1/23/2021 0 Comments Magnolias Don’t Die by AJ CollinsThis is the second book in the gripping Oleanders series following seventeen-year-old Lauren as she’s on the run from the terrible things that have happened to her in the past. But where the first book was full of heart-break, loss and abuse, this one is more about healing and forgiveness, and about finding the power to create a new life for yourself. After losing just about everything; her mother to dementia, her stepdad to suicide, her best friend and secret love Harry, and being the victim of an incredibly traumatic abuse, Lauren is now trying to pick up the pieces and start a new life with her new friend Snap. Snap was introduced at the end of Oleander Are Poisonous and I remember being a bit skeptical towards him then, but I’m so happy to admit that I was wrong. Snap turned out to be a wonderful friend, a sweetheart being there for Lauren no matter what, always encouraging her and having her back. And when Harry suddenly returns to Lauren’s life, Snap is the one pushing her to go after her dreams.
Even though this book deals with heavy topics such as sexual abuse, mental health, suicide, self-harm and homophobia, it’s a very positive, powerful and engaging story. I really rooted for Lauren from the very beginning and wished all the best for her. I didn’t agree with all the choices she made, but that made this story all the more authentic. Where the first book was about Lauren losing herself, this one is about Lauren slowly finding herself again. “The morning after, I catch my reflection in the mirror. I’m surprised by the smile beaming back at me. Who is that person? That can’t be me. I don’t do happy. ‘Don’t look at me like that,’ I tell myself. But I do anyway. It feels good.” All in all, Magnolias Don’t Die is a gripping, authentic and utterly heartbreaking story about survival and finding light and hope even in the darkest of places. It really shows the healing power of forgiveness, not for the one who harmed you, but for yourself, to let go, to claw back the anger, to allow yourself to be happy and live the life you deserve. Thank you BookSirens for the ebook copy of this wonderful book. All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Rating: 4 stars Get your own copy: Amazon Author info: AJ Collins
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11/22/2020 0 Comments Oleanders Are Poisonous by AJ CollinsThis is such a sad and gripping coming-of-age story, filled with heartbreak, loss and abuse, but also with friendship, healing, hope and help to find light in the dark. It doesn’t shy away from heavy topics such as homophobia, self-harm and suicide, but it does it in a respectful, earnest and hopeful way. Sixteen-year-old Lauren has not had an easy life. Losing her dad at a young age and shortly thereafter their home, and now her mother to dementia. As if that’s not enough, her best friend and secret love Harry moves away for a scholarship and then another terrible thing happens that I won’t go further into than to say that nothing will ever be the same for Lauren again. She will not be the same person ever again, something is broken forever.
“And there, in a split second, I’ve become something that never, ever occurred to me: a victim. I’m not me anymore. Where did I go?” I rooted so for Lauren from the very beginning and my heart broke for her when this happened. Life is just so unfair sometimes, which Lauren certainly gets to experience. I didn’t agree with all the choices she made though, but that made this story all the more authentic. Victims don’t behave as “expected”, they act out and do things that are not always the best, just to try and survive and live with the murky truth within them. I’m still not sure how I feel about her new friend Snap though and the path they chose together. He was good to Lauren and brought light in her darkness when she most needed it, but for some reason I don’t trust him and together they seem to be heading for disaster. But I might be wrong! I really hope I am… This is the first book in AJ Collins’ new Oleanders series about survival and empowerment, and is more of a novella with only about 150 pages. So it’s a very fast read, but still with amazing character development for such a short length, and a gripping story that I can’t wait to continue! I’m eagerly awaiting the chance to read the next installment, Magnolias Don’t Die! Thank you BookSirens for the ebook copy of this heartbreaking book. All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Rating: 4 stars Get your own copy: Amazon Author info: AJ Collins |
