Pages of Perfiction

Lights. Camera. Lies.    Eighteen-year-old Bel has lived her whole life in the shadow of her mom’s mysterious disappearance. Sixteen years ago, Rachel Price vanished and young Bel was the only witness, but she has no memory of it. Rachel is gone, long presumed dead, and Bel wishes everyone would just move on.     But the case is dredged up from the past when the Price family agrees to a true crime documentary. Bel can’t wait for filming to end, for life to go back to normal. And then the impossible happens. Rachel Price reappears, and life will never be normal again.   Rachel has an unbelievable story about what happened to her. Unbelievable, because Bel isn’t sure it’s real. If Rachel is lying, then where has she been all this time? And—could she be dangerous? With the cameras still rolling, Bel must uncover the truth about her mother, and find out why Rachel Price really came back from the dead . . .    From world-renowned author Holly Jackson comes a mind-blowing masterpiece about o

I've been trying to write this post for the past two weeks, and I'm finally getting around to doing it. It's about time! This the second bite-sized review post I've ever written, and here's the first one .  The Summer of Broken Rules  by K. L. Walther (5/5 stars) I'm a little late to the party, but this booktok sensation definitely lived up to its hype! This contemporary YA novel is an escape into a summer filled with romance, family traditions, and the poignant process of healing, with Taylor Swift references sprinkled throughout. The story follows Meredith Fox as she navigates grief, love, and self-discovery during her cousin's wedding festivities .  It's different from other summer novels because of the amazing subplot: a game of Assassin . Basically, everyone gets a target (another guest at the wedding) who they try shoot with a water gun. The last people standing win. The Summer of Broken Rules is a charming mix of the Assassin element, a heartwar

i loved this book. "10:59" by N.R. Baker isn't just a book; it's a journey—a thrilling rollercoaster that you wish had no end. Imagine diving into a story so immersive, every page crackles with the energy of the last piece of a puzzle clicking into place. That's "10:59." It's not often that a book grabs me by the soul and refuses to let go, but Baker has managed to do just that, weaving environmental concerns with a narrative so gripping, you'll forget to breathe. cover and description A deadly virus. An over-populated world. An impossible decision. The clock is ticking to the end of the world; and we’re already at 10:59. The most important book you’ll read this year. An apocalyptic thriller with a difference, 10:59 by NR Baker will have you questioning everything – and everyone – you thought you knew. If you held the lives of those around you in your hands, who would you save? And could you live with sentencing others to certain death? When teen

In the vast universe of literature, where each book is like its own world, we readers often embark on journeys with high hopes, only to find ourselves disappointed. "The Wall" by Brian Penn was a book like that for me. It promised to be such an expedition at first, offering a premise that really piqued my interest. But somewhere down the line, the expectation didn’t meet reality. In fact, “The Wall” (regrettably) didn’t hold my attention beyond the 14% mark. So, with a somewhat heavy heart, I’m going to be sharing my candid thoughts on “The Wall” in this review post. He could live forever. But is he willing to pay the price?  It's 2099, and the former United States of America is in the midst of another civil war. In the wake of a revolutionary technology that grants people a second chance at life, an impenetrable wall divides the prosperous nation of Zion from the slums of MiddleLand.  When his uncle offers him a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Asher is faced with an imp

Welcome back, everyone! I'm Paige, and today I'm doing a review of "Sheine Lende" by Darcie Little Badger. In the evolving landscape of middle-grade literature, this author is a beacon of innovative storytelling. Her books offer tales filled with magic and mystery but also profoundly explore themes of cultural identity, family, and the importance of heritage- a unique combination that I'm so excited to talk about in this post. So, what is Sheine Lende about? Well, "Elatsoe" was released first, back in 2020, and introduced a 17-year-old Lipan Apache girl named Elatsoe. She has a unique gift inherited from her ancestors- the ability to summon dead creatures. " Sheine Lende," set to release in April 16, 2024, is a prequel about her great-grandmother , who has the same ability. I read Elatsoe in preparation for this post, but you can understand this book even without reading Elatsoe. the heart of shiene lende Shane, Elatsoe's grandmother, emba

