Books You Should Read

So I have been on a bit of a reading kick lately and thankfully NetGalley has kept me going with various books to read. The following books are the ones I received in exchange for review and I really enjoyed reading. More than a few took me by surprise with how much I loved them and I will admit that I did shed a few tears while reading a couple. If you are a after a new book to read then any of the ones on this list I highly recommend!

It Ends With You by S.K Wright out 6th of September - the blurb reads:

'If I'd told the truth, it would have been fiction.' 

Everyone loves Eva. Beautiful, bright, fun, generous - she's perfect.

So when her body is found in a ditch in the local woods the only thing anyone wants to know is: Who could have done this?

It has to be Luke, her boyfriend. He has the motive, the means, the opportunity and he's no stranger to the police.

Even though the picture is incomplete, the pieces fit. But as time passes, stories change.

It Ends With You is clever and compulsive. It challenges preconceptions, makes you second-guess yourself with each chapter, and it holds an uncomfortable mirror up to the way societies and systems treat outsiders

I found it hard at first to get into this book but once it got going I could not put it down, if you like mysteries and books that will keep you hanging on until the last minute then you will love this book. I did find it ended unexpectedly so be prepared to be left hanging, so I am hoping for a sequel soon but it was a great YA read.

Perfect Harmony by  Emily Albright out 25th of September - the blurb reads:

Pippa Wyndham is a top cellist―she’d never settle for anything less. Determined to get into the nation’s most prestigious music college, nothing’s going to stand in her way . . . Until her senior year of high school when a new guy from a fancy New York conservatory transfers to her school. 

Declan Brogan’s cocky, and he knows how amazing he is at the cello. He has every intention of knocking Pippa out of first chair and showing her who really belongs on top. Forced together when assigned a duet, their personal competition and mutual dislike transform into a teasing friendship.

Torn between her childhood crush and the boy who threatens her dreams, Pippa finds herself at risk of losing her best friend, her future, and the boy who makes her heart melt. Struggling to make things right, Pippa discovers that sometimes the thing you want the most doesn’t always end up being the thing you need.

This book was a pleasant surprise and one I have no doubt will be read by many in the coming months. I enjoyed reading about Pippa and how driven she was, there are times when reading a book I wish they had a soundtrack to go with them and this was one of those times! I would've loved to have heard Pippa and Declan's playing and duet. I'm not a musical person at all but I really enjoyed this book and still found I could relate to the struggles that Pippa was going through.

The Last Wish of Sasha Cade by Cheyanne Young out 2nd of October - the blurb reads:

How far would you go for your best friend?

The day Raquel has been dreading for months has finally arrived. Sasha, her best friend in the whole world, has died of cancer. Overwhelmed and brokenhearted, Raquel can’t even imagine life without her.

And then a letter from Sasha arrives. Has she somehow found a way to communicate from beyond the grave?

In fact, Sasha spent her final weeks planning an elaborate scavenger hunt for the friend she would have to leave behind. When Raquel follows the instructions to return to Sasha’s grave, a mysterious stranger with striking eyes is waiting for her. There’s a secret attached to this boy that only Sasha – and now Raquel – knows.

This boy, Elijah, might be just who Raquel needs to help her move on from her terrible loss. But can Raquel remain true to herself while also honoring her friend’s final wish?

Cheyanne Young’s compulsively readable breakout novel offers abiding friendship and forbidden romance, along with an incisive look at how class differences shape who we are and who we grow to be

I LOVED this book, I had no idea what to expect going into it but it was so good. I cried so much while reading it but apart from that I have no complaints. It reminded me a bit of 13 Reasons Why if the tapes were positive and about drawing people together, not getting revenge. I liked how it didn't focus or dwell on the cancer rather focusing on Sasha's life and helping Rocky move on while also remembering her friendship and bond she had with Sasha. The characters were great and I could not fault this book in the slightest.

Burden of Proof by DiAnn Mills out 9th of October - the blurb reads:
FBI Hostage Negotiator April Ramos becomes a hostage herself in this race to find out the truth before the real murderer gets away.

