ARC Review: Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin

Title: Wolf by Wolf Series: Wolf by Wolf #1 Written by: Ryan Graudin Published: October 20, 2015 by Little, Brown Books fro Young Readers (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Her story begins on a train.  The year is 1956, and the Axis powers of the Third Reich and Imperial Japan rule. To commemorate their Great Victory, Hitler and Emperor Hirohito host the Axis Tour: an annual motorcycle race across their conjoined continents. The victor is awarded an audience with the highly reclusive Adolf Hitler at the Victor’s Ball in Tokyo.  Yael, a former death camp prisoner, has witnessed too much suffering, and the five wolves tattooed on her arm are a constant reminder of the loved ones she lost. The resistance has given Yael one goal: Win the race and kill Hitler. A survivor of painful human experimentation, Yael has the power to skinshift and must complete her mission by impersonating last year’s only female racer, Adele Wolfe. This deception becomes more difficult when Felix, Adele twin’s brother, and Luka, her former love interest, enter the race and watch Yael’s every move.  But as Yael grows closer to the other competitors, can she bring herself to be as ruthless as she needs to be to avoid discovery and complete her mission?  From the author of The Walled City comes a fast-paced and innovative novel that will leave you breathless.

*** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher at BEA in 2015. This fact has not changed my opinion. ***

Add this to the list of "books I should have read way earlier." I got a copy of this at BEA last year and while I was interested, I never picked it up. Until now. And I wish I had read it sooner because this book was so good.

This is a fantastic alternate history that reimagines the 1950's if the Axis Powers had won WWII. I usually don't like alternate histories but this one was subtle. It takes real historical figures and incidences and uses it to build a world that is complex and creative. It's odd in that it reads like historical fiction and doesn't at the same time. You can tell that the author did her research into what may have led to an Axis victory, which was really fantastic and kind of grounded the book in reality. It's one of the things I love about historical fiction and speculative fiction at the same time, that it can make something completely imaginary seem possible but at the same time creative. And Wolf by Wolf was an absolutely creative book. It's one of the most inventive stories I have read in a while.

One of the more creative things about this book was the characters. Our main character is Yael who is a ski shifter masquerading as Adele Wolfe. She has a devastating history that we learn about in periodic flashbacks and it makes her very sympathetic. That on top of her determination and inner strength made her a fantastic protagonist. But I also loved all the secondary characters here. It's honestly a book full of antagonists which made it all the more thrilling. Yael has to be careful not to be found out which is made harder by characters who know Adele. Particularly, her brother Felix and Luka Lowe. Both characters were interesting and made things complicated. My personal favorite was Luka. I freaking love Luka Lowe and his subtle roguish charm. He's just so fantastic and fun. And while there is not a lot of romance in this book, I got some serious book boyfriend and shipping feels from him. There's even a novella from his perspective so you know I'm reading that.

On top of that it has a very captivating and thrilling plot. The stakes are incredibly high here for a few reasons, first the Resistance's plan and second the race. Both storylines blended together so well and really added a lot of suspense. The author did a great job descriptively immersing the reader in the race as the characters are taken all around the Northern Hemisphere. There is a ton of action here and it definitely had me on the edge of my seat as it neared the conclusion. It's not a book that is necessarily twisty but there are still unexpected surprises and instances where the main character has to use her wits and skills to get out out them. It all made for an exciting read from start to finish. Speaking of finish, when it finally reached the climax, I couldn't put it down. I've said on the blog before that I don't state up late reading, especially if I have to finish a book, but it was so hard to stop myself with Wolf by Wolf. I actually got to a point where I could stop, just before the climax, and I forced myself to put it down so I could sleep a few hours and then got up early to finish it. I never do that! I like sleep too much to do that! But this book was so good.

I have heard nothing but good things about this book and now that I've read it, I get why. It's addicting and thrilling. It has a complex plot and characters you will fall for. I'm so glad I took the time to read it this month as part of ARC April and now I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I will definitely be getting a copy at BEA again this year.

I give Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin 10 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: BUY! I would recommend this book to fans of historical fiction set in WWII but it's not your average book from the period, it's something totally unique. Which is why I would recommend this to everyone. It's as a truly unique and captivating book that has both engaging character moments and thrilling action. A great read!

