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Stolen Secrets
When Livvy's mother abruptly moves the family across the country to San Francisco, sixteen-year-old Livvy is shocked to find that she's been lied to. Instead of working for a bakery, her mom is actually taking care of Adelle, Livvy’s grandmother who she thought was long dead. Suffering from Alzheimer’s, Adelle begins to shout strange things, mistake her own name, and relive moments that may have taken place in a concentration camp. When Livvy and her new friend, Franklin D., find journal entries from the Holocaust in Adelle’s home, Livvy begins to suspect that her grandmother may have a shocking link to a notable figure -- Anne Frank.
301 pages, Hardcover
First published September 19, 2017
10 people are currently reading
793 people want to read
About the author
L.B. Schulman
2 books84 followersL.B. Schulman is the author of two young adult novels. Her most recent, STOLEN SECRETS (Boyds Mills Press), was released on September 19, 2017.
Although technically a YA, STOLEN SECRETS' complex themes will appeal to readers of all ages. Check out the great reviews from Bay Area Librarians, School Library Journal, VOYA, and School Library Connection on her website at LBSchulman.com. While there, please join her quarterly newsletter for updates, tips for writers, and more.
L.B.'s debut YA novel, now sold as an E-reader, was LEAGUE OF STRAYS. Through the eyes of 17-year-old, Charlotte, the novel explores the ways we deal with bullies and the psychology of sociopathy.
L.B. lives in California with her husband, two daughters, and a couple of "SPCA specials." When not writing, she's obsessed with genealogy and her family tree. She now knows she's related to Johnny Cash, the first male to be hung at the Salem Witch Trials, Humphrey Bogart and shockingly, her own husband (distantly, thankfully.) She's met five third to sixth cousins and loved all but one of them. She's also a private creative writing tutor for high school students and a freelance editor and advisor on children's book projects.
L.B. hangs out at these cyberspace locations near you:
Quota: L.B. Schulman
Twitter: @lbschulman
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LBSchulman/
Instagram: lb.schulman
Although technically a YA, STOLEN SECRETS' complex themes will appeal to readers of all ages. Check out the great reviews from Bay Area Librarians, School Library Journal, VOYA, and School Library Connection on her website at LBSchulman.com. While there, please join her quarterly newsletter for updates, tips for writers, and more.
L.B.'s debut YA novel, now sold as an E-reader, was LEAGUE OF STRAYS. Through the eyes of 17-year-old, Charlotte, the novel explores the ways we deal with bullies and the psychology of sociopathy.
L.B. lives in California with her husband, two daughters, and a couple of "SPCA specials." When not writing, she's obsessed with genealogy and her family tree. She now knows she's related to Johnny Cash, the first male to be hung at the Salem Witch Trials, Humphrey Bogart and shockingly, her own husband (distantly, thankfully.) She's met five third to sixth cousins and loved all but one of them. She's also a private creative writing tutor for high school students and a freelance editor and advisor on children's book projects.
L.B. hangs out at these cyberspace locations near you:
Quota: L.B. Schulman
Twitter: @lbschulman
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LBSchulman/
Instagram: lb.schulman
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
April 26, 2017
LB Schulman's Stolen Secrets does have a secret that pulls you through turning pages, but it's her witty character banter and the bitter-sweet mother daughter relationship ("mom switched the maternal gene on and off as it suited her") that make you root for Livvy. But quickly the book steers serious and deals with what is sadly becoming a forgotten topic outside of school: the Holocaust and its survivor's stories. Told with interspersed diary entries we snap between the current day with teenager Livvy and a mysterious woman found sick after the end of World War II who takes on an assumed name. The book pulls you through with it's fun and snarky voice, but the past mystery of Livvy's grandmother is intriguing and beautifully written, and when the mystery gets going the book is un-put-downable. With a lively depiction of a San Francisco high school and a sweet love interest in character Franklin D, the book is full of funny asides and the deep sadness of familial loss, both in the present and the past. Highly recommend, especially for those interested in a peek at Holocaust survivors, on both sides of the war. The book does take a frank look at anti-Semitic behavior and fear of hatred, which is more important today than we might have anticipated. This book is incredibly timely!
May 21, 2017
Stolen Secrets is a novel that deftly juggles multiple themes and plotlines. Teen Liv directs her alcoholic mother's life as well as her own. I'm a sucker for the child-as-parent scenario. There's something sort of heartbreaking and admirable--and even vulnerable--about a child taking on this role. I was reminded a bit of the novel This Is How I Find Her by Sara Polsky. Other plotlines include a family mystery, a budding romance, and elder care. The ending of Stolen Secrets is richly satisfying as all the story lines come together.
Liv has a unique voice. She's wry; for example, she describes the experience of drinking California coffee "like sleeping under an overpass, covered with a blanket of fog." (Hey, wait a minute...I kind of like California coffee.) Liv also undergoes change when she challenges her own preconceived ideas and moral choices. Most of all, she learns the power of stolen secrets to engender harm across generations.
I received an advance reading copy from the author.
Liv has a unique voice. She's wry; for example, she describes the experience of drinking California coffee "like sleeping under an overpass, covered with a blanket of fog." (Hey, wait a minute...I kind of like California coffee.) Liv also undergoes change when she challenges her own preconceived ideas and moral choices. Most of all, she learns the power of stolen secrets to engender harm across generations.
I received an advance reading copy from the author.
April 28, 2017
Livvy, a high-school student with an obsession for facts, is uprooted by a cross-country move with her erratic mother, a recovering alcoholic and fluent liar. As the true reasons for their move emerge, Livvy comes to question many of the comfortable unexamined truths of her life: who her friends are, what’s normal and whether that’s important, and who her grandmother is. For starters, she learns her “oma” is alive, not dead as Livvy’s mother had said. And maybe it's just the Alzheimer's disease, but there are strange contradictions in Oma's stories about her time in a concentration camp and her behavior. Is she hiding something?
YA author LB Schulman has created a story that’s imaginative yet consistent with the historical facts of the Holocaust, and in the process raises questions about the importance of Anne Frank to the memorializing of the Holocaust.
But Stolen Secrets is more than a clever puzzle for readers to solve. The narrator's lively voice--funny and even snarky at times--pulls the reader through a tightly paced page-turner with complex, interesting characters and situations. As Livvy struggles to adapt to her new school and begins asking herself difficult questions about her family’s past, she learns that facts alone aren’t enough to understand the world. As readers follow her journey, Schulman challenges them to consider the complex, sometimes slippery relationship among facts, feelings, and the truth. Livvy must figure it out for herself--and then grapple with what it all means for both guilt and forgiveness.
