Crazy Love You by Lisa Unger

Bizarre, creepy, horror, paranormal strangeness goes on in Ian's life.  He has chronicled a version of his life in his best selling graphic novel series about Fatboy, who is Ian's past and alter-ego and Priss  who has been Ian's best friend since childhood, until now, when he has a real girlfriend and Priss is jealous.  Who or what is Priss?  Ian is not really sure, and that is the mystery.  I received this book free to review from Netgalley.

Immaculate by Katelyn Detweiler

Well, this is an interesting story.  Seventeen year old Mina is visited by a mysterious - ok, strange - old woman as she is closing up the pizza shop where she works.  The woman knows Mina's name, and Mina finds her creepy so when she asks Mina for her permission - for what, Mina has no idea - she says yes, just to get away from the creepy old woman.  Later, Mina discovers she is pregnant.  She is totally a virgin and her boyfriend and father don't believe her.  The only people who do believe her are her mother, and Jesse, a co-worker who was there that night and had also been spoken to by Iris, the creepy old woman.  From there, the story covers Mina's life until other people hear her story and then how society would treat someone who claims to be a pregnant virgin.

The Darkest Lie by Pintip Dunn

First of all - trigger warning - this book covers several controversial subjects including bullying, rape, pornography and others.  As the book begins, CeCe is dreading returning to school since her mother, who had been a teacher there, had committed suicide after a student revealed that she was having a sexual relationship with him.  CeCe's dad does not believe that was true and she has no idea what to believe.  A new student, Sam, is writing a story about the situation in order to win a journalism scholarship.  CeCe wants nothing to do with him, but he is good looking and nice and they become friends anyway.  As they investigate things, it becomes clear that there is more to the story than meets the eye.  Mystery, suspense and rather dreadful things going on fill the story as CeCe is bullied while trying to uncover the truth.  I received this book free to review from Netgalley.

The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman by Brady Stefani

Is Courtney crazy?  Was her grandfather crazy too?  Or do aliens really visit her and talk to her?  Her mother thinks she is crazy and her mom's creepy doctor boyfriend has Courtney admitted to a mental hospital.  That does not stop Courtney from eventually learning the truth.  The aliens are real, the world could end, and only Courtney can save the world.  I like this book and think it should appeal equally to girls and boys who enjoy stories about aliens and adventure.  I received this book free to review from Netgalley.

The Princess Spy by Melanie Dickerson

I thought this book was like a Christianish book based loosely on The Princess Bride. Set in the Holy Roman Empire, in Germany, Margaretha is not a princess, but the daughter of a duke.  Her newest suitor, the finely dressed Lord Claybrook seems nice enough, but later we find that like Humperdink, he is not at all what he seems.  In order to save her family, Margaretha, who is a rather flighty chatterbox, shows that she is braver than she thinks by running off with the stable hand, who had been brought bloody and beaten to her father's healer.  Colin, however is not a stable hand and together they go through many dangers, although no fire swamps.  Like Princess Buttercup, Margaretha is quite feminine, but she proves herself to be a strong and worthy heroine.  I received this book free to review from Netgalley and I enjoyed it.

The Furies by Mark Alpert

I really like that the author does some scientific and historical research to back his stories.  The Fury family are witches - you know, the ones who were burned at stake in the US and in Europe.  In this story, they have a genetic difference that keeps the women from aging beyond young adulthood, but that does not happen with their men.  John Taylor gets accidentally pulled into a war between some of their men and the rest of the group, when Ariel, one of the women in the group chooses him.  I received this book free to review from Netgalley. I have also read some other books by this author.  I like his writing and look forward to reading more of his books.

Deception in the Shadows by T.L. Haddix

So, this book is part of a series and I have not read the others in the series.  I have read and enjoyed other books by this author though. I think it is probably better to read the whole series.  The book is a steamy romance/murder mystery/soap opera.  Carrie's uncle Ron is murdered and she finally finds out that she and her best friend Robbie actually both care for each other romantically.  In the investigation of her uncle's death, many other bizarre details are found out and many characters who have probably been introduced in previous books weigh in.  The book ends with a bit of a cliffhanger to lead one to read the next book.  I received this book free to review from Netgalley.

