Sunday Post - 01/12/25

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

This past week was a challenging parenting one. We just had a lot of whining, complaining, and sibling fighting. Monday was our last regular day of school break. Tuesday, I had to drop Scout off at the vet to be neutered. We didn't really want to have him neutered, but it was in our contract when we purchased him. Then I took Little Boy to my parents. And then the big kids had wellness checkups at the doctor's office. We spent the rest of the day with my parents until it was time to go pickup Scout. He did well and is recovering still. Only a few more days in the cone for him. Wednesday, we started school back. That went decently well. Thursday and Friday were a little odd because our co-op doesn't start until next week. And then Friday the public school was out for winter weather--even though it didn't even drop below freezing and we had zero snow or ice. That only affects me in that Little Boy's mother's day out program follows the public school's calendar and so they cancelled school for him that day. Saturday, Little Boy had a birthday party for some friends from school (a set of twins). He had a great time there, and it was one of the first opportunities that I've had to chat with other mom's from his class. I finally finished my first two books of 2025 this week also.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: Review of Beneath the Crescent Sky (The Balkan Legends, # 2) by AL Sowards (4.5 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Ten Most Anticipated Book Releases of Q1/Q2 2025
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Watch Me (Shatter Me: The New Republic, # 1) by Tahereh Mafi
Thursday: Review of Better Than Revenge by Kasie West
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Cool Down and Work Through Anger

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Let's Call a Truce by Amy Buchanan
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait Wednesday?
Thursday: Review of Cruel Winter with You (Under the Mistletoe, # 1) by Ali Hazelwood
Friday: Homeschool Friday - The Giver

NEW BOOKS:

Risking It All (Pushing the Limits: The Next Generation, # 1)

By: Katie McGarry

Publication: October 21, 2024 by Katie McGarry LLC

271 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From Award Winning, Critically Acclaimed Author Katie McGarry comes the Next Generation of Pushing the Limits characters.

Her life has been shattered. His life was never whole. Can one summer change everything?

After a violent carjacking left her bleeding in the street, Macie Hutchins fears she’ll never be the same. She’s not the girl she once was—even if she puts up a good front.

Head down, she tries to survive the sweltering summer—and group therapy sessions—with secrets intact and scars hidden. Both those on the outside and inside.

But Relic Aslanov has always been trouble. Complicated trouble. Dangerous trouble. And his presence in therapy is making Macie’s plan to lie low and cope on her own trickier than her life has already become.

She can’t seem to hide from him, though. And he can’t seem to stay away from her—even when the long-standing rivalry between their families should keep them apart.

But as the summer simmers on, so do the looks, the touches—and the kisses that were never supposed to happen.

As things heat up between Macie and Relic, her white-picket-fence world collides with his wrong-side-of-the-tracks hell, and the truth about the carjacking bubbles to the surface.

When the dust settles and the truth is revealed, will the risk they took be worth it? Or have their pasts already doomed their future?

Illusion of Stars (The Enmity of Hearts Duet, # 1)

By: Sarah Marie Page

Expected Publication: July 16, 2024 by Shadow Forge Publishing

452 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Magic

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From award-winning author Sarah Marie Page comes a stunning new adult enemies-to-lovers romantasy featuring a simmering slow-burn romance between a vengeful spy and an enemy general's alluring second-in-command on opposite sides of a pending war.

SHE'S STEALING MORE THAN SECRETS.

As the royal physician of a tiny, windswept island, eighteen-year-old Isabel spends her days trying to keep the queen from dying and the mad king from streaking naked down the halls. But when her best friend is found murdered on the beaches, her world is ripped apart. Desperate for answers, she discovers a stash of letters that reveal a terrifying truth: the neighboring kingdom of Volgaard possesses a kingdom-shattering weapon and is ready to conquer everything in its path.

Seeking vengeance, Isabel infiltrates the enemy. Her mission? Woo Erik Lothgarson, the general’s steamy, illusion-magic wielding son. Steal the dangerous weapon. She can bring Volgaard to its knees—if she isn’t caught.

But as Isabel dances along the knife edge of deception, the lines between truth and fiction blur, and she must wrestle her quest for vengeance against her undeniable attraction to the enemy.

Please note the spice level is a steamy fade-to-black, meaning there's some foreplay and build-up, but no on-page sex.

