I am combining two great blog hops:  Stacking The Shelves (a Saturday feature by Team Tynga's Reviews), and Sunday Post (a Sunday feature by the Caffeinated Book Reviewer).  Both of these features give people a chance to post about what books they received and also an opportunity to catch a glimpse of what others are excited about.  I really enjoy see everyone's version of these features! If you enjoy my blog, please consider following me via Bloglovin, Networked Blogs, GFC, or by email subscription.  If you leave a comment and tell me you are a new follower, I will follow you back! As always, all book cover images are linked to GoodReads so if you see a book you want to learn more about, just click away...

Please Note:  I received an advance reader's copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions of my review in any way.

Synopsis (From Goodreads):
What if one contest could change the course of your entire life?

Charlie Dean is a style-obsessed girl who eats, sleeps, and breathes fashion.

John Thomas-Smith is a boy who forges metal sculptures in his garage and couldn’t care less about clothes.

Both are gunning for a scholarship to the private art high school that could make all their dreams come true. And whoever wins the fashion competition will win the scholarship.

Review:
When I first received this book from the Penguin Random House First In Line program, I thought it looked like a kind of cute, light romance.  With a name like The Fashion Committee, I wasn't expecting anything deep.  So I was surprised when I read this.  The light tone is in stark contrast to the harsh reality of one of the characters.  I really enjoyed this book, as I think it said a lot about art, following your passions, and not letting your circumstances determine your future.

Characters:
The novel is written as a he said/she said book.  Each chapter's POV alternates between Charlie Dean, the fashion obsessed teen, and John Thomas-Smith, who enters the competition as a backdoor way of getting into the elite Green Pastures high school of fine arts.  

I loved Charlie.  Behind her seemingly superficial love of clothes lies a teen with a horrific home life.  Fashion is her escape, so she doesn't have to face the fact that her dad is a drug addict.  Charlie uses a lot of French words (thanks to Google translate!), that she hopes will make her sound more sophisticated.  I loved her determination to create an oasis in her bedroom where she could let her imagination soar.  

She is also dead set on becoming a clothing designer.  She has a focus that leaves no time for friends or a love life.  But maybe that cute girl who is a fellow competitor (and a major flirt) will nudge Charlie into making room for a romance?  I was rooting for Charlie to have some happiness.

Mischa is the new, very young girlfriend of Charlie's dad (they met in rehab).  She is really trying to stay clean and sober, but she is a very damaged person due to an abusive ex-boyfriend.  Mischa becomes Charlie's model, and inspiration, for the competition.  It was beautiful to have Mischa see that other people saw her as a valuable person.

Story:
I love novels with competitions in them.  Even though I know nothing about fashion, the author does a wonderful job educating the reader about fashion theory and all the thinking that goes into creating clothes.  I think the competition, itself, was amazing, and showed lots of teens who are exploring their passions.  I also liked that Charlie had some pretty serious competition in the contest.  I hate it when it is a forgone conclusion that the main character will win.  You really don't know who the winner will be until the very end.  

This book has a lot to say about creating art, whether it be as a fashion designer, a painter, or someone who welds metal into cool sculptures.  There are so many ways to express yourself.  But it seems the truly important thing is not the end product, but the creative process, itself.  

I also appreciate that there isn't a manufactured romance between Charlie and John.  They rarely interact with each other and have their own story lines.

Characters:
I really don't care for John.  Since his story makes up half of the book, this is a huge problem for me.  I just think he is a terrible person on so many levels.  First of all, he enters the competition as a backdoor way into Green Pasture's metals program.  He figures he can bluff his way through the competition, and after he wins he will just transfer over to the other program.  This is so insulting to the other contestants, for whom fashion is their lives.

John is also awful to his girlfriend.  He is easily flattered by the attention of a rich girl who already attends Green Pastures, and he lets her help him in the contest.  Cheater!!!  The only reason for John's character is to contrast his life with Charlie's.  I guess his purpose in the book is to show how Charlie shows true guts by overcoming real hardships.  He is a whiny pretty boy by comparison.