YA author LB Schulman has created a story that’s imaginative yet consistent with the historical facts of the Holocaust, and in the process raises questions about the importance of Anne Frank to the memorializing of the Holocaust.
But Stolen Secrets is more than a clever puzzle for readers to solve. The narrator's lively voice--funny and even snarky at times--pulls the reader through a tightly paced page-turner with complex, interesting characters and situations. As Livvy struggles to adapt to her new school and begins asking herself difficult questions about her family’s past, she learns that facts alone aren’t enough to understand the world. As readers follow her journey, Schulman challenges them to consider the complex, sometimes slippery relationship among facts, feelings, and the truth. Livvy must figure it out for herself--and then grapple with what it all means for both guilt and forgiveness.
November 17, 2017
I really enjoyed this layered coming-of age story about a girl learning about her family history while also discovering truths about herself. What I loved best was the complexity of the characters. The mother/daughter relationship in particular is very strong. Livvy's mom is not perfect, but neither is she a stereotypical disaster. She is a woman struggling with private demons and Livvy's character is realistic enough to feel both frustration and empathy in response. The grandmother, whose own youth is deeply linked with the atrocities of the Holocaust, is another well done, complicated character, and the author does a wonderful job telling her story while avoiding neat answers and tidy conclusions. It's hard to write about such a dark period in world history without simplifying the issues or coming off sounding preachy. I applaud Ms. Schulman for her graceful, thought provoking handling of a difficult topic with this book. Highly recommend!
May 19, 2017
Moving across the country is already hard enough for a teen. Fitting into a new school, living with the threat of a relapsing alcoholic mother, and discovering you have a grandmother who is alive, but now has Alzheimer’s are only a few complications Livvy is faced with in this fast-paced, captivating and intricate mystery that ends with a family secret connected to the Holocaust. The characters are relatable and the situations, realistic. I’m still digesting the spectacularness of this story. STOLEN SECRETS is a must read!
August 27, 2017
This is a contemporary story filled with family secrets. Livvy is just about to start her junior year in Vermont with her friends when her mother packs them up and heads off to San Francisco. Her mom has told her that she was laid off and is going to get a job as a pastry chef in San Francisco. But Livvy learns that she is really going to be taking care of her mother who has Alzheimer's. Livvy had been told that her grandmother was dead.
Livvy's mother Gretchen hadn't seen her mother since she was in college. She hates her mother and wouldn't be taking care of her now except that she wants an inheritance from her mother. Gretchen is an alcoholic who has been sober for five years but the stress of caring for her mother Adelle has caused her to begin drinking again. Livvy wants to get to know her grandmother but Alzheimer's makes it difficult.
Livvy makes a new friend at school named Franklin D. He is the one who is persistent about making her his friend since she is still hoping that she'll be able to resume her life in Vermont in a short time. Franklin D. is an interesting character who is Jewish, has a great relationship with his parents, is bright, and has no filter between things going through his brain and then out his mouth. Livvy needs that kind of person in her life.
The story gains more complications when some of the things Adelle says lead Livvy and Franklin D. to believe that she was in Bergen-Belsen and might have known Anne Frank. The Anne Frank connection is also of interest to Vickie who is Adelle's other caretaker and who has primary responsibility for her while Gretchen is back in Vermont for another try at rehab.
This was an interesting and engaging story about how secrets can be hard on relationships. I disliked Gretchen because her alcoholism has made Livvy an adult before she should have had to become one. I liked that Franklin D. helped her become more comfortable with herself and with her own quirks.
Livvy's mother Gretchen hadn't seen her mother since she was in college. She hates her mother and wouldn't be taking care of her now except that she wants an inheritance from her mother. Gretchen is an alcoholic who has been sober for five years but the stress of caring for her mother Adelle has caused her to begin drinking again. Livvy wants to get to know her grandmother but Alzheimer's makes it difficult.
Livvy makes a new friend at school named Franklin D. He is the one who is persistent about making her his friend since she is still hoping that she'll be able to resume her life in Vermont in a short time. Franklin D. is an interesting character who is Jewish, has a great relationship with his parents, is bright, and has no filter between things going through his brain and then out his mouth. Livvy needs that kind of person in her life.
The story gains more complications when some of the things Adelle says lead Livvy and Franklin D. to believe that she was in Bergen-Belsen and might have known Anne Frank. The Anne Frank connection is also of interest to Vickie who is Adelle's other caretaker and who has primary responsibility for her while Gretchen is back in Vermont for another try at rehab.
This was an interesting and engaging story about how secrets can be hard on relationships. I disliked Gretchen because her alcoholism has made Livvy an adult before she should have had to become one. I liked that Franklin D. helped her become more comfortable with herself and with her own quirks.
September 21, 2017
When I first heard the premise of Stolen Secrets – a teenage girl meets her long-lost grandmother and begins to suspect that she is linked to Anne Frank – I was instantly sold on reading it. I did not, however, anticipate that this would only be the tip of the iceberg of what this book has to offer. Not only was this a super readable book that I did not want to put down, but it also has a really wonderful balance of character growth, mystery, romance, historical intrigue, and poignant reflection.
What first drew me in to this book was Livvy’s first encounter with San Francisco after she was suddenly uprooted from her home and moved across the country. The familiar details of the city brought richness and charm into the story as the mystery of her family secrets began to unfold. I also really loved Livvy’s relationship with the witty Franklin D., which budded in such a sweet and natural-feeling way. And, of course, the plot, driven by the intrigue around Livvy’s connection to Anne Frank, kept me eager to read on and surprised me when I least expected it.
Woven into Livvy’s personal story are more profound moments of reflection on difficult issues. Alzheimers and alcoholism are two of the more serious topics broached, as well as of course the Holocaust. These topics evoke the complexities of love, guilt, helplessness, and forgiveness, and in turn, Livvy’s coming to terms with these emotions complements her growth as a character.
I can’t say there aren’t moments where the voice is a little awkward or the book seems to ask the reader to make a few unlikely leaps, yet overall I am left feeling really impressed by how this book strikes a rare and wonderful balance of being fast-paced, well-rounded and profound. Bravo, truly!
