Category: Simon Pulse

Review: The Museum of Heartbreak by Meg Leder

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Review: The Museum of Heartbreak by Meg LederTitle: The Museum of Heartbreak
Author: Meg Leder
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: June 7, 2016
Rating: four-stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

In this ode to all the things we gain and lose and gain again, seventeen-year-old Penelope Marx curates her own mini-museum to deal with all the heartbreaks of love, friendship, and growing up.

Welcome to the Museum of Heartbreak.

Well, actually, to Penelope Marx’s personal museum. The one she creates after coming face to face with the devastating, lonely-making butt-kicking phenomenon known as heartbreak.

Heartbreak comes in all forms: There’s Keats, the charmingly handsome new guy who couldn’t be more perfect for her. There’s possibly the worst person in the world, Cherisse, whose mission in life is to make Penelope miserable. There’s Penelope’s increasingly distant best friend Audrey. And then there’s Penelope’s other best friend, the equal-parts-infuriating-and-yet-somehow-amazing Eph, who has been all kinds of confusing lately.

But sometimes the biggest heartbreak of all is learning to let go of that wondrous time before you ever knew things could be broken.

Amazon “iBooks” “Waterstones"

❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃


Review: The Museum of Heartbreak by Meg Leder

The Museum of Heartbreak by Meg Leder is a book like no other. It is so relatable and contains very well-developed characters. With everything from actual artefacts for the main character’s museum to themes of family and friendship, this book is sure to entertain everyone. Continue reading →

Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies, Laura Stampler

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Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies, Laura StamplerTitle: Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies
Author: Laura Stampler
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: July 18, 2016
Rating: four-stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Harper Anderson always believed she belonged somewhere more glamorous than her sleepy Northern California suburb. After all, how many water polo matches and lame parties in Bobby McKittrick's backyard can one girl take? That's why Harper is beyond ecstatic when she lands her dream internship as a dating blogger at the elite teen magazine Shift. Getting to spend the summer in New York City to live her dream of becoming a writer? Harper's totally in.

There's just one teeny, tiny, infinitesimal problem: Apart from some dance floor make-outs, Harper doesn't have a lot of - or, really, any - dating expertise. In fact, she might have sort of stolen her best friend's experiences as her own on her Shift application. But she can learn on the job...right?

From awkward run-ins with the cute neighborhood dog-walker to terrifying encounters with her crazed editor, from Brooklyn gallery openings to weekends in the Hamptons, Harper finds out what it takes to make it in the Big City--and as the writer of her own destiny.

Amazon “iBooks” “Waterstones"

❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃


Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies by Laura Stampler

Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies by Laura Stampler is a really surprising book. Reading about the life behind the scenes of a magazine is so intriguing. The book is also set in New York, which is an amazing backdrop. Also, the main character is filled with determination and is the ideal journalist. It is a perfect book for summer. Continue reading →

Review: Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman

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Review: Blackhearts by Nicole CastromanTitle: Blackhearts
Series: Blackhearts #1
Author: Nicole Castroman
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Genres: Action/Adventure, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: February 9, 2016
Rating: five-stars
Series Rating: five-stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Blackbeard the pirate was known for striking fear in the hearts of the bravest of sailors. But once he was just a young man who dreamed of leaving his rigid life behind to chase adventure in faraway lands. Nothing could stop him—until he met the one girl who would change everything.

Edward "Teach" Drummond, son of one of Bristol's richest merchants, has just returned from a year-long journey on the high seas to find his life in shambles. Betrothed to a girl he doesn’t love and sick of the high society he was born into, Teach dreams only of returning to the vast ocean he’d begun to call home. There's just one problem: convincing his father to let him leave and never come back.

Following her parents' deaths, Anne Barrett is left penniless and soon to be homeless. Though she’s barely worked a day in her life, Anne is forced to take a job as a maid in the home of Master Drummond. Lonely days stretch into weeks, and Anne longs for escape. How will she ever realize her dream of sailing to Curaçao—where her mother was born—when she's stuck in England?

From the moment Teach and Anne meet, they set the world ablaze. Drawn to each other, they’re trapped by society and their own circumstances. Faced with an impossible choice, they must decide to chase their dreams and go, or follow their hearts and stay.

Amazon “iBooks” “Blackwell’s”

❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃


Review: Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman

Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman is as incredible as its cover! It is definitely the kind of fantasy book that can be read in a single sitting. This is a captivating Blackbeard origin story with a perfect romance with a shy maid. While the ending is not one that readers will be satisfied with, this novel is a must-read for 2016. Continue reading →

Review: The Year We Fell Apart by Emily Martin

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Review: The Year We Fell Apart by Emily MartinTitle: The Year We Fell Apart
Author: Emily Martin
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: January 26, 2016
Rating: four-stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Few things come as naturally to Harper as epic mistakes. In the past year she was kicked off the swim team, earned a reputation as Carson High’s easiest hook-up, and officially became the black sheep of her family. But her worst mistake was destroying her relationship with her best friend, Declan.

Now, after two semesters of silence, Declan is home from boarding school for the summer. Everything about him is different—he’s taller, stronger…more handsome. Harper has changed, too, especially in the wake of her mom’s cancer diagnosis.

While Declan wants nothing to do with Harper, he’s still Declan, her Declan, and the only person she wants to talk to about what’s really going on. But he’s also the one person she’s lost the right to seek comfort from.

As their mutual friends and shared histories draw them together again, Harper and Declan must decide which parts of their past are still salvageable, and which parts they’ll have to let go of once and for all.

Amazon “iBooks” “Blackwell’s”

❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃


Review: The Year we Fell Apart by Emily Martin

The Year We Fell Apart by Emily Martin is a uniquely different book that contains a character who has cancer, yet doesn’t evolve around this theme. There have been quite a few young adult books lately that focus on cancer or some sort of life altering disease. This novel is very realistic and relatable with a main character who is definitely not perfect. Also, the theme of friendship is explored beautifully by Martin in this debut novel. Continue reading →