Have you read Wolf by Wolf? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas

Title: The Darkest Corners Written by: Kara Thomas Published: April 19, 2016 by Delacorte (Random House) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: The Darkest Corners is a psychological thriller about the lies little girls tell, and the deadly truths those lies become.  There are ghosts around every corner in Fayette, Pennsylvania. Tessa left when she was nine and has been trying ever since not to think about it after what happened there that last summer. Memories of things so dark will burn themselves into your mind if you let them.  Callie never left. She moved to another house, so she doesn’t have to walk those same halls, but then Callie always was the stronger one. She can handle staring into the faces of her demons—and if she parties hard enough, maybe one day they’ll disappear for good.  Tessa and Callie have never talked about what they saw that night. After the trial, Callie drifted and Tessa moved, and childhood friends just have a way of losing touch.  But ever since she left, Tessa has had questions. Things have never quite added up. And now she has to go back to Fayette—to Wyatt Stokes, sitting on death row; to Lori Cawley, Callie’s dead cousin; and to the one other person who may be hiding the truth.  Only the closer Tessa gets to the truth, the closer she gets to a killer—and this time, it won’t be so easy to run away.

*** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. This fact has not changed my opinion. ***

You guys know me and my mysteries. I'm always on the search for a good YA thriller that I can't solve. I found one! The Darkest Corners is a great read full of action, mystery, and complex characters with interesting back stories. I really, really enjoyed it.

No seriously, this was an amazing mystery. As a friend recently pointed out to me, I'm a mystery snob. And because of that I'm always looking for a complex YA mystery that I can't solve and I totally found that here. I solved some elements but it definitely caught me off guard in the best possible way. I'm hard to impress sometimes with mysteries and this definitely impressed me. But that being said, when it was all said and done I wondered if it was in fact solvable. I like to figure things out with the characters not have them tell me the answers (one of the reasons I don't like Sherlock Holmes). Here we were searching for clues together but for the big elements of the book there wasn't many hints. Or if there was, I totally missed it focusing on something else. And in that case, well done.

But in general this book was well-plotted and paced despite being a really complicated story. It took me on a thrilling ride with multiple twists and reveals. There were definitely moments of high energy where I was nervous about what was going to happen next. As the book reached its climax I was so anxious. It all really built to a thrilling conclusion that had me so entertained along the way. In fact, there were two separate mysteries here. I kept waiting for them to be connected and they weren't. It was just big reveal after big reveal which made for big surprises and a really complex conclusion. So one was resolved and just when I was coming to terms with that, things would pick up as the second one kicked in a took me for another ride. It's sometimes problematic for me when that happens, I prefer one big exciting conclusion, but here it kind of worked. It all made for an interesting and action-packed narrative with a complex mystery.

The other really interesting thing about this book, for me, was the setting. For one thing I love small town settings. Having grown up in a small town myself, I understand that feeling of being trapped there and wanting desperately to get out. I also understand the fact that you are in everyone else's business. That good news travels fast, and bad news even faster. I think the author definitely captured that here and it added an interesting dimension to the book with the main character having gotten out and then being pulled back into the world. But I was mostly looking forward to the setting of this book because it takes place in Western Pennsylvania where I live. And while the town names are not actual towns, it felt familiar which was fun and scary when you're reading about trying to figure out who a serial killer is.

I also really liked the characters here. The main character of Tessa was a good protagonist. She's not your typically plucky teen detective but that made her refreshing. I liked that she would sometimes stumble into clues or find herself following dead ends. But what she had going for her was her dedication to finding the truth and I was invested in finding it with her. There were also some great relationships here, like with Tessa and her family. That was such an interesting dynamic that was explored a lot throughout the book. But I think the best relationship was between Tessa and Callie. They went through so much together when they were kids and it was great seeing them rekindle their friendship. Plus I gotta say, I'm really glad that there was no romance here. There very easily could have been with a few male characters but there wasn't. It just goes to prove my point, romance is superfluous to a good story.

On the whole, The Darkest Corners is a fantastic read and a great debut. It had everything I love in a YA thriller, plenty of action, a well-plotted narrative, a mystery I couldn't solve, and complex characters with complicated relationships. And while there were some elements that may have been overly complicated it was an engaging story and a book I couldn't put down.

