Book Review - Everything I Thought I Knew by Shannon Takaoka + Giveaway

 

 

Chloe is a seventeen-year-old who had her entire life planned out. She was going to work hard and get into a good college. However, during a cross-country meet, she passes out and wakes up in the emergency room. She is told that she needs a new heart and all the plans she made goes out of the window. Fast forward eight months after the surgery, everything in Chloe's life has changed. She now has to attend summer school with underachievers. All she wants to do is grab her surfboard and surf which is weird because she had no interest in surfing before. As a bonus, Kai, her instructor is cute and caring.

Chloe keeps having a strange and vivid recurring nightmare of her crashing a motorcycling and dying. She is also seeing people and places that she doesn't know but, recognizes. She also has memories that she doesn't remember experiencing. As she searches for answers, she finds herself drawn to Kai and she starts to question everything she thought she knew.

I thought the novel was an interesting read. I wasn't expecting the novel to have a sci-fi twist. While I enjoyed the story, I wasn't a fan of the characters. I found their behavior annoying and ungrateful. Some parts of the book were a bit slow but, overall it was a good read.

   **Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Hardcover : 320 pages
ISBN-10 : 1536207764
ISBN-13 : 978-1536207767
Publisher : Candlewick (October 13, 2020)
Language: : English

Praise for EVERYTHING I THOUGHT I KNEW

“Everything I Thought I Knew is a page-turning, mind-bending story of hope and healing. The reader will root for Chloe from page one as she navigates her world post–heart transplant and tries to meld her prior reality with her new one. I couldn’t put it down; it is a beautiful debut from a talented new voice in YA.” —Alexandra Ballard, author of What I Lost

The thoughtful balance of self-discovery, humor, and realistic relationships will bring in fans of John Green and Nicola Yoon. Readers looking for a good, cathartic cry will love Chloe’s journey from losing everything she thought she was, to finding the person she was meant to be. —School Library Journal

Romance and quantum physics intertwine in this frothy introduction to multiverse SF. —Kirkus Reviews

This is a satisfying soaper that combines pleasing romance with an enticing touch of the otherworldly. —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

A teenage girl wonders if she’s inherited more than just a heart from her donor in this compulsively readable debut.

Seventeen-year-old Chloe had a plan: work hard, get good grades, and attend a top-tier college. But after she collapses during cross-country practice and is told that she needs a new heart, all her careful preparations are laid to waste.

Eight months after her transplant, everything is different. Stuck in summer school with the underachievers, all she wants to do now is grab her surfboard and hit the waves—which is strange, because she wasn’t interested in surfing before her transplant. (It doesn’t hurt that her instructor, Kai, is seriously good-looking.)

And that’s not all that’s strange. There’s also the vivid recurring nightmare about crashing a motorcycle in a tunnel and memories of people and places she doesn’t recognize.

Is there something wrong with her head now, too, or is there another explanation for what she’s experiencing?

As she searches for answers, and as her attraction to Kai intensifies, what she learns will lead her to question everything she thought she knew—about life, death, love, identity, and the true nature of reality.

You can purchase Everything I Thought I Knew at the following Retailers:

        

Photo Content from Shannon Takaoka

Shannon Takaoka is a young adult fiction author who wrote her first book at age 12, when she blatantly ripped off C.S. Lewis with an epic fantasy inspired by THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE. (Well, maybe it wasn’t that epic — do 10 pages count?) Madeline L’Engle, Charlotte Brontë, Neil Gaiman and a host of other authors inspired her lifelong love of reading, and she’s especially into all things gothic, weird and nerdy. If a story involves time travel, strange science-y stuff or alternate realities, she’s in.

Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Shannon now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, two children and one very needy dog, who is probably leaning on her right now as she’s pecking away on her keyboard. Her debut novel, EVERYTHING I THOUGHT I KNEW, about a 17-year-old girl questioning everything about who she is and who she wants to be following a heart transplant, will be published by Candlewick Press on 10/13/2020 and Walker UK in 2021. She promises that it’s a little weird — but in a good way.