An ARC of this title was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
What first drew me in to this book was Livvy’s first encounter with San Francisco after she was suddenly uprooted from her home and moved across the country. The familiar details of the city brought richness and charm into the story as the mystery of her family secrets began to unfold. I also really loved Livvy’s relationship with the witty Franklin D., which budded in such a sweet and natural-feeling way. And, of course, the plot, driven by the intrigue around Livvy’s connection to Anne Frank, kept me eager to read on and surprised me when I least expected it.
Woven into Livvy’s personal story are more profound moments of reflection on difficult issues. Alzheimers and alcoholism are two of the more serious topics broached, as well as of course the Holocaust. These topics evoke the complexities of love, guilt, helplessness, and forgiveness, and in turn, Livvy’s coming to terms with these emotions complements her growth as a character.
I can’t say there aren’t moments where the voice is a little awkward or the book seems to ask the reader to make a few unlikely leaps, yet overall I am left feeling really impressed by how this book strikes a rare and wonderful balance of being fast-paced, well-rounded and profound. Bravo, truly!
An ARC of this title was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2018
I cannot say enough good things about this book. I rarely give a book five stars, but this one was so emotionally powerful, that it definitely deserves it.
Sixteen-year-old Livvy is abruptly moved across the country by her mother, who tells her it's for a new job. What she doesn't tell her is that the new job is taking care of her grandmother, who she thought was dead, and who may or may not have a connection with the Jewish concentration camps of World War II and the most famous person of that era...Anne Frank.
Sixteen-year-old Livvy is abruptly moved across the country by her mother, who tells her it's for a new job. What she doesn't tell her is that the new job is taking care of her grandmother, who she thought was dead, and who may or may not have a connection with the Jewish concentration camps of World War II and the most famous person of that era...Anne Frank.
August 17, 2017
A great read. Just got home and read it in 2 days!! Loved it. Characters were well developed and the love/ tension between Liv and her mother was amazing. What attracted me the most was the story. Well thought out and crafted. This book has it all: love, anger, romance,sorrow. You name it. Put it high on your list of books to read. It was so good my 17y/o daughter read it and will soon be writing a review of her own.
July 14, 2017
I loved this book. The characters of Livvy and Franklin D. are very memorable, and the mystery will keep the pages turning. I had an ARC copy and read an early review, but really wish I hadn't (avoid the spoilers!) because the reveals are unexpected. Thought-provoking and addresses some big issues. A worthwhile read!
September 20, 2017
Great book; really intriguing. I was sucked in right away and couldn't put it down. Sounds corny but true! I'm giving it to both my kids to read too. I know they'll love it.
April 21, 2023
This book has so many twists and turns throughout the entire book. I loved it so much I could barely put it down, it was amazing I would read it again.
June 11, 2017
Stolen Secrets is a beautifully written story with many threads woven through it. The characters are three dimensional and complex. I especially loved Franklin D and his good natured self assurance.The plot and pacing keep the reader wanting to turn the page and the subjects it touches on are important.
The other reviews mention nearly everything, and I agree with most of the comments. Keeping the memory of the holocaust alive, anti-semitism, addiction, family relationships and romance, even acceptance and judegmnet in school, are some of the many threads that weave throughout this story. But elder abuse is one thing I don't think was mentioned by other reviewers and since I'm living with these concerns it stood out for me. I was so worried for the grandmother, and this created even more tension to the story.
There is so much to love about this book! I highly recommend it!
The other reviews mention nearly everything, and I agree with most of the comments. Keeping the memory of the holocaust alive, anti-semitism, addiction, family relationships and romance, even acceptance and judegmnet in school, are some of the many threads that weave throughout this story. But elder abuse is one thing I don't think was mentioned by other reviewers and since I'm living with these concerns it stood out for me. I was so worried for the grandmother, and this created even more tension to the story.
There is so much to love about this book! I highly recommend it!
June 3, 2017
I couldn't put "Stolen Secrets" down — all of my"must-do's" got pushed off and I scarfed it down in a day. — LIvvy, a 16-year old girl has to move from VT to SF so her flakey Mom can get a job as a pastry chef. Upon arriving Livvy learns that her Mom has been lying about the job — and lying about a lot more, besides. Livvy's story interweaves with occasional memories of her Grandmother, who was at the same Nazi Death Camp as Anne Frank . The grandmother, whom Livvy thought was dead, now has Alzheimers and secrets of her own — Franklin D., a persistent and wonderful new friend, helps her as she works to snarl the mysteries. I fell in love with the characters, and was riveted by the story — I wish I could give it 10 stars!!!
May 29, 2017
Life is complicated. Books should be too. One of the best things about Stolen Secrets is how it handles multiple complicated themes. It's what life is like: messy, hard to figure out, full of both ups and downs. SO many things get explored here: mother/daughter relationships; alcoholism; care-giving; friendships; romance; Alzheimer's; family; and of course the Holocaust. Written out that way, it could seem like there's no way such disparate things could come together seamlessly into one novel, but Schulman masterfully connects us to each piece of Livvy's complicated, and fascinating story. Any piece of this book could have been it's own book--I particularly liked how Livvy needed to change her thinking about what it meant to be "normal" and what trying so hard to fit in, cost her. Livvy is a caretaker of her alcoholic mother, but she doesn't see just how much she herself needs to learn and grow. I also liked how Schulman pulled me into Anne Frank's story from a new and unique perspective and I hope that a new generation of young people will find Anne's story. This was a fast, engrossing read and I loved every page--even the sad ones.
August 9, 2017
Review:
Protagonist: Livvy Newman has always been the "responsible" one in her household. With her mother having been an alcoholic for as long as Livvy can remember, she's taken up the more parental role, however, when her mother moves them across the country with the promise of a great job, Livvy can't do much about it. Upon arriving in San Fransisco, Livvy notices her mom acting a bit off and soon discovers one family secret after another. On the whole, I liked Livvy, she's a fairly complex character, someone who prefers fact to fiction and needs order to her life. She's a bit flawed though not in a totally off putting way. She can be selfish and distant to people, but those are the things that get worked on over the course of the story.
Romance: I'm going to just level with you, I didn't care one bit about this romance. It wasn't that it was an offensive or aggravating romance, I just didn't care for it. I never felt romantic chemistry between Franklin D. and Livvy, and yes I said Franklin D. because manic pixie dream boy that he is he needs his middle initial acknowledged every time you speak his name. The thing is, he really grated on me in the beginning of this book, he was way too over the top quirky, he came on way too strong, acted kind of stalkerish towards Livvy, all while feeling like the manic pixie trope without the air of mystery that makes it so compelling. To tell you the truth he grew on me, but only as a platonic friend to Livvy. I felt the romance was forced and completely unnecessary.
