It’s time for Show Us Your Books with Steph and Jana. As always, I share book reviews throughout the month but I love doing this link-up so I can share some mini reviews of things I read, as well as link up with other awesome bloggers to get book recommendations! Join us!
Show Us Your Books: YA, MG, and Adult mini reviews #ontheblog Share on XKeep This To Yourself by Tom Ryan
e-book from Netgalley; physical copy from ALA Midwinter
all opinions are my own
Official Summary on Goodreads
I finished this book yesterday, and oh my god, it’s amazing. Yes, it’s YA, but I really hope that doesn’t stop people from checking it out. It’s a mystery that follows Mac, whose best friend Connor was murdered by a serial killer the year before. He can’t get over it, and when he finds a note Connor left him before he died, he tries to find a way to figure out just what happened. Was the killer a drifter like everyone says? Or is someone who lives around them, hiding this terrible secret? This book is full of twists and turns. I never quite knew who I should suspect throughout and I love that in a mystery!
5/5 stars.
Superpowers by David J. Schwartz
personal copy; all opinions are my own
Official Summary on Goodreads
Superpowers is an intriguing look at what happens when five college students/roommates (two guys, three girls) wake up with superpowers. They all have different abilities – flight, invisibility, etc. – and they have to figure out how they want to use them. If they have these powers, they should use them to help others, right? I really liked this book because it shows that superpowers aren’t always a good thing – which should be obvious, but these are young college kids who are definitely not born with these abilities. They don’t always do the right thing, and you won’t always agree with their actions. I definitely felt for them all, and I found this to be a very enjoyable novel overall.
4/5 stars
City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab
library copy; all opinions are my own
Official Summary on Goodreads
If you read mostly adult fiction, then you may know this author as V.E. Schwab. When she publishes YA and now MG, which is what City of Ghosts is, then she goes by Victoria Schwab. I’m slowly but surely making my way through Schwab’s back list, and I just recently read her MG debut. I really loved this book. It takes place mostly in Edinburgh, Scotland, which was really cool to read about. I’d love to visit someday. It’s full of fascinating characters, including Cassidy Blake herself and her best friend, Jacob, who happens to be a ghost. The sequel comes out this September – and it takes place in Paris! I can’t wait!
4/5 stars
Kid Normal and The Rogue Heroes by Greg James and Chris Smith; illustrated by Erica SalcedoΒ
copy from publisher; all opinions are my own
Official Summary on Goodreads
This book is the sequel to Kid Normal, which I read and really enjoyed, so I was excited to receive the sequel in the mail. Kid Normal is about a tween named Murph Cooper who accidentally ends up going to a school for kids with superpowers. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have any, so he’s now been dubbed Kid Normal. In the first book, it’s obvious that not having superpowers isn’t a detriment for Murph and he can still be a hero himself. This continues in Rogue Heroes, when he’s called out by the biggest, baddest villain the Heroes Alliance has ever seen. He has to team up with his friends, whom they call the Super Zeroes, to figure out how to stop this villain, or rogue hero, from destroying everyone with powers. These books are a lot of fun, and I love that Murph is a “normal” kid who shows that he can still do extraordinary things. Plus, I love all his friends – both young and old – who are always there for him. The book is full of fun black and white illustrations by Erica Salcedo as well, which is always nice for an MG novel! I can’t wait for more Kid Normal.
4/5 stars
***
Have you read any of these? Does a particular title stand out to you as something you’d want to read (or recommend to another)? I’d love to know in the comments! Also, don’t forget to enter my blogoversary giveaway: Win 12 Books in Honor of My 12 Years of Blogging!Β
That first one sounds good!
Definitely checking out the first one now for sure!! π
That first one is on the keeper list for sure. I just added it to my kindle. Thanks for sharing!
Wow beautifil post thanks for sharing! I enjoyed this
Jadieegosh
Ok I might be out of the loop, but what’s “MG”? Also, is Superpowers a comic or graphic novel? It kinda looks like it. Keep This To Yourself sounds intriguing, and I’m a fan of YA π Just added it to my TBR!
Sorry! MG is middle grade. And Superpowers is a novel – though it does kind of come across as a comic based on the cover.
Superpowers and the Kid Normal book look like fun reads! I love books featuring superpowers π Thanks for sharing!