Featuring "Fourth Wing" by Rebecca Yarros, The Empyrean Book One Introduction "Fourth Wing" was on the New York Times's fiction best-seller list over than six months, and it spent three months at #1 ( source ). It's safe to say that I had high expectations for this book, but it didn't even meet the bare minimum.  Hi, I'm Paige. I review YA novels here at Pages of Perfiction, and I'm so happy you stumbled upon this tiny corner of the internet. I just wanted to quickly clarify that everyone has different reading opinions, and these are just mine. No hate at all to the author. I'm talking about points I disliked, but other people might have loved the overall narrative. Without further ado, let's jump into this week's book review! Song I'm Currently Listening To: "Chapter Two: Ash" by Chloe Mae. It's different from what I usually listen to, but it's really good! Book I'm Currently Reading: "Elatsoe" by

Featuring "The Last Dragon King" by Leia Stone, "Age 16" by Rosena Fung, "The Wife You Know" by Chad Zunker, and "Every Silent Thing" by Alan Brenham  Introduction Hello everyone, and welcome back to Pages of Perfiction! Today, I'm doing a quick post: bite-sized book reviews for four books I've recently read.  Let me know in the comments which one of these books are the most appealing to you! "The Last Dragon King" by Leia Stone (Kings of Avalier book one) No. Just no. This YA fantasy left me pacing angrily in my room and venting to my friends. Here's why: Characters: In the beginning, the characters seemed lovable, but as the story continued, the protagonist acted more and more like a pick-me . "I don't like dresses, I'm so unique, I should marry the king because I'm so different" Weird references to wombs every few pages: I have no idea what was up with this, but literally every 3 pages the word &quo

There's nothing easier to dismiss than a conspiracy theory- until it turns out to be true. When Theodosia Benton abandons her career path as an attorney and shows up on her brother's doorstep with two suitcases and an unfinished novel, she expects to face a few challenges. Will her brother support her ambition or send her back to finish her degree? What will her parents say when they learn of her decision? Does she even have what it takes to be a successful writer? What Theo never expects is to be drawn into a hidden literary world in which identity is something that can be lost and remade for the sake of an audience. To protect the carefully constructed narrative, Theo Benton, and everyone looking for her, will have to die.  Intro Hello everyone, and welcome back to Pages of Perfiction. I'm Paige, and today I'm reviewing "The Mystery Writer" by Sulari Gentill , with no spoilers, as always. Those of you who have been here before know that my review style is he

Oh. My. God. Where do I even start? "All the Things We Never Said" is one of the best novels I've read in 2023. No, scratch that. This is one of the best novels I've ever read, period. I'm so excited to be reviewing this book, so instead of fumbling through the intros like I usually do, let's jump right into it!  Just a quick trigger warning first- A few of this book's themes include anxiety and depression. By the end of the novel, the protagonists have undergone a positive character arc and understand that life can be worth living; however, some sensitive readers might want to avoid this book.  Initial Reactions + Summary You've probably already gotten a good idea of my thoughts on this book. It's a unique, refreshing read that made me get really emotional.  Mehreen, a 16-year-old girl, has a voice in the back of her head. This voice tells her that she's not good enough, that she's always going to be left out. Mehreen's barely able to

This post is primary spoiler-free, and the mild spoilers included won't take away from the book. Twenty teenagers enter. Only five become guardians. Yahshi Konya shouldn’t be one of them. With low test scores, his selection for the Empire’s boarding school raises red flags. The guardians are offering him the opportunity of a lifetime, but at what cost? Taking a chance, he joins the aggressive military program and strikes an alliance with two trainees. Vell, the only girl, and Pinto, the overachiever. United, they tackle relentless challenges, watching their competitors dwindle. But the Academy is not what it seems. When dangerous truths emerge, Yahshi finds himself killing his friendships—and possibly his humanity. Hello and welcome to Pages of Perfiction! For those of you who are new here, I'm Paige and I post YA book reviews on this tiny corner of the internet. Today, I'm going to be sharing a review of Nightshade Academy , a fantasy/dystopian novel by Mel Torrefranca, a

"In a dark future, people with money live in doomed cities and use the recently deceased as repurposed servants and workers called poppets. Ellie DesLoge is the teen heiress of the company that makes and distributes poppets–your basic reprogrammed flesh robot complete with training chips and kill switches. If Ellie does everything her Aunt Cordelia says, she’ll have a life of wealth and power. If she chooses to be what is planned for her, life will be perfect. But something about her sweet poppet Thom goes against what Aunt Cordelia and tradition have taught her. Will she choose to believe what everyone knows is true or will she follow what her heart tells her about Thom? Her choice will change the world."  -Donna J. W. Munro Hey, hi, and hello ! 👋   Welcome back to this review session. I'm Paige, and today, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on Revelations by Donna J. W. Munro, book one of The Poppet Cycle.  This book had an intricate plot and lovable characters, but honest