World Building: The main plot of this story is fantastic! I mean, it's a multigenerational story of three women and their struggles with each other, mixed in with deeply kept family secrets relating to World War II and the Holocaust, that tells a compelling narrative of how one woman's attempt to hide who she really is affected not only her daughter but her granddaughter as well. I was a bit apprehensive of the author writing fiction that would incorporate as historic and important a figure as Anne Frank, but I had faith that she would provide a well and a sensitively crafted piece of historical fiction and I'm happy to say that she definitely delivered. On the whole, I loved the main plot of this book and how everything ran together. We get flashbacks that help provide context and flesh out who Adelle is, or was, and what led her to make certain decisions. All of that was fantastic but was dragged down by a multitude of superfluous subplots. The romance was only one subplot that I felt was unnecessary, but there were quite a few others. Subplots that would either be dropped only to appear at some random time late in the story and almost instantly resolved, or subplots that would be written away for a while so there would be time to focus on the main plot. Everything felt like a big chaotic mess. Ironically, when it came to Livvy's school everything felt very empty. Sure there would be references to teachers and other students, but literally, the only student we see Livvy have any semblance of a conversation with is Franklin D. We hear how she's friends with his friends, which I think are the only other students mentioned by name and it took Livvy a long time to meet them, and how she does interact with them, but we never really see it.
Predictability: This book could be very predictable, well almost all of the time. I don't think there was a single big twist in this book that I didn't call. There were a couple of small ones I didn't, but the author was quite a bit generous with the foreshadowing, in fact, I was rather surprised when I predicted probably the biggest twist in the story because the author put in one too many pieces of foreshadowing early in the book. Interestingly enough I guessed a smaller "twist" that came near the end of the book after having only been a couple of pages in. I did like how the story unfolded even if I did guess what would happen, and it doesn't really take away from the enjoyment of the book.
Ending: Something I found rather odd about this story was that what would typically be the final climax of this story happened much too soon for it to actually be considered the final climax. The scene was an interesting one, but while it did add a bit to the main storyline of the book, in the end, it was the climax another subplot that just felt superfluous, I understand why the author added it, and I do think it sends an important message, but in the end this subplot, as well as most of the subplots in this story, feel more pinned on than incorporated. After what could have been the final climax comes the answers. The answers to every reader's questions. I felt the author handled this section particularly well. The characters' emotions and reactions felt very genuine and well crafted. The ending can be a bit too idyllic at certain moments, but I still greatly enjoyed it.
Rating:
Overall, I really liked this book and found the main plot of the story to be stunning and entrancing, however, the subplots really detracted from my enjoyment and that coupled with a romance I really didn't care about and felt unnecessary, led to my decision to knock off a star, it was almost two but after finishing the book quite a few things that I dismissed as subplots I was able to connect with the overall plot and gain an even greater appreciation for it.
Protagonist: Livvy Newman has always been the "responsible" one in her household. With her mother having been an alcoholic for as long as Livvy can remember, she's taken up the more parental role, however, when her mother moves them across the country with the promise of a great job, Livvy can't do much about it. Upon arriving in San Fransisco, Livvy notices her mom acting a bit off and soon discovers one family secret after another. On the whole, I liked Livvy, she's a fairly complex character, someone who prefers fact to fiction and needs order to her life. She's a bit flawed though not in a totally off putting way. She can be selfish and distant to people, but those are the things that get worked on over the course of the story.
Romance: I'm going to just level with you, I didn't care one bit about this romance. It wasn't that it was an offensive or aggravating romance, I just didn't care for it. I never felt romantic chemistry between Franklin D. and Livvy, and yes I said Franklin D. because manic pixie dream boy that he is he needs his middle initial acknowledged every time you speak his name. The thing is, he really grated on me in the beginning of this book, he was way too over the top quirky, he came on way too strong, acted kind of stalkerish towards Livvy, all while feeling like the manic pixie trope without the air of mystery that makes it so compelling. To tell you the truth he grew on me, but only as a platonic friend to Livvy. I felt the romance was forced and completely unnecessary.
World Building: The main plot of this story is fantastic! I mean, it's a multigenerational story of three women and their struggles with each other, mixed in with deeply kept family secrets relating to World War II and the Holocaust, that tells a compelling narrative of how one woman's attempt to hide who she really is affected not only her daughter but her granddaughter as well. I was a bit apprehensive of the author writing fiction that would incorporate as historic and important a figure as Anne Frank, but I had faith that she would provide a well and a sensitively crafted piece of historical fiction and I'm happy to say that she definitely delivered. On the whole, I loved the main plot of this book and how everything ran together. We get flashbacks that help provide context and flesh out who Adelle is, or was, and what led her to make certain decisions. All of that was fantastic but was dragged down by a multitude of superfluous subplots. The romance was only one subplot that I felt was unnecessary, but there were quite a few others. Subplots that would either be dropped only to appear at some random time late in the story and almost instantly resolved, or subplots that would be written away for a while so there would be time to focus on the main plot. Everything felt like a big chaotic mess. Ironically, when it came to Livvy's school everything felt very empty. Sure there would be references to teachers and other students, but literally, the only student we see Livvy have any semblance of a conversation with is Franklin D. We hear how she's friends with his friends, which I think are the only other students mentioned by name and it took Livvy a long time to meet them, and how she does interact with them, but we never really see it.
Predictability: This book could be very predictable, well almost all of the time. I don't think there was a single big twist in this book that I didn't call. There were a couple of small ones I didn't, but the author was quite a bit generous with the foreshadowing, in fact, I was rather surprised when I predicted probably the biggest twist in the story because the author put in one too many pieces of foreshadowing early in the book. Interestingly enough I guessed a smaller "twist" that came near the end of the book after having only been a couple of pages in. I did like how the story unfolded even if I did guess what would happen, and it doesn't really take away from the enjoyment of the book.
