9 Sept 2019

#Review: SCREEN QUEENS by Lori Goldstein

09 September 0 Comments

SCREEN QUEENS

Author: Lori Goldstein
Series: N/A
Source: ARC via Publisher; Purchased from Audible
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: June 11, 2019
Overall Rating:
Diversity Rating:


Summary:
The Bold Type meets The Social Network when three girls vying for prestigious summer internships through a startup incubator program uncover the truth about what it means to succeed in the male-dominated world of tech.

This summer Silicon Valley is a girls' club.

Three thousand applicants. An acceptance rate of two percent. A dream internship for the winning team. ValleyStart is the most prestigious high school tech incubator competition in the country. Lucy Katz, Maddie Li, and Delia Meyer have secured their spots. And they've come to win.

Meet the Screen Queens.

Lucy Katz was born and raised in Palo Alto, so tech, well, it runs in her blood. A social butterfly and CEO in-the-making, Lucy is ready to win and party.

East Coast designer, Maddie Li left her home and small business behind for a summer at ValleyStart. Maddie thinks she's only there to bolster her graphic design portfolio, not to make friends.

Delia Meyer taught herself how to code on a hand-me-down computer in her tiny Midwestern town. Now, it's time for the big leagues--ValleyStart--but super shy Delia isn't sure if she can hack it (pun intended).

When the competition kicks off, Lucy, Maddie, and Delia realize just how challenging the next five weeks will be. As if there wasn't enough pressure already, the girls learn that they would be the only all-female team to win ever. Add in one first love, a two-faced mentor, and an ex-boyfriend turned nemesis and things get...complicated.

Filled with humor, heart, and a whole lot of girl power, Screen Queens is perfect for fans of Morgan Matson, Jenny Han, and The Bold Type
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and chose to review it. This in no way impacts my opinion.

I thought this one was a bit too long, even though it had a lot of very valuable conversations. I would have liked a bit more from it - or a condensed version - because at almost 400 pages, it was too much. I found myself feeling like this one was dragging at 40% and that's not how this type of book should be.

SCREEN QUEENS does a good job of showing the hardships of being a woman in STEM while empowering women to stand up for themselves and for what they believe in. It does have a fairly predictable plot, but the conversations in here are so well done that I am more than okay with not being overly shocked but what was to come.

I thought the characters were all well developed and felt really different from one another, which was good considering we had all their perspectives in this one. I thought as an audiobook, it was very well done and I enjoyed my listen to it. It made the read feel faster than when I was trying to get through my (massive) ARC.

I would have liked this to be about 150 pages shorter. I thought that while the conversations were all important, and I liked seeing how the competition unfolded, there just was too much of everything. I thought that some of it could have been condensed and brought into shorter chapters that still would have provided the same amount of development.

But! If you're looking for a good STEM book that has some cute romance, great conversations, and a fun story, this is the book for you!

Have you read this one? What was your favourite part?

7 Sept 2019

Stacking the Shelves (26): September 7, 2019

07 September 1 Comments
Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts, and of course ebooks!
I am spending the weekend at home to rejuvenate after spending so much time being so busy in July and August! It's nice to relax and be able to keep up with all the housework and chores that I have. Plus my Milennial ass bank account can't afford to continue going somewhere every weekend. On Tuesday, I'm heading to the movies to see Margaret Atwood Live discussing her newest release! I will have a full recap later!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway on my review of I EAT MEN LIKE AIR by Alice Berman, which is a sweet Glossier prize pack! I absolutely adored this one - and it is a podcast theme a la Sadie - so pre-order the audiobook!

I'm back in Toronto next weekend for the Indigo Teen Fall Preview and the boyf and I are spending some time in the city for my birthday. Recommend me good Korean BBQ places?

How has everyone's 2019 been going so far?

5 Sept 2019

#EventRecap: #FrenzyPresents Fall 2019!

05 September 5 Comments
On Sunday, August 25th, I was lucky enough to be invited to the HarperCollins Canada office for the

Fall 2019 Frenzy Presents!

I went to Toronto for the day and got to spend a few hours surrounded by friends and book people, which is always a good mix! The swag bags we were given were AMAZING and I received a few amazing ARCs in my bag. I'm giving away a preorder of one of the books that we discussed so be sure to check it out!


Below are the books we learned about, so let's get to it! Click on the cover of the book to add it to Goodreads!

KINGDOM OF SOULS by Rena Barron 

Arrah comes to realize that she can trade life for magic in order to save her people. The strongest debut of the year that will leave you wanting the sequel... An ARC of this one was in my swag bag!
Purchase:

FIVE DARK FATES by Kendare Blake 

The finale to the series that brings together the threads that Blake has put together throughout. You will be cheering and screaming at the same time...
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD 




See Kendare Blake in Ottawa in October!

