The Jewel by Amy Ewing

The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty—because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring.

Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering facade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life.

Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence… and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for. – Goodreads

Well, this one was a let down.

Maybe I’m just sick of the same dystopian storyline over and over and over, but this felt like a bad mashup of The Hunger Games, The Selection and Matched. And surrogacy.

Girl from the poor part of town ends up being forced to live in the rich part of town, doesn’t get to make own choices or live life, finds love interest, decides to escape, finds out allllll of the horrible things the brainwashing rich people do to fool the poor people. In a nutshell.

I finished it because the writing wasn’t the worst thing in the world and I needed to finish it for a reading challenge I’m doing. Otherwise I would have DNFd it a while ago.

Violet was selfish and pretty stupid. I get it—you’re being forced into becoming a surrogate for a mean old lady—that is incredibly terrible and definitely not okay. But to put literally everyone around you in severe danger just to meet your lover behind your mistress’s back (when the punishment is death) and trying to escape (and drawing shitloads of attention to yourself by ACTING OUT) which would mean the death of your family—you’re an idiot and asking for the people you love to get hurt. Common sense, dummy. Stop making out for ten seconds and think about your mom, sister and brother.

The instalove was nauseating. Ten seconds after meeting Ash:

“I’ve never thought much about kissing, but the idea of Ash’s lips against mine—” – Page 192

And ten seconds after that:

“My lips are glossed pink, my eyes lined in pale purple, making their color stand out even more. I wonder if Ash will think I look pretty. Stop it, Violet, I tell myself. It doesn’t matter what he thinks.

It’s only been a couple hours since I met him, but he’s somehow more handsome than I remember. My whole body feels like it’s blushing.” -Page 193

-_-

Anyway. This one didn’t do it for me in any way. I think many people would enjoy this if they’re still into the dystopian genre, but I’m over it.

Thursday Things 10/08

This isn’t book related necessarily, but it definitely hits home. Have you ever felt like you’re an imposter in your job or career? I have. Here’s an amazing article on Impostor Syndrome: Why You Feel Like a Fraud & How To Overcome It. Lots of Lean In references here.

Banned Book Week was last week, but here’s an interesting article on the most banned YA books from 2014-2015. How many of them have you read? I was surprised to see that I’ve read at least half of them. And speaking of banned books—how scandalous is your reading history? I was disappointed to only have read 29 out of 93 banned books—I need to work on that!

Which Harry Potter character will you go trick-or-treating with according to your birth months? Apparently I’d go with Draco, which sounds like pure hell.

I’ve been trying to read the Mortal Instruments series before the TV show premieres (it’s not happening people… Clary is just too much!) & if you’re like me, you should definitely check out this list of books being adapted into movies. We can read them all and go see the moves and snark on how bad they were! #goodplan

This (huge) list of Harry Potter fan-art is absolutely amazing. It’s so interesting to see how other people view it, and the talent that some of them have is brilliant! My favorite is #18, Molly & Arthur Weasley.

Ok. So you guys know that I’m obsessed with Twitter, the Royal family, celebrities, reality TV, etc. etc. right? Well, my absolute FAVORITE person to follow on all social media platforms is Chrissy Teigen (she is HILARIOUS!!!) and guess what. Her and John Legend just optioned a sitcom based on their lives! WHAT. I will totally be tuning in!

Have you seen these house-themed Harry Potter box sets? I totally want the Hufflepuff set but $275.00 for a set of 7 books is steeeeeep. The site has a lot of really cool book sets though, so definitely take a look around!

Linda Belcher is my spirit animal and this solidifies it. She is the best!

Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton

Gigi, Bette, and June, three top students at an exclusive Manhattan ballet school, have seen their fair share of drama. Free-spirited new girl Gigi just wants to dance—but the very act might kill her. Privileged New Yorker Bette’s desire to escape the shadow of her ballet star sister brings out a dangerous edge in her. And perfectionist June needs to land a lead role this year or her controlling mother will put an end to her dancing dreams forever. When every dancer is both friend and foe, the girls will sacrifice, manipulate, and backstab to be the best of the best. – Goodreads

Ballet is totally fascinating to me. I wanted so badly to be a ballerina when I was little, but that never ended up happening so anytime there is a ballet book or a ballet movie/show, I’m all in! This one really caught my eye because it’s been described as Black Swan meets Pretty Little Liars, and I LOVE Pretty Little Liars. So many high hopes for this!! But my hopes came crashing down about a quarter of the way through when I realized that, yes, it had that air of mystery and drama that I love, but no, it wasn’t good.

