Tell Me Everything - Sarah Enni

Title: Tell Me Everything
Author: Sarah Enni
Format: Paperback
Publication: February 2019
Rating: 4 Stars

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YOUR SECRET’S SAFE … UNTIL IT’S NOT

Ivy is the shy artist type and keeps a low profile—so low that she’s practically invisible to everyone at Belfry High School except for her best friend, Harold. As sophomore year begins, Harold takes up a hundred activities, leaving Ivy on her own. Luckily she’s found a distraction: the new anonymous art-sharing app, VEIL.

Soon Ivy realizes that one of her classmates is the VEIL user who needs new paintbrushes … and another is the one visiting the hospital every week … and another is the one dealing with their parents’ messy divorce. While she’s too scared to put her own creations on the app, Ivy thinks of an even better way to contribute—by making gifts for the artists she’s discovered. The acts of kindness give her such a rush that, when Ivy suspects Harold is keeping a secret, she decides to go all in. Forget gifts—Ivy wants to throw Harold a major party.

But when all those good intentions thrust her into the spotlight, Ivy’s carefully curated world is thrown into chaos. Now she has to find the courage to come out of the shadows—about her art, her secrets, and her mistakes—or risk losing everything and everyone she loves the most.

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Ivy is a young high school artist who starts looking at Veil, an anonymous art sharing app.  Even though she is an artist herself, she is too scared to share her stuff on Veil.  Throughout the summer and beginning of the school year, she finds out who some of the users are and sends them gifts.

Ive also has a crush on Harold, but gets a very, very wrong idea about him, and because of that wrong idea - she goes months without telling him how she really feels.

So, without giving too much away: Here is what I think of this book

* Ivy is way too timid and scared!  She needs to open up and realize that she can and should be brave and share her art as well - especially if she wants to call herself an artist. 

*Ivy makes a lot of mistakes in this book.  There is something I need to say about one of those mistakes.  She makes an assumption that someone she cares about is gay.  So, she then outs this person to a whole bunch of people.  Let's just break that down for a minute.  First of all, don't make assumptions about people just because they are accepting of gay people.  There is nothing wrong with being gay.  However, unless someone tells you they are gay, don't just assume.  Sometimes an ally is just an ally. 

Second of all - if someone does come out to you and tell you they are gay, you do not ever, ever get to share that information with other people.  I cannot stress this enough: It is never ever okay to out a gay person.  Coming out is deeply personal, and something that should only be done by the person when they are ready.  Gay people get to decide when they come out.  Gay people get to decide who they come out to.  It is not up to anyone else to share that deeply personal information!

Moving on:

*I wish there had been more Harold in this book.  In most of the book, he was just a mentioned character instead of an active seen character. And I really loved him - so I really wanted him to be seen more instead of just talked about!  I think, aside from the art teacher, Harold was my favorite character.

* I like that Ivy has such an incredible art teacher who really pushes her to be active in her own art instead of just worrying about other people's art.

* This story is well written - everything that happens in the book just seems to fit.  Even when I get mad as heck at Ivy, whatever happened in the story FIT! 

* The characters in this book are well developed and distinct - and they have layers.  They are not all just one-dimensional.  They learn stuff about themselves and others throughout the book as well, which I think is important. 


Overall, I liked this book.  I highly recommend it for readers.

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I won a copy of this book as an ARC on the twitter.  It is set to be published in February 2019, so when it comes out - go read it, okay?!

In Defense of Libraries!

Y'all, libraries have been getting a lot of hate lately - and I just don't get it! 

 

Libraries are full of books!  Not just books - FREE BOOKS! 

Now, listen here - I know that when you check out books from the library, you get to read the book for free.  That means the author doesn't get royalties for every person who reads it.  But, let's think about some stuff here:

1. Libraries do pay money to buy books, which means that for every library that buys even just one copy of a book, the author gets royalties for all those books.  So, if 100 libraries buy each buy even just ONE copy of, say, Grim Lovelies, then the author gets royalties from 100 books.

2. Not everyone has the money to buy every book they want to read.  I have a reading list a mile long.  I love books so much. BUT, I work in human services as my day job.  That means I don't have a ton of expendable income.  I can afford to buy some of the books I want to read.  But not all of them.  There are people who make less money than me, and may not be able to buy any books at all.  So, there only option may be to get books from the library.  If you love books, and you get them from the library that should be seen as a good thing, because it means you are reading.  To say that people should only read if they buy the book is incredibly classist and elitist.  If you believe that, then you are saying if poor people can't buy books, they shouldn't be able to read.  That's wrong.  Everyone deserves access to books, even if that means they are getting them for free from their local library.


Libraries also have magazines, movies, games for kids to play, story time for young children, and computers that people can use.  If you have kids, take them to the library to have people read to them - it can increase their love of books!  Go sit at a computer and write your own book.  Do a puzzle.  HAVE FUN!

Librarians are also pretty cool - they have a lot of knowledge about books, and can probably give you a good recommendation based on other things you've read. 

So, really, libraries are pretty awesome.  Get to one and check some stuff out.

My Favorite Bookish Villains

Hey reader friends!  Let's talk VILLAINS!  Who doesn't love a good villain? 

Here are my favorite bookish villians:

1. Bellatrix LeStrange.  

She's crazy, and I mean, she did try to kill Ginny.  BUT I LOVE HER.  I do love how badass she is, really.  It's more like the person I love to hate.

2. The Darkling.  

Creepy, old, excellent at manipulation.  He's just the kind of creepy villain that I can't help but love sometimes.

3. Pennywise.  

 You'll float, too!  

4. Javert.

 Javert is nasty and cold hearted, but I admire his determination to hunt down Jean ValJean. 

5. The White Witch.  

Let's face it - Edmund never stood a chance in Narnia after he met the White Witch.  She is crafty and cunning.  

