This week was spent icing cookies and petting puppies galore at a local Pet Fest – a perfect week, if you ask me! On the other hand, I hit a bit of a snag with my reading. In a rush to finish my month old stack of library books, plus trying to fit in some new Net Galley reads, I just couldn’t decide on any one book and ended up switching back and forth between five. Not the best system, but I did manage to finish a couple this week, including one of my Readathon picks, What’s a Ghoul to Do by Victoria Laurie. I just couldn’t wait any longer!

Currently, I’m reading Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff – what a thrilling read! I can’t believe it took me so long to start!

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

A shocking new thriller, The Couple Next Door follows the chilling abduction of Anne and Marco’s six-month old baby girl, as a seemingly innocent night leads to tragedy. After the baby sitter cancels last minute, the couple decide to go forward with their dinner plans and besides, they’ll only be next door. bring the baby monitor and check in on her every half hour, what could go wrong? But returning home, Anne finds the front door cracked open and their beloved child gone without a trace. With little evidence and rising suspicions, tensions quickly rise as shocking secrets are revealed and a family left undone.

“The wife is always the last to know, right?”

As a previous Book of the Month Club pick, I had pretty high expectation going into my reading, but even with the novel’s provocative twists and turns, I was left disappointed. The novel is full of decept, and not just from the main characters, from neighbors to investigators to the parents themselves, no one seems to tell the truth, or at least the whole truth. And yes, while the beginning premise of the novel is shocking, parents leaving behind a near new born for dinner and drinks next door, it’s definitely over played while following twists are abandoned right after the reveal. The most interesting point of the novel was the dynamic between Anne and Marco. Even after the first big reveal, their rocky relationship surprisingly remains intact, but after lying to each other for so long, what’s one more? Of course relationships are never quite realistic in their portrayal throughout the mystery genre, but it felt like a missing piece throughout the novel when so much of the investigator’s work was wound around the family. Overall, shocking but not jaw dropping in my book.

Rating: 3 Stars        Goodreads

Replica by Lauren Oliver

A two-book novel, Replica explores the horrifying secrets behind the mysterious research facility Haven, auspiciously located on a deserted island off the coast of Florida. After repetitive illnesses as a child, in and out of hospitals over the years, Gemma’s parents keep a close watch. Between school and home, she rarely spend a moment to herself without a pair of peering eyes overhead, but after a seemingly harmless prank scares her parents into cancelling her spring break plans, coincidently timed with new allegations against her father, Gemma will stop at nothing to reach Haven in order to uncover the truth, no matter how dark the consequences. Meanwhile, Lyra has spent her entire life at Haven. Known as Subject 24, she’s under constant surveillance and a tight schedule of medical and cognitive testing, until a window of escape presents itself. Now, after a chance encounter, the two pair up to uncover earth-shattering secrets that will change their lives forever.

“A strange and baffling truth: that the people we’re supposed to know best can turn out to be strangers, and that near strangers can feel so much like home.”

First, a few tips on how to read the book(s). Though you can easily read one book at a time, I think the best option is to read both stories together, flipping back and forth, preferably beginning with Lyra and ending with Gemma. I ended up reading 4 chapters of each story at a time and ended with Lyra, but I wish I’d ended on Gemma’s story – hers felt like the end all, be all conclusion (it’s also followed by the author’s bio page, which also hints at it being THE end).

“They would face it together, as they were then: turned human by joy, by a belonging that felt just like freedom.”

Replica was one of the most enthralling reads I’ve enjoyed in some time, full of action, romance and mystery. Starting with the girls, reading both Gemma and Lyra felt like I’d taken a step back to visit my teenage self – Oliver definitely knows how to write teenagers, but that’s where they started to fall flat for me. Above the common teenage fears, “I’m different, no one’s going to like me” or “who am I really? who do I want to be?”, there was little focus on actual consequences. Especially in the conclusions, both ending on romance rather than a “we’re saved!”. It felt like a bit of a cop-out ending, even if it’s a planned series there could be a hint of an open ending to show where the story might lead rather than firmly confirming that yes, both girls got the boy. That aside, I couldn’t help but fall for Pervy Pete! He’s quirky, and somehow awkward but smooth at the same time. He makes the perfect knight in shining armor, ready to take charge into the unknown (literally) and always reassuring Gemma when she needs it. Plus, he makes a perfect foil to Subject 72 (Lyra’s love interest) who is just now learning about the outside world, struggling to define himself as a Replica or a human, and trying to distinguish what that even means. He has a lot on his plate right now, just like Lyra, and unlike Gemma and Pete, they make the perfect team, always working together and equally leaning on each other for support. While much is revealed about Haven and the girls, I think we still have a lot more to uncover in the next installment. I can’t wait to see where the story leads! Will they make it home? And, if they do, how is Gemma’s dad going to help Lyra?

Rating: 3 Stars       Goodreads

What have you read lately?