Overall, I think this book is worth reading for Charlie's character, alone.  She has an amazing resilience that will make you cheer, and break your heart.




Rating: 




Release Date:  May 23rd, 2017

Genre:  YA Contemporary

Pages:  307 pages

Source:  Random House First In Line program

Format:  Paperback advance reader's copy

Recommendation:  If you love the process of creating art, and a gusty character who will steal your heart, then you will love this book.
 

Synopsis (From Goodreads):
Dimple Shah has it all figured out. With graduation behind her, she’s more than ready for a break from her family, from Mamma’s inexplicable obsession with her finding the “Ideal Indian Husband.” Ugh. Dimple knows they must respect her principles on some level, though. If they truly believed she needed a husband right now, they wouldn’t have paid for her to attend a summer program for aspiring web developers…right?

Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic. So when his parents tell him that his future wife will be attending the same summer program as him—wherein he’ll have to woo her—he’s totally on board. Because as silly as it sounds to most people in his life, Rishi wants to be arranged, believes in the power of tradition, stability, and being a part of something much bigger than himself.

The Shahs and Patels didn’t mean to start turning the wheels on this “suggested arrangement” so early in their children’s lives, but when they noticed them both gravitate toward the same summer program, they figured, Why not?

Dimple and Rishi may think they have each other figured out. But when opposites clash, love works hard to prove itself in the most unexpected ways.  

Review:
There is so much for me to love about this book: the San Francisco setting, the engaging characters, the contest to design an App (so Bay Area).  But, for me, the greatest reason I enjoyed When Dimple Met Rishi, by Sandhya Menon is because I love it when books explore that theme of teens getting their first taste of grown-up freedom.



Setting:
Yes, I am biased here.  I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and I loved how the author used real places around The City (what we call SF) for the non-dates/dates between Dimple and Rishi.  Sadly, one of the places I would most want to visit, Two Sisters Bar & Books, has recently closed!  But throughout the book, the author showed the reader a wonderful sense of place that I think is missing from many novels.

Characters:
There are so many wonderful characters in this book.  Here are some of my favorites:
 
Both Dimple and Rishi are complicated characters.  Dimple is very affected by the constant comments her mother makes about her appearance. She had very low self-esteem when it comes to her attractiveness.  I think that is one reason she falls so hard for Rishi.  Rishi accepts Dimple as she is and thinks she is gorgeous!  But, as much as Dimple seems to grumble about some of her mom's expectations, she is also very appreciative of what her parents sacrifice for her.  And she does love her heritage, even while questioning the traditional roles women are expected to adopt.

At first, Rishi seems like a boy who just does what his parents tell him to do.  Go to a great college (M.I.T.), marry the girl his parents choose for him, and don't waste time on frivolous hobbies such as drawing comic book characters.  But for Rishi, this is his passion.  He is so afraid of disappointing his family that he is willing to forgo pursuing Art so he won't make waves like his difficult younger brother, Ashish.

Ashish is Rishi's younger brother who is consumed by sports.  He questions his cultural traditions by basically doing the opposite of what his parents tell him to do.  This causes a lot of tension in the house.  But I think Ashish's behavior is also due to constantly being compared to Rishi.  He probably feels he can't get his parent's attention by any other means than by misbehaving.

Celia is Dimple's roommate during the competition at San Francisco State University.   She is used to being the outsider, so when the "cool" kids start to hang out with her, she is delighted.  But she also starts to compromise some of her values to stay in her new friend's favor. 

Story:
I love coming of age books because it is a time where young people must make major life choices.   It seems easy to say, "Follow your passion," but how does one really do that?  How is a kid supposed to tell their parent that they got accepted into a "dream" college, but don't want to go?  Or that you love your heritage, but don't want to follow traditional gender roles?  It is a very hard thing to stand up to your parents, especially when they are kind people who are trying to help.

I enjoyed 99.8% of this book except for two small things:

1.  Who in their right mind would want their eighteen-year old kid (who is about to go to college) to get engaged?  If I am going to be paying big money for university, I do not want my kid distracted.  I certainly do not know anything about Indian culture, but I was very surprised by this.