While it did take me a few chapters to get into this book, I did end up enjoying this book and it was a great read. I am not normally of fan of mystery and crime fiction but this book was just what I needed to read. DiAnn Mills reminded a bit of Dee Henderson and her novels so if you are a fan of her's then definitely read this book. Despite it being a mystery and crime novel it was not at all dark. I loved the characters of April and Jason and it was great to see how they wrestled with their views during such a rough time. April wants to do what's right by the law but at the same time wants to help Jason get justice. Jason want's justice but also wants to put his daughter first and not put anyone else in danger.
It was a great read and a story I am glad I read.

Delayed Justice by Cara C Putman out 16th of October - the blurb reads:

She had long given up the desire to be loved. Now she only needed to be heard.

This thrilling installment of the Hidden Justice series explores the healing power of resolution and the weight of words given voice. And as Jaime pursues delayed justice of her own, she unearths eternal truths that will change the course of her life

I have yet to read any of the other books in this series but regardless I enjoyed this book and loved reading about Jaime's story. It's a story about strength and finding the courage to face your past. I found it slow moving at times and there were a few storylines that I felt could've been left out as they didn't make sense. Overall it was an enjoyable read and I am planning on reading the other books in the series.

On Magnolia Lane by Denise Hunter out 6th of Novemeber - the blurb reads:

Pastor Jack McReady has secretly carried a torch for Daisy for two long years. She’s a member of his congregation, after all, and she’ll never see him as more than a trusted counselor. Jack’s best friend Noah has taken every opportunity to encourage his lovesick friend, but when Noah catches wind that Daisy has joined an online dating site, he takes matters into his own hands and orchestrates a meet-cute of the most unconventional kind.

Owner of the local flower shop, Daisy Pendleton is content with her small-town life, but she’d sure like someone to share it with. After several disastrous first dates, she’s about to give up—and then she finds a seemingly wonderful man online. Daisy gets to know TJ through a series of messages but finds herself spending more time with Pastor Jack outside of the church at the same time. What she doesn’t know is that her online prospect and Jack are one and the same.

Just as Daisy’s love life starts to look promising, a mysterious woman appears in town. Daisy is faced with a revelation about her family that turns her world upside down, and she looks to both TJ and Jack for help.

Jack must find a way to reveal himself as her online suitor without breaking her heart and losing her trust. As Daisy faces Jack’s betrayal, she’ll have to learn to extend grace to herself, her family, and the man she’s grown to love.

I love Denise Hunter and her books never fail to transport me away to various places and this book made me want to find a small town to live in and start a flower shop. I loved the story of Jack and Daisy, it was a great story and you could tell from the start they were meant to be.
I loved that it wasn't just a love story, it was a story about finding family and forgiveness. It was a great book and a must read.

A Danger to Herself and Others by Alyssa Sheinmel out 5th of February - the blurb reads:

Girl, Interrupted meets We Were Liars in this gripping new novel from New York Times bestselling author Alyssa Sheinmel

Four walls. One window. No way to escape.

Hannah knows there’s been a mistake. She didn’t need to be institutionalized. What happened to her roommate at that summer program was an accident. As soon as the doctors and the judge figure out she isn’t a danger to herself or others, she can go home to start her senior year. Those college applications aren’t going to write themselves. Until then, she’s determined to win over the staff and earn some privileges so she doesn’t lose her mind to boredom.

Then Lucy arrives. Lucy has her own baggage, and she’s the perfect project to keep Hannah’s focus off all she is missing at home. But Lucy may be the one person who can get Hannah to confront the secrets she’s avoiding—and the dangerous games that landed her in confinement in the first place.

Alyssa Sheinmel is one of those authors who I would love to meet and pick her brain about where she gets the ideas for her books and how can write novels that are capture living with a mental illness perfectly. This book did not disappoint and if you have loved her past books it's a must read.
I had no idea what to think of Hannah at the start, she was a confusing character to the say the least  though a part of me felt mad on Hannah's behalf and how she was being treated. But as the book went on my feelings started to change about Hannah and how I felt about her and as much as the book was a journey about Hannah it was also a journey of my feelings regarding Hannah and her situation. I had no idea where the book was going and I honestly don't know what to write about this book as I feel that describing it won't do it justice and you really must read it for yourself to get the full experience.
This book is a must read and while it is dark in areas, I am so glad I read it and I have no doubt that this book will stay with me for a long time.
My one complaint is that this book needs a sequel with more of Hannah's story, I just feel like Hannah's story isn't complete yet.

***I was provided with an e-book copy of each of the following books from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own :)