popthebutterfly's reviews
2491 reviews

 

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own. 

 

Book: Klara’s Truth 

 

Author: Susan Weissbach Friedman 

 

Book Series: Standalone 

 

Rating: 4.5/5 

 

Diversity: American Jewish MC, Polish Jewish characters 

 

Recommended For...: fiction book readers, historical fiction, WW2 

 

Publication Date: June 11, 2024 

 

Genre: Fiction 

 

Age Relevance: 17+ (parental death, war, genocide, postpartum depression, child neglect, romance, PTSD, slight language, pregnancy, miscarriage, PPD, child molestation, narcissism) 

 

Explanation of Above: Parental death and child molestation are mentioned in the book. There are scenes showing child neglect. War and genocide are mentioned. Postpartum depression and narcissism are shown in the book. There are scenes of PTSD episodes. There is some romance shown, but nothing is sexually shown. There is slight strong language in the book. Pregnancy and miscarriage are mentioned. 

 

Publisher: She Writes Press 

 

Pages: 280 

 

Synopsis: It is May 2014, and Dr. Klara Lieberman—forty-nine, single, professor of archaeology at a small liberal arts college in Maine, a contained person living a contained life—has just received a letter from her estranged mother, Bessie, that will dramatically change her life. Her father, she learns—the man who has been absent from her life for the last forty-three years, and about whom she has long been desperate for information—is dead. Has been for many years, in fact, which Bessie clearly knew. But now the Polish government is giving financial reparations for land it stole from its Jewish citizens during WWII, and Bessie wants the money. Klara has little interest in the money—but she does want answers about her father. She flies to Warsaw, determined to learn more. In Poland, Klara begins to piece together her father’s, and her own, story. She also connects with extended family, begins a romantic relationship, and discovers her repairing the hundreds of forgotten, and mostly destroyed, pre-War Jewish cemeteries in Poland. Along the way, she becomes a more integrated, embodied, and interpersonally connected individual—one with the tools to make peace with her past and, for the first time in her life, build purposefully toward a bigger future. 

 

Review: I thought that this was a really interesting concept for a book. This book follows our main character whose name is Klara. When Klara was young, her father supposedly walked out on her and her mother and her mother is not that great of a mother, I can empathize. Klara's mother is really emotionally distant and by the time that this book starts, Klara is an older adult about to turn 50 and she is very low contact with her mother. Klara is an archaeologist and she teaches at a university, but she has not really explored her own culture. She is Jewish but she doesn't know or participate in a lot of the culture and she doesn't really know of her father's side of the family. That is until her mother tells her of a letter that has come from her father sister and that's when our main character seizes the opportunity to figure out more about herself. I did like that the book focused on an older main character who is still trying to figure herself out, that gives a lot of Hope to people like me in their mid-thirties who have no idea what we're doing in our lives. I also liked that the book was set in 2014 that it focused a lot on learning about the past. So for her it would have been learning a lot about Jewish culture but also what has happened in the aftermath of WW2 in regards to Jewish people. This book did only really focus on Poland so it didn't really expand on other countries and the book also focuses a lot on our main character's trauma, especially that of child molestation trauma that happened when she was younger. I thought the book was really good and the concept can really be taken to heart by a lot of people, especially those who are older and still don't know what they're doing in their life or they don't really know who they are as a person or about their family. It is never too late to go figure out what you are doing on this Earth. 
 
 The only thing that I would say was a downside to this book is that it felt like there were a lot of really slow paced moments and that the book was repetitive a bit, especially in the middle. 

 

Verdict: It was so good! 

 

Disclaimer: I got this book at my library. Support your local library! All opinions are my own. 

 

Book: Year of the Reaper 

 

Author: Makiia Lucier 

 

Book Series: Standalone 

 

Rating: 3.5/5 

 

Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, historical fiction, mystery, high fantasy 

 

Publication Date: November 9, 2021 

 

Genre: YA Fantasy 

 

Age Relevance: 13+ (illness, plague, vomit and blood gore, war, PTSD, nonconsensual experimental procedures) 

 

Explanation of Above: The book showcases a plague that just occurred and shows and mentions illness that is still around. There is vomit and blood gore in the book, as well as war mentioned. PTSD is shown in the book. There is also a scene where people are shown to be experimented on without their consent. 