My main issue with Tiny Pretty Things is that there were way too many voices, and to me, it didn’t feel like there was any pattern or order in which we read them. I’ve read books with 3 narrators before, but this felt so overwhelming! So many details and specifics that happened to each girl, and with the opening of the story being someone totally different? It really threw me off and in the end, I didn’t really relate to any of them because I couldn’t get to know them well enough. It was really disappointing. It felt like the authors really wanted me, as a reader, to get to know so many people (all the girls, Henri, Alec, etc.) but it didn’t work that way at all. Finishing the book, I feel like I didn’t really know any of them and like it was a huge waste of time. It would have been SO much better coming from one perspective instead of 3.

Honestly, I can’t really think of anyone I’d recommend this to. It wasn’t the worst book I’ve ever read, but I do wish I could get those hours back & spend them on a book I’d love. I ended up giving it 2/5 stars on Goodreads, which I hate doing! Hopefully the next book I read is better.

Design the Life You Love by Ayse Birsel

Life, just like a design problem, is full of constraints–time, money, age, location, and circumstances. You cannot have everything, and if you want more out of it, you have to be creative about how to make what you need and what you want co-exist. This requires design thinking. Design the Life You Love uses a simple but proven creative thinking and design process to give ordinary people new tools to think about life differently, and also includes fascinating examples from the world of art and design that relate to each step of the process, plus guided creative exercises. Turn constraints into opportunities with optimism and holistic thinking using four simple steps: taking the whole apart, forming a new point of view, putting it back together, and giving it form. The striking design and Ayse Birsel’s hand-drawn art and type set off her brilliant, life-changing design process, empowering and inspiring readers to create a better life. – Goodreads

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a deep love for “fill in” books. You know—the kind where you fill out lists, or answer questions about yourself, or answer writing prompts? Those kind. Like the geek I am, it feels like homework…and I dig it.

So, when I saw this as an option on Blogging for Books, I was like, hell yeah. A fill in book. And not just any fill in book—a fill in book about my second favorite topic—goals and self improvement.

I had a few qualms when I initially flipped through this book—it seemed a little bit doodly and disorganized. Generally overwhelming. But, as with any book, it’s important to flip through page-by-page.

Though there are some fill in bits, most of it is random, doodled stuff. Overall, I didn’t feel that I got much out of the designing my life experience—at least, I didn’t reveal anything crazy or amazing.

I wasn’t terribly pleased with this book. The marketing is great on it—but it didn’t deliver.

I received a copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

Top Ten Tuesday 10/6

Ten Bookish Things I DNF’d

1. The Gracekeepers by Kirsty Logan | I swear, this story is actually really intriguing, but it’s one of those things that I have to be in the mood for… and it’s so different than anything else, that I’ve never really been in the mood for it. I still keep it in my TBR pile, hoping I’ll read it someday!

2. The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger | I LOVE the movie & I want to like the book just as much, but I’ve never been able to get into it enough to actually finish it.

3. Unbecoming by Rebecca Scherm | No. I just… I can’t! I tried just forcing myself through the first few chapters, but there were so many spelling errors and it was SO confusing. Never again.

4. On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta | I’ve wanted to read this for so long, but every time I start it? I don’t connect with the characters and give up. I’m very much ‘that person’ that has to have a connection or intrigue within the first couple of chapters, and I don’t get that with this.

5. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke | For the past couple of years, right around Halloween-time, I pick this book up again and try to push myself through it. It just seems so Halloween-y to me! Creepy & gothic & horror filled wonderfulness. Perfect! But I just can’t, so this year I’m not going to try.

6. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray | I just could. Not. Finish. I understand that it was a feminist parody and was supposed to be funny—but I couldn’t handle it.

7. Fifty Shades Darker by EL James | I read the first one, but as soon as I figured out that it was essentially Twilight fanfiction…I couldn’t get halfway through this book without picturing Edward and Bella. Not to mention the controlling, abusive relationship was just nauseating.

8. Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris | Another example of a very popular book that sounded great — until I tried reading it and just couldn’t do it. I don’t care for David Sedaris. I get that I should — I’m sarcastic, young…but nope.

9. Chivalrous by Dina Sleiman | Couldn’t get over the over-the-top religiousness of this one. I don’t mind some religion in my books — after all, it’s a major pillar of society. But this one was too much.

10. A Whole New World by Liz Braswell | This weird written version of the Disney movie of Aladdin was…weird. It was almost fanfiction but I swear straight up quoted the damn movie sometimes. Couldn’t do it!

