Monthly Wrap-Up: October 2016

oct16monthly-wrapupFall is flying by! In Central FL, it’s finally cool enough to walk to your car without breaking a sweat. I’m gearing up to go to YALLFEST in Charleston next month, so I’m super excited about that. I’m sure I’ll be tweeting and will write up a post about my experience there afterward. If you’re going to be there, leave me a comment! I’d love to meet up.

This month, I received a few more books in the mail. Actually, I’m kind of cheating here, because I received Every Exquisite Thing and The Secret of Goldenrod a couple of months ago and somehow they never made it into my calendar of books for review. So I’m including them here. The other two I got through BookLook Bloggers, which is a partnership between Zondervan and Thomas Nelson through which I get many of my Christian titles for review.

I also received my second ever OwlCrate box this month, and I absolutely loved it! I have a feeling I’ll be wearing the Lost Boys beanie on my Charleston trip. (Don’t judge! Upper 60s is COLD to this Florida girl!) I’ve already been wearing the Sleeping Beauty themed bracelet all over the place. So fun.

Also, if you missed my post yesterday about my Steampunk Book Fairy Costume, go back and check that out! My mom made it for me for my birthday this year, and I can’t wait to wear it to a costume party next weekend.

And, like always, here’s the list of books I reviewed this month. Check out the ones you may have missed, and let me know if you’ve read any or plan to!

October Reviews

Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

This was one of the most fun reads ever. We listened to the story on a road trip months ago. Entertained the whole car and we are still talking about it!

The Rise of the Chosen by Anna Kopp

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

This would be a good go-to for a creepy read this season, though there’s more emphasis on the tactical military side than the scary zombie-like enemies the characters face.

The Row by J. R. Johansson

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

Suspenseful story about a girl whose dad is on death row. She decides to find out for herself whether or not he’s guilty. I liked it.

Counterpart by Hayley Stone

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

I loved the first book in this man vs machines series, so I was super excited that I didn’t have to wait long for the second book. My only complaint is that it ends on a cliffhanger and now I have to wait for the third!

Cease & Desist by Stephen David Hurley

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

Really fascinating premise– Cease stars in a reality-drama, a TV show in which she plays Joan of Arc competing against other historical figures to be voted top couple with one of the boys.

Crooked Kingdom Leigh Bardugo

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

This was the book I waited all year for, and it did not disappoint. I laughed, cried, devoured page after page from beginning to end. So. Good.

Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

I loved this retelling of Aladdin in which the genie is a girl. The writing has this sort of ethereal feel to it that hooked me from page one.

The Goblin Crown by Robert Hewitt Wolfe

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

This was another fun story in which kids jump to another world in which one of them has been foretold to save the goblins. Loved the voice and characters.

The Friendship Experiment by Erin Teagan

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

This was such a fun read! I loved the way Teagan used science throughout the story and the lessons about friendship and forgiveness were perfect and heartfelt.

Ghost Maven by Tony Lee Moral

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

This is the right time of year for this spooky read. A girl falls in love for the first time only to realize her true love is a ghost.

The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

This haunting story based on true events prompted me to spend an hour looking up more information about the situation that inspired the tale. I loved the writing and the characters immediately grabbed me by the heart.

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About Kasey

Reads things. Writes things. Fluent in sarcasm. Willful optimist. Cat companion, chocolate connoisseur, coffee drinker. There are some who call me Mom.