 

Publisher: Clarion Books 

 

Pages: 324 

 

Synopsis: The past never forgets... Before an ambush by enemy soldiers, Lord Cassia was an engineer's apprentice on a mission entrusted by the king. But when plague sweeps over the land, leaving countless dead and devastating the kingdom, even Cas’ title cannot save him from a rotting prison cell and a merciless sickness. Three years later, Cas wants only to return to his home in the mountains and forget past horrors. But home is not what he remembers. His castle has become a refuge for the royal court. And they have brought their enemies with them. When an assassin targets those closest to the queen, Cas is drawn into a search for a killer… one that leads him to form an unexpected bond with a brilliant young historian named Lena. Cas and Lena soon realize that who is behind the attacks is far less important than why. They must look to the past, following the trail of a terrible secret—one that could threaten the kingdom’s newfound peace and plunge it back into war. 

 

Review: This book was really interesting. The book focused on our main character whose name is Cassia. He works for the king as an engineer's apprentice and he is sent on a mission by the King with a whole battalion of people. But then a plague, strikes and some other stuff goes down and anyways he ends up being captured by this other kingdom. Years later he is able to return back to his original Kingdom but his home is not what he remembers it to be. There is also an assassin that is on the loose that is trying to do in the queen and that sends our main character on this mission to figure out why and who. For the most part, I thought that the concept that this book was really interesting and the world building of it was pretty well done. I also liked the characters and I like that there was like a lot of twists and turns to these characters. 
 
 However, I wanted more plague in my plague book. For it being this really focal thing that happened it wasn't mentioned a lot nor was it really a thing at play. This book felt a lot more like a book that was a second or a third in a series rather than it being a standalone. And I just feel like there could have been more of just about everything and maybe it would have made the book better. 

 

Verdict: It was good, but I wanted more plague. 

 

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own. 

 

Book: Effie Olsen’s Summer Special 

 

Author: Rochelle Bilow 

 

Book Series: Standalone 

 

Rating: 5/5 

 

Diversity: Sapphic side couple, Mexican side character 

 

Recommended For...: adult book readers, romance, contemporary 

 

Publication Date: April 30, 2024 

 

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

 

Age Relevance: 18+ (romance, sexual content, harassment, sexual harassment, language, alcohol consumption, COVID) 

 

Explanation of Above: This is an adult romance book, so there is romance and sexual content including sexting and sex scenes. There are mentions and showings of harassment and sexual harassment. There is some strong language. There are scenes of alcohol consumption. There is a mention of COVID. 

 

Spice: 3/5 

 

Publisher: Berkley 

 

Pages: 384 

 

Synopsis: These childhood best friends swore they’d never speak again. But that was before a surprise summer reunion gives them a chance to turn up the heat. Effie Olsen thought she’d never settle down on the tiny Maine island where she grew up, but she’s returning from a whirlwind sixteen years as a professional chef in far-flung countries for one summer and one summer only. Her hometown boasts one of the best restaurants in the US, and lucky for her, Brown Butter needs a sous chef. Effie is eager for a chance at redemption after her last job went up in flames, but reluctant to set down roots in a place that reminds her of the ghosts of her past. Until, that is, she runs into Ernie Callahan, her onetime best friend who now works in the very same restaurant. Early morning swims and late-night games of truth or dare with Ernie remind her of what she’s been missing while traveling the world. He knows her better than anyone, and it doesn’t hurt that his smile lights her up brighter than the lighthouses dotting the craggy coastline. But Brown Butter has a secret that’s bursting at the seams, and if Effie doesn’t keep it, her job will vanish into the foggy Maine air. As summer draws to a close, she realizes a second chance at her dream job and the perfect guy are both within reach. The salty seaside town of Alder Isle is the key to Effie’s sweet ending.... All she has to do now is learn to let her heart lead the way. 