**Welcome to Weekly Reads! Each Monday I’ll share reviews for my most recent reads. For more reviews, please visit my page, The Reads: From A to Z.**

 Well, after a week of plentiful reads and great Fall weather… it all came crashing down while watching last night’s debate. Neither is a candidate I can really stand behind, but at least they were able to discuss a bit more policy last night instead of carrying on with the theatrics… well, less than usual.

That said, don’t wait for election day to act. Check your voting status, download a sample ballot, do your homework. There’s more at stake than just the presidential candidacy this fall!

The Fever Code by James Dashner

Before the maze, there was just a boy. Young and alone, Thomas is rescued by W.I.C.K.E.D., given clean clothes, food, a bed, educated, and kept safe… but beyond the surface, he can sense their deception. Why is he alone – separated from the other children he’s heard but not seen? As he ages, Thomas is allowed more contact, but as group efforts to escape fail, he’s punished with isolation. With higher stakes and closer kept secrets, Theresa’s friendship is all that remains. Together they’ll design the maze, and together they’ll find the cure, but at what cost?

“One must know the problem better than the solution, or the solution becomes the problem.”

Finally, some answers! Though not at all what I expected, it finally makes sense! How easy everything came to Thomas, almost like a memory, how strong their friendships became (they were already friends!), and even how dodgy Theresa could be… it all fits into place. I never suspected Thomas would know the Gladers personally before surveilling their every move in the maze. While I’m glad to see all my favorites, especially Newt and Minho, it didn’t sit well with me – how could he not tell them about the grievers, how could he not tell them about the maze at all? Not that W.I.C.K.E.D. would have allowed it, or that they would even remember going into the maze, but it feels like a betrayal, something that the Thomas in the earlier novels would never have done. And what about Group B? I still wonder about the other two – Aris and Rachel, what about them? While the prequel does reveal more about Aris, it still leaves a lot to be presumed. Perhaps even room for another book?

Rating: 4 Stars         Goodreads

The Graces by Laure Eve

Alice is the new girl at school. Teaming with social anxiety, she spends her lunches alone in the library reading, until she meets the Graces. Sure, she’s heard of them, everyone’s heard of them, especially after what happened at their 8th birthday party with the Ouija board… Even with rumors of magic and broomsticks, the Graces are the most popular kids in school: Summer, the youngest, is always flocked by a gaggle of girls trying to be her friend, same as her older sister, Thalia, and their brother Fenrin, well, he never has to worry who he’ll bring to the prom, but no one’s friends with the Graces for very long – how else could they keep their secrets hidden? Meeting Alice, now called River, they’ve seemingly found the fourth sibling they never knew they were missing – she’s a natural fit with the Graces, until her own secrets get in the way, starting with her father’s mysterious disappearance.

“…I was not like those prattling, chattering things with their careful head tosses and thick cloying lip gloss. Inside, buried down deep where no one could see it, was the core of me, burning endlessly, coal black and coal bright.”

The Graces was disappointingly all hype – no cookie for me. Reviewed by many as a mix of The Craft and The Virgin Suicides… the characters give off more of a Cullen vibe than anything else, but that’s just one of the many issues I have with the book. For starters, to call River an unreliable narrator is an understatement. As the reader, we see her pretend exterior, riddled with forced action and “look at me, look at me” ploys, but we also see her inner thoughts and feelings, or as many as she’s willing to show. She constantly gives it all away until she realizes she’s already revealed too much, pulling on the reins just as the reader understands there’s an entire piece of the puzzle still missing. At the beginning, when she’s still Alice, she’s a relatable character – the new girl, just wants to be left alone but wants to make friends too. It’s a tough spot to be in, but she soon gains attention when she stands up to the school’s minor bullies, only to show her true nature to the readers as she does it. Niral may be a bully, but the way Alice/River thinks about her is worrying. She calls the other girls “things” and focuses on their outer appearance to make up for her own insecurity, but on a deeper level, it really calls to attention the underlying issue with the novel. On the outside, we all look perfect, or maybe we look disheveled but seem to have confidence, or maybe we have good grades so life is great – whatever it is that people see, that’s not who we are. Everyone has their own issues, their own struggles, especially River. She knows this about herself, but can’t seem to grasp the concept applies to everyone, even the Graces. The humor of her explanation of The Virgin Suicides wasn’t wasted text – she easily could have solved her problems if she’d listened to herself then and there!

“It’s all about how sometimes normal people can be capable of extraordinary things. Like, you’d just never know that these girls had it inside them to do the horrible things they do. We always have to find reasons to make order out of chaos, but the worst horror is when the reasons are totally banal, or when there isn’t any reason at all.”

With no surprise, the ending was predictably frustrating, River’s story came as no surprise, but her final scene with the Graces left much to be desired. Surely she was in the wrong, but weren’t they as well? She needed help, they even admit that, so why not offer it to her? Instead, they weave a passive aggressive assault in the name of revenge. I understand their friendship is complicated, to say the least, but instead of trying to understand each other, they decide to keep playing the game – but what was their prize? While I won’t be jumping to preorder, it will be interesting to see what River does next in the sequel. Teaming up with Marcus, I can only guess the trouble she’ll stir.

Rating: 3 Stars        Goodreads

What have you been reading lately?