Between These Broken Hearts (These Hollow Vows, # 4)

By: Lexi Ryan

Publication: July 22, 2025 by Storytide

464 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Fae

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Forbidden romance, mysterious prophecies, and the battle to save the fae realm come to a captivating conclusion in the #1 New York Times bestselling saga begun with Abriella in the These Hollow Vows duology and continued with Jas and Felicity in Beneath These Cursed Stars.

Princess Jasalyn has eleven days to live.

Jasalyn is facing the repercussions of a deadly bargain. Her life, and the future of the shadow court, are forfeit on her birthday unless she can stop the evil fae king Mordeus. She needs to face her greatest fears and find him before she runs out of time, but even after everything, Kendrick won’t let her face this alone.

Shape-shifter Felicity has vanished.

Felicity disappeared from King Misha’s dungeons, and her friends have been searching for her to no avail. But even if she’s found, Felicity will never be able to escape the oracle’s tragic prophecy for her and her family. In her lonely battle with fate, Misha is the last person she can ask to stand by her side, but the first one she’ll need.

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Cool Down and Work Through Anger

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

Cool Down and Work Through Anger

By: Cheri J. Meiners M.Ed.

Publication: Free Spirit Publishing Inc.,U.S. (1 May 2010)

40 pages

Genre: Children's, Non-fiction, Teaching

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Help children understand and manage anger.

Everyone gets angry, so it’s never too early for children to learn to recognize feelings of anger, express them, and build skills for coping with anger in helpful, appropriate ways. Children learn that it is okay to feel angry—but not okay to hurt anyone with actions or words. They discover concrete skills for working through anger: self-calming, thinking, getting help from a trusted person, talking and listening, apologizing, being patient, and viewing others positively. Reassuring and supportive, the book helps preschool and primary-age children see that when they cool down and work through anger, they can feel peaceful again.

My 7-year-old has a temper. I can't imagine where he got it from. (Literally both sides of the family). So anytime I see children's books about anger, I get them so I can help him learn to process his emotions. 

Cool Down and Work Through Anger starts off by saying that we all like to control certain things. And when we don't get the things we want, we can feel frustrated and angry. This can also happen when we feel disrespected by others. And sometimes anger feels explosive. It gives a few steps that might help the child calm down, like breathing and counting. Then the child can think about their actions or what they want to say or do. Going somewhere to relax or drawing, reading, and singing might help. Playing outside and spending time with others is another option to relax. Then it highlights the benefits of feeling calm. We can all think more clearly when we're calm. We might actually be part of the problem. We can talk things out with an adult to help us understand and work through our anger. Making sure we show respect when we talk to an adult or the person who was there helps convey one's feelings. The importance of listening is highlighted. An important step is saying "I'm sorry" and taking responsibility for my actions without blaming others. Then it concludes with things the child can do like forgive, be patient, remember that everyone makes mistakes, and have a positive attitude when things are outside our control. We have the option of seeing the best in others and changing the way we think about others can change the way we feel. In the end, the conclusion of working through one's anger is that one gets to feel at peace again. 

Cool Down and Work Through Anger does a good job of showing lots of options and the whys behind them to continuing to feel the anger (not ignoring it), while also being productive with it to see if we can learn something. All of this is contingent on the child being receptive to improvement. In my experience, my child is resistant during times of anger. You have to teach these principles during times of calmness so that recall is easier in the moment of anger. Because resistance is more likely to occur if the child is already being controlled by his or her emotions. Cool Down and Work Through Anger gets 4.5 Stars. Have you or your child read Cool Down and Work Through Anger? What did you think? Let me know!

Better Than Revenge - Review

Better Than Revenge

By: Kasie West

Publication: December 31, 2024 by Delacorte Romance

320 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--A swoony new romance from the author of Sunkissed! When her football-player boyfriend and now ex lands the podcast job she’s been dreaming of, a girl takes matters into her own hands by enlisting the help of his nemesis to get revenge.

Seventeen-year-old Finley has only ever had one to become a famous podcaster. This includes coming up with the perfect pitch to land her on her school's podcast team. But when her football-obsessed boyfriend, Jensen, decides to also try out—and uses her idea—she's left confused and betrayed.

Determined to get back at him, Finley and her friends try to find the perfect revenge scheme, but quickly discover that Jensen is almost-impossible to best. Keyword, almost.

By chance, Finley discovers a knack for kicking and decides to take Jensen's spot on the football team. To help her train, she recruits Jensen's cute but conceited nemeses, Theo. Soon the two discover that their connection runs deeper than football. But Finley can't let herself get distracted, and Theo has secrets of his own. Is true love really better than the perfect revenge?