 

Review: Maybe I'm just in a romance mood, but this book was so cute and I liked it a lot. In this book we follow our main character whose name is Effie. Our main character is a professional chef and she has went to a lot of different countries , but she finds herself back home in Maine due to a mysterious reason that the reader finds out along the way. Her plan is to only stay one summer and she plans to work at this restaurant that prides itself on using locally sourced food. There. She reconnects with an old flame and they end up working together but also Effie finds out that locally sourced apparently does not mean local in this restaurant and she ends up investigating what is actually going down in this restaurant. This character is a little older then normal romance books which I really liked. I am in my thirties and while I do love YA and middle grade and the college age crowd, I like seeing myself and my age group in books LOL. I really liked the character development and the story that went along with this book. I like that the romance was there and a focal point at the book but it wasn't the main thing about this book. I also really liked the world building and I would gladly come back to this book world.
 
 The only thing that I found just a little off-putting was a little bit of plot gaps here and there and some pacing issues, but again I had an early ARC so they have probably been resolved. 

 

Verdict: I loved it so much. 

 

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own. 

 

Book: Dragon Rider 

 

Author: Taran Matharu 

 

Book Series: The Soulbound Saga book 1 

 

Rating: 1/5 

 

Diversity: Character who uses a wheelchair 

 

Recommended For...: adult book readers, epic fantasy, high fantasy 

 

Publication Date: April 23, 2024 

 

Genre: Epic Fantasy 

 

Age Relevance: 18+ (sexual innuendo, death, parental death, war, language, animal hunting, animal injury, prejudice/racism, slavery, alcohol consumption, etc.) 

 

Explanation of Above: I DNF’d this read at about 25% in. In that timespan, I observed the following: sexual innuendos. Death and parental death. On-going war, prejudice, racism, and slavery. Strong language. Animal hunting detailed and injury to an animal. Alcohol consumption shown on page. 

 

Publisher: Harper Voyager 

 

Pages: 576 

 

Synopsis: Can an orphan captive learn the secrets of the Dragon Riders to stand up and avenge his people? Jai lives as a royal hostage in the Sabine Court—ever since his father Rohan, leader of the Steppefolk, led a failed rebellion and was executed by the very emperor Jai now serves. When the emperor’s son and heir is betrothed to Princess Erica of the neighboring Dansk Kingdom, she brings with her dragons. Endemic to the northern nation, these powerful beasts come in several forms, but mystery surrounds them. Only Dansk royalty know the secret to soulbonding with these dangerous beasts to draw on their power and strength. This marriage—and the alliance that forms—will change that forever. But conspirators lurk in the shadows, and soon the Sabine Court is in chaos. With his life in danger, Jai uses the opportunity to escape with the Dansk handmaiden, Frida, and a stolen hatchling. Hunted at every turn, he must learn to cultivate magic and become a soulbound warrior if he has any chance of finding safety, seizing his destiny…and seeking his revenge. 

 

Review: I was really disappointed in this book. I was a fan of Taren Matharu's other series (Contender) and I expected that the series would be a lot like that other one. I was really excited to read it and then I actually read this. This book feels like it's trying way too hard to be Game of Thrones. You have to read the synopsis to understand what is going on in the first part of the book and it doesn't even really entirely explain what the hell is going on. I felt very confused and frustrated by having to constantly work. My brain really hard to understand what I was reading and it just wasn't something that I was looking forward to anymore after about 10% in. I did last until about 25% but I was not a happy reader. The happiest that I was when reading that book was when I decided to stop reading it. 

 

Verdict: It was not for me, but it might be for you. 

 

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own. 

 

Book: When I Think Of You 

 

Author: Myah Ariel 

 

Book Series: Standalone 

 

Rating: 5/5 

 

Diversity: Black American MCs, Black American characters 

 

Recommended For...: adult readers, romance, contemporary, chick lit 

 

Publication Date: April 16, 2024 

 

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

 

Age Relevance: 18+ (sexual content, romance, language, alcohol consumption, racism, sex, parental death, grief) 

 

Explanation of Above: This is an adult romance book, so there is sexual content, sex scenes, and romance. There is some alcohol consumption shown in the book. There is some strong language. There are moments of racism. Parental death is mentioned and grief is shown. 

