Pages of Perfiction

Every Scar Tells a Story by  Rayna York Publication date: June 15th 2024 Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult They say time heals all wounds, but they never mention the scars left behind. Serena McNeal, outgoing and ambitious, is ready to escape her small town as soon as she graduates high school. Knox prefers to live in the shadows, finding comfort in his anonymity. As their worlds collide and the ghosts of Knox’s troubled past resurface, more than their newly-created bond will be tested. Because now, every decision made could be the difference between sharing a future together or facing a reality where neither one survives. Goodreads / Amazon Excerpt: Summer… I can’t help but smile. This one will be like no other. High school will be over, and I’ll be heading off to college in the fall. I’m so ready to leave this small town behind. It’s not a bad place to live, but I’m psyched to move to an actual city where the downtown is lar...

Note: Because this is a combined wrap-up, I introduced a new term: mapril, used to describe May & April in one word. Let's just pretend the fact that I didn't post a wrap-up for April was intentional, although in reality, I ran out of time (oops). Honestly, I haven't had much time for blogging in general these past two months. I published 7 posts in total during Mapril, but only three of them were really my own work. The other four were book blitzes & cover reveals. table of contents posts I published during mapril fav posts from other blogs fun updates i'm running for president ttpd album reaction conclusion posts i published during mapril The Winchester Codex Book Blitz (featuring excerpt + giveaway!) Books can be dangerous. Fitz, a dragon, believes he is guardian of one of the most dangerous of all – The Winchester Codex was responsible for wiping out the entire draconic race, of which he is one of the last vestiges. Yet in the 21st century, what relevance do...

Hey everyone!  I'm currently in a speech round, and I have some extra free time, so... here I am. I've done these reflections once before , and I decided to do it again! Note: I like to wrap up debate tournaments by writing a reflection, and I decided to publish it on this blog because why not. So there might be some debate jargon or confusing bits that only make sense in my head. I'd like to apologize in advance for that.  So like I said, I'm in a speech round right now, but I already gave my speech. I was speaker 1, and because this is an online tournament, I'm able to write this while other people are talking. Let's jump right in! round one reflections I competed against one of the girls in my round the last tournament I was in , too! What a cool coincidence. I need to start off by saying that all of the people in my room were so good . Out of the 5 other people in my room, I genuinely cannot think of a way to improve 4 of them. They were perfect. The judge...

The Winchester Codex Frances Spurrier Publication date: January 2nd 2024 Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult Books can be dangerous. Fitz, a dragon, believes he is guardian of one of the most dangerous of all – The Winchester Codex was responsible for wiping out the entire draconic race, of which he is one of the last vestiges. Yet in the 21st century, what relevance does this ancient manuscript have? He hides the codex in his attic and tries to forget about it. A surprise visit from a friend leads to one last quest, forcing them both to confront their past. In Swansea, Fitz and his friend Perceval happen upon a temporarily homeless teenager who joins them on a walk around the coast of Wales to raise funds for charity and records everything on social media. But not all their followers are benign. Someone wants the codex that has lain neglected in Fitz’s attic for centuries and wants it badly.  Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / i...

The Summer I Met You Blair Hayse Publication date: June 20th 2024 Genres: New Adult, Romance Small town southern girl Brianna Davis’s world is spinning faster than she can keep up with. She’s burying herself working as a hotel manager, having her personal life scrutinized as a socialite, and has one of the town’s most eligible bachelors on the hook in the form of Branson. However, it isn’t long before Brianna finds that relationship collapsing, as she falls intensely for Branson’s fiercest enemy in town: popular DJ and bar owner Levi Arrington. Sure, Levi caught her heart from the moment she met him, but there are too many complications for them to become a couple right now, aren’t there? He needs to grow up and she needs to open herself to love. Add to that the town, which sees the rising flames of passion all too well and is doing everything it can to stamp them out. Will Brianna find the love of her life in Levi, or will the small town rumors, drama, and th...

Refuge from the World Kim McMahill (The Beartooth Chronicles, #1) Publication date: March 19th 2024 Genres: Dystopian, New Adult, Young Adult Ashley McPhee arrived in Beartooth with her mom, Sara, when she was three years old. Ever since Ash can remember, life has been simple and peaceful. She enjoyed a carefree childhood, tending honey bees with her mom and spending time with her best friend, Caleb Solomon. But, life in their idyllic mountaintop community is changing. After learning of the government’s plan to use a geoengineering process to cool the planet, Ash and Caleb realize they need to step up and take an active role in the community. Along with fear for how the process might impact their food supply, Ash learns her mom’s health is failing. Sara doesn’t want Ash to face an uncertain future alone and nudges her and Caleb into marriage. Even though they have known each other most of their lives, Ash and Caleb’s relationship has changed drastically in a short period of tim...

