My Favorite Aesthetic Books

I feel like all of us bookworms have been there before: standing in a bookstore or browsing Amazon when all of a sudden your eye catches on a book title and the temptation arises to buy it purely based on the prettiness of the cover. Most likely, you’ll end up buying it, too.

Covers aren’t the only thing pleasing to the eye, though: there’s stained pages, decked edges, and imprints on hardcovers. As a person who spends a lot of time taking pictures of books, here are some that look beautiful on camera and absolutely delicious displayed on my shelf!

Review: It’s Kind of a Funny Story, by Ned Vizzini

For such a moving and detailed look at an important subject, I can’t believe how little I’ve heard about this book. I was hooked from the first sentence: “It’s so hard to talk when you want to kill yourself.”

It’s Kind of a Funny Story is a brutally honest contemporary following a teen who has a mental illness—yep, it’s another one of those. But out of the thousands already published, this one stood out because it was so well written.

Review: A Torch Against the Night, by Sabaa Tahir

“You are my masterpiece, Helene Aquilla, but I have just begun. If you survive, you shall be a force to be reckoned with in this world. But first you will be unmade. First, you will be broken.”

Though I enjoyed An Ember in the Ashes more, I think this was a really great sequel. If you loved the action and violence in the first book, A Torch Against the Night won’t disappoint. It’s full of bloody scenes and brutal characters in a world based on ancient Rome, but it also touches on themes of loyalty and love—should you serve the Empire you have sworn your allegiance to, or save your family instead?

Review: Girl in Pieces, by Kathleen Glasgow

Hm, this is a tricky book to rate. I feel like I should give it a high rating because it’s a well-researched look at a serious matter—self harm. But I can’t bring myself to give it any more than two stars simply because I didn’t enjoy Girl in Pieces.

You’re probably thinking, “How could anyone enjoy a book about self harm?” But with these kinds of gritty, realistic novels, I can usually appreciate how the author chose to tackle such a delicate subject, or at least take away new knowledge from being able to step into the shoes of a character who’s gone through so much more than I ever have.

Review: With Malice, by Eileen Cook

“Why is it they say you always hurt the ones you love? Because you know exactly how to do it.”

I really wanted to give this four stars. Because, oh boy, was this ever good . . . right up until the last ten pages.

With Malice is a hyped up YA thriller, and for good reason. It was extremely well written and didn’t suffer from the cheesiness I usually find in this genre. The pacing was unbelievably fast and I flew through the pages. I was totally in love with it . . . right up until the end, when I couldn’t help but lower my rating.

Review: Delicate Monsters, by Stephanie Kuehn

I don’t think I entirely “get” Kuehn’s books. Charm & Strange was too weird for me, and though I liked Delicate Monsters better, it was still pretty bizarre.

This book is about three messed up teens who are different kinds of monsters, and I don’t use that word lightly. I mean, these characters were awful—borderline sociopathic and just nasty in the way that they thought:

“She puffed harder on her cigarette, enjoying the burn on her windpipe and the hope that she was giving someone somewhere cancer.”

But that kind of just made them even more interesting to read about.

Favorite August Reads!

With fall just around the corner, I thought I would share some of my favorite books I read in the month of August! I was able to catch up on some new releases last month and discovered some books I really enjoyed! Here is a complete list of what I managed to read in August:

• And I Darken, by Kiersten White
• The Graces, by Laure Eve
• Steeplejack, by A. J. Hartley
• This Adventure Ends, by Emma Mills
• Environmentally Friendly, by Elias Zanbaka
• Rebel Bully Geek Pariah, by Erin Jade Lange
• My Sister’s Keeper, by Jodi Picoult
• Out of the Easy, by Ruta Sepetys
• The Raven Boys, by Maggie Stiefvater
• How it Feels to Fly, by Kathryn Holmes
• With Malice, by Eileen Cook

Without further ado, onto my favorites!

Review: You Before Anyone Else, by Julie Cross and Mark Perini

“Why is your mouth so easy to stare at? And why do I want to kiss you so badly?”

Cue another young adult romance that is so desperately trying to follow the path of every new adult book, complete with casual sex, a good girl falling for a bad boy, and a hidden past . . . ooh, I’m so intrigued. No, I’m actually not, because I’ve read this exact same scenario way too many times.

