective is so different: a seventeen year old high school girl, an English teacher in his late twenties, and a sheriff who's probably in his 50s. Mejia does a flawless job creating the tone of each character. The way she described each of their mannerisms really made each of them come alive for me and I couldn't have pictured this book written any other way. The character of Hattie was addicting; I couldn't get enough of her. Obviously that was the effect the author wanted her to have on the reader though, as it was the same effect she had on all of the other characters in the book. The author was creative in so many aspects including the theory of the Macbeth curse, the camcorder diary..... I loved all of the allusions that were made throughout the book and how the author used them as discussion topics for Hattie and Peter, but for me, the plot was extremely predictable and I thought the whole teacher/student affair was very cliche. Overall, the book was enjoyable, and I give it ⭐⭐⭐⭐4 stars. 🔦Figurative Language Spotlight🔦 "They stand tall in windbreaks around the farms and you can really see them. You can trace their silhouettes, follow how their branches bend and curl. Some are craggy. Some are thick and strong. Some are stooped like old men against the wind. You can understand their nature here. I didn't realize it until we moved back and I felt myself breathing again. I was walking home from Winifred's one day and I just stopped and stood there studying the shapes of the trees on the horizon. They were like portraits, each of them, and it was the most beautiful thing I'd seen. I knew then that I couldn't go back. I couldn't breathe in the city; I was suffocating more every day."

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BOOK REVIEW: "Under the Harrow," by Flynn Berry was written in first person point of view from the perspective of Nora. This novel had SO much potential! Unfortunately for me, the plot was painfully slow. There wasn't much "suspense" and it wasn't until the last forty pages that I actually got into the story. It was a slow, uphill battle to make it to the climax with a few interesting plot twists before the resolution. I didn't see the plot twists coming though, so that was refreshing! To me, this was not a "psychological thriller," as it claims to be on the back cover. This story was about the bond between two sisters and all that one would go through to get justice for the other. The author did a good job conveying the closeness and special connection between the sisters, but towards the end when secrets were revealed about Rachel, it left me hating her, which pretty much negated the relationship that was developed the entire book. Rachel was the victim, yet towards the end, I completely hated her. I felt sorry for Nora. She had to find out how horrible of a person her sister really was. I give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️3 stars.

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BOOK REVIEW: I received a free copy of this book, Army of Fire by Jennifer L. Kelly in exchange for an honest review. Written in first person POV from Ka's perspective, she lives on a planet called Xon9 because Earth is no longer able to sustain life. On this planet, everyone must choose an elemental on the day of their pronouncement, which is comparable to high school graduation. The elementals play a part in their careers, relationships, and even affect them physiologically. But Ka seems to have trouble choosing: Earth, Fire, water, wood, or metal? She's conflicted. She does eventually choose, but something isn't right. Eventually, Ka realizes she cannot be categorized, and she is far more important than she originally thought. The protagonist, Ka, is such a likable character. Like most teenagers, she is indecisive and doesn't have a true sense of who she really is. She's innocent and insecure, but values her friends and is loyal to them. She looks out for those around her, not just what is in her own best interest. The plot is well written and fast paced which I think most teenagers in this generation enjoy. I also think the author was clever having introduced us to Sloan, Ka's love interest that she is also unsure of. Love interests are always a good thing! There is an interesting plot twist toward the end in regards to the relationships that unravel. A good story always includes a plot twist! About halfway through reading this, I envisioned it being a huge blockbuster hit, and after recently visiting Moab, Utah, I think that would suffice for the setting if Hollywood turned this into a movie. I'm most impressed with the amount of imagination that went into conjuring up a fantastical story such as this. The elementals reminded me at first of the groups that the astrology signs falls into and I loved that once you accepted your elemental, they physically became a part of you. I think it's important to keep the intended audience in mind when writing a review. This book would be a hit with any teen falling in the range of 11-17 years old. This isn't just a creatively written fantasy, there are so many good themes that can taken from the story when looking at the deeper, underlying meanings. With that being said, I give Army of Fire a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5 star rating.

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This is a horror story for kids and has many different versions, but I was so excited to find it actually published in a book. When I was little, my grandpa used to tell me this story, but it was called "The Girl with the RED Ribbon. This story has always stuck with me growing up because it created such a creepy mood. You can find this short story online in PDF form as well.

