I think this is a book I would enjoy more on a second read, once I know and understand all the characters much better. But, as always, Maggie Stiefvater writes beautifully, giving us many quotable words to inspire and delight!

I highly recommend picking this one up to read either over the Thanksgiving or Christmas holiday, cuddled under a blanket, next to a smoldering fire, with a cup of tea in hand. Think of this as a much mellower--and British--version of a Jonathan Tropper novel. I enjoyed the flawed characters and how they grew through the book but still stayed true to their characters. It continued to surprise until the end!

Here's my advice: If you're a hard-core P&P fan, maybe skip this one, but if you like an entertaining read--and enjoy the P&P format--then pick this one up to read by the Christmas tree. I read this one in one sitting, so it's quick and easy. There were some definite laugh-out-loud moments, but also some strange inconsistencies I'm assuming were only because I was reading an early edition. Fun and charming, it's a light read for the holidays!

3.5 stars. The characters were intriguing and the storyline engaging. I read through it quickly, not wanting to set it aside. Is there anything groundbreaking or will I remember much of it in several months? No, but it was entertaining and written well. I think I would categorize this one as a 'New Adult' rather than a 'Young Adult' due to the age of the characters and the more serious subject matter.

Life After Coffee was a satisfying surprise! When I read the synopsis for this one, it reminded me of other novels with the same premise: Working mom loses fulfilling job and must become a stay-at-home parent. But this one had me laughing and nodding and shaking my head too. The characters are real, with quirks and flaws, and they make mistakes. Big mistakes. I'll be excited to see what Virginia Franken does next!

The Portable Veblen was a pure delight! Refreshing, witty, quirky, with laugh out loud moments. It was one of those books that I hungrily read, devouring each word, excited to reach the end but dreading it at the same time. I so wanted to stay in this story just a little while longer.

"In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can't build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery and death."

Truly an epic piece of work. The layers and layers of Scarlett are never ending. One of the most memorable characters, and I finished the book not sure if I wanted to strangle her or pat her on the top of her pretty little ignorant head. Gut-wrenching and appalling, but beautifully rendered.

I was so excited to receive an arc, but I was a bit disappointed in this one. While I appreciated the diversity, some of the stories were too sad or cheesy for me. The stand-out authors were Libba Bray, Stephanie Perkins, Jennifer E. Smith, and Lev Grossman.

I loved so much about this book: the realness of the characters (they have flaws and make mistakes!), the exchanging of actual letters in this digital age (they had to walk to the post office box!), and the reminder that sometimes a boring life is a good thing.

A funny, sweet, and sorrowful tale about a teenage girl named Sarah that discovers she has died and been sent to The Mall of America to linger in a (hopefully) temporary kind of purgatory until she finds closure from her life on earth.

This imaginative debut novel from Samantha Mabry was unlike anything I have read before. Set on the lush and stormy island of Puerto Rico, Mabry's beautifully descriptive language had me swatting at mosquitos and smelling the salty ocean.