CategoriesAll 1 Star 2 Stars 3 Stars 4 Stars 5 Stars Abbi Glines Abby Kaitz Abdi Nazemian Adam Silvera Adib Khorram Aiden Thomas Aisha Saeed Aislinn Brophy AJ Collins Alexandra Christo Alex Beltran Alexene Farol Follmuth Alexis Hall Alex Kelly Alex Sanchez Alice Dolman Alice Oseman Alice Winn Ali Hazelwood Alison Cochrun Al Riske Alwyn Hamilton Amanda Ferreira Amanda Woody A. Meredith Walters Amy Aislin Amy Harmon Amy S. Foster Amy Spalding André Aciman Andy V Roamer Angie Thomas Annabeth Albert A. Poland Ashley Poston Ashley Woodfolk Ashlyn Kane Audrey Coulthurst Ban Gilmartin Becca Fitzpatrick Becky Albertalli Benjamin Alire Saenz Beth Bolden Bill Konigsberg B.L. Maxwell Briar Prescott Bri Spicer Brooke Skipstone Cait Nary Cale Dietrich Cara Dee Casey McQuiston Cassandra Clare Cat Sebastian C.F. White C.G. Drews Charlie Adhara Charli Meadows Chasten Buttigieg Chris Bedell Christina Lauren Christina Lee Ciara Smyth Claerie Kavanaugh Clarissa Pattern C.L. Beaumont Colette Davison Colleen Hoover Courtney Kae Crystal Frasier C.S. Pacat Dallas Smith Daven McQueen David Biddle David Yoon Dean Atta Debbie McGowan Debbie Rigaud Debbie Schrack Deborah Harkness Delia Owens D.G. Carothers Dhonielle Clayton D.N. Bryn Douglas Stuart Dustin Thao Elisa A. Bonnin Elizabeth Acevedo Elizabeth Arroyo Elle Kennedy Elle Wright E.L. Massey E. Lockhart Emery Lee Emily M. Danforth Emily Mims Erin Watt Ernest Cline Evan J. Corbin Eve Morton Everina Maxwell Evie Dunmore Felice Stevens F.T. Lukens Grace Williams Gwen Martin Hannah Grace Hanya Yanagihara Hayden Stone Heather Truett H.E. Edgmon Hettie Bell Holly Black Hope Irving H.S. Valley Hudson Lin Ingrid Sterling Jacob Gelman Jacqueline Lee Jacqueline Woodson James L. Sutter Jamie Deacon Jandy Nelson Jax Calder Jay Hogan Jeanette Winterson Jeff Zentner Jen Bailey Jenna Evans Welch Jenn Burke Jennifer E. Smith Jennifer G. Edelson Jennifer Gilmore Jennifer Iacopelli Jennifer Kropf Jennifer Niven Jenny Downham Jenny Han Jeremy Ray Jesse H. Reign Joelle Lynne John Green Jonny Garza Villa Julianne Donaldson Julian Winters Kacen Callender Kami Garcia Kara Leigh Miller Kasie West Kate Larkindale Katharine McGee Kathleen Mareé Kathy Anderson K.A. Tucker KD Casey Kendall Grey Kevin Van Whye Kiley Reid Kim Fielding Kim Holden Kim Liggett Kitty Bardot Kris Ripper K.S. Marsden Laura Hall Laura Pavlov Laura Silverman Lauren James Lauren Shippen Laurie Frankel Leah Johnson Lee Matthew Goldberg Leigh Bardugo Lex Croucher Leylah Attar Lisa Henry Lisa Williamson Lisa Wingate Liv Rancourt Liz Plum Lola Noire Lynn Michaels Mackenzi Lee Madeline Miller Magdalena Di Sotru Maggie Doolin Maggie Stiefvater Malin Persson Giolito Malorie Blackman Margaret Stohl Marie Lu Mary E. Pearson Mason Deaver Matthew R. Corr M.A. Wardell Melanie Munton Melina Marchetta Meredith Russo Miel Moreland Mila Gray Miranda Kenneally Moa Backe Astot Morgan James M. Tasia Nancy Garden Natalie Haynes Nathaniel Shea Nicholas Sparks Nicola Yoon Nic Starr Nic Stone Nina Kenwood Nita Tyndall Nora Sakavic N.R. Walker Nyla K. Owen Lach Penny Aimes Phil Stamper Quinn Anderson Rachael Brownell Rachael Lippincott Rachel Hawkins Rachel Reid Racquel Marie Rainbow Rowell Ray Stoeve Renée Dahlia Rhiannon Wilde Riley Hart River Braun Roan Parrish Robin Gow Roseanne A. Brown Rowan MacKemsley Ruby Moone Ruta Sepetys Ryan La Sala Sally Green Sally Rooney Sarah J. Maas Sarah Waters Sarina Bowen Sasha Laurens Saundra Mitchell Saxon James Serena Bell Shannon O’Connor Sidney Bell Simone Elkeles Siryn Sueng Sophia DeRise Sophia Soames Sophie Gonzales S.R. Lane Stephen Chbosky Stephenie Meyer Steven Salvatore Susan Mac Nicol Suzanne Collins Tahereh Mafi Tal Bauer Tamara Girardi Taylor Jenkins Reid Teagan Hunter Terry J. Benton-Walker Tiffany D. Jackson Timothy Janovsky T.J. Klune T.L. Bradford Tobly McSmith Tomasz Jedrowski Tomi Adeyemi Tracy Deonn Tucker Shaw Val Wise Veronica Rossi Veronica Roth V.E. Schwab Wesley Chu Victor Dixen Victoria Aveyard V.L. Stuart Xan Van Rooyen Yamile Saied Méndez Archives
September 2023
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