Verity by Colleen Hoover

Recently, I read Verity by Colleen Hoover, and it was exhilarating to say the least. Lowen Ashleigh is on the verge of bankruptcy when she accepts an offer from Jeremy Crawford, the husband of Verity Crawford a popular novelist. She is hired to finish an uncompleted book series that Verity started writing but was unable to finish because she has injuries from a car crash. Lowen moves into the Crawford household, ready to look through years of notes and outlines in Verity’s office to help her get a start on the book. As soon as she starts looking though, she finds an autobiography that Verity never intended anybody read instead. Her curiosity gets ahold of her and as she reads the truth behind the death of the Crawford children becomes questionable and secrets unfold. Personally, I loved this book! I liked the thrill behind the mystery and the way everything comes together in the end. The only thing that I slightly disliked about this book was in the ending I wish less things were left to our own interpretation. Other than that, overall this book was an awesome read and I recommend it to anyone 16 and up since it does contain mature themes.

Laura Lane (Gum Spring Library)

The Race Across America by Geronimo Stilton

This is one of the best books I have read . If you like books which are full of surprises you will like this book . Geronimo always has a lot of adventures and he is always trying to avoid them . In this book his friend Bruce keeps sending him presents every day . Each present is a piece of a bicycle . He secretly signed Geronimo up for the race across America . Will this be good for Geronimo and what will be his reaction to it when he finds out? Read to find out !

Taranpreet Basati (Gum Spring)

Secret Coders: Robots and Repeats by Gene Luen Yang

Three friends attempt to get to professor bee. They meet him and discuss The Turtle Light. Soon, they are in trouble as they are attacked by a robot cat. They take this as an opportunity to use their newly learned move “the repeat”. They can now use this move perfectly. With the help of the turtle light and “the repeat”, the three friends successfully dodge the attack. Further, an evil doctor, Dr. One Zero turns their school into a green pop making factory and the three friends have to face him. Read the book to find out more about how these three friends save the day! This book is recommended for early teens who enjoy reading comics and fiction.

Taranpreet Basati (Gum Spring)

Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls by Dav Pilkey

This is a very interesting book about a cop who is a man with a dog’s head. An evil scientist wants to take over the world repeatedly but is stopped by the dog man every time. In this book, he attempts to make ball shaped robots. He doesn’t do this for fun, he has a wicked plan behind it to fool dog man. My favorite part was when the dog man learns to focus and he overcomes his obstacles. This book is recommended for early teens to enjoy reading comical fiction.

Taranpreet Basati (Gum Spring)

39 Clues: The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan

39 Clues is a thrilling mystery series with Amy and Dan Cahill as the main characters. The first book, The Maze of Bones, begins with the two main characters attending their beloved grandmother’s funeral. Their grandmother, Grace Cahill, had been their closest family member after Amy and Dan’s parents died. However, the funeral was anything but normal, in fact it changed Amy and Dan’s lives forever. During the funeral, Grace Cahill challenged all of her relatives to a clue hunt that consisted of 39 clues. Amy and Dan accepted the challenge as they felt as if that is what Grace would have wanted them to do. 

Throughout the series, Amy and Dan race against their relatives to gather all the clues first. Amy and Dan are the underdogs as all their cousins have fame, cash, or a good family support system. All Amy and Dan have are their wits, and their Au Pair who takes them around the world. Yet, Amy and Dan still keep up with the race and quickly gather numerous clues. 

Read this amazing adventure book that you will not be able to stop reading. This is the first book of a wonderful series. I would rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars, as it perfectly starts off the series. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good read this summer. This book is also very informative as the main characters go to exotic places and learn about famous people throughout history.

Rhea Nirmal (Gum Spring)

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a fantasy standalone by Axie Oh. It follows Mina, whose homeland has been ravaged by storms and wars for centuries, which is believed to be the effect of a curse placed on them by the Sea God. To try and stop the destruction, every year, a maiden is sacrificed to the ocean. This year, Shim Cheong, who Mina’s brother is in love with, will be sacrificed. However, on the night that this is set to happen, Mina throws herself into the sea instead, and finds herself taken to the magical city of the Spirit Realm. There, she discovers that the Sea God is in an enchanted sleep, and sets out to break the curse.

