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Pasadena
Pasadena | Sherri L Smith
23 posts | 18 read | 27 to read
Award-winning author Sherri L. Smith returns with a riveting, noir-style thriller, perfect for fans of E. Lockhart Bad things happen everywhere. Even in the land of sun and roses. When Jude's best friend is found dead in a swimming pool, her family calls it an accident. Her friends call it suicide. But Jude calls it what it is: murder. And someone has to pay. Now everyone is a suspect--family and friends alike. And Jude is digging up the past like bones from a shallow grave. Anything to get closer to the truth. But that's the thing about secrets. Once they start turning up, nothing is sacred. And Jude's got a few skeletons of her own. In a homage to the great noir stories of Los Angeles, award-winning author Sherri L. Smith's"Pasadena"is a tale of love, damage and salvation set against the backdrop of California's City of Roses."
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review
kricheal
Pasadena | Sherri L Smith
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Mehso-so

This was ok, not great. The book starts with a teen finding out her close friend had died. She does not accept the cause of death. That is then the basis of this whole novella- her solving the 'mystery' and dealing with grief.

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kricheal
Pasadena | Sherri L Smith
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This looks like a fun little read while I wait for my holds to come in! 🎧

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Chocamanda
Pasadena | Sherri L Smith
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Pickpick

This reminded me of Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng, except this is a YA noir and the narrator is a cranky teenager. Jude abruptly flies home from her trip to the East Coast of the USA to Pasadena California, where her BFF has committed suicide. Only Jude isn't convinced it was a suicide, and she is determined to find some answers. Great for kids experiencing grief or trauma. 4 ⭐️s

25 likes4 stack adds
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BittersweetBooks
Pasadena | Sherri L Smith
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Maggie was my Ferris wheel. I can see that now. It was a ride with a view of everything I could never have found on my own. And now it's over 🎡🖤

9 likes1 stack add
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Nitpickyabouttrains
Pasadena | Sherri L Smith
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Pickpick

I loved this YA noir. It was full of complex and flawed characters. The story drew me in and kept me interested. #bookbingo #roguebookbingo #bookbyadiverseauthor

8 likes1 stack add
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AlizaApp
Pasadena | Sherri L Smith
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Pickpick

Great YA noir murder mystery with a strong Veronica Mars influence. Not sure about the ending though.

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AlizaApp
Pasadena | Sherri L Smith
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Loving the noir vibe of this YA mystery.

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BookishMarginalia
Pasadena | Sherri L Smith
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Panpan

I want to love any book that is blurbed by Woodson and Lockhart, so I am very sad to say this one didn't do anything for me. Okay writing with occasional cringe-worthy moments, unlikable characters reaching unsupportable conclusions, annoying 1st person narrator... AND way overbilled as "noir." This wasn't even noir-adjacent. For a much better book about a teen's suspicious death , please get @Pronounced_ing 's ??????

minkyb "Noir adjacent" I love that! 7y
MCYmermaid Very different from my experience with it. Not disagreeing, just observing. 7y
BookishMarginalia @MCYmermaid I'm intrigued. I feel so bad I really disliked it (and it took me a week to read, it so dragged) 7y
119 likes1 stack add4 comments
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BookishMarginalia
Pasadena | Sherri L Smith
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I know #Septimus is thinking "why in the world hasn't she finished that book yet?!?"

Well, turns out it's not quite as good as the blurbs promised! ?

DreesReads Every time you post about this I get excited because I think you're posting about one of my faves lol 7y
BookishMarginalia That one does look interesting, @AudreyMorris 7y
DreesReads @BookishMarginalia I really liked it, but it might be one of those books that is more enjoyable if you know some socal history. Or maybe not? 7y
See All 10 Comments
Desha Such a cute kitty! 😍 7y
Faibka Awww Septimus! 😻😻😻 7y
kathyellendavis Awww I just got the ARC. Should I read it? 7y
Zelma He's growing so quickly! 😻 7y
BookishMarginalia @kathyellendavis Give it a try. You might like it more. I just think the Woodson and Lockhart blurbs fueled my expectations and maybe that's why I'm finding it so hard to get through for such a small book with large print and generous line spacing. I'm curious about what you'll think. 7y
BookishMarginalia @Desha @Faibka @Zelma Thanks! He's a cutie, isn't he? And yes, growing fast! 7y
MrBook 😻😻😻😻😻😻 7y
156 likes10 comments
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BookishMarginalia
Pasadena | Sherri L Smith
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A contender for #BestSentenceEver, cringe-worthy edition. Seriously, tired like the toilet's autoflush is pulling her down? Really? 🤔😳😒