2.  As I said, I am a Bay Area resident.  Although I have lived here for over twenty years, I would not be considered a native, but NO ONE CALLS THE FOG KARL!  This was a thing pushed by a guy on Twitter to promote his feed.  It was started about five years ago.  I know I am being picky, but I am telling you I have never heard anyone call the fog a person's name.   







Rating: 




Release Date:  May 30th, 2017

Genre:  YA Contemporary

Pages:  380 pages

Source:  Public Library

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  This love letter to Indian Culture and San Francisco will have you longing to sip a Chai tea while riding a cable car.  Utterly enchanting, and fun.

  

Please Note:  I received an advance reader's copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions of my review in any way.

Synopsis (From Goodreads):
n Age of Myth, fantasy master Michael J. Sullivan launched readers on an epic journey of magic and adventure, heroism and betrayal, love and loss. Now the thrilling saga continues as the human uprising is threatened by powerful enemies from without—and bitter rivalries within.

Raithe, the God Killer, may have started the rebellion by killing a Fhrey, but long-standing enmities dividing the Rhune make it all but impossible to unite against a common foe. And even if the clans can join forces, how will they defeat an enemy whose magical prowess makes the Fhrey indistinguishable from gods?

The answer lies across the sea in a faraway land populated by a reclusive and dour race who feels nothing but disdain for both Fhrey and mankind. With time running out, Persephone leads the gifted young seer Suri, the Fhrey sorceress Arion, and a small band of misfits in a desperate search for aid—a quest that will take them into the darkest depths of Elan. There, an ancient adversary waits—an enemy as surprising as it is deadly.

Review:
About a year ago, I was fortunate enough to be approved for the ARC of Age of Myth, by Michael J. Sullivan.  I loved the characters, and epic storytelling.  My only frustration was that the story ended and I would need to wait a year to read the next installment!

I finally was able to receive the ARC of the next book in the series, Age of Swords, and it was worth the wait!  Everything that I loved about the first book is amplified in the next.  Plus, the characters journey on an epic adventure worthy of The Lord of the Rings, trilogy.

Characters:
In a book where all the characters are preparing for war, you might be surprised that the focus of the story is on the many outstanding female characters.  Here are just a few of my favorites:

Persephone is the widow of the Rhune chieftain, Reglan, who is the obvious choice to succeed him.  Even in this patriarchal society, everyone can see Persephone is a strong leader (and was probably advising Reglan).  She is fiercely devoted to her clan, and will do whatever it takes to make sure they survive, even leading her people into a war with the Frhey. 

Arion is one of the Fhrey, an elf-like race of people that were thought (until recently) to be gods.  She is powerful in the "Art", which means she can manipulate the elements to do magic.  She is the natural enemy of the Rhune (primitive people), but has switched sides and is helping the Rhune to find a way to fight the Fhrey.  I enjoyed how she mentored Suri and became almost a big sister to her.  I think she embodied the spirit of sisterhood that some women are luck enough to tap for comfort and support.

Stunningly beautiful, Moya has been written off as nothing more than a whore.  But she longs to be useful and trains for combat so she can be Persephone's "Shield" (bodyguard).  I loved her spirit and determination.  She knows what others think of her.  And, while she is hurt, she pushes past everyone's perceptions of her to forge her own identity.

Roan is also a damaged soul.  The ex-slave has been through horrible abuse and can't stand to be even casually touched.  She is the group's tinkerer and comes to invent many useful devices for her people.  Reading about her bursts of inspiration was a delight.

Teen-aged Suri is the group's mystic and seems to possess Arion's talent for The Art.  She had the toughest journey in the novel, going from carefree child to an adult who must assume responsibility far too soon.  

Setting:
Although this is a fantasy novel, it seems to be set in the Bronze Age.  I loved this because of all the amazing technical innovations that the characters made throughout the book.  I also enjoyed the mix of historical fiction and fantasy.  It almost seems possible that in a time of world-changing discoveries (that must have seemed to be magic) there would be elves, demons, and gods.