I give The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy/Borrow. This is definitely a must read for mystery fans. It's got a great complex true crime kind of feel as it deals the consequences of the criminal justice system and has a mystery that will keep you guessing. And if you are looking to try something within the genre I would suggest borrowing this one. It's really complex but it does have some great clues along the way.

Have you read The Darkest Corners? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Waiting on Wednesday: And I Darken by Kiersten White

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Title: And I Darken Series: The Conquerers Saga #21 Author: Kiersten White Published: June 28, 2016 by Delacorte (Random House) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: NO ONE EXPECTS A PRINCESS TO BE BRUTAL. And Lada Dragwlya likes it that way. Ever since she and her gentle younger brother, Radu, were wrenched from their homeland of Wallachia and abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman courts, Lada has known that being ruthless is the key to survival. She and Radu are doomed to act as pawns in a vicious game, an unseen sword hovering over their every move. For the lineage that makes them special also makes them targets. Lada despises the Ottomans and bides her time, planning her vengeance for the day when she can return to Wallachia and claim her birthright. Radu longs only for a place where he feels safe. And when they meet Mehmed, the defiant and lonely son of the sultan, who’s expected to rule a nation, Radu feels that he’s made a true friend—and Lada wonders if she’s finally found someone worthy of her passion. But Mehmed is heir to the very empire that Lada has sworn to fight against—and that Radu now considers home. Together, Lada, Radu, and Mehmed form a toxic triangle that strains the bonds of love and loyalty to the breaking point. From New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White comes the first book in a dark, sweeping new series in which heads will roll, bodies will be impaled . . . and hearts will be broken.

Why I'm Waiting 

I mean, come on! Is that even a question? This is such a me book. For one thing, it's historical fiction that takes place in Medieval Europe about a topic that you don't often see and a place you don't often go. Which in and of itself is fascinating. Then you add the fact that it's got a lot of court politics  and political intrigue with a small country trying to defend itself from a large empire and it's rulers in the land of the enemy.

But seriously, the moment I knew I needed to read this book was when I heard about the characters. Brutal princess is a qualifier that I want everything to do with but it gets even better. You guys, this is a book about a gender-swapped, teenage Vlad the Impaler. Who if you are not familiar with, was the inspiration for Dracula. This book is about a teenage, female, Dracula. *mindblown*

Obviously I need it. I've had a copy in my Netgalley for months now (Thanks Random House) and it's taken all my self-control not to immediately start it. But I have to wait until closer to release date,

What about you? What are you waiting for this Wednesday? Are you waiting on And I Darken along with me? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Top Ten Tuesday: Sci-Fi/Fantasy Novels That Will Make You Laugh.

A weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

I love a good laugh. I love when books make me laugh out loud. Sure, it's embarassing when you're reading them on public transportation but there is nothing better than a book giving you such a chuckle that people think you're crazy (especially if it's an audiobook). And I could list a ton of my favorite lighthearted but I have the feeling everyone will do that. So as a huge SF/F fantasy I thought I would give you some recs of those books that will make you laugh.

1.) The Martian by Andy Weir
(Add to Goodreads / My Review)
The most obvious answer to this question. This is a super serious book and yet it made me laugh so hard that I'm sure I looked crazy in my car listening to this. Mark Watney has my kind of humor that's for sure.

2.) The Reckoners Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson
(Add to Goodreads / My Review)
Most of Snderson's books have a lot of humor. He writes really funny characters. But the tone of this book is just so silly. I mean the main character is really bad at metaphors and says things like "you're a potato in a minefield."

3.) The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series by Douglas Adams
(Add to Goodreads / My Review)
This series you guys, oh my god. So irreverent. The humor is absurdist and amazing. Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox, and Marvin the Paranoid Android. So funny! I listened to a few of these audiobooks while on a train and I tried to hold back but I couldn't.

4.) Jackaby series by William Ritter
(Add to Goodreads / My Review)
This series is Doctor Who and Sherlock combined and despite not watching either (*hides*) I love the tone of this series so much. Jackaby is so deadpan in the face of such ridiculousness you can't help but laugh.

5.) The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
(Add to Goodreads / My Review)
I'm a huge fan of this series and a lot of it has to do with the humor. Cinder is the perfect straight person for Iko's effervescence, Thorne's sarcasm, and Scarlet's sass. And then we met Winter. Seriously I laugh so hard in all these books.