TirzahPrice I wasn't wild about this one either. It felt so unfocused. 7y
MrBook 😂👏🏻 7y
CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian Omg, so bad. Haha. 7y
See All 9 Comments
TheNextBook Wtf does that even mean?! 7y
mydearwatson This is beside (besides? I can never remember) the point, but what program do you use to make your graphics? This one's too cute. 7y
britt_brooke 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 7y
Vexingcircumstance That's a weird visual....who thinks like that? Lol 7y
TrishB 😄😄 7y
112 likes9 comments
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BookishMarginalia
Pasadena | Sherri L Smith
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One of my #bookishpetpeeves --especially in YA novels-- is blatant mistakes in the basics of high school curriculum and college admissions. They break the narrative enchantment. (I am, after all, a #teacherofLitsy.)

Case in point: in this book, it is summer when the narrator's best friend dies. It is IMPOSSIBLE for anyone to be accepted early action to Brown during the summer before senior year. Early action deadline is Nov 1 of Sr year. 👎🏼

LindsayReads Yes!!! If a book is going to start quoting dates, the author better get it right! I had similar issues with 7y
acorter Now I don't feel so alone... 7y
howlinglibraries I'm glad I'm not the only one who gets annoyed over that stuff! 7y
See All 16 Comments
ApoptyGina69 That's exactly how I feel when any ole fiction book throws in completely incorrect "cooking lingo" and/or techniques. 7y
Chachic I also get frustrated when I see inaccuracies in the books I read. 7y
TirzahPrice Drove me nuts about this book too. This one was full of crazy inaccuracies and WTF moments. 7y
meggofrank Yes! Stuff like this is so simple! And it's 2016, it's not like you can't internet and find out in less than a minute. Grr. 7y
Hooked_on_books That's how I feel about medical errors in books. Research, people! Research! 7y
Martyn_J_Pass I spent ages talking to a horse riding friend JUST to make sure I'd got the names of various bits of horse riding tack right. I knew that if I got it wrong my readers would be angry and rightly so! DO YOUR RESEARCH PEOPLE!!! 7y
EloisaJames I spent hours yesterday figuring out whether to use etching or engraving in 1788 yesterday--do I get to be in the virtuous authors' club?? Tho I have to say that it's so easy to make mistakes like this if its something that you (erroneously) decided years ago... 7y
Pickingclover Yes! This bothers me so much or when they apply really late their sr. year, but get accepted quickly. The deadlines have all passed and at best they would be on a waiting list for these big schools. 7y
Mrs.TeacherLady I seriously read that paragraph three times and kept wondering why is this so confusing? Bad writing 7y
LauraBrook Good morning! Could you do me a favor? I know your plate is full to bursting, so if it's too much trouble, that's okay. I just saw on my Secret Santa's page that she received my package but she's afraid to open the box. Everything is wrapped inside, so it's ok for her to open, if she wants to. Thank you for considering this extra step in your busy day - and thank you again for organizing all of this! I can leave my Santa name in another msg. 7y
BookishMarginalia @LauraBrook I'm on it! 👍🏼💜 7y
LauraBrook @BookishMarginalia Thank you so much for doing this - you are Awesome!!!!! 7y
117 likes16 comments
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BookishMarginalia
Pasadena | Sherri L Smith
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After a very long, very tiring school day, some much needed libations with @WanderingBookaneer @Figgy @gibblr 💜💜💜 #cocktailbookhour #BookishCocktailHour

bitterbear I'm jealous :) 7y
rachelm Sooooo jealous 7y
Alfoster Triple jealous!!! 7y
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bouquinista Yessssss 7y
PurpleyPumpkin Libations are always good! Cheers 🍸 7y
Joybishoptx A teacher's best friend! 7y
Leelee.reads Winter break will be arriving soon! 🍸🍹🍷🍾 7y
MrBook Niiiiiice 😎👌🏻! 7y
Beckys_Books That looks so good 💙 7y
Cortg No beer? I'm enjoying some apple cider and Fireball...mmmmm. Enjoy! 7y
161 likes11 comments
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BookishMarginalia
Pasadena | Sherri L Smith
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#currentlyreading AND watching The Voice -- this one is a #booksfromSteinbeck special post for the inimitable queen of Litsy, @Liberty 🙌🏼💕

LeeRHarry Wish we could get The Voice US over here - used to watch The Voice Australia but only when Ricky Martin was a judge! 😆 7y
BookishMarginalia @LeeRHarry 😍Ricky Martin! 😜 7y
125 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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BookishMarginalia
Pasadena | Sherri L Smith
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Way too many people want their morning caffeine today 😳😱 Update: the woman behind me --who is talking LOUDLY on her phone-- keeps jostling my purse. Personal space, woman, personal space!