BUTTERFLY YELLOW by Thanhha Lai

Displacement, family, and friendship describe the newest novel from Thanhha Lai. If you're looking for something fanastic that will break and mend your heart, this is the book for you.
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD 

SERPENT AND DOVE by Shelby Mahurin

This is the closest to Sarah J. Maas in terms of writing. It has some steamy scenes and a fantastic fantasy! It's also the Indigo Book Box feature for the month of September!
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD 

DEAR HAITI, LOVE ALAINE by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite

This exceptional debut novel captures a sparkling new voice and irrepressible heroine in a celebration of storytelling sure to thrill fans of Nicola Yoon, Ibi Zoboi and Jenna Evans Welch! An ARC of this one was in my swag bag!
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD 

UNPREGNANT by Jenni Hendriks and Ted Caplan

Described as Thelma and Louise with a happy ending and is being turned into a movie! Are you a fan of Juno? Then this is the book for you!
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD 

A TREASON OF THORNS by Laura E. Weymouth

A beautiful mixture of historical fiction and fantasy, A TREASON OF THORNS is the latest by Laura E. Weymouth! Love THE HAZEL WOOD or CARAVAL? This is for you!
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD 

BREAK IN CASE OF EMERGENCY by Brian Francis

In a fun video from author Brian Francis, we learn that BREAK IN CASE OF EMERGENCY has dairy farms, coming of age, and a drag queen father, so really what more could you want from a book?
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD 


SUGGESTED READING by Dave Connis

A book about books - a teen starts a library out of her locker of all the books banned by her school. It has a quirky format to i including a moment by moment reaction chapter to a current read and memos!
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD 

VERIFY by Joelle Charbonneau

In contrast to SUGGESTED READING, VERIFY is a story of censorship where books are not a part of this world at all!
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD 

CRIER'S WAR by Nina Varela

An LGBTQ+ Own Voices fantasy! It's a slowburn angsty enemies to lovers. Richly imagined with amazing writing that leaves you fully immersed in the world, CRIER'S WAR is already on my pre-order list!
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD 

THIRTEEN DOORWAYS, WOLVES BEHIND THEM ALL by Laura Ruby

A historical magical realism book that looks at so many topics. It has two overlapping stories that intertwine to create a magical world that will leave the reader wishing they were a character in here.
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD 

ANGEL MAGE by Garth Nix

Nix's newest has such a great world to it. It borrows from the mythology of Lilith, who is said to be Adam's first wife in the garden of Eden! Read about the mythology and get PUMPED for this release!
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD 

DEAR SWEET PEA by Julie Murphy

The first middle grade novel from Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin’ (now a popular Netflix film), is a funny, heartwarming story perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead, Ali Benjamin, and Holly Goldberg Sloan.
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD 

THE END AND OTHER BEGINNINGS by Veronica Roth

This is a collection of novella length stories that are set in the future. Two are set in the CARVE THE MARK world, so fans of that series should pick this up! An ARC of this one was in my swag bag!
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD 

NOW ENTERING ADDAMSVILLE by Francesca Zappia

The greatest mystery-contemporary coming out from HarperCollins this season! Ghosts, rumours, and clearing your name are all themes in this one!
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD 

THE MEMORY THIEF by Lauren Mansy

Memories are currency in this fantasy novel from Lauren Mansy. Memories are the greatest possessions in this series and I can't wait to pick it up. If you're looking for a sweet romance, this is the book for you!
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD 

THE NEVER TILTING WORLD by Rin Chupeco

The start to an epic duology, THE NEVER TILTING WORLD is Frozen meets Mad Max. It's bursting with star-crossed romance, immortal heroines, and elemental magic, perfect for fans of FURYBORN.
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD 

I HOPE YOU GET THIS MESSAGE by Farah Naz Rishi

Aliens will be choosing if humans deserve to live on Earth or be wiped out in I HOPE YOU GET THIS MESSAGE! I heard aliens and pre-ordered.....
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD 

THE HOW AND THE WHY by Cynthia Hand

A poignant exploration of family and the ties that bind, perfect for fans of Far From the Tree, from New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Hand. This is an adoption story that alternates between the mother's and daughter's perspectives. I can't wait to read this one!
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD 

CROWN OF OBLIVION by Julie Eshbaugh

Julie Eshbaugh's newest standalone fantasy! It's going to knock your socks off with its magic and non-magic users and our main character who is a complete badass that I can't wait to meet!
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD 

THE SKY WEAVER by Kristen Ciccarelli

At the end of one world, there always lies another. The end of the series and will complete the trilogy of this epic fantasy. 
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD 

See Kristen Ciccarelli in Kitchener in December!

DANGEROUS ALLIANCE by Jennieke Cohen

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue meets Jane Austen in this witty, winking historical romance with a dash of mystery! Be prepared for Victorian Tinder!
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD 

WHEN YOU ASK ME WHERE I'M GOING by Jasmin Kaur

This is a poetry collection that includes prose, poems, and real life experiences of an immigrant here in Canada. Perfect for fans of Rupi Kaur and Elizabeth Acevedo! I got a signed ARC of this as Jasmin read to us at the session!
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD 

Enter for your chance to win one of the books above! International so long as TBD ships to you. Ends on September 30, 2019.
a Rafflecopter giveaway