        

WEEK ONE - REVIEWS & INTERVIEWS

NOVEMBER 9th MONDAY JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW

NOVEMBER 10th TUESDAY BookHounds YA REVIEW & INTERVIEW

NOVEMBER 10th TUESDAY Twirling Book Princess EXCERPT

NOVEMBER 11th WEDNESDAY Two Points n Interest REVIEW

NOVEMBER 11th WEDNESDAY Crossroad Reviews REVIEW

NOVEMBER 12th THURSDAY Movies, Shows, & Books GUEST POST 

NOVEMBER 12th THURSDAY We Live and Breathe Books REVIEW

NOVEMBER 13th FRIDAY Nay's Pink Bookshelf REVIEW

NOVEMBER 13th FRIDAY Kalisbookishrambles REVIEW 

WEEK TWO - REVIEWS

NOVEMBER 16th MONDAY Ya It's Lit REVIEW 

NOVEMBER 17th TUESDAY A Court of Coffee and Books REVIEW 

NOVEMBER 17th TUESDAY Pages and Pugs REVIEW 

NOVEMBER 18th WEDNESDAY Emelie's Books REVIEW 

NOVEMBER 18th WEDNESDAY Welcome to MLM Opinion's Reviews REVIEW

NOVEMBER 19th THURSDAY Books and Zebras REVIEW

NOVEMBER 19th THURSDAY Author Kelly Risser REVIEW

NOVEMBER 20th FRIDAY My Fictional Oasis REVIEW 

NOVEMBER 20th FRIDAY Reading Adventures of a Book Dragon REVIEW

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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Book Review - The How and the Why by Cynthia Hand + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Cassandra McMurtrey has everything she could want. Her parents are kind and generous and she wouldn't trade them for anything. However, Cass is adopted and she has questions about who she is. She wants to know more about herself that her adoptive parents can't answer no matter how much they love her. 

Eighteen years ago, a sixteen-year-old girl becomes pregnant. She decides to give her daughter up for adoption and writes her unborn daughter a series of letters. The novel alternates between the expectant mother and Cass searching for answers.

I thought the novel to be a cute read. I am not adopted but, I have considered adoption and the novels give insight on how a child might feel about being adopted. For example, Cass and her best friend, Nyla has conflicting views on finding their birth parent.  I enjoyed reading the interactions with Cass and her friends. I love the supportive relationship Cass has with her friends and family. The author did a good job portraying that love and support can come from anywhere.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Imprint: HarperTeen (November 5, 2019)
On Sale: 11/05/2019
Pages: 464
List Price: 17.99 USD Age: 13+
ISBN: 9780062693167
ISBN 10: 0062693166

Praise for THE HOW & THE WHY

“The novel’s great strength is the emotional depth of its characters and the complexity of their relationships. A heartfelt and hopeful story about coming of age as an adoptee.” ―School Library Journal

“Hand explores adoption’s multiple dimensions with great insight and sensitivity. Inclusive and illustrative: an engaging lesson in timeless family values.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“Cynthia Hand is the master of pulling at your heartstrings. The How & the Why tells both sides of an adoption story with love, compassion, and care. You’ll be reaching for your tissue box with this one -- if you can stop turning pages long enough, that is.” ―Brigid Kemmerer, New York Times Bestselling Author of Letters to the Lost

“Beautifully rendered and superbly shaped. Hand has crafted an absorbing novel that focuses on family, friendship, teen pregnancy, adoption, personal choices, and serious health issues. Give this exquisite novel to readers seeking an emotionally intricate story.” ―Booklist (starred review)

A poignant exploration of family and the ties that bind, perfect for fans of Far From the Tree, from New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Hand.

Today Melly had us writing letters to our babies…

Cassandra McMurtrey has the best parents a girl could ask for. They’ve given Cass a life she wouldn’t trade for the world. She has everything she needs—except maybe the one thing she wants. Like, to know who she is. Where she came from. Questions her adoptive parents can’t answer, no matter how much they love her.

