The Liar Society

Title: The Liar Society
Author: Lisa & Laura Roecker 
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
ISBN: 9781402256332

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: Really fun secret society mystery, but there were a few continuity issues, probably because there were two authors.

Rating: 4/5

The Exodus Towers

Title: The Exodus Towers
Author: Jason M. Hough
Publisher: Del Rey
ISBN: n/a

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: A LOT happens in this; it is definitely not just a bridge between the first book in the trilogy and the last.  There are no slow spots, but it is a lot to keep track of in a long book.  I almost think it would have been better as two books, but there was not a good spot to break.

Rating: 3/5

Orphan Monster Spy

Title: Orphan Monster Spy
Author: Matt Killeen
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780451478733

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: I have read a lot of WWII/Holocaust YA novels, and this one is different in so many ways.  It is a great work of historical fiction and a great spy novel.

Rating: 4/5

The Summer List

Title: The Summer List
Author: Amy Mason Doan
Publisher: Graydon
ISBN: 9781525804250

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: Very engrossing story of friendship and secrets, perfect for a summer read.

Rating: 5/5

The Real Michael Swann

Title: The Real Michael Swann
Author: Bryan Reardon
Publisher: Dutton
ISBN: 9781524742324

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: Very fast paced with a good twist, but the Epilogue did not add anything.

Rating: 3/5

A Scanner Darkly

Title: A Scanner Darkly
Author: Philip K. Dick
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN: n/a

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: Wow, really makes you think - and really interesting from a modern perspective.

Rating: 4/5

Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again.

Title: Revolt. She Said.  Revolt Again.
Author: Alice Birch
Publisher: Oberon
ISBN: 9781783197637

Why Read?: Scriptd

Thoughts: Poetic, but not really sure what was going on.  Very different from most script formats.

Rating: 2/5

Stay Out of the Basement

Title: Stay Out of the Basement
Author: R. L. Stein
Publisher: Scholastic
ISBN: 9781467608671

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: Good story, but the narration was a little flat, especially for the mother.

Rating: 3/5

Stacking the Shelves: 8/5-8/11

LibraryThing Early Review:

Close Your Eyes by Paul Jessup

Broken Land by John Biscello

Furiously Happy

Title: Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things
Author: Jenny Lawson
Publisher: Macmillan
ISBN: n/a

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: I have never laughed out loud as much with any other book than I have with this.  Even though Lawson does that valley girl thing with her voice that my husband hates, she is the perfect narrator for her memoir.  Every story rings true, even if I think some might be exaggerated.  The end was a tad somber, but luckily the audio book had a bonus chapter to end on a higher note.

Rating: 5/5

The Universe Is Expanding and So Am I

Title: The Universe Is Expanding and So Am I
Author: Carolyn Mackler
Publisher: Bloomsbury
ISBN: 9781681195995

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: This is a sequel, but it reads just fine on its own.  It is a very realistic YA contemporary that does not shy aware from hard issues.

Rating: 4/5

Blast of the Dragon's Fury

Title: Blast of the Dragon's Fury
Author: L.R.W. Lee
Publisher: self
ISBN: 9781310818318

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: I think middle readers will easily be able to overlook the disjointed parts and the annoying dialect of Mermin, but as an adult, it just was missing something.

Rating: 2/5

Royals

Title: Royals
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9781524738235

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: Fun and entertaining summer read.  I liked the ending - it was happy, but didn't end how I thought it would.

Rating: 4/5

The Dying of the Light

Title: The Dying of the Light
Author: Robert Goolrick
Publisher: Harper
ISBN: 9780062678225

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: This had such potential to be a great Southern Gothic, and while the house and atmosphere was important, it was just missing that mysterious bit, although Goolrick tried to set it up at the beginning.  I ended up being disappointed in a lot of the characters, but it was a realistic disappointment.

Rating: 3/5

Vampire Breath

Title: Vampire Breath
Author: R. L. Stein
Publisher: Scholastic
ISBN: 9781467696883

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: Not really sure why this is a Goosebumps Classic as it was weaker than a lot of the other ones.  How many times can characters say "I'm soooo thirsty" before it gets old?  And Freddy was just an idiot.

Rating: 2/5

Dangerous Gentleman

Title: Dangerous Gentleman
Author: Beverly Oakley
Publisher: self
ISBN: n/a

Why Read?: Fresh Fiction

Thoughts: This books is a huge NO for me.  The catalyst for the whole story is just distasteful.  Plus, Oakley is trying to hard to use the lingo from the Regency period and it is just awkward.

Rating: 1/5

Stacking the Shelves: 7/29-8/4

For possible review (on Bookloons):

Soulstealer by Sarah J. Maas