 

Spice: 2.5/5 

 

Publisher: Berkley 

 

Pages: 368 

 

Synopsis: Kaliya Wilson has paid her dues. But all the years behind the reception desk at a flashy film studio have only pushed her movie-making dreams further out of reach. That is, until a surprise reunion presents an opportunity that could make her career, or break her heart…a second time. It’s been seven years since Kaliya’s whirlwind college romance with Danny Prescott went up in flames. While her passions have stalled, his career is taking off. So when the hot shot director reappears to offer her a job on his next production, it’s a shock to the system. Working with Danny may recapture the intensity of their film school days, but trusting him again won’t come as easily. As the pair allows themselves the openness and vulnerability to entrust their deepest truths to each other, the possibility of a true connection draws ever closer. But when Hollywood politics and scandal threaten to sink the production and her career, Kaliya may have to risk everything to do what’s right—even if it means letting go of the second chance love of a lifetime. 

 

Review: This was a really good romance. Read. The book follows Kaliya, our main character. She works kind of works and the movie industry, but not where she wants to be. She works as a receptionist at this big film studio and she is very undervalued at her workplace. Her boss is a big jerk and no one really gives her any notice or anything. But when the director of a really hot project comes in, who is also a guy that she had kind of a thing with back in college, she and him reconnect and things go from there. I thought that This book was really sweet and cute. I like that it focused a lot on workplace romance and rekindling old flames. Book had older characters which you don't typically see in romance, so I was really excited about that. I typically don’t like this, but I thought that the back and forth timeline was really well handled and written. And I also just really enjoyed both of the characters and I enjoyed how well developed both of them were. 
 
 The only issue I did have was that sometimes the pacing was a little off. It was too slow in places or too quick in place. I also felt like there were little gaps of details here and there which you kind of had to fill in as a reader, but I did also have an early copy of this book so it might have completely been healed by now. 

 

Verdict: I really liked this one. Highly recommend. 

 

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own. 

 

Book: Waking Fire 

 

Author: Jean Louise 

 

Book Series: Waking Fire book 1 

 

Rating: 1/5 

 

Diversity: BIPOC themed characters 

 

Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, romance, zombies 

 

Publication Date: January 10, 2023 

 

Genre: YA Fantasy 

 

Age Relevance: 15+ (parental death, violence, language, blood gore, racism, death, war, child kidnapping, religion, etc) 

 

Explanation of Above: I DNF’d this read at 34% in. The following is what I observed in that percent: parental death mentioned and shown. Death in general and war. Child kidnapping and religious themes. Violence, blood gore, and strong language. Racism. 

 

Publisher: Inkyard Press 

 

Pages: 384 

 

Synopsis: Naira Khoum has only known life in Lagusa, a quiet village at the desert’s end. But to the rest of the world, Lagusa is a myth, its location shrouded in secrecy. While war rages to the north led by power-hungry Sothpike and his army of undead monsters called Dambi, Naira’s people live in peace. Until the impossible happens—Lagusa is attacked by a Mistress sent to do Sothpike’s bidding with a hoard of Dambi under her control. The Mistress is looking for something, and she’s willing to let her Dambi destroy Lagusa to get it. Desperate to protect her home, Naira convinces her twin brother Nez and handsome refugee Kal to join the newly formed resistance with her. Together, they’ll have to figure out what the Mistress wants—before there’s nothing left of Lagusa to save. 

 

Review: I had to dnf this book. I had actually been trying to get into and read this book since about January of last year and I had only made about 34% progress in it by the time that I decided to just give up. The book is just really all over the place and it's way too fast-paced for what I think that this book should be. The book also has very quick and very little world building. I know that doesn't make any sense, but what I mean by that is whatever world building that you do get in the book, because you don't get a lot in it, it's very quick. It's a very blink and you'll miss it kind of thing. And at the end of my journey and reading this book I just found myself getting really frustrated with not knowing what the hell was going on. I did have to read the synopsis and even that didn't help. So I just gave up. 

 

Verdict: It was not for me, but it might be for you! 

 

Disclaimer: My husband bought this and lent it to me to read. All opinions are my own. 

 

Book: Gideon the Ninth 

 

Author: Tamsyn Muir 

 

Book Series: The Locked Tomb Book 1 

 

Rating: 1/5 

 

Diversity: Queer/Lesbian MC and characters 

 

Recommended For...: adult readers, sci-fi, horror, queer, mystery 

 

Publication Date: September 10, 2019 

 

Genre: Sci/Fi Horror 

 

Age Relevance: 18+ (violence, blood gore, pornography mentioned, language, religion, depression, murder, etc.) 