Your Perfect Life by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke

Best friends since childhood, Casey and Rachel couldn’t lead more different lives. While workaholic Casey rubs elbows with celebrities daily as the host of Gossip TV and comes home nightly to an empty apartment, stay-at-home mom Rachel juggles an “oops” baby, two fiery teenagers, and a husband who barely seems the man she fell in love with two decades before. After an argument at their twentieth high school reunion, Casey and Rachel throw back shots to get the night back on track. Instead, they get a life-changing hangover.

Waking up in each other’s bodies the next morning, they must figure out how to navigate their altered realities. Rachel is forced to confront the reason she gave up her broadcasting dreams when she got pregnant in college, and Casey finally steps out of the spotlight to face the truth about why she’s alone. And they soon discover that they don’t know themselves—or their best friend—nearly as well as they thought they did. – Goodreads

I was guessing by the description that this book would be easy to figure out, and it definitely was. I don’t want to disappoint anyone, but it’s just like the movies you’ve seen – take your life for granted, switch bodies with someone whose life you’re jealous of, learn why you should love your own life to switch back. I just gave away the entire plot of the book. Oops.

Really though, I was hopeful that there would be a new twist on that same old story this time. While it is cute, it’s just not… new. I will give it this though, it does have a new perspective. While we’ve seen the whole ‘mother/daughter switcharoo’ and the ‘married dude/bachelor’ one too, this one is two best friends – a stay at home mom & a career woman. I loved that part of it! It was like something that could happen to me and my friends (I actually think it would be really fun if Lauren & I had to switch… haha). The story itself is really good too, and the writing was great! I really ended up liking it, even though I predicted the entire thing. Rachel’s teenagers though, they’re enough to make someone that has always wanted girls to totally change her mind (cough, cough, me).

I gave Your Perfect Life 3/5 stars on Goodreads. I really do think that if you read this with an open mind & purely for the fun of it, you will love it. I can’t wait to read more of Fenton & Steinke‘s collaborations – I think writing with your best friend is definitely the way to do it!

Thursday Things 10/01

It’s Halloween month! Lauren and I already have our costumes planned, but if you’re still trying to decide, check out these literary costumes! I have a secret love for zombies, so that zombie librarian knocked my socks off.

Speaking of Halloween, if you’re throwing a Harry Potter themed party (or even just watching the movies), take a look at these Harry Potter drinks! I’m definitely making some, especially the polyjuice potion!

I already know you’re book-obsessed if you’re reading our blog, but if you’re as Instagram-obsessed as I am, check out this list of bookish Instagram accounts to follow – I LOVE the dog books one & I’m betting Lauren loves the cat books one 🙂

I’m sorry today’s post is so full of Harry Potter but OH MY GOSH!!! Look what’s coming!! 96 pages of color-able beautiful HP images! AH. You bet your a** this is already on my Amazon wishlist! (& yes, this deserves ALL of the exclamation points!)

Amy Schumer is writing a book. ‘Nuff said. NEED.

What job would you have in the Game of Thrones world? I’d be on the Knight’s Watch…all the better to googly eye Jon Snow.

I don’t like beer, but I like this concept.

Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn

Thea is a slave girl from Judaea, passionate, musical, and guarded. Purchased as a toy for the spiteful heiress Lepida Pollia, Thea will become her mistress’s rival for the love of Arius the Barbarian, Rome’s newest and most savage gladiator. His love brings Thea the first happiness of her life-that is quickly ended when a jealous Lepida tears them apart.

As Lepida goes on to wreak havoc in the life of a new husband and his family, Thea remakes herself as a polished singer for Rome’s aristocrats. Unwittingly, she attracts another admirer in the charismatic Emperor of Rome. But Domitian’s games have a darker side, and Thea finds herself fighting for both soul and sanity. Many have tried to destroy the Emperor: a vengeful gladiator, an upright senator, a tormented soldier, a Vestal Virgin. But in the end, the life of the brilliant and paranoid Domitian lies in the hands of one woman: the Emperor’s mistress. – Goodreads

If you’re looking for a quick, easy, happy read—pass this puppy up, because it’s a bundle of sadness and hard times. I guess that’s the story of ancient Rome, amiright?

The book follows three mistresses of the insane Emperor Domitian. It’s written in first-person for each of them — Thea, a Jewish slave singer, Julia, the emperor’s niece, and Lepida, a rich girl who used to be Thea’s owner.

Out of the three, Julia was my favorite. She was pretty much a strong, badass lady. I can’t go into any more detail than that or I’ll ruin it.