Ending: Something I found rather odd about this story was that what would typically be the final climax of this story happened much too soon for it to actually be considered the final climax. The scene was an interesting one, but while it did add a bit to the main storyline of the book, in the end, it was the climax another subplot that just felt superfluous, I understand why the author added it, and I do think it sends an important message, but in the end this subplot, as well as most of the subplots in this story, feel more pinned on than incorporated. After what could have been the final climax comes the answers. The answers to every reader's questions. I felt the author handled this section particularly well. The characters' emotions and reactions felt very genuine and well crafted. The ending can be a bit too idyllic at certain moments, but I still greatly enjoyed it.
Rating:
Overall, I really liked this book and found the main plot of the story to be stunning and entrancing, however, the subplots really detracted from my enjoyment and that coupled with a romance I really didn't care about and felt unnecessary, led to my decision to knock off a star, it was almost two but after finishing the book quite a few things that I dismissed as subplots I was able to connect with the overall plot and gain an even greater appreciation for it.
April 28, 2017
You will fall in love with the characters in this book - every one of them but especially Livvy and her friend Franklin D. The story is funny and well paced and the adventure/mystery is surprising. Totally recommend!
July 18, 2017
L.B. Schulman’s Stolen Secrets is a page turner. Tackling the topics of acceptance, ethnic relations, and responsibility, Schulman wove the themes into a fast-paced mystery with a plot unlike any other. However, an intense and suspenseful storyline chock full of meaning is not the only reason for my being so impressed with Stolen Secrets. I am not the type of reader to typically finish a book through a constant line of progression. I skip around and look for areas of interest before committing to reading a page, and, sometimes, I even stop halfway through a storyline and only come back to it many weeks later. This is for two main reasons: I don’t like filler, and the characters must be believable. However, when reading L.B. Schulman’s Stolen Secrets, I couldn’t stop. In between my college classes, during meals, after completing my SolidWorks or Chemistry homework, and late at night before sleeping, I squeezed in the time to read through chapter after chapter. Why, you might ask? One reason is that there is no filler. Every page served to progress the storyline further, hinting at what exactly the end-game entails. I won’t spoil the ending, but the way in which it unfolds, paralleling historical fiction beside the main storyline, will take you through a journey of connecting the dots from beginning to end, keeping you turning the pages over and over again. The other reason is that the way in which the novel is written makes the character multidimensional and the storyline believable. The characters’ choices and reaction throughout the story unfold each of their respective personalities. Each has their own quirks and values. Each experiences their own ups and downs, expressing themselves in unique ways.
For example, Liv, a high school student moving from the east coast to the west coast with her mother, is rational and calm. Time after time again, Liv is forced to be the adult in her household. She worries about money, essentially parents her impetuous, alcoholic mother, and ends up caring for her grandmother as well. As this intelligent, patient girl is tried again and again, you can feel the amount of restraint she exerts in dealing with her mother’s faults. The tension and stress in her daily life is palpable to those reading. However, even though she handles much of the stress well, she’s not faultless. As most teens do, she struggles to be honest when uncomfortable about the truth (e.g. when managing her dating life). Her mother is scatterbrained and copes with stress poorly, but she uses her youthful energy to try to help her daughter relax. Even though she causes much of her daughter’s stress, she loves her daughter and wants to be better for her. Both women have strengths and faults that contribute to the brilliantly multidimensional way in which Schulman portrays them.
Even the environments in which Liv attended and currently attends high school are portrayed in depth and accurately. While I can’t speak to what living on the east coast would be like, I do understand what the typical high school environment looks like elsewhere (from talking to people in college) and what going to high school in the Bay Area is like (I grew up there). L.B. Schulman compared Liv’s old school life where cliques are the status quo to a Bay Area school in which some forms of “weirdness”/differences are often accepted and celebrated. The quirky attitudes of those with which Liv interacts at her new school and the ability of students to move between social groups constantly reminded me of the primarily inclusive and open-minded environment in which I spent my 9th-12th grade years. Overall, L.B. Schulman’s Stolen Secrets is literarily remarkable. While avoiding the pitfalls many authors (even famous ones!) run into while writing, she illustrates a remarkable concept and follows through to the end with such accuracy and multidimensional detail that putting the novel down is nearly impossible.
For example, Liv, a high school student moving from the east coast to the west coast with her mother, is rational and calm. Time after time again, Liv is forced to be the adult in her household. She worries about money, essentially parents her impetuous, alcoholic mother, and ends up caring for her grandmother as well. As this intelligent, patient girl is tried again and again, you can feel the amount of restraint she exerts in dealing with her mother’s faults. The tension and stress in her daily life is palpable to those reading. However, even though she handles much of the stress well, she’s not faultless. As most teens do, she struggles to be honest when uncomfortable about the truth (e.g. when managing her dating life). Her mother is scatterbrained and copes with stress poorly, but she uses her youthful energy to try to help her daughter relax. Even though she causes much of her daughter’s stress, she loves her daughter and wants to be better for her. Both women have strengths and faults that contribute to the brilliantly multidimensional way in which Schulman portrays them.
Even the environments in which Liv attended and currently attends high school are portrayed in depth and accurately. While I can’t speak to what living on the east coast would be like, I do understand what the typical high school environment looks like elsewhere (from talking to people in college) and what going to high school in the Bay Area is like (I grew up there). L.B. Schulman compared Liv’s old school life where cliques are the status quo to a Bay Area school in which some forms of “weirdness”/differences are often accepted and celebrated. The quirky attitudes of those with which Liv interacts at her new school and the ability of students to move between social groups constantly reminded me of the primarily inclusive and open-minded environment in which I spent my 9th-12th grade years. Overall, L.B. Schulman’s Stolen Secrets is literarily remarkable. While avoiding the pitfalls many authors (even famous ones!) run into while writing, she illustrates a remarkable concept and follows through to the end with such accuracy and multidimensional detail that putting the novel down is nearly impossible.
September 8, 2018
If a book has a grandmother with Alzheimer's, you bet I'm gonna read it. That topic hits close to home, and I'm always glad somebody finds that topic engaging enough to write about so that people like me can continue trying to heal from it. You have your usual symptoms--forgetfulness, short-term memory loss, paranoia, leaving stoves turned on. But what's unusual is Adelle's penchant for blurting out things that are completely wrong. Like the fact that Adelle's sister used to call her by a different name. Or the fact that she's terrified that "they're" going to get her. And the fact that she lived in a concentration camp. Long term memory and trauma don't go away that easily, so why is she spouting facts different than the facts Livvy knows? In fact, what are facts, and what is the truth?