Dating Profile Firday: Kaz Brekker

Name: Kaz Brekker
Age: 17
Likes: Stalking the barrel.  Revenge.
Dislikes: People who disobey me.  I will send the Dregs after them.

About me:  I am the leader of the Dregs.  I know my way around the Barrel, and I know how to get my revenge on those who try to best me.  I've turned around the Crow club around, and I will do whatever I have to do to make sure it continues as a success. 

I'm not interested in engaging with anyone long term.  Casual is the way I play, and I'll keep it that way. 

I like a woman who can handle herself.  I don't have time to play babysitter.  If you can find your way around the Barrel on your own and follow an order, we'll get along just fine.

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon!

Hey reader friends!  This weekend marks another round of the Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon!  That's right - it's time for another bout of reading for 24 hours in one weekend.  This readathon just happens to fall on my weekend off.  SO, I am going to do the Dewey again.  It's been a few years since I've participated, and I figure now is a good time to jump back in. 

Now, I can't promise that I will stay awake the entire 24 hours - but I will try!  No matter how much I do read, at least I will have fun! 

 So, my {tentative reading list} is: 

 

Want to follow my updates during the readathon?  Come hang out on the social media:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/maggiereadsya
Facebook: http://facebook.com/booknerdlover
THIS BLOG! 

I might post one or two things on the instagram as well.  Here: http://instagram.com/magglepie1981

Are you doing the Dewey?  Share your blogs, twitters, books, etc, with me! 

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue - Mackenzi Lee

Title: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue
Author: Mackenzi Lee
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 5 Stars

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Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.

But as Monty embarks on his Grand Tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.

Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.

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There is nothing I don't love about this book!  Every single page of this book is pure gold. 

The story itself has pirates, highwaymen, thievery, and love - so much love! 

So, let's just be honest here: Monty is potentially unlikable at best. He is a cad and rather selfish.  He drinks too much (he's an alcoholic.  Let's just call a spade a spade.) and the only person he seems to truly care about other than himself is Percy.  Despite his feelings towards and love for Percy, he's still very selfish even in that relationship.  That being said, Monty is an essential part of the main trio in this book.  And I do love him because I feel like he does change and grow a bit by the end of the book (if you disagree, I'd love to here why.)  I think he still has a lot of growing up to do, but I do see him making an effort. 

Percy is just so amazing!  Percy and Felicity are tied as my two favorite characters in this book.  Percy deals with a lot shit because he's black.  He was born in England, but it's the 1700's so of course everyone assumes he's from Africa.  (Of course, people still make those assumptions in 2018 - and we need to stop that!)  So, Percy deals with a lot of racism because of his skin color.  And he deals with it in such a classy manner - Percy is the true definition of a gentleman.  He also deals with having epilepsy, and with people thinking he's like possessed or that there is something wrong with him.  I like that the author included this!

AND FELICITY!  She is so, so amazing.  She is fierce, and she wants to be a doctor - which I am sure you know was impossible for women at that time.  Felicity is a feminist, in a time when people probably didn't even use that word.  She is so kind as well.  She stands up for what is right, and she doesn't allow other people to tell her she can't dream! 

I love that the trio deals with so much and comes out on the other side stronger and more sure of who they are.  They lose their bear-leader, get hijacked by highwaymen, stowaway on ship and get napped by pirates, and so much more. 

The story is so well-developed and well written as well.  It's fun, and funny at times.  I have heard that some people are describing this book as fluffy - don't believe a word of that!  There may be moments of smush, but this is not a fluffy book. 

If you haven't read this book yet - get out to the bookstore or library and get a copy right now!

ARC Haul!

HI READERS!  I won some ARC's through a little contest on the twitter!  SO, I wanted to share them with you here. 

This is What It Feels Like - Rebecca Farrow: This coming of age book revolves around friendship and music - three girls who used to be in a band together but broke up due to issues with one member.   This looks like a fun book!  I will leave a review for y'all as soon as I finish.

Release Date: November 6, 2018

 Twelve Steps to Normal - Farrah Penn: This book is about a girl who's dad is an alcoholic.  He is trying to get sober (again!) and Kira is trying to accept that and live a normal life, even if she doesn't believe her dad will stay sober.

Release Date: March 13, 2018

 Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix - Julie C. Dao: This book is the sequel to Forest of a Thousand Lanterns.  It is a fairy tale retelling set in a mystical land based on the far east.  I am super excited to read this book!  Keep your eyes out for a review.  


Release Date: November 6, 2018

 Girls of Paper and Fire - Natasha Ngan: Lei lives in a country called Ikhara, where there are different casts.  Eight girls from the paper caste are chosen to live with the king, be trained in grace and charm to be the king's consorts.  Lei isn't like the other girls though - for one, she's the NINTH of 8 girls.  I think this book holds some surprises - and I can't wait to discover them!

Release Date: November 6, 2018

 

 Tell Me Everything - Sarah Enni: Ivy is an artist, and best friend to Harold.  She learns about a new art sharing app called Veil.  People start posting their art, and Ivy realizes that other people in her school have serious personal life issues, so she does some nice things to make them feel better.  But things spiral, as we know they will. This sounds like an intriguing read! 

Release Date: February 2019 (Actual release coming soon I am sure!)

 

 Odd One Out - Nic Stone: This book sounds like a three way love triangle. That's all I can really say!  It sounds interesting, and I can't wait to dive in.

Release Date: October 9, 2018

 Empress of all Seasons - Emiko Jean: Competition!!!!!!!!  Mari is trying to win the competition to become the next empress of Honoku, but she's also hiding a secret. This book sounds awesome!

Release Date: November 6, 2018





I also got these three cute awesome stickers that I am totally going to stick all over my bujo!