Belles, by Jen Calonita

Well written, enjoyable YA. Wrong-side-of the-tracks Isabelle's world is shattered when her Alzheimer's suffering grandmother is deemed no longer capable to care for her, and she is sent to live with wealthy relatives she has never known. Pampered Mirabelle, nearly the same age, is supposed to help Isabelle fit into this new world of prep schools and country clubs, but Mira's friends are mean girls. Solid characterizations and believable personal growth lifted this out of standard chick-lit, despite the misleading cover, which I hope changes before it's April pub date. I really liked this.

A Year in The Merde, by Stephen Clarke

SO funny, and so out of control, this was a re-read that I enjoyed and will look for his next book, In The Merde For Love, right now. Ludicous fictionalized look at trying to start a chain of English style tea rooms in France.

My Not So Terrible Time and The Hippie Hotel, by Rosemary Graham

Well done but predictable divorced families issue YA. Really not a lot to say about this. Cute. Charming.

How To Ruin a Summer Vacation, by Simone Elkeles

Not very good YA about a Chicago girl being sent to the Golan Heights to spend the summer with her estranged father and unknown extended family. The culture clash didn't excuse Amy's ignorance, and the buildup to her changing from a silly and spoiled girl into a brave and devoted Zionist was predictable and rather unpleasant.

The Final Crumpet, by Ron and Janet Benrey

Strange and pretty terrible mystery that left me boggled that it got published. Not only was the mystery weak, uninteristing, and unsolvable in fair-play terms, God kept popping in the most unexpected and inappropriate of ways.

The Agency: The Traitor in the Tunnel, by Y.S. Lee

Fun and fast paced YA historical mystery, with a unique heroine with guts and wits to spare. This was so enjoyable, and I want to read the other books in the series.

Trafficked, by Kim Purcell

Thought provoking book about human trafficking out of Moldova. 17 year old Hannah thinks she will be a nanny in Los Angeles, earning $400 a week, which she would use to send home to pay for her grandmother's cataract operation, but upon arrival, she realizes how naive she was.
This could have (and more realistically, should have) been much darker, but aimed at a YA audience, maybe the author didn't want to take it as dark as it really might have been.
Well done, but with some weak spots.

A Million Suns, by Beth Revis

Fantastic follow up to the awesome YA sci-fi Across The Universe. This was a great continuation, much more than a "middle book". Elder and Amy continue to grow as characters, and the ethical conflicts aboard the space ship continue to introduce ideas about the nature of leadership, and the value of freedom. Just a great read, and I can't wait for the next.

The Third Gate, by Lincoln Child

Ludicrous adventure thriller filled with psychics, billionaire eccentrics, Egyptian tombs and curses, and even a nice episode of possession. Quick read? Yes. Good read? If you are into ludicrous adventure thrillers filled with psychics, billionaire eccentrics, Egyptian tombs and curses, and even a nice episode of possession, then this is your book!

Missed Connections: Love Lost and Found, by Sophie Blackall

A little too whimsical for my taste- very Miranda July. I was hoping for more like Leanne Shapton's slightly more edgy Was She Pretty? which is one of my favorite graphic novels. This read like some kind of hipster cupcake.

This Is Not A Test, by Courtney Summers

FANTASTIC zombie apocalypse novel, with an intense protagonist and wonderful writing. This was just so well done, and the ethical conflicts of Sloane, the suicidal heroine of the book, as she is forced into a fight for survival, added an incredible new twist to a well trod road- I really found this to be a special book. Better even than Zone One, which I LOVED. I really liked her mean-girls issue book, Some Girls Are, but this was on a whole new level of awesome.

The Darlings, by Christina Alger

Well written and involved story of a family caught up in a financial Ponzi scheme, and the ramifications of losing all they thought they had. Ethical crisis + family ties = great, dramatic, timely novel.

I've Got Your Number, by Sophie Kinsella

Delightful, light and funny romance from the uneven Kinsella. This one is a winner, though. When her phone is stolen, Poppy steals another phone for reasons already complicated. Through the new phone, she and Sam begin an exchange of messages that are just really well done. One of the better romance/text message books I've read.

Perfect Summer: England 1911, Just Before the Storm, by Juliet Nicolson

Interesting but fragmented social history of pre-WWI England. Nicolson, as the grand-daughter of Vita Sackville-West, has so many anecdotes thrust into the book that it was hard to follow as a cohesive whole, but some bits were certainly memorable.

Desert Wind, by Betty Webb

Excellent topical Betty Webb mystery set in the desert Southwest, this time dealing with the aftereffects of nuclear testing on Downwinders- people whose lives have been ruined by cancer and governmental neglect.

Wake Up, Sir! , by Jonathan Ames

Funny yet wierdly depressing novel about a failed writer/alcoholic who hires a butler named Jeeves to basically run his life, using up settlement money from an accident.

The Little Victim, by R.T. Raichev

Decent Raichev mystery, but this one set in Goa in India wasn't as enjoyable for me as the ones set in traditional English Country House settings.

Rumors, by Anna Godberson

Sadly, as with the first book in the Luxe series, the cover was the best part. Sold as Edith Wharton meets Gossip Girl, it reads more like Danielle Steel got hit on the head and traveled back in time.

Willow Weaving, by Truss Stol

Pretty lovely but short how to book on making sculptures with woven willow, which was lovely, but I was looking for a book on how to work with live willow to make structures, not sculptures.

Deader Homes and Gardens, by Joan Hess

Pretty good for a Claire Malloy series mystery, pretty weak for Joan Hess. I wish she would drop the Claire Malloy books and write more of the Maggody series.