But eighteen years ago, someone wrote Cass a series of letters. And they may just hold the answers Cass has been searching for.

Alternating between Cass’s search for answers and letters from the pregnant teen who gave her up for adoption, this voice-driven narrative is the perfect read for fans of Nina LaCour and Jandy Nelson.

You can purchase The How & the Why at the following Retailers:

        

Photo Content from Cynthia Hand

Cynthia Hand is the New York Times bestselling author of several books for teens, including the UNEARTHLY trilogy, THE LAST TIME WE SAY GOODBYE, MY LADY JANE and MY PLAIN JANE (with fellow authors Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows), THE AFTERLIFE OF HOLLY CHASE, and the upcoming novel THE HOW AND THE WHY (Fall 2019). Before turning to writing for young adults, she studied literary fiction and earned both an M.F.A. and a Ph.D. in fiction writing. She currently resides in Boise, Idaho, with a husband who's addicted to typewriters, two kids, two cats, one crazy dog, and a entourage of imaginary friends.

        

WEEK ONE

NOVEMBER 4th MONDAY JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW

NOVEMBER 5th TUESDAY A Court of Coffee and Books REVIEW
NOVEMBER 5th TUESDAY Life Within the Pages REVIEW

NOVEMBER 6th WEDNESDAY TTC Books and More EXCERPT

NOVEMBER 6th WEDNESDAY Book Queen Reviews REVIEW

NOVEMBER 7th THURSDAY Movies, Shows, & Books EXCERPT 

NOVEMBER 7th THURSDAY Booknerdchelcie REVIEW

NOVEMBER 8th FRIDAY Crossroad Reviews REVIEW 

NOVEMBER 8th FRIDAY Insane About Books REVIEW

WEEK TWO

NOVEMBER 11th MONDAY Kait Plus Books REVIEW

NOVEMBER 11th MONDAY On My Bookshelf REVIEW & INTERVIEW 

NOVEMBER 12th TUESDAY BookHounds YA REVIEW & INTERVIEW 

NOVEMBER 13th WEDNESDAY Two Points of Interest REVIEW 

NOVEMBER 13th WEDNESDAY Lenissahh Reads REVIEW

NOVEMBER 14th THURSDAY Wonder Struck REVIEW
NOVEMBER 14th THURSDAY Random Bookish Banter REVIEW

NOVEMBER 14th THURSDAY Little Bookish Thoughts REVIEW & INTERVIEW

NOVEMBER 15th FRIDAY Nay's Pink Bookshelf REVIEW
NOVEMBER 15th FRIDAY Casia's Corner REVIEW

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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Book Review - The Vine Witch by Luanne G. Smith + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Elena Boureanu is a young vine witch who wakes up from a curse after being dormant for seven years. As she regains her senses, she realizes everything she knew has changed. The vineyards at Château Renard has long relied on the talents of vine witches, whose spells help create world-renowned wine. However, her beloved vineyard fell to ruin when Elena becomes cursed.

After breaking free from the curse that confined her, Elena is hellbent on avenging herself. However, Elena must find a way to return to her former life to regain her power. The vineyard that she was destined to inherit is now in possession of a stranger who doesn't believe in magic.

Vigneron Jean-Paul Marte believes the following of science will help him craft the best wine. He doesn't believe in the locals' beliefs of witches. But Elena knows a hex when she sees one, and Marte's vineyard is covered in them. She convinces Marte to let her stay on to help the vines heal but, she has to hide her true identity. While Elena is helping the vineyard recover, will she be able to find the one who hexed her?

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I was actually both disappointed and happy there was going to be a second book to the series!  Some parts of the novel were predictable but, there were a few surprises. I like that even though the two main characters were stubborn, there weren't many petty fights over a lack of communication. They both knew what they wanted and worked together to get what they wanted. Overall, it was a decent debut and I look forward to the second book!