6.) Mistborn, Second Era by Brandon Sanderson
(Add to Goodreads / My Review)
Sure, the original Mistborn series is fun and has some humorous moments but the second era series makes me laugh so much. More than a lot of books to be honest. And the reason why? One word. Wayne. That guy is seriously so funny.

7.) The Finishing School series by Gail Carriger
(Add to Goodreads / My Review)
I need to read Gail's adult series but if it's anything like her YA series then I'm sure it will be hilarious. I mean I know Lord Akeldama is in it so I have no doubts. But seriously, this is a supernatural steampunk boarding school and hilarity ensues.

8.) The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
(Add to Goodreads / My Review)
Speaking of hilarity. The hijinx in this book are phenomenal. These characters get up to some serious shenanigans. I mean their trained thieves so there is bound to be some fun. I still need to continue with this series but I loved the humor and the characterizations of Locke and Jean.

9.) The Darkest Minds Trilogy by Alexandra Bracken
(Add to Goodreads / My Review)
I thought there was a lot of humor in the first book of this series because oh the banter between Chubs and well all the other characters. But then I met Vida. And then I saw Chubs and Vida together and my heart!

10.) The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow
(Add to Goodreads / My Review)
I mean I shouldn't laugh at a sinister artificial intelligence who holds captive and threatens to kill off the children of world powers if they declare war and yet something about Talis is just so funny. He just tries so hard to be funny that it's actually funny.

Honorable Mentions
11.)  Illuminae by Aime Kaufman and Jay Kristoff - (Add to Goodreads / My Review)
12.) Insignia Trilogy by S.J. Kincaid - (Add to Goodreads / My Review)

What are some SciFi/Fantasy books that made you all laugh? Did any of these books? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

DNF Mini Review: Tell The Wind and Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan

Well, I have had to mark another book as Did Not Finish. I don't often DNF books. I will power through because I can find something redeeming about the book, or I am just pretty good about picking books I like. But every once in a while a book comes along that I just can't power through and am surprised I didn't like. I probably DNF one book every couple months but it's been awhile, since Decemeber, since I DNF'd something.

So as I am on a bit of a weird cycle with my reading and didn't have much time to read this weekend, I decided to to a quick posts to explain my thoughts on the book I shelved as "DNF" this month. Writing DNF reviews is a tricky subject. I don't want to do full reviews on the book because I don't really have a well-rounded enough view on it. But I also wanted to explain why I didn't quite like the books because I try to be really honest here. So I based this post on Nikki at There Were Books Involved's DNF Q+As. This allows me to explain why the book didn't quite work for me without giving a full review. So here you go, my DNF Reviews

Title: Tell the Wind and Fire Author: Sarah Rees Brennan Published: April 5, 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Source: Netgalley (Amazon / Goodreads)                                                                                           Synopsis: In a city divided between opulent luxury in the Light and fierce privations in the Dark, a determined young woman survives by guarding her secrets.  Lucie Manette was born in the Dark half of the city, but careful manipulations won her a home in the Light, celebrity status, and a rich, loving boyfriend. Now she just wants to keep her head down, but her boyfriend has a dark secret of his own—one involving an apparent stranger who is destitute and despised.  Lucie alone knows of the deadly connection the young men share, and even as the knowledge leads her to make a grave mistake, she can trust no one with the truth.  Blood and secrets alike spill out when revolution erupts. With both halves of the city burning, and mercy nowhere to be found, can Lucie save either boy—or herself?   Celebrated author Sarah Rees Brennan tells a magical tale of romance and revolution, love and loss.

How Much I Read:
24% of the e-ARC

Why it Didn't Work For Me:
*exasperated sigh* I don't know. A lot of really small things. I was really excited to read this book when I first heard about. It's a science fiction retelling of A Tale of Two Cities and involves doppelgangers and dark magic. How cool does that sound? And then when I started reading it, I was into it. The world was fascinating, there was a great opening scene with a lot of mystery, intriguing characters. It was going well. But then I just lost interest. For one thing, the world-building became confusing and over-wrought. There was so much exposition and explanation in the first quarter of the book and I was waiting for some semblance of a plot that was coming very slowly.