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BOOK REVIEW Melody's Key by Dallas Coryell is set in Southern England and written in third person limited point of view from the perspective of Tegan. Tegan is talented and creative. She sings, writes her own music, and paints. Her only fault seems to be judging pop superstar Mason Keanne before she really gets to know him. Her family owns a manor and they rent out rooms to people who are vacationing. When Mason rents a room to take time to decompress from his hectic lifestyle, Tegan learns they have more in common than she initially thought. Dallas Coryell is the real deal, my friends! His ability to elaborate and make every detail come to life was not only magical- it's hard to believe this is his first novel. From the first page to the last, I felt like I was reading a romance novel by a veteran writer like Nicholas Sparks. Coryell made me fall absolutely in love with both Tegan and Mason as well as their love story. Throughout the duration of reading this book, I felt close to these characters in a way that it felt as if they were real people that I grew to know and become attached to. In my opinion, if a writer can do that, they have talent! The characters and the plot were thoroughly developed and it's obvious the author did his research for this book. I liked that he intertwined two love stories; the addition of the letters from the past gave it a timeless appeal. It also symbolized Tegan's desire for a timeless kind of love that she had read about in those letters. They became a part of her and gave her faith in romance that she needed after being traumatized her first time. The two love stories centuries apart mirror each other as well - poor pauper/soldier boy falls in love with a woman who is forced to marry wealthy man, Lockwood, and wealthy pop star Mason falls in love with Tegan, a girl whose parents are in the process of losing their house. Coryell created such a beautiful and pure love story. His pacing for building their connection was flawless and he described their intimacy in a very tasteful way. I absolutely LOVED the ending. I give Melody's Key ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5 stars. I am so thankful that I had the privilege of reading this story! 🔦Figurative Language Spotlight🔦 "It felt like it had been ages since she had let him see into her. She drank his gaze in like the first rays of morning sun warming the dew covered wildflowers of some isolated meadow."

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BOOK REVIEW: "The Stranger" by Albert Camus This book is written in first person point of view through the eyes of Monsieur Meursault and is split up into two parts: before he does to jail, and then in jail and during his trial. The author established a very lackadaisical mood from the start with the use of short, choppy, nondetailed sentences. To me, this structure was symbolic of Meursault's attitude toward his pleasantly simple life. Nothing affected him. He didn't exhibit the typical behavior of someone who just lost his mother, or who is in a relationship, or who is asked to serve as a witness for a crime that his neighbor committed, or who is asked by his boss to move to Paris for work. His emotions were never aroused and the choices he made were irrational. Frankly, at times I felt envious of his nonchalant way of dealing with life. I think this is what caused me to think about this book and this character constantly when I was not reading it. This structure stays consistent until you get to the moment on the beach where the heat pushes him over the edge to commit a murder. Now the structure changes; Camus uses very detailed, complex sentences and beautiful imagery. The change in structure signals the turning point in Meursault's life. Things aren't going to be simple for him anymore; it's about to get very complex. The second part of the book really gives you insight into what seems to affect Monsieur Meursault. At one point he openly admits "my nature was such that my physical needs often got in the way of my feelings." He explains that the reason he wasn't too sad the day his mother died was because the glare on the white walls of the mortuary was making him very tired and sleepy, and the reason why he committed the murder was because of the sun. I found it very interesting that certain sounds or lighting could set him off completely. He was a very observant man and was very in tune with the world he lived in. He noticed many details about his environment which made the reader understand WHY he was "not normal." While he is a person who doesn't empathize, act remorseful, or seem capable of love, the way the author describes the scene where he commits a murder makes it seems like -due to the overwhelming heat that day and how Meursault is so sentitive to his environment, when the Arab man brandished his knife, and Meursault was blinded, he may have reacted in self defense. He believed his life was in immediate danger. In the same token, the events that unfolded the way they did made the reader wonder if in fact it was premeditated. Or maybe he didn't feel threatened OR plan it. Maybe, just like everything else in his life, he did it for no real reason other than just to do it. Either way, because Meursault is so affected by his surroundings, it made the reader empathize with him whereas the jury could not. They couldn't understand why he did not mourn his mother, or why he did not feel remorseful for killing a man. Meursault didn't understand it either- because he didn't understand society, or live by a similar moral code. At the very end he seems to find peace and hopes that "there will be a large crowd of spectators the day of his execution." This is the type of book that people will either love or hate. It will affect you either way and make you evaluate the world you live in. It's not the type of book you rate on a 1-5 scale.

