WARNING!!! THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS POST!

Alyssa Gardner hears the thoughts of plants and insects. She hides her delusions for now, but she knows her fate: she will end up like her mother, in an institution. Madness has run in her family ever since her great-great-great-grandmother, Alice Liddell, told Lewis Carroll her strange dreams, inspiring his classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

But perhaps she’s not mad. And perhaps Carroll’s stories aren’t as whimsical as they first seem…

My initial review on Goodreads when I first read this book: “I was not expecting to love this book but I did. Plus two of the MCs made me hate and love them all at the same time. I love having a connection to the characters, plus feeling like I can picture myself there with them. I can’t wait to see where the next book takes me.”

I still love this book. The two MCs I mentioned were Jeb and Morpheus. Jeb and his sister Jenara love next door to Alyssa and her father, and they are her best friends. However, Alyssa has a crush on Jeb. Morpheus is….Morpheus lol Finding out things about him is part of why I love this series so much.

This is an Alice in Wonderland retelling. So of course they are in Wonderland for most of this book. However, the characters you think you know are not as they seem. Plus Alyssa finds out some truths about her family.

Not giving the synopsis for the rest of the series to avoid major spoilers. However, here is my initial review: “This one was more character driven than Splintered but man it was still so good. A lot of things get revealed that shake Alyssa and I was here for it all. This one also focused on the romance side more but it was done in a way that I love. I’m not a big romance person, but if it’s mixed into the story well and is used to drive points of the story then I’m fine wit that. Random side note: I want a guy that is a mix of Jeb and Morpheus lol”

The sequel finds us mostly in the human realm. Alyssa is in her senior year now. She is trying to make it to graduation, but of course things from book one make that hard. Plus as I mentioned in my review, this book is character driven. The secrets come out in this one! Alyssa thought her world was shook in Splintered, but oh boy she was wrong. Plus this book has my favorite ending line ever!! It’s not even all that great, but in the context of the story…oh man! Also that is Morpheus on the cover. I was very vague on him, but the cover tells you things about him.

Say hello to Jeb. Yes I love both guys equally. This cover also has spoilers on it, but you won’t get them out of me.

My initial review: “All the feels with this one. I love this series and will definitely read more from this author.”

Short and sweet and to the point lol this one does have all the feels but from a different character. It still focuses on the trio of Alyssa, Jeb, and Morpheus, but Alyssa’s dad is the one who gets the shake up in his life at the beginning of this book. What does he find out: his life has been a lie. My favorite ending line comes into play right at the beginning of this book.

A. G. Howard has given me the best love triangle ever. It spans all three books, but mostly 2&3. Plus the resolution to it is amazing yet heartbreaking all at the same time.

Now, Ensnared is the official end to the series. In my opinion, however, Untamed is because it actually gives you closure plus answers to some things that are left vague at the end of Ensnared.

Here is my initial review for this one: “Well, this is the end to a new favorite series. This wrapped it up very nicely and hit all my emotions. So glad I found this series and author. Still dealing with all the feels this left me with. I swear I either cried or teared up multiple times. Definitely an auto buy author for me. Just wow.”

My first ever book hangover came from this book here. This contains a set of three novellas: one of her mom as young girl (relevant to book 2), one from Morpheus’ point of view (set directly after book 1), and the last is set after book 3. Not revealing what it’s about because that a major spoiler. *if I’m not mistaken, there is a trigger warning for attempted sexual assault in the first novella*

The last novella in this book is what cause the tears and emotions and hangover. It is probably why I still haven’t done my reread of it yet even though my reread of the other three is done.

This series was one of the first I read in 2019 when I got back into reading. For me, it’s one of those series that has stuck with me, and I will continue to read over and over because I love it so much.

No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal, but the Reestablishment has plans for her. Plans to use her as a weapon.

But Juliette has plans of her own.

After a lifetime without freedom, she’s finally discovering a strength to fight back for the very first time- and to find a future with the boy she thought she lost forever.

In the electrifying first book in the Shatter Me series, Tahereh Mafi presents a riveting dystopian world, a thrilling superhero story, and an unforgettable heroine.

Well. This was just like The Crown’s Game for me. The ending saved this for me. Probably because it made me curious to see where it goes from there.

I’m going to be completely honest. I could care less about the characters. Well Warner is an exception but I will get to him in a minute. Only characters I actually liked where side characters. Plus the plot was just meh. If I didn’t have the audiobook I probably would have DNFed this. As it stands, I gave this book 3 stars.

This copy I got from Book Outlet has the novella Destroy Me in the back. It’s from Warner’s point of view after a certain part in Shatter Me. Oh my word! I read it directly after finishing Shatter Me and was automatically sucked in.

Warner made me so mad during the first book, but the novella had me wanting to protect him. It brought out the emotional response I love to get while reading. Now I’m worried that book 2 might let me down. I gave this 4 stars.

Have any of you read this series? Does it get better? Anyone get that emotional response from this reading this series? Let me know in the comments. Happy reading 💚

My second 5 star read (not including rereads) of the year!! I absolutely loved this! I’m not a romance reader at all. I like books where romance is secondary and woven into the storyline where I know it’s there, but not taking over. Like little cute moments here and there just to remind me “oh yea they are a thing” or “oh hey they would be cute together”.

This here actually kind of did just that. Like I knew going in that it was an adult romance. However, the storyline flowed so well for me that I honestly felt like I was watching a movie. I felt what they felt. I even teared up at one point for no real reason lol

I saw myself in Chloe. I don’t think I have ever said I’ve seen myself in a character. I always say “that’s something I would do” or things of that nature. Never before has a character made me go “hey…that’s me.” Chloe Brown is me. The only part of her I can’t say is me is her illness, but other than that…yes. That’s probably why this book worked so well for me.

By know y’all should know I’m a character person. Chloe and her sisters remind me of my brothers and I. I wish I had a Red in my life. Gigi makes me miss my grandma. I just love them all.

Talia Hibbert really won me over with this book (if that wasn’t obvious lol) The way she wrote this, in my opinion, is like I was friends with them both, and watching them finally come together. Definitely a favorite for me and one I will always remember and cherish.