 

Explanation of Above: I DNF’d this read at 56 pages in, but what I got from those pages were the following: violence and blood gore shown. Pornography mentioned. Strong language used. Religious themes mentioned. Depression shown. Murder mentioned. 

 

Publisher: Tor 

 

Pages: 448 

 

Synopsis: The Emperor needs necromancers. The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman. Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead bullshit. Brought up by unfriendly, ossifying nuns, ancient retainers, and countless skeletons, Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude and an afterlife as a reanimated corpse. She packs up her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and prepares to launch her daring escape. But her childhood nemesis won't set her free without a service. Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House and bone witch extraordinaire, has been summoned into action. The Emperor has invited the heirs to each of his loyal Houses to a deadly trial of wits and skill. If Harrowhark succeeds she will become an immortal, all-powerful servant of the Resurrection, but no necromancer can ascend without their cavalier. Without Gideon's sword, Harrow will fail, and the Ninth House will die. Of course, some things are better left dead. 

 

Review: I feel like this is going to be a review that gets a lot of people to hate me LOL. So I dnf'd this book. I tried so so hard to get into the book, I have heard so many great things about Gideon the Ninth, and I just really wanted to be in this cult. Following that the book series has amassed which also includes my husband. My husband is a big fan of the books. But unfortunately I could not get into it. I felt really confused and I was getting really frustrated with it and the time period which I was trying to read this book was really not good for me to try to conquer something like this. I don't know if I'm ever going to try this book series again or if I'm just going to ask my husband for the highlights. 

 

Verdict: It was not for me, but might be for you! 

 

Disclaimer: I got this book from the library! Support your local libraries! All opinions are my own. 

 

Book: The Wild Ones 

 

Author: Nafiza Azad 

 

Book Series: Standalone 

 

Rating: 2.5/5 

 

Diversity: BIPOC MC and characters, queer characters 

 

Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, witches, queer 

 

Publication Date: August 3, 2021 

 

Genre: YA Fantasy 

 

Age Relevance: 15+ (sexual content, sexism, poverty, child trafficking, slavery, grief, suicide) 

 

Explanation of Above: There is some mentions of sexual content. There are mentions and showings of poverty and child trafficking. Sexism is shown, as well as slavery and grief. There are also mentions of suicide. 

 

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books 

 

Pages: 352 

 

Synopsis: Meet the Wild Ones: girls who have been hurt, abandoned, and betrayed all their lives. It all began with Paheli, who was once betrayed by her mother and sold to a man in exchange for a favor. When Paheli escapes, she runs headlong into a boy with stars in his eyes. This boy, as battered as she is, tosses Paheli a box of stars before disappearing. With the stars, Paheli gains access to the Between, a place of pure magic and mystery. Now, Paheli collects girls like herself and these Wild Ones use their magic to travel the world, helping the hopeless and saving others from the fates they suffered. Then Paheli and the Wild Ones learn that the boy who gave them the stars, Taraana, is in danger. He’s on the run from powerful forces within the world of magic. But if Taraana is no longer safe and free, neither are the Wild Ones. And that…is a fate the Wild Ones refuse to accept. Ever again. 

 

Review: For the most part, this was an okay book. The book focuses on this group of girls who have had really tragic lives and they band together using their magic to travel the world and save or recruit other girls who have been hurt in various forms or other. The book was okay and I really liked how it was set up. And while the book was mostly comprised of prose, I do feel like it was fairly okay to follow along to, even if you're not a prose lover.
 
 However, this book was really hard for me. I am really not a prose lover and it just made it really hard for me to follow along sometimes. It also took me a bit to figure out what was going on in the book and I did have to read the synopsis on the back to get the gist of it. I also felt like aside from two characters that the other characters in the book were not fully fleshed out and they just kind of faded a lot into the background. I also would have liked a little bit more world building. 

 

Verdict: It was not entirely for me unfortunately. But it might be for you! 

 

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own. 

 

Book: Dungeons and Drama 

 

Author: Kristy Boyce 

 

Book Series: Standalone 

 

Rating: 5/5 

 

Diversity: MM romance side couple, South Asian character 

 

Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, romance, D&D, Musicals, RomCom 

 

Publication Date: January 9, 2024 

 

Genre: YA Romance 

 

Age Relevance: 13+ (romance, underage drinking) 

 

Explanation of Above: This is a romance book, so there are some cute romance moments but nothing PG+. There are also mentions of underage drinking. 