Story:
I love storytelling which focuses on characters finding out who they are meant to be.  Discovering these talents is not always joyous.  It means sacrificing some desires to make room for the work of becoming your true self.  

In the book, several of the characters must travel to a faraway land in order to find what they need to defeat the Fhrey.  Everyone thinks they are fools to do it.  And those who go are tested beyond almost all reason.  But they emerge with wisdom, and are transformed.  I can't say more without revealing spoilers, but this is a Bronze Age road trip to end all road trips!

               
via GIPHY






Rating: 




Release Date:  July 25th, 2017

Genre: Historical Fantasy

Pages:  512

Source:  NetGalley

Format:  ARC E-Book

Recommendation:  
I cannot recommend this book highly enough.  It is a sweeping tale of discovery in a mythical time.  The characters, story, and Bronze Age setting make this a highly entertaining second installment.  Can book three please come out soon?

 

 

The Booksmith (San Francisco)
Town Center Books (Pleasanton)  

I am attempting to make this a one stop place to find book signings in the San Francisco Bay Area! I will mostly focus on YA books, but I will also include some general fiction if I think it will be of interest.  I do not list non-fiction books (There are simply too many events of those to list).  I think this is an extensive list, but there is always the possibility that I missed an event (Hey, I'm human). If you think there is an event that I should include, please leave me a note in the comments section. Thanks.

All  book graphics have links to GoodReads so you can check them out.

As always, it is a good idea to call the store a day or two before to confirm that the scheduled event is still on.  I have learned that these events change constantly.




















Authors:  Maurene Goo (I Believe in a Thing Called Love), Kayla Cagen (Piper Perish), Lilliam Rivera (The Education of Margot Sanchez), Zan Romanoff (Grace and the Fever)
Location:  Books Inc., Opera Plaza
Address:  601 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco
Tel:  (415) 776-1111




Book:  The Last Cowboys of San Geronimo
Author:  Ian Stansel
Location:  Green Apple Books on The Park
Address:  1231 9th Ave., San Francisco
Tel:  (415) 742-5833





Book:  First We Were IV
Author:  Alexandra Sirowy
Location:  A Great Good Place For Books
Address:  6120 LaSalle Ave., Oakland
Tel: (510) 339-8210




Book:  Race To Radar
Author:  Richard Black
Location:  Orinda Books
Address:  276 Village Square, Orinda
Tel:  (925) 254-7606






Book:  The Cartel 7: Illuminati: Roundtable Of Bosses
Authors: Ashley & JaQuavis
Location:  Barnes & Noble (Emeryville)
Address:  5604 Bay Street, Emeryville
Tel: (510) 547-0905





Book:  Shadow Of Athena
Author:  Elena Douglas
Location:  Books Inc., Berkeley
Address:  1491 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley
Tel: (510) 525-7777





Book:  On Her Majesty's Frightfully Secret Service
Author:  Rhys Bowen
Location:  Book Passage
Address:  51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera
Tel:  (415)  927-0960





Book:  Forever On
Author:  Rob Reid
Location: The Booksmith
Address:  1644 Haight Street, San Francisco
Tel:  (415)  863-8688





Book:  Dear Cyborgs
Author:  Eugine Lim
Location:  Green Apple Books on The Park
Address:  1231 9th Ave., San Francisco
Tel: (415) 742-5833




Book:  The Marriage Pact
Author:  Michelle Richmond
Location:  Kepler's Books
Address:  1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park
Tel: (650) 324-4321





Book:  Miles Morales (Spider-Man)
Author:  Jason Reynolds
Location:  Kepler's Books
Address:  1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park
Tel:  (650) 324-4321




Book:  The Marriage Pact
Author:  Michelle Richmond
Location:  Book Passage (Corte Madera)
Address:  51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera
Tel: (415) 927-0960

Reservations required!
$15.00 reservation

Included with reservation:
15% off one of the author's books
OR 20% off BOTH books

Book:  The Marriage Pact
Author:  Michelle Richmond
Book:  Fierce Kingdom
Author:  Gin Phillips
Location:  Town Center Books
Address:  555 Main Street, Pleasanton
Tel: (925) 846-8826