This book grapples with so many topics and it's done with great nuance. Schulman mentions in the acknowledgements and notes that she did her best to retain historical accuracy in a fictional setting as well as doing her best to create a narrative that was both compelling and respectful. I think she did a pretty good job, considering the big historical icon she was working with.
It reads almost like a mystery--we're privy to some of Adelle's journal entries before Livvy even finds them. Mixed with what she randomly spouts, it's easy for us to create our own narrative, and it's incredible when Schulman disassembles it, when she shows us how we always want the people in our lives to be the heros, how we don't want to think poorly of the elderly, how it's possible to be filled with regret and fear over what you've done.
Overall, this book is about a family, some family secrets, and a mystery surrounding the identity of Livvy's grandmother. What does it mean to be a family, and what does it mean when lies get in the way of the truth? This was just a fantastic book, and I think it would be great for those interested in WWII and its horrors.
Review cross-listed here!
This book grapples with so many topics and it's done with great nuance. Schulman mentions in the acknowledgements and notes that she did her best to retain historical accuracy in a fictional setting as well as doing her best to create a narrative that was both compelling and respectful. I think she did a pretty good job, considering the big historical icon she was working with.
It reads almost like a mystery--we're privy to some of Adelle's journal entries before Livvy even finds them. Mixed with what she randomly spouts, it's easy for us to create our own narrative, and it's incredible when Schulman disassembles it, when she shows us how we always want the people in our lives to be the heros, how we don't want to think poorly of the elderly, how it's possible to be filled with regret and fear over what you've done.
Overall, this book is about a family, some family secrets, and a mystery surrounding the identity of Livvy's grandmother. What does it mean to be a family, and what does it mean when lies get in the way of the truth? This was just a fantastic book, and I think it would be great for those interested in WWII and its horrors.
Review cross-listed here!
October 20, 2017
Livvy’s life is hard enough with an alcoholic single mother and a move across the country to San Francisco in the middle of high school. But now her mother is keeping secrets from her about what they are really doing there. Is her mother actually caring for the grandmother that Livvy thought was dead? And who exactly is this salty, Alzheimer’s-stricken grandmother anyway? Then Livvy and her new friend Franklin find some entries from her grandmother’s Holocaust-era journal and things get really complicated.
This is a jam-packed book with family dysfunction, budding romance, coming-of-age and a historically connected mystery. The plot can seem crowded at times with twists that include neo-Nazis, elder abuse, religious awakening, nerdy new friends and even a police chase. But Livvy’s genuine struggle to figure out who she is amidst the chaos grounds the story. She is funny and smart and confused and the supporting characters around her are equally well-drawn. The setting in the neighborhoods of San Francisco adds interest without being overly romanticized. All of which surrounds the book’s core: a contemporary exploration of the Holocaust. With a possible family link to Anne Frank and Nazi soldiers, Livvy is forced to consider the big questions about survivors, the nature of evil, guilt and ultimately acceptance.
It is understandable that there is so much historical fiction about the Holocaust, but not all teens want to read history. This book is a reminder that the Holocaust is not only recent but relevant, and teens today live with its legacy. Schulman has written a contemporary story whose protagonist has modern problems, but it is still grounded in that history. This is a quick read that moves at a good pace without sacrificing any of the hard questions. Recommended to teens interested in the Holocaust, and also those who enjoy contemporary fiction that present difficult situations and allows them to consider the big ideas of identity and society.
This is a jam-packed book with family dysfunction, budding romance, coming-of-age and a historically connected mystery. The plot can seem crowded at times with twists that include neo-Nazis, elder abuse, religious awakening, nerdy new friends and even a police chase. But Livvy’s genuine struggle to figure out who she is amidst the chaos grounds the story. She is funny and smart and confused and the supporting characters around her are equally well-drawn. The setting in the neighborhoods of San Francisco adds interest without being overly romanticized. All of which surrounds the book’s core: a contemporary exploration of the Holocaust. With a possible family link to Anne Frank and Nazi soldiers, Livvy is forced to consider the big questions about survivors, the nature of evil, guilt and ultimately acceptance.
It is understandable that there is so much historical fiction about the Holocaust, but not all teens want to read history. This book is a reminder that the Holocaust is not only recent but relevant, and teens today live with its legacy. Schulman has written a contemporary story whose protagonist has modern problems, but it is still grounded in that history. This is a quick read that moves at a good pace without sacrificing any of the hard questions. Recommended to teens interested in the Holocaust, and also those who enjoy contemporary fiction that present difficult situations and allows them to consider the big ideas of identity and society.
January 20, 2018
I Read this book in one sitting. Once I got started, I just couldn't put it down. I connected with it in such a way, it's hard to explain. Having a grandfather that fought in WW2, He kept his secrets until the last few years of his life. His regrets and shame of what he had to do during war time weighed heavy on his heart. Now on the other side, my husband is German and children are German, with my mother in law marrying an American soldier and moved to the states with no English at the time. She will not talk about her biological father, So it makes me wonder what involvement he might have had during the Holocaust time. So, the connection with this book was real to me for personal reasons.
Livvy moves across country with her mother, whom she has a rocky relationship with. Trying to build a new life, she is thrown into a new area, no friends, and discovers that her grandmother who she was told was dead is still alive, and the reason for the move.
Livvy reads about Alzheimer's, to learn about what her grandmother is going through, and believes that her rants might lead to secrets her grandmother has hidden years and maybe understand why her mother despises her so much.
With a creative storyline, this novel has a twist and an ending that will give you all the warm fuzzy feels. Livvy's quest to find out her grandmother's past takes you on a journey discovering her own heritage that is so unexpected. Her friend Franklin D. is right by her side, and his personality pulls Livvy out of her own shell she has been shielded in.
I was so surprised how much I would enjoy this book. It is a fun and fast read with little dramas spiraled into the main story. I really think you will enjoy it so give it a try!!
Livvy moves across country with her mother, whom she has a rocky relationship with. Trying to build a new life, she is thrown into a new area, no friends, and discovers that her grandmother who she was told was dead is still alive, and the reason for the move.
Livvy reads about Alzheimer's, to learn about what her grandmother is going through, and believes that her rants might lead to secrets her grandmother has hidden years and maybe understand why her mother despises her so much.
With a creative storyline, this novel has a twist and an ending that will give you all the warm fuzzy feels. Livvy's quest to find out her grandmother's past takes you on a journey discovering her own heritage that is so unexpected. Her friend Franklin D. is right by her side, and his personality pulls Livvy out of her own shell she has been shielded in.