As if there aren’t enough of these books. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind this type of story, even though it’s unbelievably predictable, if it were actually well written with believable, fleshed-out characters. The problem with You Before Anyone Else was that the main characters were so dull and I was utterly uninterested in their romance.

Review: The Raven Boys, by Maggie Stiefvater

Well, that was a lot of fun! I’m not going to pretend The Raven Boys was the most original—it wasn’t by a long shot—but it was so entertaining I was able to look past the plot holes, cheesy storyline, and ridiculous dialogue.

When it comes to books, there’s two kinds of cheesy—the plain old annoying cheesy that makes me roll my eyes and is laughably bad, and the fun cheesy. For instance, Truthwitch was as cliché of a young adult fantasy novel as you could get, but it was also fast paced, enjoyable, and lighthearted.

The Raven Boys may have been another angsty paranormal romance about a “special” girl full of overused ideas, but it was so addicting and undeniably fun.

Review: How it Feels to Fly, by Kathryn Holmes

“Ballet was my safest space. Then my body changed. I got curvy, and I got self-conscious. I couldn’t stop thinking about everyone looking at me—what they were seeing.”

This was a great look at an issue that is sadly common: negative body image. So many women and young girls are plagued by this, and I can tell you from personal experience that it’s such a sad place to be.

Review: Out of the Easy, by Ruta Sepetys

This was such a compelling historical fiction novel. Am I the only one who feels like a lot of books in this genre can get too descriptive with historical fact, and thus become boring? With Out of the Easy, however, I truly couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

I loved the characterization of different people in New Orleans in 1950, how Sepetys captured their lives, the good and ugly parts. Our protagonist, Josie, is an inspiring, independent girl with huge dreams to go to college, but she is held back because her mother is a prostitute.

Review: My Sister’s Keeper, by Jodi Picoult

“You don’t love someone because they’re perfect, you love them in spite of the fact that they’re not.”


Lowered my rating because of that ending I saw coming a mile away.

Whoa, that was a seriously intense family drama. Such a compelling, original plot that brought up a lot of questions, but the author left them for the reader to decide. I love when authors do that, instead of answering controversial topics with their own opinion. Everyone’s going to have a different opinion, so why not leave the questions open?

My Sister’s Keeper follows thirteen-year-old Anna, who is suing her parents for the right to her own body. She was literally created in a medical lab to be a donor for her sister, Kate, who has leukemia.

Review: Rebel Bully Geek Pariah, by Erin Jade Lange

This book is being compared to The Breakfast Club, and in many ways it’s very similar: it follows four socially outcast teenagers as they find themselves stuck together one night.

The beginning was absolutely crazy. After a party bust, our four anti-heroes are on the run from the cops. They steal a car, pick up supplies at a gas station, and find a cabin to hide out in. Over the course of the novel they begrudgingly become attached to one another and open up about their pasts.

Our narrator, Sam, has a drug addict and alcoholic for a mother. When Sam was only six her mother was sent to prison for making meth. Andi, York, and Boston—her three new accomplices—all come from equally rough backgrounds.

Top 10 Best Fantasy Series

As a lover of fantasy, I’ve ready many books from this genre. Magical fantasy, adventurous fantasy, romantic fantasy, you name it! These are some of my favorite series, so I hope you are able to find some recommendations!

10. How to Train Your Dragon, by Cressida Cowell.

This hilarious middle grade series follows a boy named Hiccup and his dragon, Toothless. I started this series in my preteen years and finished it in my teen years. I loved the characters who never failed to make me laugh. Oh, and it’s nothing like the film adaption.

“Eon” is an Action Packed Fantasy with Dragons

Wow, that was exactly the immersive, fast-paced fantasy I was looking for.

I have to admit, at first I wasn’t too impressed by the pacing of this novel. I found the world building dense, the plot complicated, and, quite frankly, I was bored. I’m so glad I stuck with it though, because after the first seventy pages I suddenly couldn’t put it down. The suspense made me breathless and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next.

“This Adventure Ends” is a Heartfelt, Solid Contemporary

“Maybe . . . it’s a kind of love where you don’t have to say it. Where they’re such a part of you and you’re such a part of them that it doesn’t need to be said. Because you already know.”

