IN THE BALLROOM WITH THE CANDLESTICK By Diana Peterfreund

December 19, 2022 by Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

IN THE BALLROOM WITH THE CANDLESTICK By Diana PeterfreundIn the Ballroom with the Candlestick by Diana Peterfreund
Series: Clue Mystery #3
Published by Amulet Books on 11/2/21
Genres: Mystery & Detective, Young Adult
Pages: 336
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
Buy on Amazon

After a tragic accident at Blackbrook Academy kills one of their own, Orchid, Scarlett, Peacock, Mustard, and Plum are desperate to put the pieces back together and finish out the year. The Murder Crew may have earned their nickname, but the last of their secrets are still coming to light and threatening to destroy friendships, futures, and more. And when another suspicious death rocks the campus and Blackbrook's dark past crashes into its present, they have a choice: Band together or turn on each other.

Because this year's prom? It's to die for.

Short and Sweet

In the Ballroom with the Candlestick picks up where the previous book left off. Vaughn is dead and everyone is still reeling from his death especially Orchid. The rest of the murder crew just wants to finish the school year, but it seems like murder is a trend at Blackbrook and this group has to stick together or let the pressure turn them against each other.

This was an okay ending to everything. Everyone finally learns that Vaughn has a twin brother and he causes a mess of things because people don’t know what his intentions are. People are still getting murdered and the murder crew is determined to finally put an end to the tragedies that has been plaguing the academy. Beth still has the shortest chapters and this time her chapters are of her trying to solve the mystery. Scarlet is still making boss moves and trying to prove that she’s able to be in charge. Mustard and Finn are doing their own thing. Orchid is trying to figure out what she can about Oliver the evil twin. I feel like with all of the POVs there’s not really much character development and over the course of three books these characters didn’t have much substance. I think my favorite thing about this book was the ending and how we got to see alternate endings and see an array of suspects.

This is a fun book series, the mystery was a little confusing, but if you’re looking for a nostalgic and fun read this series is for you.

Filed Under: Reviews

IN THE STUDY WITH THE WRENCH By Diana Peterfreund

November 2, 2022 by Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

IN THE STUDY WITH THE WRENCH By Diana PeterfreundIn the Study with the Wrench by Diana Peterfreund
Series: Clue Mystery #2
Published by Amulet Books on 10/13/20
Genres: Contemporary, Mystery & Detective, Romance, Thrillers, Young Adult
Pages: 335
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
Buy on Amazon

New semester. New secrets. New murder.

In the aftermath of their headmaster’s brutal murder, Blackbrook Academy has been thrown into chaos. Half the student body hasn’t bothered to return to campus—but those who have include Orchid McKee, Vaughn Green, Scarlett Mistry, Beth “Peacock” Picach, Phineas Plum, and Sam “Mustard” Maestor, now warily referred to by the other students as the Murder Crew.

When another staff member is found dead, each teen’s reasons for sticking around come to light. Orchid and Vaughn grow ever closer to having their secrets exposed, Peacock and Scarlett struggle to change their stripes, and Plum and Mustard question everything. As everything comes to a boiling point at Tudor House, nobody’s life will ever be the same.

Short and Sweet Review

We’re back at Blackbrook Academy and after headmaster boddy’s murder the group of kids that were in the Tudor house are being called the murder crew. Our six main characters are back and this time when another body is found more secrets are unveiled about our main characters and their reasons for wanting to stay at the academy instead of going home.

Again we get all six characters POVs but I feel like some of these characters really had nothing to offer and their POV was just filler. Peacock still has the shortest chapters and all we read from her are emails she’s sending to her life coach which are recaps on what’s happening on campus or how she’s feeling, the emails are important in the end but it’s just a little weird she’s not more important. I think this book revolved around Orchid and Vaughn and a bit of Peacock more than the other characters. Scarlett likes to make things about herself, Finn is looking for his invention, and Mustard not really sure what his deal is besides the fact that he can’t really afford to get kicked out of another school. Vaughn has some weird twin thing going on and they’re looking for some invention and weird things are happening to Orchid and she thinks her past is catching up to her. The murder was glossed over mainly because their was other strange things going down at Tudor house.

The ending was good and also a bit of a cliffhanger so I’m interested in seeing how the last book will wrap everything up! 

Filed Under: Reviews

LIGHTLARK By Alex Aster

September 7, 2022 by Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

LIGHTLARK By Alex AsterLightlark by Alex Aster
Series: Lightlark #1
Published by Amulet Books on 8/23/22
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 418
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
Buy on Amazon

Welcome to the Centennial.

Every 100 years, the island of Lightlark appears to host the Centennial, a deadly game that only the rulers of six realms are invited to play. The invitation is a summons—a call to embrace victory and ruin, baubles and blood. The Centennial offers the six rulers one final chance to break the curses that have plagued their realms for centuries. Each ruler has something to hide. Each realm’s curse is uniquely wicked. To destroy the curses, one ruler must die.

Isla Crown is the young ruler of Wildling—a realm of temptresses cursed to kill anyone they fall in love with. They are feared and despised, and are counting on Isla to end their suffering by succeeding at the Centennial.