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BOOK REVIEW: I loved this book for two main reasons- the structure and the tone. The structure made for an interesting reading experience. I could immediately envision this being turned into a screenplay. The novel starts off in the present as Sarah Johnson so nonchalantly informs us of why she had to kill her husband, Mike. Then it goes back in time two weeks prior to what her life was like on a daily basis and all that she learns about who her husband really is. There were no chapters, just the countdown of days she has left to … kill or be killed. Sprinkled throughout each of these nonchapters, it goes back to the present with interviews between the sheriff and friends/family members to give different perspectives of how Sarah and Mike were viewed by outsiders. I enjoyed reading each and every interview and I thought Whelan did a fabulous job at portraying just how flawed humanity really is. Each neighbor or friend that was interviewed was either jealous of the couple and the life they had, narcissistic in which they talked about their own ex husband or life, or completely judgmental of them. At the end, you’re in the interrogation room with Sarah and the two detectives. This was a very clever way to structure this novel. Two thumbs up there! The novel is written from Sarah’s perspective in first person point of view. Sarah is bitter and self loathing. She’s jaded from being a stay at home mom with no excitement. She’s under appreciated and overlooked by her husband. I found her cynical tone and negative thoughts to be quite entertaining, yet her actions would be the complete opposite of what she really wanted to do: A text came in on her cell… “12 days sweetheart.” “Fuck off- I write back, but don’t send it. I know thanks for reminding me I send instead.” I also loved how REAL her inner thoughts and feelings were: “We dedicate our Sunday mornings to the Lord. I wonder how many other hypocrites like us go to church and pretend to be honest people.” I couldn’t help but love her character because she never pretended to be anything except who she really was. Whelan did a great job developing Sarah’s character and giving the reader insight into her dark past. I interpreted Sarah’s interaction with the shower spiders to be symbolic of her relationship with her husband. In the beginning she’s lonely making friends with a spider that lives in her shower. She doesn’t mind that it stays there watching her. (She wants her husband to notice her, make her feel loved). In the middle, she’s unraveling completely, and smashes a smaller spider in the shower with her fists. (She’s fed up with her husband and wants him to pay for his wrongdoings.) By the end, she splashes the first spider off the ledge of the tile and forces it to the drain. She feels horrible afterwards and falls to her knees. (Once she finds out her husband is dead, she’s remorseful in an unexpected way.) The plot twist and irony at the end were doleful. I give “14 Days to Die” by A.B. Whelan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5 stars. 🔦Figurative Language Spotlight🔦 “I already managed to spill coffee on the tshirt I was sleeping in, and now two brown circles stare back at me from my chest like the eyes of my damned soul.”

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My favorite books 📚📖

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BOOK REVIEW: "The Vanishing Year" Let me start by saying that Kate Moretti knows how to tell a story! She establishes an unsettling mood after the first few chapters that leaves the reader feeling uneasy, especially in regards to Henry. I'm a sucker for an eerie mood where something or someone is off-kilter. Two thumbs up there! She develops her characters slowly and very thoroughly, answering all questions for the reader by the end. Written from the protagonist's point of view, Zoe is witty and sassy and unfortunately easily influenced. You can't help but love her and feel sorry for her at the same time. It wasn't surprising that she settled into her life with Henry being so naive and uninformed of who he really was. Henry's character definitely MADE this story. Without Moretti developing each of his mannerisms, the whole mood would have been altered. She did this so well, he felt almost real! Moretti unraveled the plot at such a steady pace, building suspense by leaving clues throughout each chapter that grabbed hold of me and placed me in a fit of frenzy where I couldn't wait to get to the next chapter. The plot reached the climax at a perfect time in the storyline and the resolution was a perfectly wrapped present. This was one of those books you really couldn't put down because it was so well written. It may be one of my top five favorite books of the year so far! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Five stars for The Vanishing Year! 🔦Figurative Language Spotlight🔦 "I suppose I should feel at least unsettled by the fact that my home has been righted in my absence, like a pencil eraser over the sketch of last night's fight. Sometimes it's as though people move around me, thin and wispy like ghosts, quietly arranging my life to Henry's convenience."

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Fall TBR list 😊📚🎃

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BOOK REVIEW: Claire is a battered woman with a dark past. But she’s brave and determined and while on the run from her own life, she’s unexpectedly hired to enter a small town in search of a missing girl. Upon entering, the owner of the out of service hotel tells her to “Turn around. Drive back down the hill.” The waitress at the local pub tells her that if she leaves now she can make it to the next town before midnight. The Rottweiler welcomes her with bared teeth. Everyone from the dying town of Blackmore wants her to leave the instant they meet her. This was just a small way is which Amy Stuart creates a captivating mood that grabs hold of the reader from the very first page. The mood starts off so strong that it made me think the plot was going to tie in with exactly why everyone wanted Claire to leave, as if they were all in on some big secret. But that wasn’t the case. The climax and resolution didn’t quite live up to the intensity that the mood created from the first ten pages of the novel. But I think the author did this on purpose which I found to be VERY clever. Any time you pick up a thriller, you expect twists and turns and more often than not you can predict the outcome. But I couldn’t predict this outcome at all, so the eeriness of the townspeople was a good way to distract the reader, get them thinking about each character’s motives, and essentially throw the reader off a bit. A job well done here! I felt the resolution was fitting. It proved how disconnected the town was and how desperate a man can be to keep his family out of harm’s way. The author ended this novel with a bang- the last two pages leaves the reader with the same sinister feeling they had when they entered the town of Blackmore with Claire. I’m ready to read more from this author! I give “Still Mine” by Amy Stuart ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️five stars.

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I pick up my copy of Tales of the Peculiar today and got some free photos, a bookmark, and some Stay Peculiar pins. I also couldn't pass up the cute FunkoPops.

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