Wow. This was a really, really great book. It was a well written, fast paced contemporary with characters whom I couldn’t help falling in love with. I can’t even begin to summarize this emotional, smart, and moving story.

Our main character, Sloane, is sarcastic, intelligent, and incredibly flawed. She constantly overthinks things and has an irrational fear that if she lets herself love someone, she will love them too much. She doesn’t let her emotions show and has a harsh, blunt cover to hide her true self.

“Cruel Beauty” is a Bizarre Fantasy Retelling

“He’s a monster. Maybe I’m a monster to pity him. But I can’t leave him.”

This was certainly one of the strangest, most original books I’ve read in a while.

Cruel Beauty is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast with tons of fantasy and Greek mythology thrown in the batch and mixed up to create something totally bizarre and enticing.

While reading it, I found myself comparing it to other YA retellings I’ve read, such as Scarlet and Cinder. I think Rosamund Hodge’s novel is a few tones darker than either of those examples. There were so many well-written, eerie parts in this book that I never wanted them to stop.

“Crimson Bound” Delivers Another Creative, Addictive Retelling

There’s just something sinister about the forest, isn’t there?

I have to say I enjoyed this book more than the author’s debut, Cruel Beauty. Cruel Beauty was great, but then Rosamund Hodge had to go and make that whole weird ending for it that I’m still unsure of my feelings for.

If anything, I think the author’s writing has improved and matured a lot since her debut. Everything lovely and amazing about her writing was really enhanced in Crimson Bound. Never mind the plot, I want more breathtaking scenic descriptions and saucy lines from the main character!

“The Siren” Felt Like a Twelve Year Old Daydream

“Where in the world did you come from, you beautiful, silent girl?” he whispered.

The thing I loved about The Selection—and the very same thing that made many people hate it—was the silly, light, enjoyable tone of the writing. It was sugar and spice and pretty dresses and handsome boys and pure entertainment. And it totally worked for me. I got sucked into the story following America’s life—basically a soap opera—and loved every page of it.

The Siren might have worked in the same way had the writing not felt more simplistic, the main character’s voice more immature. While I still found it entertaining, it was a bit too sweet.

“An Abundance of Katherines” Portrays Hilarious Friendships Between Teenagers

“That’s who you really like. The people you can think out loud in front of.”

I really should have read this sooner, because John Green didn’t fail to deliver another excellent depiction of the carefree and incredibly complex life of teenagers.

This time the quirky and hilarious narrative follows Colin, who has just been dumped for the nineteenth time. Colin can’t seem to help falling in love with girls named Katherine, but it always ends the same way for him: with his heart broken.

“Ink and Bone” Paints a Horrific Picture of a Future Without Books

This story opens on the streets of London in the year 2025.

Jess grew up in a poor home with a brute of a brother and his father, who taught him the business of book smuggling. Jess is forced to steal books so his father can resell them illegally in the black market.

Books are the most precious thing in this novel. They are upheld as the highest of items and some characters even value them over human lives. This makes a lot of people angry and causes them to burn books and libraries. These people are known as Burners. As a great lover of books, this very idea horrified me.

“The Forbidden Wish” is a Sweet, Compelling Retelling of Aladdin

“Even a thief may have honor, and even a jinni may have a heart.”

Do you like Aladdin? A good action-packed fantasy? Diverse settings? Romance that isn’t insta-love? Because The Forbidden Wish is all of those things and more. It contains a plot that managed to hold my attention the entire time, female-empowering characters, and a cute love interest.

This is a retelling of Aladdin with a unique concept—this time the jinni is the main character, and she’s a girl. Zahra has been trapped inside a magical lamp for four thousand years, and she hasn’t had a Master to grant wishes to in hundreds of years. That’s where Aladdin steps in.

“The Winner’s Kiss” is an Epic, Nostalgic Finale

“You don’t need to be gifted with a blade. You are your own best weapon.”

I am trying very hard to remain calm and collected right now so that I can write an articulate review, when what I really want to do is turn into a fully raging fangirl.

Oh, my poor heart. Marie Rutkoski certainly knows how to shred it into pieces. This book flooded me with so many emotions—it made me feel incredibly sad, angry, surprised, frustrated, and joyously happy. The plot was carefully constructed so that each scene was able to evoke a new emotion from me.

“The Winner’s Crime” Takes the Trilogy to a New Level of Intensity

“Arin thought of Kestrel, and wondered if some wounds ever heal.”