 

Publisher: Delacorte Press 

 

Pages: 304 

 

Synopsis: Musical lover Riley has big aspirations to become a director on Broadway. Crucial to this plan is to bring back her high school’s spring musical, but when Riley takes her mom’s car without permission, she's grounded and stuck with the worst punishment: spending her after-school hours working at her dad’s game shop. Riley can't waste her time working when she has a musical to save, so she convinces Nathan—a nerdy teen employee—to cover her shifts and, in exchange, she’ll flirt with him to make his gamer-girl crush jealous. But Riley didn’t realize that meant joining Nathan's Dungeons & Dragons game…or that role playing would be so fun. Soon, Riley starts to think that flirting with Nathan doesn't require as much acting as she would've thought... 

 

Review: This book was so cute. It was so cute that I went out and bought the book recently because I could not stop thinking about it. And I'm also really excited for the second book in this little series. Anyways, this book focuses on our main character Riley who is a big theater geek. She loves musical theater and a lot of her references in the book are devoted to musical theater, but particularly those of classical musical theater and not modern musical theater, which... Eh not a fan. Anyways, in the book our main character is trying to figure out a way to save her school's theater program and she gets grounded from taking her mom's car to a theater performance and ends up at her dad's gaming shop where a group of employees and other kids play D&D on the regular there. The main character meets with one of the other employees whose name is Nathan and yeah it's a YA romance, what do you expect lol. I thought the book was really cute and it did so well at developing all the characters and building this really big story. The world building felt really well fleshed out and I just can't wait to dive back into the world of this book. I also love that the author merged both dungeons& dragons and musical theater in this book. It would seem like a really unlikely pairing, but… ya know bards exist lol.
 
 My only slight thing that I didn't like about it was that the ending was a little quick in my opinion, but also all of the musical references being classical rather than modern. I feel like that's more of a me thing though because I'm more of a modern musical theater lover than a classical musical theater lover, but you know I would have liked to see a little more RENT rather than a little more Hello Dolly. 

 

Verdict: I loved it so much. New fave. 

 

Disclaimer: I received a final copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own. 

Book: Bunt! Striking Out on Financial Aid 

Author: Ngozi Ukazu and Mad Rupert 

Book Series: Standalone 

Rating: 4/5 

Diversity: BIPOC queer MC, BIPOC characters, queer character 

Recommended For...: young adult readers, graphic novel readers, contemporary, college, sports, Softball, queer 

Publication Date: February 13, 2024 

Genre: YA Sport Graphic Novel 

Age Relevance: 14+ (language) 

Explanation of Above: There is some strong language used in the book, but it’s not a lot. 

Publisher: First Second 

Pages: 288 

Synopsis: Molly Bauer's first year of college is not the picture-perfect piece of art she'd always envisioned. On day one at PICA, Molly discovers that—through some horrible twist of fate—her full-ride scholarship has vanished! But the ancient texts (PICA's dusty financial aid documents) reveal a loophole. If Molly and 9 other art students win a single game of softball, they'll receive a massive athletic scholarship. Can Molly's crew of ragtag artists succeed in softball without dropping the ball? 

Review: I really liked this book. This book follows our protagonist whose name is Molly. She had A full ride to this University that she has pretty much dedicated her entire life into getting to and come orientation day. She finds out that the full ride does not exist anymore. If there is a better allegory for today's BS that happens to today's college entrance-es... I do not know of it. Anyways, she scrolls through some old text and she finds a loophole to get her into the college with a massive financial aid scholarship. The problem is that it's an athletic scholarship and she has to have this team up and running and I have to at least play one other team before this deadline. So the whole book focuses on her scrambling trying to get people to participate in this loophole and makes friends along the way and all that stuff. I really liked that. The book focused a lot on financial aid and the need for it. I like the world building of the book and I also liked all the character development.

However, I was kind of perplexed by a couple of little loopholes here and there in the book and it really did feel more like a second book in a series then a stand-alone. I was also left with a lot of questions at the end and I really want to know more about Molly's story and the other characters that are shown in the book. 

Verdict: It was good, I just wanted more.