The Secrets We Hide by Karin Slaughter

The Secrets We Hide by Karin Slaughter -- 416 pages

Welcome to North Falls. A small town where everyone knows everyone. But nobody knows the truth.

1601 Iris Drive looks like any other house on the quiet, residential street. But rumors are rampant about the Vickery family, and what goes on behind closed doors. When gunshots ring out, Sheriff Emmy Clifton and her sister, ex-federal agent Jude Archer, discover a devastating crime scene. Allison Vickery has been murdered in her own kitchen, and her teenage daughter is bleeding upstairs, left for dead. Everyone thinks they know what happened. But secrets are buried everywhere in this small town. And it’s up to Emmy Clifton to uncover the truth…

The Princess and The Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Deya Muniz

 The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Deya Muniz (250 Pages)

Summary: Lady Camembert wants to live life on her own terms, without marriage. Well, without marrying a man, that is. But the law of the land is that women cannot inherit. So when her father passes away, she does the only thing she can: She disguises herself as a man and moves to the capital city of the Kingdom of Fromage to start over as Count Camembert. But it’s hard to keep a low profile when the beautiful Princess Brie, with her fierce activism and great sense of fashion, catches her attention. Camembert can’t resist getting to know the princess, but as the two grow closer, will she able to keep her secret?

Opinion: I thought this was a really cute teen romance graphic novel. The main characters are relatable and it's fun to watch them grow. The art style is also gorgeous and bright. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a cute gender-swap style romance in graphic novel format. 

The Liars Society by Alyson Gerber

 The Liars Society by Alyson Gerber (294 Pages)

Summary: Weatherby is a fish out of water. When she lands a scholarship to the prestigious Boston School, she’s excited to be in the same world as her dad, whom she’s never met, and make real friends. But Weatherby has a secret she’ll risk everything to protect, one that could destroy her new life. 

Every member of Jack’s wealthy and privileged family has made their mark at the Boston School. Everyone, that is, except for Jack, who is entirely mediocre. He’s desperate to prove his worth to his influential father. But Jack has a secret of his own . . . one with the power to ruin everything.

When the money for their school trip to a private island―exclusive to Boston students―is stolen, Jack and Weatherby are invited to play a high-stakes game and solve the mystery of the missing money. If they win, they’ll be selected to join the oldest, most powerful secret society in the world―and they’ll be Boston royalty forever. If they lose . . . well, they better not lose. 

Opinion: I'd give this juvenile mystery book like a 3/5 stars. It was ok. I kept feeling like something was missing throughout the whole read, I'm not sure why. But I kept reading because I wanted to uncover the mysteries that the crew were unravelling. I don't think I'll pick up the next book in the series, though I do see this having the potential to become a popular mystery series for upper elementary school kids. 

Are We There Yet? by Toby Fehily and Lucy Jones

 Are We There Yet? by Toby Fehily and Lucy Jones (151 Pages)

Summary: How many times on the average long journey does the eternal question “Are we there yet?” make an appearance? If it’s more than once, then look no further than Are We There Yet? – the book! It’s time to ditch the screens and get back to some good old-fashioned fun. Containing over 130 games, quizzes, riddles and puzzles to keep the whole family entertained, journeys will pass in a flash as you work your way through the book, especially when the road seems never-ending. Featuring classic games such as I Spy and Celebrity Heads; plenty of new games; quizzes on your favorite animals, movies, foods, and fairytales; and plenty of riddles, this gorgeously-designed book will keep you entertained for hours and hours, or however long your journey is.

Opinion: I read this with my family on our 10-11 hour drive to West Virginia and back. This book made the drive so much more fun. For context, we are all adults and this is a kids non-fiction book, but we had a great time with all of the trivia and games. This book also took us a lot longer to get through than we originally thought, easily 15 hours of content which helped so much during the 20 plus hours in the car. Would highly recommend if going on a long road trip. 

A Sign of Affection, Vol. 6 by Suu Morishita

A Sign of Affection, Vol. 6 by Suu Morishita

Yubisaki to Renren #6, 196 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Since Yuki met Itsuomi in that moment of kismet on the train, and then decided to pursue him, she's felt a new drive in her life. The two new lovers have been shopping, traveling, and walking in the snow. They've spent a quiet, thrilling day together under blooming flowers. But the text message that he didn't let her read sticks in her mind, and when Yuki and Itsuomi are all alone together at last, and she finally reads it, a nagging question is all she can think about. And she has no idea how Itsuomi will react.

The Hurricane Wars

 The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon 472 pages Book 1

Synopsis: All Talasyn has ever known is the Hurricane Wars. Growing up an orphan in a nation under siege by the ruthless Night Emperor, Talasyn has found her family among the soldiers who fight for freedom. But she is hiding a deadly secret: light magic courses through her veins, a blazing power believed to have been wiped out years ago that can cut through the Night Empire's shadows.

Prince Alaric, the emperor's only son and heir, has been forged into a weapon by his father. Tasked with obliterating any threats to the Night Empire's rule with the strength of his armies and mighty Shadow magic, Alaric has never been bested. That is until he sees Talasyn burning brightly on the battlefield with the magic that killed his grandfather, turned his father into a monster, and ignited the Hurricane Wars. In a clash of light and dark, their powers merge and create a force the likes of which has never been seen.

Talasyn and Alaric both know this war can only end with them. But a greater threat is coming, and the strange new magic they can create together could be the only way to overcome it. Thrust into an uneasy alliance, they will confront the secrets at the heart of the war and find, in each other, a searing passion--one that could save their world...or destroy it.

My Thoughts: We read this book in Cedar Hill's Romantasy Book Club. This book was amazing, it was definitely a slow start. The world building was wonderful and the map in the book was actually accurate! Two fun facts I learned about this book are as follows:

1. it's inspired by Southeast Asian mythology, specifically Philippine mythology. 

2. This book started as a Star Wars Fan Fiction book, in which Kylo Ren and Rey are forced into an arranged marriage.

The Silence Factory

 The Silence Factory by Bridget Collins 384 pages 

Synopsis: 1820: Sophia Ashmore-Percy reluctantly accompanies her husband James to a remote Greek island, where he searches for rare biological specimens. Once there, however, she sets on her own voyage of discovery—stumbling across the very creature he is looking for, making an unexpected connection with a local woman, and ultimately reconsidering her marriage, life, and own desires.

Decades later, audiologist Henry Latimer is sent to the home of industrialist Sir Edward Ashmore-Percy and tasked with curing the man’s young daughter, Philomel, of her deafness. But Henry, eager to escape a troubled past, quickly becomes obsessed with the fascinating nature of Sir Edward’s business: spinning silk with a rare and magical breed of spiders. The extraordinary silk shields sound, offering respite from bustling streets and noisy neighbors. The result is instant tranquility, as wearers experience a soothing calmness. Yet, those within earshot of the outward-facing silk are subjected to eerie murmurs that amplify with proximity. Bystanders suffer the consequences of this unnerving phenomenon, manifesting in physical and mental afflictions ranging from headaches and drowsiness to severe cases of madness.

As Henry becomes entangled in the allure of the silk and Sir Edward’s charm, he glimpses a more sinister family history. The closer he ventures into the inner circle of Carthmute House, the more he unravels the horrifying underbelly of the silk business.

My Thoughts: I really wanted to like this book, but I did struggle to get through it. I loved the overall themes of this novel: Power, control, and complicity, colonialism, escaping grief, and ethics. I just had a difficult time feeling bogged down with all the scientific talk about the spiders and their silk. I recommend it if you like this type of book, it's worth it to get through to the end.