Book:  The Gentleman
Author:  Forrest Leo
Location:  Rakestraw Books
Address:  3 Railroad Ave., Danville
Tel: (925) 837-7337




Book:  Beast
Author:  Paul Kingsnorth
Location:  Diesel, A Bookstore (Oakland)
Address:  5433 College Ave., Oakland
Tel: (510) 653-9965




Book: The Readymade Thief
Author: Augustus Rose
Location:  Book Passage (Corte Madera)
Address:  51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera
Tel: (415) 927-0960


Book:  Beast
Author:  Paul Kingsnorth
Location:  Point Reyes Books
Address:  11315 State Route 1, Point Reyes Station
Tel:  (415) 663-1542






Book:  The Trial Of  Prisoner 043
Author:  Terry Jastrow
Location:  The Bindery
Address:   1727 Haight Street, San Francisco
Tel:  (415) 863-8688





Book:  Slipsliding By The Bay
Author:  Barbara McDonald, PhD
Location:  Book Passage (Corte Madera)
Address:  51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera
Tel:  (415) 927-0960




Book:  Royal Crush: From The Notebooks of a Middle School Princess
Author:  Meg Cabot
Location:  Kepler's Books
Address:  1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park
Tel:  (650) 324-4321





Book:  The Trial Of  Prisoner 043
Author:  Terry Jastrow
Location:  Books Inc., (Opera Plaza)
Address:  601 Van Ness Street, San Francisco
Tel:  (415) 776-1111




Book: Everyone's a Alienb When Ur a Aliebn Too
Author:  Jonny Sun
Location:  The Booksmith
Address:  1644 Haight Street, San Francisco
Tel:  (415) 863-8688







Books:  
Last Seen: A Dr. Pepper Hunt Mystery (J.L. Doucette)   
The Tolling Of Mercedes Bell (Jennifer Dwight) Oink: A Food For Thought Mystery (J.L. Newton) Cut: A Medical Murder Mystery (Amy S. Peele) Murder Under The Bridge: A Palestine Mystery (Kate Raphael)
Location:  Book Passage (Corte Madera)
Address:  51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera
Tel: (415) 927-0960





Book:  The Trial Of  Prisoner 043
Author:  Terry Jastrow
Location:  Book Passage (Corte Madera)
Address:  51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera
Tel:  (415) 927-0960 


Book:  The Goddesses
Author:  Swan Huntley
Location:  Book Passage (Corte Madera)
Address:  51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera
Tel:  (415) 927-0960



Book:  Watch Me Disappear
Author:  Janelle Brown
Location:  Kepler's Books
Address:  1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park
Tel: (650) 324-4321 



Book: The Readymade Thief
Author: Augustus Rose
Location:  Green Apple Books On The Park
Address:  1231 9th Ave., San Francisco
Tel: (415) 742-5833





Book:  The Epic Crush of Genie Lo
Author:  F.C. Yee
Location:  Book Passage, Sausalito
Address:  100 Bay Street, Sausalito
Tel:  (415) 339-1300



Book:  The Gentleman
Author:  Forrest Leo
Location:  Book Passage (Corte Madera)
Address:  51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera
Tel:  (415) 927-0960






Books:  
Last Seen: A Dr. Pepper Hunt Mystery (J.L. Doucette)   
The Tolling Of Mercedes Bell (Jennifer Dwight) Oink: A Food For Thought Mystery (J.L. Newton) Cut: A Medical Murder Mystery (Amy S. Peele) Murder Under The Bridge: A Palestine Mystery (Kate Raphael)
Location:  Books Inc., (Palo Alto)
Address:  855 El Camino Real #74, Palo Alto
Tel: ( 650) 321-6069



Book:  The Clockwork Dynasty
Author:  Daniel H. Wilson
Location:  The Booksmith
Address:  1644 Haight Street, San Francisco
Tel:  (415) 863-8688





Book:  The Last Neanderthal
Author:  Claire Cameron
Location:  Green Apple Books on the Park
Address:  1231 9th Street, San Francisco
Tel:  (415) 742-5833