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Print Length: 263 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1542008387
Publisher: 47North (October 1, 2019)
Publication Date: October 1, 2019
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English 

FROM THE EDITOR
It starts with a toad. A slimy one, too, warts and all. But as you may have guessed, with witches involved, this toad just happens to be enchanted. This toad, in fact, is the witch—and now that she’s free, she’s out for revenge against whoever has cursed her.

Elena Boureanu, former toad, is a vine witch. Her magic is responsible for creating some of the best wine of the age, and her legacy is all but ruined when she finally returns home. The vineyard’s new owner may be handsome, but he’s a city man of science who knows nothing about the valley’s vine witch tradition. And on top of that, Elena can clearly detect dark magic surrounding the estate. She knows her own curse must be connected to the hex on the fields, and she vows to put her world back into balance.

Elena’s story of redemption may be fantasy, but it feels real enough to touch. Reading this novel is like falling into an Instagram picture—atmospheric, and surrounded by the smells and tastes of the natural world. I hope you’ll fall with me. ―Adrienne Procaccini, Editor

A young witch emerges from a curse to find her world upended in this gripping fantasy of betrayal, vengeance, and self-discovery set in turn-of-the-century France.

For centuries, the vineyards at Château Renard have depended on the talent of their vine witches, whose spells help create the world-renowned wine of the Chanceaux Valley. Then the skill of divining harvests fell into ruin when sorcière Elena Boureanu was blindsided by a curse. Now, after breaking the spell that confined her to the shallows of a marshland and weakened her magic, Elena is struggling to return to her former life. And the vineyard she was destined to inherit is now in the possession of a handsome stranger.

Vigneron Jean-Paul Martel naively favors science over superstition, and he certainly doesn’t endorse the locals’ belief in witches. But Elena knows a hex when she sees one, and the vineyard is covered in them. To stay on and help the vines recover, she’ll have to hide her true identity, along with her plans for revenge against whoever stole seven winters of her life. And she won’t rest until she can defy the evil powers that are still a threat to herself, Jean-Paul, and the ancient vine-witch legacy in the rolling hills of the Chanceaux Valley.

You can purchase The Vine Witch at the following Retailers:

        

Photo Content from Luanne G. Smith 

Luanne G. Smith is the author of THE VINE WITCH, a historical fantasy novel about witches, wine, and revenge set in early 20th century France, and the forthcoming second book in The Vine Witch series, THE GLAMOURIST. She’s lucky enough to live in Colorado at the base of the beautiful Rocky Mountains, where she enjoys reading, gardening, hiking, a glass of wine at the end of the day, and finding the magic in everyday life.

        

PART ONE

OCTOBER 14th MONDAY JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW

OCTOBER 15th TUESDAY Insane About Books REVIEW

OCTOBER 15th TUESDAY Clarissa Reads It All REVIEW

OCTOBER 16th WEDNESDAY Movies, Shows, & Books GUEST POST

OCTOBER 17th THURSDAY Crossroad Reviews REVIEW

OCTOBER 17th THURSDAY Book Briefs REVIEW

OCTOBER 18th FRIDAY Gwendalyn's Books REVIEW & INTERVIEW

PART TWO

OCTOBER 19th SATURDAY Random Bookish Banter REVIEW

OCTOBER 20th SUNDAY TTC Books and More INTERVIEW

OCTOBER 21st MONDAY BookHounds YA INTERVIEW

OCTOBER 21st MONDAY A Bookish Dream REVIEW

OCTOBER 22nd TUESDAY Starlight Reads REVIEW & GUEST POST
OCTOBER 22nd TUESDAY Wonder Struck REVIEW

OCTOBER 23rd WEDNESDAY Kait Plus Books EXCERPT

OCTOBER 23rd WEDNESDAY Two Points of Interest REVIEW

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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Book Review - Break the Bodies, Haunt the Bones by by Micah Dean Hicks + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

The small town of Swine Hill is filled with ghosts. The ghosts have taken over the abandoned downtown area and haunt places that they have unresolved dealings with. Some ghosts have been known to hurt people and sometimes, even change them. In Swine Hill, there are more dead things than living.

