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

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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: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD

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:

Julie Buxbaum is the New York Times best selling author of Tell Me Three Things, her young adult debut, What to Say Next and the forthcoming Hope and other Punchlines (out May 7, 2019.) She’s also the author of two critically acclaimed novels for adults: The Opposite of Love and After You. Her work has been translated into twenty-five languages. Julie’s writing has appeared in various publications, including The New York Times. She is a former lawyer and graduate of Harvard Law School and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two children, and more books than is reasonable. Visit Julie online at www.juliebuxbaum.com and follow @juliebux on Twitter.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

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

Rafflecopter Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba2927/?

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

5/1/2019- Dani Reviews Things- Review

5/2/2019- Lone Tree Reviews- Review

5/3/2019- Lifestyle Of Me- Review

Week Two:

5/6/2019- Jena Brown Writes- Review

5/7/2019- Feed Your Fiction Addiction- Review

5/8/2019- Ex Libris- Review

5/9/2019- Here's to Happy Endings- Review

5/10/2019- Struck by Stories- Review

Week Three:

5/13/2019- Belle's Archive- Review

5/14/2019- BookHounds YA- Review

5/15/2019- Life of a Literary Nerd- Review

5/16/2019- Savings in Seconds- Review

5/17/2019- Resch Reads & Reviews- Review

Week Four:

5/20/2019- A Bookish Escape- Review

5/21/2019- Book-Keeping- Review

5/22/2019- Pacific Northwest Bookworm- Review

5/23/2019- The Book Dutchesses- Review

5/24/2019- Popthebutterfly Reads- Review

Week Five:

5/27/2019- Down the Rabbit Hole- Review

5/28/2019- Do You Dog-ear?- Review

5/29/2019- Two points of interest- Review

5/30/2019- We Live and Breathe Books- Review

5/31/2019- The Clever Reader- Review

Book Review - The Memory House by Rachel Hauck

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Beck Holiday is still reeling eighteen years later over the death of her beloved father. She and her mother lost him during the attacks on 9/11. She can no longer remember him and lost most of her memories of him. Recently, Beck was suspended for police misconduct with a suspect. She is struggling to get her life back in order especially, with life alternating secret. She is unsure what her next steps in life should be.

When Beck receives a mysterious letter in the main alerting her of an inheritance from a woman she doesn't remember, she is confused but, takes it as a sign. She travels to the northern coast of Florida to view the house she inherited. During her stay in Florida, Beck realizes that there are some things she can't forget forever. Will the trip be able to heal her heart and restore her memories?

I have a few books from Rachel Hauck on my TBR pile. Out of the three, I decided to start with this novel first. Boy, was I sadly disappointed. The book was told from the perspective of four different people who all share a connection with the house. They all had a connection with each other. I was hardly able to build a bond or connection with any of the characters. More than 75% into the book, I lost interest in the book. There was nothing interesting going on that warranted me to waste more time reading this novel.  I think some portion of the book was poorly written and felt choppy in some parts. For example, when Beck experience a flashback of her memories and Beck believes God is speaking to her, she stumbles around into Bruno's childhood home. Then Bruno and his mother were talking about her and the incident like she can't overhear them and it's an everyday occurrence. I am not sure why, but that whole incident just felt weird to me. Overall, the storyline did not grab me enough to want to finish this novel.

 **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 - Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat: Enemies #2 by Johnny Marciano

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In this second novel of the series, Klawde and Raj explore the delicate relationships of childhood friendship. As Raj begins his first day at a new school, he is worried about making friends. When both Klawde and Raj acclimate to their new environment, they get a surprise visit from someone from their past. Will Klawde and Raj be able to overcome their differences and become allies with the people from their past?

I thought this novel was enjoyable like the first one. It had the same amount of humor and illustrations. I like that even though Klawde and Raj were going through something similar, they both had different outcomes and ways of coping. I hope there are more books to the series as I am looking forward to their friendship continue to grow.

 **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: The Promise of Jesse Woods by Chris Fabry

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In the summer of 1972, Matt Plumley's family moves from Pittsburgh to Dogwood, West Virginia when his father joins the church as the new pastor. At a pivotal time in his childhood, Matt befriends two outcasts; Dickie a mixed race boy and Jesse who is raising her younger sister. Matt and his friends forge bonds but when tragedy strikes, it threatens to rip them apart. Will Matt and his friends be able to save their friendship?

The novel was an interesting read and a unique story line. The book was a quick read but I felt the baseball facts was a bit annoying and overwhelming while taking away from the story. A great story about friendship, forgiveness and acceptance and perfect for young readers.

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

Book Review - The Things We Knew by Catherine West

Photo Credit - Amazon

An unexpected tragedy hits a young family as their beloved mother perishes. The once close-knit family is still reeling from the incident. Broken friendships and strained relations cause the siblings to leave their childhood home and never return until their youngest sister asks them to come home because of their father's health and struggling with his finances.When the Carlisle siblings return home, secret and promises come undone along with past betrayals. Will they be able to forget the past and come together and save their home? Will Lynette be able to remember what happened the night her mother was murdered? 

A heart warming story of forgiveness, redemption, love and familial bonds. The novel was an easy going read but provided a lot of twists and turns throughout the novel. I like how the novel had a different type of romantic ending. 

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