Balibee146 Try a quiet and low wolfish growl each time with a quarter head turn...usually works ;-) 7y
thegirlwiththelibrarybag Bill Bailey recommends laughing the Imperial March at people (he meant if they are telling you terrible jokes - but I think it would work in a variety of situations) 7y
Foxyfictionista I make awkward eye contact each time it happens. Although that backfired the other day when I gave a filthy look to a 2 year old for kicking my grocery basket repeatedly. Each time I moved out of the way her mother pushed her buggy closer and she would kick my basket (deliberately). I thought the mom was going to scratch my eyes out. 7y
See All 16 Comments
melbeautyandbooks I cant stand cell yell! It's a phone people. They can hear you without yelling. 7y
quirkyreader I found out that Bucky's had a jump the line option on their app. It is something you can use on a super busy day. 7y
courtney Haha! I think my personal space bubble has gotten bigger. I went to a concert the other night (they always pack in the people!) and I was so annoyed by getting my feet stepped on and being nudged by other people 😂 At least the other end of the cellular teller is sweet, sweet coffee 7y
BooksPieAndCoffee Personal space is 3 feet! How is that so hard for other people to figure out!? Lol 😝 7y
LuLeeBelle Oh Hell to the No. Back it up, Lady 7y
Lynnsoprano That's when I pull out my "teacher stare."? 7y
Cspen113 I can't stand someone who doesn't respect the bubble!! 😒😒 😄😄 7y
Donna_sBookMinute Oh yeah. I hate both of those: loud phone talkers and space invaders. 7y
Reviewsbylola This is why I only use the Starbucks app now and order ahead. My Sbux is always packed and waiting in the long line with my toddler every day is more than I can handle. 7y
Leelee.reads I handle those situations with an aggressively friendly smile and staring them straight in the eyes. Most people take it as a cue that I am ready to engage in conversation with them and back right up. 😄 7y
BekahB When I taught 3rd grade, I told my students that a good judge of personal space was an arm's distance away. You shouldn't be able to stick your arm out and touch the person next to you. Of course for weeks my students were actually sticking out their arms to measure this to make sure they were giving their buddies enough personal space; however, if my 3rd graders could understand the concept, then I would expect adults to as well 😂 7y
pH7 I also use the mobile order feature in the Starbucks app. Quick and relatively painless (unless they forget about your order). And you can now redeem rewards in the app. 7y
MyNamesParadise In those instances, (when someone bumps into me repeatedly), I usually go to bitch mode and go "you mind?!?" And gesture wildly. I hate it when people pop my bubble so to speak! And if they're still on the phone when I'm trying to order ill just be like "lady I'm ordering here" I am not a morning person...at all... 7y
176 likes16 comments
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BookishMarginalia
Pasadena | Sherri L Smith
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I feel myself being sucked in! 💜💕💜💕

112 likes9 stack adds
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BookishMarginalia
Pasadena | Sherri L Smith
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This novel has great blurbs by two faves, #JacquelineWoodson and #ELockhart -- definitely a #TBRtemptation!

100 likes6 stack adds
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ExLibris_Kate
Pasadena | Sherri L Smith
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"Maggie always was a fucking train wreck." #firstlines

17 likes2 stack adds
review
TirzahPrice
Pasadena | Sherri L Smith
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Mehso-so

This book felt a bit caught up in its own devices. It was clearly emulating classic California noir stories in tone and and style, but the plot was almost nonexistent and I felt like the characters and heart of the story got lost in all the Pasadena moodiness. It had undertones of mystery that would appeal to We Were Liars fans, though.

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TirzahPrice
Pasadena | Sherri L Smith
Mehso-so

This book felt a bit caught up in its own devices. It was clearly emulating classic California noir stories in tone and and style, but the plot was almost nonexistent and I felt like the characters and heart of the story got lost in all the Pasadena moodiness. It had undertones of mystery that would appeal to We Were Liars fans, though.

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TirzahPrice
Pasadena | Sherri L Smith
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All right, here's hoping that this mystery will be better than the last.

15 likes1 stack add
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Lissa00
Pasadena | Sherri L Smith
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Mehso-so

A teenage girl is privately investigating the death of her best friend, which was ruled a suicide. This book had some entertaining parts but was mostly just ok. I'm pretty sure I won't remember anything about it in a few months.

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MCYmermaid
Pasadena | Sherri L Smith
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Pickpick

A pitch-perfect So Cal tale of dealing with the fallout of Jude's best friend's death -- an examination of friendship, family, and the fragility of the stories we tell ourselves and each other.

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