Ash Reads Stuff

Enchanted Islands  by Allison Amend Publication Date: May 24th, 2016 Pages: 320  Genre:  Adult Fiction My Goodreads Rating: 3 Stars Goodreads Synopsis: Inspired by the mid-century memoirs of Frances Conway,Enchanted Islands is the dazzling story of an independent American woman whose path takes her far from her native Minnesota when she and her husband, an undercover intelligence officer, are sent to the Galápagos Islands on the brink of World War II. Born in Duluth, Minnesota, in 1882 to immigrant parents, Frances Frankowski covets the life of her best friend, Rosalie Mendel, who has everything Fanny could wish for—money, parents who value education, and an effervescent and winning personality. When, at age fifteen, Rosalie decides they should run away to Chicago, Fanny jumps at the chance to escape her unexceptional life. But within a year of living in the city, Rosalie commits an unforgiveable betrayal, provoking Frances to strike out on her own. ...

The Bright Effect by Autumn Doughton & Erica Cope Publication Date: November 16, 2015 Genre: Young Adult My Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars Goodreads Synopsis:  “Maybe promises are supposed to hurt a little.” Amelia Bright has lots of plans for the future, and none of them involve falling for a guy like Sebastian Holbrook. With a questionable reputation and an attitude to match, he’s exactly the kind of guy Amelia promised herself she’d avoid. But after an encounter that leaves her charged and breathless, she can’t stop wondering about him and the secrets he keeps hidden behind that tough exterior. Sebastian knows firsthand that every single choice has a consequence and how a fragile promise can shape a life. Now that his mother is gone and he’s raising his little brother on his own, he’s all but given up on a future for himself. Struggling to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads, Sebastian doesn’t have time for games or girls. So why can’t he shake though...

The Night We Said Yes by Lauren Gibaldi Publication Date:  June 16, 2015 Pages: 304 (kindle) Genre: Young Adult My Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars Goodreads Synopsis: Before Matt, Ella had a plan. Get over a no-good ex-boyfriend. Graduate from high school without any more distractions. Move away from Orlando, Florida, where she’s lived her entire life. But Matt—the cute, shy, bespectacled bass player who just moved to town—was never part of that plan. And neither was attending a party that was crashed by the cops just minutes after they arrived. Or spending an entire night saying “yes” to every crazy, fun thing they could think of. Then Matt abruptly left town, and he broke not only Ella’s heart but those of their best friends, too. So when he shows up a year later with a plan of his own—to relive the night that brought them together—Ella isn’t sure whether Matt’s worth a second chance. Or if re-creating the past can help them create a different future. In alternating...

The Rest of Us Just Live Here  by Patrick Ness Publication Date : October 6, 2015 Pages:  336 (hardcover) Genre: Young Adult My Goodreads Rating: 3 Stars Goodreads Synopsis:  What if you aren t the Chosen One? The one who s supposed to fight the zombies, or the soul-eating ghosts, or whatever the heck this new thing is, with the blue lights and the death? What if you re like Mikey? Who just wants to graduate and go to prom and maybe finally work up the courage to ask Henna out before someone goes and blows up the high school. Again. Because sometimes there are problems bigger than this week s end of the world, and sometimes you just have to find the extraordinary in your ordinary life. Even if your best friend is worshipped by mountain lions. My Review: A few years ago I read The Knife of Never Letting Go  series by Patrick Ness and was pretty impressed. I loved the fact that the story was written in the language of a young boy and that, ev...