#11 Riverland by Fran Wilde

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This is a YA / middle grade book that deals with violence in the home and uses a portal fantasy framework for the sisters to deal with what happens at home. A portal to Riverland appears under Eleanor’s bed and both girls tumble into a river basin area where so many things are made up of trash that has come through from our world. Turns out there is a compact between Riverland and sister’s family that goes back generations, but no one knows about it now. Now Eleanor must try and keep up a facade of peace at home and solve the problems of Riverland and still do well at school. This was a bit of a hard read because the anger isn’t glossed over that the girls go thought and there is no perfect solution the problems, but it certainly makes for a better book because of it.

Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Edelweiss

#12 PERfunctory AfFECTION by Kim Harrison

Meg is dealing with horrible anxiety after she caused a car accident that permanently injured her live-in boyfriend. She is on a new experimental drug from her therapist that seems to be helping her cope. As she is starting to move forward and teach painting again at the local college Austin moves out as his way of helping Meg move on with her life. Meg then meets up with Haley a new instructor at the school who befriends her as she is asking Meg for help as she is settling down in her new job with her boyfriend. But for some reason Austin and Haley never meet but they don’t seem to like much about the either.
As the story progresses you find out that Austin has been in contact with Meg’s therapist and it sets up trust issues with Meg as she starts to wonder if the changes she is finally making in her life are her choices or only the new drug she is taking. The story doesn’t end where you think it will and it make you want to reread it to see what you might have missed on the first read through.


Digital review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley