again another book tiktok made me buy lol XD

The People We Meet On Vacation – Emily Henry

Contemporary, romance, fiction, comedy.

Poppy and Alex are each other’s opposites. Both enjoy different things and oftentimes their opinions tend to clash against each other. He is a teacher and she is a vacation blogger. Something happened that caused them to drift nearly away from their friendship and this summer she intends on fixing their friendship. She asks him to go on vacation with her without her company. He agrees. As they vacation together, she learns more of what happened when they weren’t chatting anymore. More is unveiled as a broken AC unit brings them even closer =. Not only that but she finds that she has feelings for him and is going to regret it if she doesn’t express herself to him. Before it’s too late.

I cried and laughed throughout this book. I loved romance and comedy. The two are definitely total and complete opposites but somehow perfect for each other. The novel has flashbacks that help understand their relationship even more. This book overall is excellently written and can be read in one sitting or slowly enjoyed. The characters’ interactions with each other are witty and entertaining. I loved that the plot was simple and not too complex either. Sometimes I just want a nice read. This was a great read and definitely a summer romance that is unforgettable. Also great to read in the summer.

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A Dark Twist to Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland

Alice – Christina Henry

Imaginary places, Carroll Lewis, Alice in Wonderland, thrilling, horror, fiction.

Rating 10/10

Alice went mad and was sent to be locked away at a mental asylum. One day, a fire breaks out at Hatcher, a man who lived in the cell beside hers rescues her and himself out of the fire. When the two escaped, Hatcher explains why the asylum went up in flames, it was because the Jabberwocky and the jabberwocky is angry due to its long-imprisoned life. Alice goes on with Hatcher on an adventure to find the blade. A bar keep tells Alice to avoid The Walrus and The Rabbit. Unfortunately, Alice had a run in with the infamous Rabbit long ago. She managed to escape but doesn’t remember due to all the drugs the hospital was giving her. Slowly as they’re journey progresses, she remembers taking the Rabbit’s eye and him marking her. The Cheshire Cat tells the two to go to the Caterpillar to find what they need to destroy the jabberwocky. Both take down the Caterpillar, the Walrus, and the Rabbit. Now the two must still find the sword to take down the jabberwocky.

I had thought that this novel was going to be innocent and a retelling of the classic, but I was glad I was wrong. This was no ordinary tale of a teenage girl following a white rabbit. The novel offered more and added horror and thrilling scenes. Christina Henry is excellent at the horror retelling of classic childhood stories into modernized tales for adults whom seek thrilling horror to enjoy. I enjoy classics but prefer to read the different variations of classic childhood tales as an adult. The theme was nothing was as it seemed in this novel. I recommend reading this novel for sure. I nearly finished this novel in one day.

Mermaids are Neat Creatures

The Mermaid – Christina Henry

Sideshows, mermaids, circus, fantasy, fiction.

Rating 8/10

A mermaid becomes curious of land and finds herself realizing she can turn her mermaid fin into two legs and walk on land. She approaches a fisherman by the name of Jack, and he knew she was a mermaid, one that he had caught and released back into the ocean. Jack taught her English and other necessary things for survival. They had lived in the cottage together for a while until he left on an expedition and never returned. Amelia, deciding to keep the name, lives in the cottage and interacts with the village folk. Barnum is looking for a new exhibition and wants a mermaid. He sends his henchman to find a mermaid in the small village that was rumored that inhabits a mermaid. Levi finds Amelia, she at first claims she is no mermaid and the rumors are of drunken fishermen. Amelia decides for herself to go to the Museum and make a deal with Barnum. Barnum is proud of Levi and rewards him. Amelia confronts Barnum about multiple issues and Levi agrees with her points. Barnum fails to see and fails to be reasoned with. Levi has fallen for Amelia and vice versa. They married and had a child together and leave the circus for good.

I enjoyed this novel so much. I recommend this to mermaid fanatics to read this novel. It was well put together and a page turner. There were no dull moments in this novel nor was plain. The way the author told the story and added so much plot made the story interesting. The take on the mythology of mermaids was unique and was not cliché. My only problem with the novel was that it was the stereotypical circus man seeking new attractions was an issue but nonetheless it was a good novel overall.

A Darker Side of the Lost Boys

Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook – Christina Henry

Peter Pan, Never Ever Land, fantasy, horror, fiction, retelling

Rating 15/10

In this novel, it is a retelling of a classic childhood favorite but through the eyes of Captain Hook and his origins. Jamie was originally a lost boy that Peter Pan had rescued from the Other World. Peter Pan rescues these boys and whenever the boys start to age, they were cast off the island. Sometimes they survived to become pirates, some don’t survive at all. Whenever a boy would fall to illness and death, they were simply replaced. Peter Pan never ages, that is a fact here. Jamie slowly got tired of Peter Pan’s behaviors and decided to rebel against Peter after an incident that changed Jamie forever. He slowly started to grow up and Peter did not like that at all. So Peter cursed Jamie to be forever an adult and to remain on the island. Jamie was never meant to be the villain; it was Peter whom made Jamie the villain. Made Jamie into Captain Hook by cutting off his left hand as well as the whole curse.

I really enjoyed this novel so much. I had loved the idea of the other side of the fairy tale, no matter how dark it would be. This was just the right amount of horror I wanted as well. It is interesting to hear how the famous villain, Captain Hook, was originally was a lost boy. Made me sympathize with Jamie because Peter Pan kept bringing more and more boys onto the island and not really caring for these boys. Let them die of sickness or being killed and the sad part was that Jamie buried these boys that came and went. I would’ve done the same thing as Jamie did. Just give it all up, just grow up, and attempt to leave. I will for sure plan to reread this book in the future.