Library Haul!

I decided to take a quick trip to the library today. I'm still in my reading rut but I just thought I'd pop in and see what caught my interest today. I ended up checking out 4 books and renewing the two from my last visit that I haven't finished yet.

Immortal In Death by J.D. Robb: This is the third book in JD Robb's (Nora Roberts) In Death series. It's a mystery series with a romance thrown in there for good measure. It's set in 2058 in New York City. I just started reading these a few weeks ago. The main character is Eve Dallas. Her love interest in a man only known as Roarke. They're pretty good. I mean, at least good enough to make me curious about the third installment. :) From what I can tell, the series is on it's 37th book, so I've got a ways to go before I'm caught up. I'm not if I will get that invested in these characters.

I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley: Another mystery series but this one is quite different from the In Death series. The protagonist in THIS series is an 11 year old girl named Flavia de Luce. It's set in England in the 1940's. Flavia is the best part of the series. She loves chemistry and solving crimes. I've recommended the series to a few people. It's worth checking out. This is the 4th installment in the series out of 6 so far. This one is set during the Christmas season, so I wish I would have gotten it then. It's May and I just don't know if I'll be able to get in the mood for the winter season again.

Jane by April Lindner: I don't think I'd ever heard of this one, to be honest. The cover just got me. It seems to be a modern take on Jane Eyre. Jane Eyre is one of those books I've always wanted to read but I just don't know if I ever will. A modern re-telling might be kind of interesting to check out.

And finally, Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson: This will be the third book I've read by Anderson. The Goodreads description is as follows:

Meet Kate Malone-straight-A science and math geek, minister's daughter, ace long-distance runner, new girlfriend (to Mitchell "Early Decision Harvard" Pangborn III), unwilling family caretaker, and emotional avoidance champion. Kate manages her life by organizing it as logically as the periodic table. She can handle it all-or so she thinks. Then, things change as suddenly as a string of chemical reactions; first, the Malones' neighbors get burned out of their own home and move in. Kate has to share her room with her nemesis, Teri Litch, and Teri's little brother. The days are ticking down and she's still waiting to hear from the only college she applied to: MIT. Kate feels that her life is spinning out of her control-and then, something happens that truly blows it all apart. Set in the same community as the remarkable Speak, Catalyst is a novel that will change the way you look at the world.

I don't know if I'll get to all of these within the next two weeks but it could definitely happen.

What did YOU guys get this week at the library? Let me know in the comments. :)

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Book review: The After Girls by Leah Konen

Goodreads.com description: Ella, Astrid, and Sydney were planning the perfect summer after high school graduation. But when Astrid commits suicide in a lonely cabin, the other girls' worlds are shattered. How could their best friend have done this--to herself and to them? They knew everything about Astrid. Shouldn't they have seen this coming? Couldn't they have saved her? As Ella hunts for the truth, and Sydney tries to dull the pain, a chilling message from Astrid leaves them wondering whether their beloved friend is communicating from the after life. The girls embark on a journey to uncover Astrid's dark secrets. The answers to those questions--questions they never dreamed of asking--will change their lives forever.


This book. I read After Girls in the span of two nights. It was a little creepier than the books I usually pick up, so the night that I finished it, despite it being 3:00 in the morning, I had to get up out of bed and watch some lighthearted t.v. to get out of my own head. It was a story of love, friendship, depression, suicide, and secrets. I never quite knew how Konen was going to wrap it up, which is a good thing. I loved the friendships but at the same time, I really wish that I could have gotten to know Astrid a little better. Why did these girls love her so much. I never quite got it but it didn't make me enjoy the book any less. I just let Leah Konen take me on this creepy ride.

I gave it 4/5 stars on Goodreads.com.