I really enjoyed reading this book! My favorite part was the world that the author created, it was detailed and portrayed beautifully. The characters were also unique and interesting, making the story even more fun. It reminded me of a fairy tale in the way that it was written, because it was such a simple and sweet story. However, that was also what I didn’t like, as it seemed too simple and bland at times. There was nothing that really surprised me, and I never felt any sense of tension. Still, it was a heartwarming story that I would recommend to anyone looking for a quick fantasy novel!

Srisha Nannapaneni (Gum Spring)

The Gilded Cage by Lynette Noni

The Gilded Cage by Lynette Noni is the second book in the Prison Healer duology. It picks up right after the events of the previous novel, as Kiva is exploring her new life in the capital. She is no longer sure who to trust, and is left playing a deadly double game as she is forced to choose which side she wants to fight for. But nothing is the same as it once was, and Kiva is running out of time to decide who and what matters most to her.

This was a really strong sequel! In my opinion, it was even better than the first book. Whereas the first book was set entirely in one location, this one showcases a broader range of settings to introduce the conflict in this novel. The plot is very strong and fast-paced, and I also really enjoyed the political elements. We get to see more of all the characters, and the side characters especially are given more depth. Just like the previous book, this one ends with a rapid succession of plot twists followed by a cliffhanger. Overall, I’m really enjoying the series so far, and I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy!

Srisha Nannapaneni (Gum Spring)

Some Mistakes Were Made by Kristin Dwyer

Some Mistakes Were Made is a standalone novel by Kristin Dwyer. It follows Ellis, as she returns home after an year spent away. For her, home is with the Albreys, who took her in when her own parents were absent. However, going back means confronting Easton, who used to be her best friend before she did something careless that destroyed everything. This book is told in dual timelines, following Ellis in the present, and in her childhood, leading up to the moment that changed everything.

This book was full of emotion, and the author managed to convey it in a very realistic way. Ellis’ character was pretty unlikable at times, and because of that, I had a hard time connecting to her at times, but everything she did still seemed authentic and understandable. This novel talks about many difficult topics, but it’s told in a way that’s never overwhelming or too much. There are also plenty of side characters that help lighten the mood anytime it’s getting too heavy. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a heartfelt summer read!

Srisha Nannapaneni (Gum Spring)

The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni

The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni is the first book in a fantasy trilogy. It follows Kiva, who for the last ten years, has worked as a healer in a death prison. When the Rebel Queen is captured, she is brought to the prison, and Kiva receives a message from her family, tasking her with keeping the Rebel Queen alive. However, she is sentenced to compete in the Trial by Ordeal, which will undoubtedly kill her, so Kiva volunteers in her place. However, with a disease spreading throughout the prison, increasing whispers of a prison riot, and a mysterious new inmate, Kiva may have a lot more to lose than she originally thought.

This was a good start to the series! The book takes place entirely in a prison, but it was so detailed and fascinating that it never got boring. I really liked Kiva’s character, because she was an incredibly kind and empathetic person. There were also plenty of plot twists, some of which took me completely by surprise. However, I felt that the big reveal at the end of the novel was completely random, and not foreshadowed well from the start. Still, I’m excited to read the next novel in the series. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast-paced fantasy read!

Srisha Nannapaneni (Gum Spring)

Air Awakens by Elise Kova

Air Awakens by Elise Kova is the first book in a fantasy series. It follows Vhalla, who works as a library apprentice. However, one day, she accidentally saves the life of the crown prince, who is a sorcerer himself. This leads her to discover that she is a Windwalker, the last sorcerer with the ability to control air. Now, she has to make a decision: should she give up her powers and return to her old life, or embrace them and enter a completely new world?

I really enjoyed this book! It centers around Vhalla and her decision, so my favorite part was the character growth that she goes through. It was not rushed and felt very natural. However, I felt that the rest of the pacing was off, and it made the story confusing at times. Despite that, I look forward to the rest of the series because the author did an amazing job of setting up the world and the characters. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick fantasy novel!

Srisha Nannapaneni (Gum Spring)