Darkness Falls  (Nature’s Fury, #1) By A.E. Faulkner Publication date: March 31st 2019 Genre: YA Dystopian Our family trip to the beach ended before it even began. Mother Nature made sure of that. Our parents…gone in an instant. It’s just me and my sister. 100 miles from home. No car. No phones. No money. Down to our last crumbs of food. But just when we figure out what to do, she vanishes. Mother Nature reached her breaking point and everyone’s paying the price. I have a feeling she isn’t done just yet. But guess what? Neither am I. Goodreads / Amazon Table of Contents: Excerpt Author Bio Giveaway Excerpt:  “Aidan, man, we should probably get going soon,” Jeff says, pulling me away from the threatening spiral of memories. His interruption is a welcome distraction. “You’re right,” Aidan says, his eyes locked with mine. “But before we go, Quinn, you need to know, you’re not safe here. Do you have somewhere else to go?” “What are you talking about?” My head volleys ...

introduction A Loveless Child. A Loveless Woman. Sweet Romance. Murder. Satire. Desperation. Fate.  That's it. That's the whole back cover description. I suppose the ominous, mysterious ambience was partly what drew me in, but that's what made me lose interest, too. Hey, I'm Paige, and this is a review of "The Art of Being Difficult" by William Chekhov. I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review, but these thoughts are my own. Thank you, Mendelssohn Press! it was confusing to read  I don't know how to describe Chekhov's writing style, except that it's a tough read for those seeking a straightforward narrative. To me, it looked like a bunch of scenes. There was no storyline. I think there might have been a hidden meaning or something, but I couldn't figure it out.  The lack of clear structure makes it challenging to follow the author's train of thought. it got boring soon Aside from the whole 'I do...

Hello to the ≈ 3 people who somehow stumbled upon this post (probably while looking for something else, lol). I am currently at a debate competition, and I have some extra free time, so... here I am. Note: This post is mainly for me. I like to wrap up debate tournaments by writing a reflection, and I decided to publish it on this blog because why not. So there might be some debate jargon or confusing bits that only make sense in my head. I'd like to apologize in advance for that.  This post was inspired by this paragraph in my monthly wrap-up for February . table of contents a little bit of context midpoint reflection thoughts right after the finals post-awards ramblings declamation full reflection impromptu full reflection conclusion a little bit of context It's 11:21 am (not pm, lol) as I'm writing this, and I'm between rounds 2 and 3. It's lunch break, but I finished eating early, so here I am.  The events I'm doing are impromptu and declamation , and I'v...

I've seen bloggers doing book memes since the minute I started blogging, but I've never taken part in one myself... until now. The one I selected is monthly, and it's called Throwback Thursday. Here are the rules... The Chocolate Lady’s #ThrowbackThursday takes place on the Thursday before the first Saturday of every month You are encouraged to write a post about anything old that strikes your fancy! If you want to tweet or share this post, or someone else’s post, or the reviews being highlighted, please use #ThrowbackThursday! Please link back to her original page on your post. ( here's the link! ) So, without further ado, let's get right into it! this time last year, i was reading... I have an app on my computer named Sora to read books, and one of the cool features is that it shows a full history of all the books you checked out and when. So I scrolled all the way down to April 2023, and as you can see, I was going through a Red Queen phase back then. On April 3,...

hello. This month really flew by, didn't it? Well, I'm pretty sure I said the same thing last month, but whatever. This is the third monthly wrap-up I've written:  Here's my monthly wrap up for Jan,  and this is the one for February . table of contents posts I published this month music this month top artists top songs playlist of the month follow my spotify fav posts from other blogs conclusion posts I published this month february monthly wrap-up + finally recovering from the very happy yet emotional roller coaster that was the percy jackson tv series So this is last month's monthly wrap up, and it's... well, let's just call it interesting. It's the longest post I've ever written, and includes quite a few rants. the Wall by Brian Penn // why I DNF'ed this dystopian at 14 percent This book had been sitting on my Netgalley ARC shelf for, like, three months, and I finally reviewed it! 10:59 by N R Baker review: why this is one of the best novels I...

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 c...

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...

 Dear "10:59", From the moment I turned your first page, I knew this journey would be unlike any other. Your narrative, so intricately woven with threads of urgency and hope, captured my heart and refused to let go. It's rare to find a story that resonates so deeply with me, stirring a passion for change and a profound sense of connection to our world. Your tale is a masterpiece of speculative fiction, artfully blending the critical themes of environmental crisis and societal complacency with a narrative that is both compelling and deeply human. Your characters, so vividly drawn, became friends I cheered for, cried with, and, ultimately, learned from. Their struggles and triumphs echoed my own fears and hopes for our planet. Your brilliance lies not just in your ability to tell a story, but in your power to inspire action and reflection. You are more than a book; you are a clarion call to recognize the fragility of our world and the urgent need for change. Through your...

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...