Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Book Review - Hope and Other Punchlines by Julie Buxbaum + Giveaway



Photo Credit - Amazon

Abbi  Hope Goldstein is like every other teenager. Except, her alter ego, Baby Hope, is an inspiration to people and she is widely recognized. People occasionally burst into tears when they recognize her. Abbi has spent her whole life in the shadows of the terrorist attack of September 11. Abbi as a child was captured holding a red balloon wearing a birthday crown while behind her the South Tower of the World Trade Center is collapsing.

Abbi yearns for anonymity and wants to spend her the summer before her seventeenth birthday as a counselor at a Day Camp two towns away. She is excited to spend her days with kids who have never heard of Baby Hope.

Noah Sten's also has plans for this summer as well. His dad went missing on September 11 and Noah hopes that he is still alive. When he meets Baby Hope at camp, he believes it is fate.  Together, they try to find the history and the story behind the iconic photograph.

When I first picked up this novel, I wasn't sure what to expect. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how the novel was both light and emotional read. Both Abbi and Noah were unique individuals who are trying to make the most of their lives after that fateful day. They try to reinvent their futures but, realize along the way, sometimes, you just have to play the cards life deals you. A wonderful read about finding friends and having resilience.

 **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.**


Title: HOPE & OTHER PUNCHLINES

Author: Julie Buxbaum

Pub. Date: May 7, 2019

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 320

Find it: GoodreadsAmazonKindleAudibleB&NiBooksKoboTBD



The New York Times bestselling author of Tell Me Three Things and What to Say Next delivers a poignant and hopeful novel about resilience and reinvention, first love and lifelong friendship, the legacies of loss, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive.



Sometimes looking to the past helps you find your future.



Abbi Hope Goldstein is like every other teenager, with a few smallish exceptions: her famous alter ego, Baby Hope, is the subject of internet memes, she has asthma, and sometimes people spontaneously burst into tears when they recognize her. Abbi has lived almost her entire life in the shadow of the terrorist attacks of September 11. On that fateful day, she was captured in what became an iconic photograph: in the picture, Abbi (aka "Baby Hope") wears a birthday crown and grasps a red balloon; just behind her, the South Tower of the World Trade Center is collapsing.



Now, fifteen years later, Abbi is desperate for anonymity and decides to spend the summer before her seventeenth birthday incognito as a counselor at Knights Day Camp two towns away. She's psyched for eight weeks in the company of four-year-olds, none of whom have ever heard of Baby Hope.



Too bad Noah Stern, whose own world was irrevocably shattered on that terrible day, has a similar summer plan. Noah believes his meeting Baby Hope is fate. Abbi is sure it's a disaster. Soon, though, the two team up to ask difficult questions about the history behind the Baby Hope photo. But is either of them ready to hear the answers? 






About Julie:






Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of HOPE & OTHER PUNCHLINES, US Only.



Rafflecopter Link:




Tour Schedule:

Week One:

5/1/2019- Dani Reviews ThingsReview

5/2/2019- Lone Tree ReviewsReview

5/3/2019- Lifestyle Of MeReview



Week Two:

5/6/2019- Jena Brown WritesReview

5/7/2019- Feed Your Fiction AddictionReview

5/8/2019- Ex LibrisReview

5/9/2019- Here's to Happy EndingsReview

5/10/2019- Struck by StoriesReview



Week Three:

5/13/2019- Belle's ArchiveReview

5/14/2019- BookHounds YAReview

5/15/2019- Life of a Literary NerdReview

5/16/2019- Savings in SecondsReview

5/17/2019- Resch Reads & ReviewsReview



Week Four:

5/20/2019- A Bookish EscapeReview

5/21/2019- Book-KeepingReview

5/22/2019- Pacific Northwest BookwormReview

5/23/2019- The Book DutchessesReview

5/24/2019- Popthebutterfly ReadsReview



Week Five:

5/27/2019- Down the Rabbit HoleReview

5/28/2019- Do You Dog-ear?- Review

5/29/2019- Two points of interestReview

5/30/2019- We Live and Breathe BooksReview

5/31/2019- The Clever ReaderReview


Sunday, May 26, 2019

Book Review - A Nearly Normal Family by M.T. Edvardsson

Photo Credit - Amazon
Stella Sandell is an average teenager from a well known local family. However, her life is turned upside down when she stands accused of the brutal murder of a man almost fifteen years her senior. Everyone wants to know how Stella knows the man and what her motive for the murder.

Stella's father is a pastor and her mother is a criminal defense attorney. They both are considered pillars of truth, honesty, and integrity in the community. When news of Stella's arrest arrive, they find their morals to be tested as they defend their daughter. How far will they go to protect their daughter? What secrets is Stella hiding?

The novel was narrated by three different narrators: her father, Stella, and her mother. It was interesting to see how all three characters overlapped for a satisfying ending. While the book was an engrossing read, I had a hard time rooting for Stella. Stella does a lot of things because she is bored and nothing happens to her. However, when her plans go awry, she puts the blame on other people instead of blaming herself. Personally, I didn't care for her as a person as when people were trying to help her, she kept pushing them away. Overall, the book as an entertaining read and I look forward to reading more books from the author.


 **Disclosure - I received a free uneditted 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.**

Friday, May 24, 2019

YSL The Shock Volumizing Mascara









The volumizing mascara promises to coat each lash with a single stroke. It promises not to clump and provide volume for days. I found the mascara to go smoothly and provided a thick fringe. I noticed that it did take a while to dry because I got smudges even after a minute or two after application. Personally, I felt like the mascara was very clumpy. Overall, it wasn't my favorite.

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Too Faced Sketch Marker Liquid Art Eyeliner - Deep Navy Blue












The sketch marker is inspired by Japanese calligraphy pens. It promises to provide vivid paintbrush strokes. It is waterproof and will stay put all day. I found the eyeliner dried out very quickly and the color was not bright or bold at all. I had to apply two coats to get visible color on my lids. The brush point also dragged against my skin. Definitely not the easiest or best eyeliner I have used.