If you loved The Winner’s Curse, then this sequel is going to blow you away. Everything about this book was better than the first one.

In this sequel the stakes were higher and the author balanced the political tension perfectly. Everything was also way more developed—the plot, the fantasy world, and the characters’ relationships with each other.

“The Winner’s Curse” is a Sweeping, Romantic Fantasy

“He knew the law of such things: people in brightly lit places cannot see into the dark.”

This was well written, original fantasy and the plot immediately hooked me. The story was intelligent, thoughtful, and suspenseful; I found the fantasy setting to be both believable and well-developed for the novel’s length and the history of the Herrani and Valorian races intrigued me.

I really liked the conspiracies and betrayals between characters—Rutkoski handled them well so that while everyone was double-crossing one another and I knew none of the characters could be trusted, especially the two main ones, I grew fond of them.

“The Dark Days Club” is Rich with Extensive Historical Detail

“Lady Beck says your poor friend was found covered in blood.”

Compared to a book I recently finished, Truthwitch, this was much better developed in the fantasy sense. It was rich with detail and the paranormal aspect was carefully constructed. If you like your magic to make sense, then you’ll probably love this.

But it was much more boring than Truthwitch. The plot was a slow-moving, thick molasses. While the author took the time to explain everything about the historical and fantasy elements, it created a tedious density.

“And I Darken” is a Gritty, Violent Retelling of Vlad Dracula

What if Vlad Dracula was a girl? This famous historical figure, otherwise known as “Vlad the Impaler,” was a brutal prince who slaughtered thousands and grew up in fifteenth century Wallachia. And I Darken takes a new twist by creating the violent, psychotic character that is Ladislav Dragwlya.

This book was utterly captivating. It combined some of my favorite things—historical fiction, a creative retelling, and a main character who straddled the line between hero and villain. The totally screwed up story begins with Lada’s birth:

“Vlad Dracul’s heavy brow descended like a storm when the doctor informed him that his wife had given birth to a girl.”

“Lair of Dreams” is a Disappointing, Slow Sequel

“Dreams are the only place any of us is free.”

I was astonished when the nearly six-hundred page massive chunker of a book, The Diviners, managed to enrapture me from the first page. It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time and the plot never once felt slow. In fact, it was so exciting I wished the story would never end.

I was right to worry when I doubted Lair of Dreams would live up to the first book’s amazing immersive quality. But I wasn’t prepared for it to be quite this boring.

“The Diviners” is a Mesmerizing Mystery Set in the 1920s

“Sometimes you might hear odd sounds in the night. But you mustn’t be frightened. This city has its ghosts, you see.”

I couldn’t help loving this book.

It takes place during the Roaring Twenties, the plot follows a group of supernaturally powerful teens tracking down a serial killer, there’s forbidden love, ghosts, and secrets on every corner. What isn’t there to like?

The main character, Evie, was a sassy, spunky flapper girl. I loved Evie. She was independent to the core, naïve, and a tad bit silly, but she wasn’t afraid to take on sudden hardships and was utterly loyal to her friends. I thought she grew into a fine, strong woman over the course of the novel.

“Steeplejack” is Unique Fantasy with a Sense of Adventure

“It really was that simple. You figured out what you needed to do to stay alive, and you did it.”

This was a slow moving, well written mystery with a freaking fantastic protagonist. The fantasy world was richly developed, filled with “steeplejacks” or rooftop climbers who repaired chimneys and spires, different races of people, and a clever, intricate mystery.

Anglet is our awesome main character who is the best steeplejack in Bar-Selehm. The story opens with Ang going to meet her new apprentice, but she finds him dead instead. The authorities say he fell from the rooftops, but Ang doesn’t believe it. Her curiosity gets her hired as a private detective to find a stolen historical icon, the Beacon.

“These Shallow Graves” Had Me Hooked From Beginning to End

“An uneasiness had descended on her, as cold and ominous as a winter night.”

Let’s get this part out of the way: The mystery was good. I had no problems with it. It was a mixture of frighteningly atmospheric, brainiac detective sleuthing, and a good dosage of humor like the kind in Jackaby. I especially loved Jo’s first visit to the morgue, where she met the wonderful Oscar Rubin and was appalled by his offer of a pleased-to-meet-you bloody handshake.