Thea was my second favorite (even though she moaned constantly in the book—every time something happen “Thea let out a moan”. I swear. So much moaning.) She was also strong and resilient, and put up with a ton of shit over the 15 years that the book spanned. I desperately wanted her and Arius to have a happy ending and their pain just spanned for sooooo long. And she had to deal with being forced into prostitution and being the emperor’s mistress while he basically physically and sexually abused her. Terrible.

Lepida was a total B. I wished I could just skip her chapters because she was an awful person. Selfish, manipulative, and just…ugh. All around terrible. She didn’t care who was killed or hurt as a result of her schemes to rise to power.

The worldbuilding was good. For many scenes, I felt that I had a good understanding of the scenery and what it all looked like, especially the fights in in Colosseum. The violence and gore was super easy to visualize…guts and blood all around!

It was very slow in many parts—to a point where I legit thought the book was at least 600 pages. I would have DNF’d if I hadn’t dropped $8 on this.

Overall, I love historical fiction—but this book didn’t do it for me. It was a little too long and drawn out and painful for me. I rated it a 2/5 on Goodreads.

Top Ten Tuesday 9/29

Ten Books To Read If You Like _____

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard (or moody princes, apparently)

Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. Jensen | There are plenty of magical elements in Stolen Songbird. Trolls, curses, magic, witches, grumpy princes—so wonderful. It’s fast paced and fantastic. My review here.
The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey | Also fast paced and full of mystery and originality, I really enjoyed this book. My review here.
First Year by Rachel Carter | More angsty princes, magic, and a tough leading lady. My review here.
Radiance by Grace Draven | Another grumpy prince and all around great love story and fantasy. Highly recommend—it’s one of my favorites! My review here.
The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas | This is one of those books where I make everyone I know read it…because it’s that good. Another grumpy prince. My review here.

Gillian Flynn (& twisty thrillers full of crazy!)

6. Made For You by Melissa Marr │ The first book I read this year & still one of my favorites – I recommend it to everyone! My review here.

7. Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight │ Twisty, dark, and so, so good! Review coming soon so be on the look out!

8. Island of Lost Girls by Jennifer McMahon │ To be honest, anything by Jennifer McMahon is going to to appeal to anyone that loves Gillian Flynn… at least in my opinion 🙂 She has dark & twisty down to a science and is just… brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

9. Where They Found Her by Kimberly McCreight │ McCreight is fast becoming one of my new faves, I’m not finished with this yet but I’m close and it is SO GOOD people. I’ll post my review asap so you can read all of my thoughts!

10. Creep by Jennifer Hillier │ As well as the follow up, Freak. Both of these are super creepy and twisty, and I devoured them a couple of years ago. I actually didn’t realize she’d come out with new stuff recently – The Butcher came out last year & Wonderland comes out Monday! Definitely going to scoop those up.

*Some of the books on this list were read before we started LBR, so there aren’t any reviews.

The Lost Girl by RL Stine

Generations of children and teens have grown up on R.L. Stine’s bestselling and hugely popular horror series, Fear Street and Goosebumps.Now, the Fear Street series is back with a chilling new installment, packed with pure nightmare fodder that will scare Stine’s avid fan base of teen readers and adults.

New student Lizzy Palmer is the talk of Shadyside High. Michael and his girlfriend Pepper befriend her, but the closer they get to her, the stranger she seems… and the more attractive she is to Michael. He invites her to join him on a snowmobile race that ends in a tragic accident. Soon, Michael’s friends start being murdered, and Pepper becomes convinced that Lizzy is behind the killings. But to her total shock, she and Michael are drawn into a tragic story of an unthinkable betrayal committed over 60 years ago. Frightening and tense in the way that only this master of horror can deliver, The Lost Girl is another terrifying Fear Street novel by the king of juvenile horror. – Goodreads

Alright, most of my qualms can be dismissed with this book because it’s intended for younger audiences. However, the MC of the story was a senior in high school, so perhaps they shouldn’t be totally written off.

I will say that this brought back tons of nostalgia. As an avid young reader of Goosebumps, I was giddy with delight when I was approved through NetGalley to grab an ARC of this.

Overall, it was pretty standard RL Stine stuff. A tinge of magic, a little creep factor, lots of icky deaths…super predictable plot line. There was no trying with this one. 10% in and it was pretty clear what was happening.

I liked it. Wasn’t in love. Definitely wasn’t scared. I will say that the part where a certain character gets covered in honey and oats and is fed to a group of starving horses totally grossed me out.

Anyway, I totally flew through this and would have enjoyed it if I was a bit younger. I rated it a 2/5 on Goodreads.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this!