But I think the big kicker for me was the characters. I just couldn't connect with them. The main character just felt flat and the secondary characters felt grating. I know that one was meant to be funny and sarcastic but he just felt mean. I didn't want to be around them and that's what may have done it for me. I put it down for the weekend and when it came time to go back I just wasn't interested.

Will I Go Back to It:
Maybe. I am kind of curious about the plot. There was some mystery I have theories about and I find of want the know if I'm right but I'm not really sure. I may try the audiobook. There have been multiple instances where I DNF'd something only to love the audio. And this may work in this format because there is a lot of world-building that can help create the setting in a more interesting way. Maybe if I give it a little more time, the plot will kick in and I will be more interested.

Have you read Tell the Wind and Fire? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: A Fierce and Subtle Poison by Samantha Mabry

Title: A Fierce and Subtle Poison Written by: Samantha Mabry Published: April 12, 2016 by Algonquin Young Readers (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Everyone knows the legends about the cursed girl--Isabel, the one the señoras whisper about. They say she has green skin and grass for hair, and she feeds on the poisonous plants that fill her family’s Caribbean island garden. Some say she can grant wishes; some say her touch can kill.  Seventeen-year-old Lucas lives on the mainland most of the year but spends summers with his hotel-developer father in Puerto Rico. He’s grown up hearing stories about the cursed girl, and he wants to believe in Isabel and her magic. When letters from Isabel begin mysteriously appearing in his room the same day his new girlfriend disappears, Lucas turns to Isabel for answers--and finds himself lured into her strange and enchanted world. But time is running out for the girl filled with poison, and the more entangled Lucas becomes with Isabel, the less certain he is of escaping with his own life.

*** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. This fact has not changed my opinion. ***

I used to think I didn't like Magical Realism but the more of it I read the more enchanted with it I become. And while A Fierce and Subtle Poison didn't blow me away, it was an interesting read to be sure. It had some really great elements and some that didn't quite work for me.

One thing I did really like about this book is the magical realism and fantasy elements. That was the first thing that drew me into the book. The atmospheric world and gorgeous lyrical writing that has it's own sense of magic before the author even infuses the fantasy elements. And then when she does, you are all the more hooked. The author was definitely able to create a fantasy world that was both subtle and enthralling. It used stories, myths, and legends to connect with the present and the characters which I always like in my fantasy worlds. This of course made me question reality and had me seeing magic in unexpected places. In addition, it was a really atmospheric read with beautiful prose and descriptions that helped the reader to experience and visualize the world. Usually I don't like the exposition in the beginning of a book but here that was probably the best part.

But that being said, the mystery elements, however, didn't really work for me. It's hard to even register that this book also had a murder mystery/thriller aspect to it. It was so secondary. I love a good mystery and I was so excited when those elements of the story started kicking. I was incredibly engaged in finding out what was happening. But in terms of the execution of that, I would have liked a little more. I needed a little more searching for clues and a lot more of showing instead of telling when it came to the reveals to be engaged in this mystery. And to be entirely honest as the mystery started coming in more I lost a little interest. Now I do tend to be a little bit more critical of mysteries than I think a lot of readers are so don't let this turn you off of the book. It's not the focus so for most readers it won't be a dealbreaker. But for me, I would have liked a little bit more from that aspect.

That's also kind of how I felt about the characters. For the most part, they were okay, but most of them didn't fly off the page. I liked the main character of Lucas, I thought he was interesting and likable enough but he didn't make a strong impression. There were a lot of secondary characters here that were involved in pretty small capacities and while they added color to the book I have to admit that I would often get confused about who they were. Keeping Rico and Ruben straight was just as hard as remembering which girl was missing. They were just around so minimally. But a lot of them had really interesting back stories and I would have liked to learn a little more about them, especially Isabel. She was probably my favorite character. I mean how can you not like a girl who's touch is poisonous trying to help solve the mystery. She was fascinating and I wanted to learn more about here. The antagonist too was really interesting but we only got basic information about them as well. I think that in general the characters needed to be a little bit more flushed out for me.

On the whole A Fierce and Subtle Poison was an interesting and atmospheric magical realism novel. It had a gorgeous world and beautiful writing that drew you in and interestinf characters but could have used more mystery and plot development for me.

I give A Fierce and Subtle Poison 7.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Borrow. This is a fast and interesting read despite some things I didn't totally love. I would recommend this to fans of fantasy looking for a standalone that will be a quick read with an engaging world. But if you are a fan of mysteries and are looking for that, maybe try something different.