I was so surprised how much I would enjoy this book. It is a fun and fast read with little dramas spiraled into the main story. I really think you will enjoy it so give it a try!!
August 25, 2018
I will start by saying that this was recommended to me as Christian fiction, and it was not. So, I was disappointed by the language in some instances. There was not a ton of bad language and the story line kept me engaged enough that I still wanted to read it, but it was nonetheless a bit disappointing due to the expectation I had been given. That said, this was an excellent story. The story is told first-person from the viewpoint of 16 year old Livvy Newman, who was just uprooted from her hometown in Vermont where she'd finally firmly established herself in the popular clique at school. Livvy has some secrets though, that would pull her from that crowd if she ever let someone see the real her. She and her mother have made a move to San Francisco. Livvy has been told that her mom was laid off from her job in Vermont and they are going to San Francisco because there is an excellent job there for her. As it turns out, her mom also has secrets and the grandmother that Livvy thought was dead is very much alive, but is in need of care. Her grandmother's secrets begin to come out through her Alzheimer induced ravings and as Livvy seeks to get to the bottom of her grandmother's story, she learns a great deal about what is truly important along the way. This is a great character-development driven story that shows the importance of being true to yourself, honesty and forgiveness. There's a lot of WWII history as well, as her grandmother's time in a concentration camp becomes the focal point of Livvy's research into her family's past. This book, while character driven, had a great mystery, a mild love story and a lot of excellent history. As long as you're not offended by mild language, I would definitely recommend this one!
September 19, 2017
Stolen Secrets is an ambitious book, and an important one.
Have no fear... it's certainly entertaining, full of humor and wit. Schulman's characters are human, flawed and seeking. She has brought together a number of persons with real motivations, real concerns, real fears and real hopes. I was delighted by the liveliness and freshness of Livvy's first encounters with San Francisco's people, sights, fog. Reminded me of my own arrival here many years ago.
I say ambitious because this book deals with (for many readers, I suppose, introduces) subjects of the greatest importance and weight.
I'm in awe of Schulman's masterful handling of this challenge. The story winds toward an unexpected surprise ending, and (like great books do) leaves a reader wondering what if.... Schulman's human characters are substantial enough that you can imagine them reacting differently at various stages of the story, particularly at the end. The novel ends with resolution, but one wonders how Livvy would contemplate her youthful experiences twenty years down the road.
Indeed, in our current world, where the common recollections of Nazi atrocities seem to be gauzing over with time, Schulman has done something necessary by reminding a new generation of what happened not all that long ago, a set of incomprehensible crimes committed against people a lot like themselves, by -- yes -- people also a lot like themselves.
Have no fear... it's certainly entertaining, full of humor and wit. Schulman's characters are human, flawed and seeking. She has brought together a number of persons with real motivations, real concerns, real fears and real hopes. I was delighted by the liveliness and freshness of Livvy's first encounters with San Francisco's people, sights, fog. Reminded me of my own arrival here many years ago.
I say ambitious because this book deals with (for many readers, I suppose, introduces) subjects of the greatest importance and weight.
I'm in awe of Schulman's masterful handling of this challenge. The story winds toward an unexpected surprise ending, and (like great books do) leaves a reader wondering what if.... Schulman's human characters are substantial enough that you can imagine them reacting differently at various stages of the story, particularly at the end. The novel ends with resolution, but one wonders how Livvy would contemplate her youthful experiences twenty years down the road.
Indeed, in our current world, where the common recollections of Nazi atrocities seem to be gauzing over with time, Schulman has done something necessary by reminding a new generation of what happened not all that long ago, a set of incomprehensible crimes committed against people a lot like themselves, by -- yes -- people also a lot like themselves.
July 16, 2017
This protagonist's world of the lone-teen coping with overwhelming odds mirrors the experiences so many young people are pressed to deal with before they are ready. L.B. Schulman's protagonist, Livvy, straddles that world of overwhelming responsibility in the face of emotional and physical abandonment while discovering herself and her family's true nature. "Stolen Secrets" artfully interweaves a coming of age story with a mystery - a mystery with treacherous implications... Questions that all teens struggle with such as, "How well do we know our family?," are tied up in ribbons of fog and the faltering mind of a new found grandmother with Alzheimer's. This book deftly digs into the nature of lies in their most dangerous guises. As the lies, from socially convenient high school "boxes" to those that lead to genocide, are exposed, turned-over and considered, a deeper understanding of human nature is revealed. This is a book which works on multiple levels and imagines what many of have wondered about one of the greatest literary mysteries of the 20th Century. It is a work which could only be written by an author well-versed in both the history and sensitivities surrounding the Holocaust. "Stolen Secret's" modern setting in San Francisco is ideal for exploring the lives of teens in a quickly changing world alongside the resonate issues of World War II.
July 21, 2017
Stolen Secrets begins like many YA stories—new city, new school—but quickly veers into surprising territory. Livvy’s mother is an alcoholic and aspiring pastry chef who knows a bit too much about the San Francisco neighborhood where she and Livvy land. The boy who begins to shadow Livvy at her new school is hard to shake, a total geek, and tells her what he thinks, whether Livvy wants to hear it or not. But none of that touches on the biggest surprise for Livvy: her supposedly deceased grandmother is alive and well and living just blocks away. Why did her mother lie about it and what is she trying to hide? More mysteries arise as Livvy tries to unlock the memories and secrets inside her grandmother’s Alzheimer’s-ravaged brain. Author L. B. Schulman has written a compelling tale that weaves together family tragedies and challenges, long ago events at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, and a deftly developed relationship between Livvy and the endearing Franklin D.: that boy Livvy found more than a little annoying when she first arrived. L. B. Schulman builds a heart connection between these two that seems fresh and true. That relationship shines at the heart of the story, providing Livvy support and a safe place to share her own secrets—and her true self—when she needs it the most.
January 17, 2018
The premise of this book drew me in and I identified and liked Livvy and Franklin D. and enjoyed their relationship. I also enjoyed the emotional struggles Livvy went through in her relationship with her mom and friends. The ties in with actual historical events were intriguing and I enjoyed the hopeful ending. The story of Anne Frank has always been close to my heart and family as my own was greatly impacted by the Nazi soldiers.
