Guys, it’s been A Time lately. We all know it. The world is in an insane pandemic, we’re all quarantined inside, and too many people aren’t taking this seriously enough because good ole’ 45 is the literal worst. I wrote a super long post about this but deleted it because no one needs a lecture from me. As a small reminder though–my husband is a doctor and I am a trained crisis counselor, so if you have questions about what’s going on, send them my way. If you’re hurting and need to talk, I’m here. If you’re hurting and need to talk to someone anonymously, I volunteer with the Crisis Text Line, and you can text HOME to 741741 at any time of the day, any day of the year and one of us will be there for you.

On the book front, April 7th has the longest, best list of releases you’ve ever seen. I wanted to post reviews of SO MANY MORE of them than I actually did, and I hope to still go back and write them soon. I had PLANS for today. But then Coronavirus happened, and the best way I had for dealing with the stress has been playing Animal Crossing with my friends day in, day out, what even is time anymore.

So for now, here’s at least a mini review of what’s out today that I got to read early because guys, it is GOOD.  

The Lucky Ones, by Liz Lawson
Goodreads ¦ Amazon
Series?: No
Publisher:  Delacorte Press
Release Date: April 7, 2020
Length: 352 pages
Source: ARC
Format: Paperback
Times Read: Once
Rating: 5/5

Mini Review: The one I am MOST MAD at myself for not officially reviewing, because I read it back in JULY and have NO EXCUSE except that I loved it so much that I had to wait to digest it for awhile and then things got away from me because I am trash. 

I acquired this arc before the cover was even revealed by befriending the author online, finding out we live close to each other, and politely harassing her into giving me a copy (I’m kidding Liz is the nicest person ever and as soon as I asked she was super grateful that I wanted to read her book and invited me to come over so I got to see her home office and meet Jeff also). 

So look this book is sad, it’s angry, it’s angsty. May’s anger is palpable, it drips off the page. She drops “fuck” 40 times a page, while Zach goes for “f”. It’s an interesting choice I definitely noticed. May is full of survivor’s guilt, her best friend Lucy is a goddamned saint, and Zach is just trying to get by.  

PS if you somehow make it through the whole book without crying, I promise that author’s note at the end will get you. 

“Sometimes I think I was born again that day in the band room, that the old me was murdered along with everyone else, replaced with this new person who’s angry and scared and broken.”

“When she catches sight of me, her face lights up for a split second before she shutters it under her normal expression of Whatever. But it’s a split second that will keep me going for weeks.”

The Best Laid Plans, by Cameron Lund
Goodreads ¦ Amazon
Series?: No
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: April 7, 2020
Length: 368 pages
Source: ARC
Format: Paperback
Times Read: Twice
Rating: 800,000/5 

Mini Review: I DID review this one, yay me! If you missed it, you can find it here. But basically, I loved it and have read it several times and it’s just as good with each reread. 

“When Andrew lost his virginity, the last thing he was probably thinking about was whether or not the girl would respect him in the morning.”

“She’s just like Cecilia, just like most girls: flirting because it’s easier to flirt and forgive than to get mad, because as girls we’ve been trained our whole lives to give boys what they want, to say ‘sorry’ when what we really want to say is ‘fuck you.'”

Rules for Being a Girl by Candace Bushnell & Katie Cotugno
Goodreads ¦ Amazon
Series?: No
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: April 7, 2020
Length: 304 pages
Source: ARC
Format: Paperback
Times Read: Once
Rating: 5/5

Mini Review:
I found the authors to be an odd pairing, probably because Katie Cotugno is one of my favorites and I can spot her writing from a mile away–and I couldn’t spot it here? Not at first, anyway. But when we got to the Marin & Gray scenes, that was classic Katie banter romance, and I adored every second of it. 

But this isn’t just a romance. This is also another book about men taking what they want and not caring about who they hurt along the way. It’s in the same vein as My Dark Vanessa, only not as dark, and with A+ parenting. But my god, the manipulation, the instinct to protect the man, quiet the girls, it’s just always the same and it’s so sad to see. 

In conclusion, girls always ask for it, they confuse the situation, and it is All Their Fault every time.

(This will definitely have a full review coming. I’ve posted reviews for all of Katie’s books, and I’m not going to stop now. Maybe I’ll even show you my Katie Cotugno book/arc collection!)

“All at once it occurs to me how much time I’ve wasted in my life trying to make it look like I haven’t spent any at all.”

The Perfect Escape, by Suzanne Park
Goodreads ¦ Amazon
Series?: The Perfect Escape #1
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: April 7, 2020
Length: 336 pages
Source: ARC
Format: Paperback
Times Read: Once
Rating: 2.5/5 

Mini Review: I wanted to like this more than I actually liked it. The premise is wonderful, but things take a strange turn that I wasn’t super into. I am not sure why there’s going to be a series or what the next book is going to be about, but I’m not sure I’ll that I’ll read it. In the end it’s just not the cute romance that it’s marketed as. 

That cover is absolute perfection, though. So there’s that. 

I didn’t even pull any quotes from this one that very rarely happens.

What I Like About You, by Marisa KanterGoodreads ¦ Amazon
Series?: No
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Release Date: April 7, 2020
Length: 416 pages
Source: ARC
Format: Paperback
Times Read: Once
Rating: 5/5

Mini Review:
This one WILL have a review because I’m on the upcoming blog tour for it! Check back here on April 28th.

“You’ve read this book before. It’s going to blow up, and it’s going to be your own stupid fault.”

“You’re literally both sides of this love triangle. You win. But you’re, like, determined to sabotage yourself.”

Ruthless Gods, by Emily A. Duncan
Goodreads ¦ Amazon
Series?: Something Dark and Holy #2
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Release Date: April 7, 2020
Length: 544 pages
Source: ARC
Format: Paperback
Times Read: Once
Rating: 5/5 

Mini Review: I very much hope to come back and write an actual review of this one in the near future because it deserves it. Also I don’t even know how to do a mini review of this one. There is A Lot going on, but everyone from Wicked Saints is back (everyone who made it out alive, at least) and ready for action and BOY is there action. 

“Pray you never see those bones at work.”
“Oh, I think something was lost in translation. I’m a heretic. I don’t pray.”

“It was so exhausting feeling things all of the time.”

Meet Me at Midnight, by Jessica Pennington
Goodreads : Amazon
Series?: No
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: April 7, 2020
Length: 336 pages
Source: ARC
Format: Paperback
Times Read: Once
Rating: 5/5 

Mini Review: Another one that WILL have a review! I’m on the blog tour and will have my post up on April 15th, so check this space next Wednesday. Spoiler alert: it’s amazing.

“Suddenly, it feels like we’re playing a whole new kind of game. I really wish I knew the rules.”

And guys these are just the ones that I’ve been able to read early!
Some others that I know released today:
They Went Left, by Monica Hesse
Little Universes, by Heather Demetrios
The Empire of Dreams, by Rae Carson
Chosen Ones, by Veronica Roth
It Sounded Better in My Head, by Nina Kenwood
Jack Kerouac is Dead to Me, by Gae Polisner

AND I KNOW THERE’S EVEN MORE, what else am I missing that released today?? What are you guys most excited to pick up?