Faithful by Alice Hoffman

Oh my goodness all the feels in this book!  It is so wonderful!  I cried and I laughed and I cried some more.  Alice Hoffman is a genius with words and this book is just beautiful.  Shelby was driving when she wrecked her car slipping on an icy patch and her best friend was put into a vegetative state.  She blames herself for years and spends time in a mental hospital and harms herself and yet, she periodically receives encouraging postcards from an unknown sender.  She is in some bad relationships and has to learn to love and forgive herself before she can love anyone else.  The writing is just so beautiful.  I received this book free to review from Netgalley and I highly recommend it!

The Girl Who Drank The Moon by Kelly Barnhill

Luna was raised by a witch named Xan, a bog monster and a perfectly tiny dragon.  She does not know that she had been taken from her mother, who then went insane, by the leaders of a town that was enthralled by sorrow.  Luna does not know that Xan accidentally enmagicked her and then locked away her magic to keep her safe. As she nears her thirteenth birthday, however, the spell locking away her magic weakens and she begins to understand and many wrongs become apparent.  The story is magical and rather lovely.  I received this book free to review from Netgalley.

The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin by Stephanie Knipper

This book is lovely, sad, and a bit creepy.  It reminds me a little bit of Alice Hoffman's magical realism.  Rose is dying and she finally calls her sister Lily to come back to their childhood home, a cut flower farm, that Rose is running with Lily's ex-boyfriend, Seth.  Rose needs Lily to care for her non-verbal, autistic daughter, Antoinette, who has the peculiar gift of being able to heal people and other living things.  Healing others, however, gives her seizures.  Lily is joined by her best friend Will, who is a doctor.  Together, can they save Rose and Antoinette?  I enjoyed that parts of the story were told by Antoinette, explaining how she felt even though she could not express it verbally.  The story is mostly sweet, but also a bit peculiar.  I received this book free to review from Netgalley.

All the Ugly And Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood

This book is totally intense.  The title describes it well.  Wavy had an ugly life.  Her parents are drug dealers and drug users and her mother is mentally ill and does not take her medication.  Many ugly things happen in her life, but the most wonderful part is Kellen.  When they meet, Wavy is 8 years old and Kellen is about 19 years old.  He takes her to school, cares for her and her younger brother and eventually, the two fall in love.   Due to her age at the time, that disturbed many people. Parts of the story are told by Wavy's cousin Amy who Wavy lived with for a while.  Due to the abuse she suffered, Wavy did not talk much and would not eat in front of people.  There are so many realistic and sad things in the story.  A lot of it is ugly and disturbing.  Yet, it is also a wonderful story that I could not put down.  I received this book free to review from Netgalley.

Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye

I totally loved this book! It is a very funny satire, based on the book Jane Eyre, which I also totally love.  Jane Steele, is an orphan, living with an aunt who despises her, who goes to a boarding school run by an evil headmaster (sound familiar, readers of Jane Eyre?)  The early part of the book goes over her childhood and time in boarding school and shortly thereafter and then skips to the part where she becomes a governess, for a handsome man who she falls in love with.  One problem is all the murders which she has committed, making her feel quite guilty and unworthy, but there are many other mysteries as well in this fun to read romance.  I received an advance copy of this book to review from Netgalley, but by the time I read it, the actual book was out, so I also got the audio book from the library and I listened to parts and read parts.  The audio book is very well done and I love the accents of the reader.  I also noticed many places where the wording was improved from the advance copy.  I think it is quite well written and just a totally very fun read!  I highly recommend it!

Because I Love You by Tori Rigby

When sixteen year old Andie finds out she is pregnant - after only having had sex one time when she was drunk with her best friend, her life changes.  She learns who are her friends and who are not her friends.  After the baby's father totally dumps her and denies the baby is his, her old boyfriend, Neil swoops in as her knight in shining armor and is totally wonderful and her new friend, Jill also steps in to help out.  The writing is lovely and I think teens will enjoy it.  I received this book free to review from Netgalley.