However, I thought the "bad guys" in this book were way too obvious; Livvy was characterized as a detailed, observant person with a photo memory and her friend Franklin D. was also portrayed as above average intelligence and both together at least would have seen this. Also, what mom would leave her teen, underage, not-even-driving daughter alone to care for a grandma she hardly knew and was in failing health? The police incident in which the officer drove the teen home and didn't make sure a responsible adult was present so late at night, was unbelievable and seemed a plot convenience.
Overall, this book was enjoyable and would make a great book for a middle grade audience and possibly for use in the classroom to tie fiction to real historical events.
However, I thought the "bad guys" in this book were way too obvious; Livvy was characterized as a detailed, observant person with a photo memory and her friend Franklin D. was also portrayed as above average intelligence and both together at least would have seen this. Also, what mom would leave her teen, underage, not-even-driving daughter alone to care for a grandma she hardly knew and was in failing health? The police incident in which the officer drove the teen home and didn't make sure a responsible adult was present so late at night, was unbelievable and seemed a plot convenience.
Overall, this book was enjoyable and would make a great book for a middle grade audience and possibly for use in the classroom to tie fiction to real historical events.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2018
Many thanks to author L.B. Schulman for the free review copy. All opinions are my own.
I often quote this phrase, "Character is doing the right thing even when no one is watching," to my students as I gently guide them in the way in which we must all lead our lives. But we all know that this principle has not been learned when we turn on the nightly news or when we read our history books. That's why Stolen Secrets is an important read.
It touches on many timely topics we read and hear about in the news on a daily basis: alcoholism, Alzheimer's, the disintegration of families and hate crimes all collide in this YA mystery that keeps you guessing until the end.
Beyond that, though, the plot is sure to grow some rich conversations about what causes people to self-medicate and how to break out of that cycle, how the sins of the fathers are visited upon the sons, and that moral bankruptcy can be grown in many evil ways.
This is as much a cautionary tale as it is a history lesson; layered storytelling keeps the reader thinking well beyond that last page.
Highly recommended.
"Words, not people, last forever."
I often quote this phrase, "Character is doing the right thing even when no one is watching," to my students as I gently guide them in the way in which we must all lead our lives. But we all know that this principle has not been learned when we turn on the nightly news or when we read our history books. That's why Stolen Secrets is an important read.
It touches on many timely topics we read and hear about in the news on a daily basis: alcoholism, Alzheimer's, the disintegration of families and hate crimes all collide in this YA mystery that keeps you guessing until the end.
Beyond that, though, the plot is sure to grow some rich conversations about what causes people to self-medicate and how to break out of that cycle, how the sins of the fathers are visited upon the sons, and that moral bankruptcy can be grown in many evil ways.
This is as much a cautionary tale as it is a history lesson; layered storytelling keeps the reader thinking well beyond that last page.
Highly recommended.
"Words, not people, last forever."
October 4, 2017
This is a book that is easy to read, entertaining and touching. The main character Livy is likable, funny and mature for her age. The book immerses the reader into the teenager world and life in San Francisco. The reader goes back in time and remembers the difficulty of adolescence.
At the same time, there are 3 stories running in parallel told in first voice by Livy. These are the stories of Livvy, her mother and grandmother. I would have chosen 3 voices for the story to provide some enrichment as the lives of the mother and grandmother sound two dimensional. The alcoholism and Alzheimer get simplified and are described in obvious manner. I would have preferred that the author had done more research to describe the effects caused by these diseases.
However, the author researched well the society under Hitler. It really makes a point on showing how there were more than good and evil at that time but confused people who did not know what to choose, where to go. People who wanted to do the right thing but lacked of will.
The book is a tribute to Ana Frank
At the same time, there are 3 stories running in parallel told in first voice by Livy. These are the stories of Livvy, her mother and grandmother. I would have chosen 3 voices for the story to provide some enrichment as the lives of the mother and grandmother sound two dimensional. The alcoholism and Alzheimer get simplified and are described in obvious manner. I would have preferred that the author had done more research to describe the effects caused by these diseases.
However, the author researched well the society under Hitler. It really makes a point on showing how there were more than good and evil at that time but confused people who did not know what to choose, where to go. People who wanted to do the right thing but lacked of will.
The book is a tribute to Ana Frank
January 21, 2018
Note: This review contains NO spoilers
Hmmm... Stolen Secrets is a complex coming-of-age story of a young girl learning more about her family history and the secrets that filled it. There was so many layers within the story that made this a compelling mystery to solve. L.B. Shulman weaved an intricate story with a balance of drama, romance, mystery, history, and teen-age angst. The twists in the story is so compelling making this a riveting page-turner.
With the intricate character development and world-building, the story drew me into the mystery of who Livvy's grandmother really is. I even got all caught up into solving the mystery...haha! And.. Wow! This is definitely worth the read! Plus, there is an Author Note that everyone that reads this should read. It is apparent in her writing that she took great care in researching the history of Anne Frank when she wrote this. L.B. Schulman took great care in being accurate with history while intertwining it into her fictional story.
Reviewer: Jasmine
Disclaimer: We received a free copy for an honest review.
Hmmm... Stolen Secrets is a complex coming-of-age story of a young girl learning more about her family history and the secrets that filled it. There was so many layers within the story that made this a compelling mystery to solve. L.B. Shulman weaved an intricate story with a balance of drama, romance, mystery, history, and teen-age angst. The twists in the story is so compelling making this a riveting page-turner.
With the intricate character development and world-building, the story drew me into the mystery of who Livvy's grandmother really is. I even got all caught up into solving the mystery...haha! And.. Wow! This is definitely worth the read! Plus, there is an Author Note that everyone that reads this should read. It is apparent in her writing that she took great care in researching the history of Anne Frank when she wrote this. L.B. Schulman took great care in being accurate with history while intertwining it into her fictional story.
Reviewer: Jasmine
Disclaimer: We received a free copy for an honest review.
September 2, 2017
The ending was like nothing I've ever read before. The way the story puled you in, made you feel as though you were in the conversation with the characters. You could feel Olivia's emotions as though the were your own. Me, being a history geek, found this fascinating. It really got me immersed into the characters world. I could envision them infant of me. The cold San Fransisco streets. The 'bad' coffee being spit back into the cup. Even the kiss, and I had a gut feeling that it was coming (I always anticipate relationships in books and everything else). All I can really say is... I loved it. Infinite stars out of five. An always would recommend read. And I want to personally thank the amazing author of this truly mesmerizing novel for letting me see a world before it's release to the public.
- J.A. Barufkin
- J.A. Barufkin
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