But then the romance was introduced, and it blew the mystery out the door.

“Walk on Earth a Stranger” is a Slow Moving, Magical Western

“Why do you spend so much time out there?”
“I don’t know.” I settle my head down onto the saddlebag. “Maybe because it’s the only time I don’t have to lie to anyone.”

This book follows Lee’s journey to California during the gold rush. It’s full of escapades like cows falling into rivers, frightening tales of Indians, children going missing, and Lee meeting and befriending new people.

Lee was an awesome, tough, well-rounded heroine. She flees her home and has to disguise herself as a boy so she can get a job on the trail. Lee’s parents were murdered and she is heartbroken by their deaths, but she doesn’t fall apart from grief as she has her friends, Jeff and Therese, to console her.

“The Graces” Will Appeal to Fans of Cliché Paranormal

The most disappointing thing about The Graces was that it had such huge potential. When I read the summary I was immediately hooked: An entire town worships a rich, secretive family and rumors circulate that they are magical—a family of witches. The plot sounded so cool and I couldn’t wait to pick it up.

I was expecting a mysterious look at a closely entwined family, but you know what I got instead? Beautiful Creatures 2.0.

Meet River, our lonely “normal” main character who is obsessed with the Grace family (much like Ethan was obsessed with Lena). River claims that she’s different from other girls: “I was not like those prattling, chattering things with their careful head tosses and thick, cloying lip gloss.”

“The Hired Girl” is Bittersweet, Well Written Historical Fiction

“My books promised me that life wasn’t just made up of workaday tasks and prosaic things. The world is bigger and more colorful and more important than that.”

Joan Skraggs lives on a farm with her horrible father and three brothers. When her father bans her from going to school and burns her beloved books, Joan runs away to Baltimore, lies about her age, and becomes a maid for a Jewish family.

Within a few pages I found myself sympathizing with Joan. She was such a lively, colorful, and imaginative character. I couldn’t help falling in love with her.

“Jane Steele” is a Unique Protagonist Caught Up in a Boring Mystery

“No one feels the grievousness of my shortcomings more keenly than I.”

The intriguing narrative saved the otherwise sluggish, inconsistent story. Jane Steele was an awesome main character and I’m afraid her unique voice was the only reason I plowed through 400 pages of dragged-out plot.

If you don’t know, Jane Steele is a gothic retelling of Jane Eyre, but this was a strange retelling. The events are similar to Jane Eyre—Jane Steele loses her parents and is sent to an abusive boarding school—but here Steele has read the book Jane Eyre and greatly admires Jane as a heroine.

July Wrap Up

July was a great reading month for me! While I didn’t have much time to read at the beginning of the month, as I was busy camping for the Fourth of July weekend (which was a blast!), I ended up reading a total of fifteen books, which I’m pretty happy with.

The Unexpected Everything, by Morgan Matson
Rating: Four teacups

This book was so cute! It really surprised me since I wasn’t a fan of Matson’s Since You’ve Been Gone. A perfect summer read.

Click for full review.

Pearl, by Deirdre Riordan Hall
Rating: One teacup

This book was a huge disappointment, especially since I really enjoyed Hall’s Sugar. I didn’t like the main character or her behavior.

Click for full review.

“Front Lines” is a Harsh and Realistic Look at World War Two

“There will come a time when you’ll have a choice between staying in your trench and crawling out of it to save a buddy.”

This was such an inspiring tale following three brave women who went to war to fight for their country in 1942. While it was definitely empowering to females, I don’t think the main point was to send some feminist message. Instead, it focused on soldiers relying on one another to live to see the morning.

The three women this book centered on—Rainy, Rio, and Frangie—were incredibly strong. They were from different races and religions and it was such a relief to see some diversity in YA. Grant added so much depth to their characters, bringing each of their voices to life.

“Rooftoppers” is a Sweet and Adventurous Children’s Book for All Ages

Oh my goodness, if you haven’t read this book yet then you need to pick up a copy of it ASAP! Rooftoppers was pure charming, quirky, and clever historical fiction. If that doesn’t draw you in then maybe the mention of a stubborn and brave narrator who goes by the name of Sophie will, or the pages of lovely illustrations at the start of each chapter.