Jane has been haunted since she was a child. Her ghost feeds on the secrets and fears of people around her. She loves to share her findings with Jane, even if Jane doesn't want to know. Jane's brother, Henry, is also plagued by a ghost. His ghost takes over and causes him to build strange and dangerous machines. Her mother is possessed by a lonely spirit who craves attention and burns anyone who she touches.

When newcomers start obtaining coveted jobs at the pork processing plant, both the living and dead are upset. They are worried about their future and where they would go. Jane and her family have loyalties to both sides and try to survive when things start getting violent. Will Jane and her family be able to escape Swine Hill?

I found the book to be an interesting read. It definitely had a different plot that I would have expected or used too.  I found each character to be well developed and interesting. However, I found it annoying that some characters knew how to get rid of ghosts but, didn't really make the attempt to do so until things went downhill. For example, Jane was trying to make her friend's life better but, yet she continued to let her mother suffer from her ghost. Overall, the novel was an interesting read from books I normally read.

 **Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**  

SYNOPSIS

Swine Hill was full of the dead. Their ghosts were thickest near the abandoned downtown, where so many of the town’s hopes had died generation by generation. They lingered in the places that mattered to them, and people avoided those streets, locked those doors, stopped going into those rooms . . . They could hurt you. Worse, they could change you.

Jane is haunted. Since she was a child, she has carried a ghost girl that feeds on the secrets and fears of everyone around her, whispering to Jane what they are thinking and feeling, even when she doesn’t want to know. Henry, Jane’s brother, is ridden by a genius ghost that forces him to build strange and dangerous machines. Their mother is possessed by a lonely spirit that burns anyone she touches. In Swine Hill, a place of defeat and depletion, there are more dead than living.

When new arrivals begin scoring precious jobs at the last factory in town, both the living and the dead are furious. This insult on the end of a long economic decline sparks a conflagration. Buffeted by rage on all sides, Jane must find a way to save her haunted family and escape the town before it kills them.  

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

Praise for BREAK THE BODIES, HAUNT THE BONES

“A tour-de-force of the imagination. Hicks has created a world that is beautifully and brutally surreal and yet, at the same time, BREAK THE BODIES, HAUNT THE BONES stands as a hyper-realistic psychological portrait of the death of the American factory town. My own identity as an American was disturbed and changed by this novel; some dormant understanding was shaken awake. This is a stunning and profound debut.” ―Julianna Baggott, bestselling author of New York Times Notable Book Pure

“Hicks’ debut novel is a thoughtful tour of the rotted and haunted heart of America. Highly recommended.” ―Jeremiah Tolbert, Shirley Jackson Award-nominated author

“I can’t stop thinking about this book. It’s a haunting story that burrows under your skin like an insect laying eggs that hatch within you in the middle of the night. Hicks’ mesmerizing imagery kept me turning the pages and asking myself ‘How is this book happening? What sort of literary witchcraft am I witnessing?’” ―Maurice Broaddus, author of Buffalo Soldier and The Usual Suspects

“BREAK THE BODIES, HAUNT THE BONES is a breathless wonder of a debut novel… Hicks is a magician with words and has written a spellbinding, haunting and necessary book.” ―Anne Valente, author of Our Hearts Will Burn Us Down

“Hicks has crafted a haunting story with multi-generational appeal, where the very real horror of poverty meets supernatural horror, and social issues like xenophobia, racism and economic anxiety are addressed organically through allegory and gripping storytelling.” ―Chris L. Terry, author of Black Card and Zero Fade  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Micah Dean Hicks is the author of the novel Break the Bodies, Haunt the Bones. He is also the author of Electricity and Other Dreams, a collection of dark fairy tales and bizarre fables. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Kenyon Review, and elsewhere. Hicks grew up in rural southwest Arkansas and now lives in Orlando. He teaches creative writing at the University of Central Florida.  