Cool post! City of Ghosts has been on my TBR for a while and I’m glad you enjoyed it so much. I was worried about it being more MG but it seems like it’s able to be enjoyed by everyone. π Thanks
Keep This to Yourself sounds right up my alley. I enjoy a good serial killer book and don’t mind that it’s YA. Superpowers also sounds really interesting to me as well. Adding both to my TBR.
I see so many raves for V.E./Victoria Schwab. I’ve yet to read anything by her but City of Ghosts does sound super interesting. I had no idea it was MG, though. Glad you enjoyed it… and hopefully the sequel is just as good!
Kid Normal sounds adorable! All these books sound really good. I love a good superhero series. Have you read the Renegade series by Marissa Meyer? I’m only one in (I think there are three but the third isn’t out yet) but it’s interesting!
I have not, but I’m curious. I loved her Lunar Chronicles books.
I’m adding Keep This to Yourself to my TBR. A book involving a serial killer? I’m all about it!
City of Ghosts sounds intriguing!
you’ve definitely sold me on the city of ghosts book!
I feel like a lot of YA authors are kicking ass lately with the mystery/thrillers.
Keep This To Yourself sounds like a good thriller! Looks like you had a good month π
I still need to read City of Ghosts. It has been sitting on my shelf for way too long. Keep This to Yourself sounds fantastic too.
I just added Keep This to Yourself to my to read list. I enjoy reading YA and this sounds really good!
keep this to yourself sounds good!
I’ve heard of a couple of these but haven’t read any of them. I’m definitely going to add Keep This To Yourself to my list.
Keep This To Yourself and City of Ghosts sound like two books that I need to add to my wishlist.
Keep This to Yourself sounds amazing! I’m going to check if they have an audio copy. Wonderful reviews! π
I’m definitely adding Keep This To Yourself to my TBR shelf, because I’m very intrigued!
It’s so funny about YA: most annoys me, but some are amazing. Sigh. I never know until I start a book, but I refuse to get excited about a YA book until I’m well into the story.
Oh! You can up as a no-reply blogger on a sweet comment you left last week and I felt awful that I could’t answer!
So glad you enjoyed City of Ghosts, it’s on my TBR and I hope to read it soon π
That is the best kinda mystery, when you’re never really sure who to suspect! The superhero one sounds interesting with its realistic look at superpowers. The Kid Normal books sounds so cute!
You have me utterly hooked on keep this to yourself and super powers — such interesting plots!
I haven’t read any of these. I’ve heard of quite a few but don’t think any are what I’d add to the TBR.
How middle-grade-y is Kid Normal? It looks adorable. Wonder if my sister’s 4th graders would like it? Will check out Keep This To Yourself, too.
I am going to start Katherine Applegate’s Wishtree which is for children but has an adult piece, too. Wanna join me?
Oooh I really want to read City of Ghosts. π π XO – Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
Ahh lovely reviews! I’m so glad you liked City of Ghosts, I’ve been loving the books I’ve read from the author so far, I can’t wait to read this one π
Ok Im so adding keep this to yourself to my TBR. Sounds right up my alley
I requested Keep This to Yourself from the library!
I haven’t read any of these- but I loved the mini reviews. Keep This to Yourself sounds very intriguing. I hadn’t heard of it- so thanks for sharing. π
I always love the variety in your books. Im going to look up that first one and look into the others. Kid Normal is right up my youngest sons alley. He has been feeling super uninspired with reading so hasn’t been reading as much lately.
I didn’t know about the Schwab MG so that’s one I’ll look for soon.
Karen @ For What It’s Worth
I tried reading The Near Witch by Schwab, but couldn’t get into it. I feel like I need to give her another try though, everyone loves her books.
Great reviews. Superpowers looks cool and I book I would probably enjoy. And I still haven’t read Schwab’s MG book but it does seem like a great book.
Really curious about Keep it To Yourself! I loved City of Ghosts! Great mini reviews!
Wowww guess I need to add Keep It To Yourself to my list! I have been seeing it all over the place, but your review definitely sold me! I started to read City of Ghosts at an elementary school library while my client was watching a movie hahah. I actually kind of was into it, and then one week I came back and some kid had checked it out, so rude ? One day I’d like to pick it back up, though!