Have you read A Fierce and Subtle Poison? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley

Title: Lies We Tell Ourselves Written by: Robin Talley Published: September 30, 2014 by Harlequin Teen (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: In 1959 Virginia, the lives of two girls on opposite sides of the battle for civil rights will be changed forever.  Sarah Dunbar is one of the first black students to attend the previously all-white Jefferson High School. An honors student at her old school, she is put into remedial classes, spit on and tormented daily.  Linda Hairston is the daughter of one of the town's most vocal opponents of school integration. She has been taught all her life that the races should be kept separate but equal.  Forced to work together on a school project, Sarah and Linda must confront harsh truths about race, power and how they really feel about one another.  Boldly realistic and emotionally compelling, Lies We Tell Ourselves is a brave and stunning novel about finding truth amid the lies, and finding your voice even when others are determined to silence it.

*** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher at BEA. This fact has not changed my opinion. ***

I have had this book in my life for nearly two years now. And since then it has been staring at me wondering why I haven't taken the time to read. I was so excited about it when I got it. It has been on many a potential read list for me and I never took the time to read it. But thanks to ARC April I made the time and I am so glad that I did. Lies We Tell Ourselves is a beautiful and affecting historical fiction novel with great characters and themes.

Sometimes the best books, the ones that make the biggest impact, are those that are hard to read. Books that handle difficult topics and make the reader a little uncomfortable. That was Lies We Tell Ourselves for me. This book, for one, is a great piece of historical fiction. It takes the reader to a time of great turmoil and change in American History and by showing a tiny slice of life, is able to portray and analyze some really complex ideologies. The author did a really great job researching the period and it shows. She was able to immerse the reader in the period in a way that both honest, organic, and dramatic. She also did a good job of showing such a complex issue from multiple sides. The topic of segregation and the Civil Rights movement was such a complex thing, especially in the American South and we gain more from putting ourselves in the shoes of those who wanted integration and those who didn't. It's not always easy to be there especially when it comes to those conversations of right and wrong come up, but that's what made the book all the more interesting. It wasn't very easy to read at times but it was really compelling.

The characters were also really interesting. The nature of the story made for really complex characterizations and great character development which I always really like. The two main characters are Sarah and Linda. Sarah, an African American integrator, does not have things easy and you totally feel for her. Getting in her head while she is being mistreated by her fellow students just for their perceptions about her was tough to handle at times but it made her so sympathetic and her inner strength all the more engaging. Then there is Linda, a white student at the school. She starts off being very unlikable. She kind of embodies the ideals that we see as backwards and racist but were so common at the time. But you also get the sense that she knows this treatment is wrong. So as the book develops you start to see that she's waking up to what's really going on and you can't help but respect her for that. Both girls have great development as they start thinking for themselves and taking responsibility for their actions and their future.

But part of their development that I liked so much was the relationship between the two girls. It definitely starts very adversarial as they argue and fight about their beliefs and the world around them. But the more time they spend together, and the more they learn from one another, the more respect they develop for one another, the more they like one another. As a reader I was incredibly engaged in that development and as it progressed I was totally on board. This isn't just about about race, it's a book about identity and part of that identity is sexual identity. The two main characters coming to terms with their sexuality with their relationship with each other was fantastic and such a slowburn. Like so slow that in the end it was only implied. But that's what made it historically accurate and all the more interesting.

I will say that Lies We Tell Ourselves is a more character-driven book, something I don't always love, but it was so readable and compelling. It was beautifully written and so well-paced. I slowly read the first half and then flew through the second half of the book, needing to know what would happen next. It's a book that brilliantly handles difficult topics that are relevant today but shows them through a really well-done historical gaze. And while it is difficult to read at times, it never felt over-done in reference to it's themes and topics. It was an engaging story about identity and independence at the same time as it was about serious social and historical issues.

On the whole this is a fantastic book and I can't believe I waited this long to read it. It was sometimes hard to read but it was so engaging with great characters and interesting themes. It is a book that will stick with me long after reading.

I give Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. I would absolutely recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, especially ones that deal with serious issues. Or if you are looking for a book that deals with race and identity then check this out. It was so well-written and engaging.

Have you read Lies We Tell Ourselves? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!