Book:  The Marriage Pact
Author:  Michelle Richmond
Book:  The Race For Paris
Author:  Meg Waite Clayton
Location:  Books Inc., Burlingame
Address:   1375 Burlingame Ave., Burlingame
Tel: (650) 685-4914




Author:  Andrew Sean Greer
Location:  Rakestraw Books
Address:  3 Railroad Ave., Danville
Tel:  (925) 837-7337





Book:  Two Roads From Here
Author:  Teddy Steinkellner
Location:  Books Inc., Opera Plaza
Address:  601 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco
Tel:  (415) 776-1111 





Book:  When I am Through With You
Author:  Stephanie Kuehn
Book: Little & Lion
Author:  Brandy Colbert
Location:  Mrs. Dalloway's Books
Address:  2904 College Ave., Berkeley
Tel: (510) 704-8222


Book:  Venetian Blood
Author:  Christine Evelyn Volker
Location:  Diesel, A Bookstore, Oakland
Address:  5433 College Ave., Oakland
Tel: (510) 653-9965



Book:  Show Her a Flower, A Bird, A Shadow
Author:  Peg Alford Pursell
Location:  Point Reyes Books
Address: 11315 State Route 1, Point Reyes Station
Tel:  (415) 663-1542




Book:  The Good Daughter
Author: Karin Slaughter
Location:  Book Passage (Corte Madera)
Address:  51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera
Tel:  (415) 927-0960  



Book:  New People
Author:  Danzy Senna
Location:  Book Passage (San Francisco)
Address:  1 Ferry Building, San Francisco
Tel:  (415) 835-1020 


Book:  A Map For Wrecked Girls
Author:  Jessica Taylor
Book:  Caraval
Author: Stephanie Garber
Location:  Kepler's Books
Address:  1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park
Tel:  (650) 324-4321


Book:  A Kind Of Freedom
Author:  Margaret Wilkerson Sexton
Location:  Diesel, A Bookstore
Address:  5433 College Avenue, Oakland
Tel:  (510) 653-9965
 


Book:  The Bequest
Author:  Nancy Boyarsky
Location:  Books Inc., Palo Alto
Address:  855 El Camino Real #74, Palo Alto
Tel:  (650) 321-0600 

Book:  The Quiet Child
Author:  John Burley
Location:  Book Passage (Corte Madera)
Address:  51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera
Tel:  (415) 927-0960 


Book:  Mrs. Fletcher
Author:  Tom Perrotta
Location:  Book Passage (San Francisco)
Address:  1 Ferry Building, San Francisco
Tel:  (415) 835-1020



Book:  The Quiet Child
Author:  John Burley
Location:  Books Inc., Mountain View
Address:  301 Castro Street, Mountain View
Tel:  (650) 428-1234 



Book:  Pages For Her
Author:  Sylvia Brownrigg
Book:  The Race For Paris
Author:  Meg Waite Clayton
Location:  Books Inc., Palo Alto
Address:  855 El Camino Real #74, Palo Alto
Tel:  (650) 321-0600 


Book:  The Future Won't Be Long
Author:  Jarett Kobek
Location:  The Booksmith
Address:  1644 Haight Street, San Francisco
Tel: (415) 863-8688


Book:  Venetian Blood
Author:  Christine Evelyn Volker
Location:  Books Inc., Opera Plaza
Address:  601 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco
Tel:  (415) 776-1111



Book:  Girl In Snow
Author:  Danya Kukafka
Location:  The Booksmith
Address:  1644 Haight Street, San Francisco
Tel:  (415) 863-8688



Book:  Things That Happened Before The Earthquake
Author:  Chiara Barzini
Location:  Green Apple Books on the Park
Address:  1231 9th Ave., San Francisco
Tel:  (415) 742-5833


Book:  Shattered Minds
Author:  Laura Lam
Location:  Borderlands Books
Address:  866 Valencia Street, San Francisco
Tel:  (415) 824-8203


Book:  American Family
Author:  Catherine Marshall Smith
Location:  Book Passage (Corte Madera)
Address:  51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera
Tel:  (415) 927-0960