PHOTO CREDIT: SCOT LERNER 2018  

WEBSITE: https://micahdeanhicks.com/

TWITTER: @MicahDeanHicks
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7109627.Micah_Dean_Hicks
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/micahdeanhicks
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/micahdeanhicks/

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Book Review - The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

Photo Credit - Amazon

Aiden Bishop is tasked with preventing Evelyn Hardcastle from being murdered at 11:00 pm. However, if he fails the day will restart and Evelyn will die again. Aiden must race against the clock and name the killer if, he wishes to escape. As he wakes up in a body of a different guest every day, he learns each host has a different personality and motive. Will Aiden be able to find out the killer within the eight days?

The novel had a very interesting premise. I like that the novel had elements of sci-fi, thriller, and mystery all wrapped in one interesting book.  While the book was a good and suspenseful read, I had a hard time keeping track of some of the minor details especially, when the future was altered. However, the book is definitely a fun read and I look forward to reading more books by the author.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Review - Bringing Maggie Home by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Photo Credit - Amazon

Hazel DeFord has a deep and dark secret that continues to haunt her. In 1943, a young ten year old Hazel was picking blackberries with her younger three year old sister, Maggie.  Hazel momentarily leaves Maggie alone to discover Maggie has disappeared upon her return. 

More than seventy years later, Hazel is still haunted by the guilt while the mystery remains unsolved. Hazel's secret has strained her relationship with her daughter, Diane, who is frustrated by her mother's paranoia and being overly overprotective. Diane's daughter, Meghan, on the other hand, loves her grandmother's affection and attention. When Meghan is hurt in an accident, she decides to use her recovery time to visit her grandmother. However, when she arrives, she finds out her mother has also planned to tag along as well.  Diane and Meghan uncover Hazel's dark secret while visiting. Meghan is a cold case detective and volunteers to help her grandmother uncover the truth behind Maggie's disappearance. Will the three generations of DeFord women be able to survive each other? Will Meghan be able to solve the mystery behind Maggie's disappearance?

The novel had an interesting premise, but it failed to deliver. I felt like the story dragged on and on until the last few chapters and I felt like the book could have detailed some characters better. For example, Hazel and her late husband's relationship; did he know about Hazel's secret? I also felt that Meghan didn't really help much with solving the mystery behind Maggie's disappearance. Her partner had a bigger role in solving it and than she did while the "mystery" was quite obvious from the beginning. I like the author's writing style so I might be open to reading more of her novels.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Book Review - Besties by Leah Reena Goren

Photo Credit - Amazon

A sweet and short illustrated book about the celebration of female friendship. The book is an endearing thank you note, gift, and a love letter to female besties. The illustrated book portrays the best parts of friendship and has a heart warming "ending". Whether its spending friday nights together, making up a secret handshake, being a +1 one at a boring party to being there at your lowest. The quirky artwork and endearing message, makes readers smile and appreciate the beauty of friendship.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I received this book but as soon as I got it, I couldn't stop smiling. The drawings were cute and some of the antics of the characters were very specific. Although, I remembering all the funny and unique things I did with my best friend(s) like eating so much candy in one sitting that we had a two hour sugar high or when we went to 4 different fast food restaurant to make the "perfect meal" and them being there through all the low times of my life as well. This is a great gift for any girl bestie in your life! I gave this book as a stocking stuffer to a few friends with a private note of all the fun memories we shared. It is a great book to make you appreciate the great friendships in your life and how easy it is to take people for granted.

**Disclosure - I received this book in exchange for an honest review**

Julep Nail Polish - Hartleigh

The holographic top coat has specks of white hexagon glitter, holographic glitter dots and red heart shaped glitter. The top coat can be use by itself or as a top coat. The glitter was a bit chunky and most of the red hearts glitter was stuck on the bottom. It took several tries it the hearts out. With two coats, the nail polish provided full coverage but the glitter does feel a bit rough. I usually apply a top coat to make the glitter less rough and to keep the hearts in place but it makes a bit thick and then the polish chips more easily. Overall, its nice by itself or as a top coat for roughly a day or two before it chips.