It’s true that this is a children’s book, but I think readers of all ages will be able to enjoy it. The setting is in England and France and the descriptions of the cities are gorgeous—French pastry shops, parks, bridges, and streets.

“Vengeance Road” is a Satisfying, Gritty Western

“I got some coin and a vengeance strong enough to cut any throat that tries to cross me.”

I knew I was going to love this from the very first chapter, which was an explosion of violent and gritty awesomeness. My love for this book only grew as I got to know the protagonist, Kate, who was hardcore and had no regrets.

Kate is out for cold hard revenge. Her father was keeping a secret from her: he discovered a gold mine years ago and made a map to it. Now a nasty gang called the Rose Riders have strung her pa up and Kate swears to kill every last one of them.

“The Passion of Dolssa” is Memorable and Powerful

“For my sake, guard your tongue to guard your life, my daughter.”

This book was a brilliant, heartfelt, and mesmerizing retelling of historical fiction.

The story opens in the thirteenth century, where a historian is recording the tale of Dolssa, a young Christian woman who was condemned as a heretic by the Catholic Church and hunted down to be burned at the stake. The plot was truly horrifying and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

“Eleven Hours” is a Short, Informative Take on Pregnancy

“She’s in labor,” Franckline explains, calmly, and the articulation of the obvious makes the disproving woman’s eyes lose their sharpness. She tips her head in acquiescence and turns to her friend. “She’s going to have a baby.”

This was a strange little book—less than 200 pages, following two pregnant women as they become close at a hospital where one is about to give birth. There were no chapter breaks and the narratives flickered from the past to present.

I really liked the compelling writing, the way the author pulled the reader into the minds of Lore and Franckline, one a single, soon-to-be mother, the other a nurse.

“A Book of Spirits and Thieves” is Predictable, Yet Entertaining

Here we have yet another traditional YA fantasy.

I think everyone knows what “traditional” means by now—a main character who has magical powers but doesn’t know they’re special yet, an evil ruler dictating the land, plot twists, action, and some romance thrown in the batch.

I’m sorry to say it, but the world building was laughable. The fantasy realm literally consisted of an evil villainess ruling over everyone, some people having magical powers, and some poor villagers. There were no details or explanations beyond that. It even had the same old idea of a “girl going into a fantasy world through a magical book,” which I first read in Inkheart.

“All the Ugly and Wonderful Things” is Beautifully Heart Wrenching and Gritty

“If Wavy showed up tomorrow, I’d do it all over again. I loved her the first time I saw her and I still do.”
“Love at first sight, huh?” Beth snorted. “How old was she?”
“Eight.”
“That’s creepy.”

Oh, my heart. I think this book just broke it into a million pieces. This story was absolutely gorgeous and heartbreaking. Even if you find the plot repulsive—and I wouldn’t blame you, I found many parts of it disturbing, myself—there’s no denying the author’s beautiful writing.

Before I get any further, let me just say that yes, this is a book about a so-called “romance” between an adult and a child. Yes, it is graphic and disturbing. Yes, I am recommending it to you.

“Dare Me” is Disturbingly Insightful into the World of Teenage Girls

“There I am, Addy Hanlon, sixteen years old, hair like a long taffy pull and skin tight as a rubber band. I am on the gym floor, my girl Beth beside me, our cherried smiles and spray-tanned legs, ponytails bobbing in sync.”


This was a disturbing look at the lives of cheerleaders. 

Cheerleaders—they are often portrayed as ditzy, shallow, flighty things, giggling while shaking their pompoms, but this is the second book I’ve read—the first being Exit, Pursued by a Bear—that portrayed them as the complete opposite.

These cheerleaders were tough, hardworking, determined, and out for blood. Abbott showed just how much work goes into cheerleading, and these girls treated it like their very lives depended on it.

“The Darkest Corners” isn’t Thrilling Until the Very End

I was prepared to give this one star all the way up until the end, which was such a huge improvement it forced me to bump my rating up.

Tessa and Callie sent a man to prison ten years ago. Now Tessa is back in Fayette and she and Callie are rethinking their statement when new bodies begin popping up in town . . . Could the murders have a connection with the crime that took place so long ago?

Even if a thriller doesn’t have the best character development, I still expect one thing from it: a compelling mystery. One that will pull me in and leave my mind racing. The problem with The Darkest Corners was the plot took forever to get going.