To survive, Isla must lie, cheat, and betray…even as love complicates everything.

Short and Sweet Review

There’s six different realms and every 100 years they are invited to Lightlark to participate in the Centennial a deadly game. The ruler who wins the game will end the curse that plagues their respective realm. Lightlark follows Isla our main character who is a wildling. Isla doesn’t have any powers like the other rulers so she has to be strategic to win.

Honestly there was a lot of controversy surrounding this book so as a disclaimer just know that I didn’t read anything about what was happening and I went into this book with an open mind.

I think the situation concerning the curses was interesting I don’t remember if there was a reason each realm was cursed but on Isla’s the Wildlings are not allowed to fall in love. Isla goes to the Centennial and she only knows one person Celeste from the Starling realm and they’ve decided to align themselves and work together without anyone else’s knowledge. Isla knows the other rulers by name and just hearing about them. So the Centennial is 100 days and no one is allowed to attack another ruler until 50 days has gone by. Each ruler comes up with a game or demonstration to know more about the other rulers and eventually the rulers will be paired up and try to win the game by solving a riddle.

This was a quick read for me. There was a lot of alliances and betrayal going on and it was interesting to see who everyone wanted to work with and who they didn’t. I liked seeing Isla explore the different places on light lark to try to find something to break the curse. There was more running around the island trying to find this thing called the heart and not that much action. I thought there would be more action especially after the 50 days ended, but I will say some of the backstabbing did surprise me. The ending was good I guess the only thing that stopped me from rating this book higher was that there wasn’t anything that spectacular about it.

Filed Under: Reviews

IN THE HALL WITH THE KNIFE By Diana Peterfreund

November 2, 2021 by Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

IN THE HALL WITH THE KNIFE By Diana PeterfreundIn the Hall with the Knife by Diana Peterfreund
Series: Clue Mystery #1
Published by Amulet Books on 10/8/19
Genres: Mystery & Detective, Thrillers, Young Adult
Pages: 304
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
Buy on Amazon

When a storm strikes at Blackbrook Academy, an elite prep school nestled in the woods of Maine, a motley crew of students—including Beth “Peacock” Picach, Orchid McKee, Vaughn Green, Sam “Mustard” Maestor, Finn Plum, and Scarlet Mistry—are left stranded on campus with their headmaster. Hours later, his body is found in the conservatory and it’s very clear his death was no accident. With this group of students who are all hiding something, nothing is as it seems, and everyone has a motive for murder. Fans of the CLUE board game and cult classic film will delight in Diana Peterfreund’s modern reimagining of the brand, its characters, and the dark, magnificent old mansion with secrets hidden within its walls.

Short and Sweet Review

When a storm hits Blackbrook Academy, six students: Orchid, Scarlet, Peacock, Mustard, Plum, and Green are forced to stay together in one of the campus buildings. A few hours later one of the students finds the headmaster dead and now it seems like each of the students has something to hide and a motive.

This book is basically like the board game and the movie. We get the all of the characters and their POVs and all the rooms and we see some of the potential murder weapons. Some of the POVs were too much we don’t really get to know the characters especially Peacock her POV was basically just her diary and what she ate throughout the day. I thought some of the characters were boring and Green was all over the place he was considered a townie because he was a scholarship student. I think the book started off a little slow mainly because there was a lot of introduction of the characters, but once the murder took place there was a lot of running around and some teamwork and accusations thrown around. I think this would be better as a standalone because I’m not sure what the next two books could offer but I’m interested to see.


Filed Under: Reviews

ME and EARL and THE DYING GIRL by Jesse Andrews

June 14, 2015 by

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

ME and EARL and THE DYING GIRL by Jesse AndrewsMe and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Published by Amulet Books Source: Reviewer Purchase

ReviewedbyDani

It is a universally acknowledged truth that high school sucks. But on the first day of his senior year, Greg Gaines thinks he’s figured it out. The answer to the basic existential question: How is it possible to exist in a place that sucks so bad? His strategy: remain at the periphery at all times. Keep an insanely low profile. Make mediocre films with the one person who is even sort of his friend, Earl.

This plan works for exactly eight hours. Then Greg’s mom forces him to become friends with a girl who has cancer. This brings about the destruction of Greg’s entire life.

Fiercely funny, honest, heart-breaking—this is an unforgettable novel from a bright talent, now also a film that critics are calling "a touchstone for its generation" and "an instant classic."


I love reading books before they come out in theaters so when I saw the trailer for this movie I knew I had to read the book. This is probably my favorite book of 2015. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl isn’t your typical book about someone with cancer. Greg Gaines struggles with trying to figure out how to be a friend to Rachel. Greg and his friend Earl make films for fun and when they decide to make a film for Rachel it becomes a turning point in all of their lives. This book was a rollercoaster of emotions for me it was funny and sometimes I would cry but when I finished this book I definitely had a smile on my face this book is amazing. I would recommend this book and I plan on watching the movie when it comes out this month. Everyone should check this book out you won’t regret it!

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Filed Under: Reviews