I have been a long-time Kasie West fan. I've read 15 books by her with 3ish left unread. When you look at someone's entire catalog of work and you've read most or all of their published books, I think you can consider yourself a fan. I haven't loved every single book by Kasie West. There are a few that I didn't enjoy as much. But overall, I find her to be a consistent author with consistent content. That said, I was a little disappointed that she joined the LGBTQ bandwagon in Better than Revenge. The main characters are straight, but there's a gay secondary couple. 

Basically, Finley has dreamed of becoming one of the two podcast hosts for her school's podcast. This is for two reasons. One, she loves podcasts. Two, the podcast hosts will have an internship or scholarship, I can't remember which. The only problem is that Finley's long-term boyfriend decides last minute to try out for the position, using one of Finley's ideas. An idea that he guided her away from using. And he doesn't seem to take it seriously or realize how hurt Finley is over his choice--which proves that he isn't right for her. Heartbroken, Finley breaks up with him and vows revenge. 

Enter Theo. Jensen (the traitor-ex) has always had some kind of rivalry with Theo. Theo has always played first-string kicker and Jensen wants the position. Jensen always felt like he deserved the spot. And well, Finley is determined to get Theo to teach her how to kick (now that Theo is injured and out of the running for first string) to get back to Jensen for stealing her dream position. Only, Finley didn't count on liking Theo. But can she trust that Theo isn't just using her to get revenge on Jensen, also? I really liked the relationship between Finley and Theo. Theo is just a really nice guy, and he deserves an award. I also liked the message of the story. I don't want to give too much away, but is revenge ultimately satisfying? I also liked Finley's podcast with her grandma. It was so heartwarming to see her trying to preserve her grandmother's memories while she still has them. My siblings and I did something similar with my dad a few years ago (although he doesn't have Alzheimer's).

Favorite quotes:

-"That's what Jensen said...about you." "He appreciated my peak physical condition?" I shook my head. "No. He said you were full of yourself." "Who else am I going to be full of?"

-"Am I going to hurt you?" I said through my shivering lips. "You're not going to hurt me. I have you." "I don't feel had." He reached up, took me by the waist, and lifted me up and around until both my feet were on the patio next to the steps. I gasped in a cold breath of air. Oh. I was had.

-"I hope you get to it soon," he said. "I need the kiss." His smirk was back. The little punk knew exactly what he was doing.

-"Imagine," Grandma said in an ill-timed moment of clarity, "what you could've accomplished if you spent that much time and energy doing something for yourself."

-"Can mistakes be purposeful, though?"

All in all, Better than Revenge was really good. I liked the story. I liked Finley even if her motivations were misplaced. I liked her journey and the moral of the story. I liked Finley with Theo. I just plain liked Theo. I liked Grandma. But I still felt sad over Kasie West's step into woke culture. Better than Revenge gets 4 Stars. Have you read Better than Revenge? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Watch Me

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Watch Me (Shatter Me: The New Republic, # 1)

By: Tahereh Mafi

Expected Publication: April 15, 2025 by Storytide

368 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Dystopian, Science Fiction

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Lose yourself in this exhilarating return to the #1 global bestselling Shatter Me universe, the first book in a new series set ten years after the fall of The Reestablishment.

James Anderson had a plan. Or half of one. All that matters is that he managed to do what his older brother, the famous Aaron Warner Anderson, never did: infiltrate Ark Island, the last refuge of The Reestablishment. In the past decade no outsider has breached the stronghold of the authoritarian regime, but James is in. In a prison cell, sure, but as far as James is concerned, a win is a win.

It’s been ten years since the fall of The Reestablishment. Ten years since the notorious duo — Juliette Ferrars and Aaron Warner Anderson — led a worldwide rebellion and established the New Republic of the West. But after a decade of unsettling quiet, The Reestablishment is ready to make a devastating move, and they have the perfect person for the job.

Rosabelle Wolff had a plan. She always has a plan. On Ark Island, where constant surveillance is packaged as security, even emotions must be experienced with caution. A trained assassin, her every movement is monitored by synthetic intelligence—and when she’s given an order to kill, she never hesitates.

Brimming with pulse-pounding action and torturous romance, Watch Me is an explosive journey through a dystopian landscape where enemies-to-lovers has never felt more impossible. Step into a beloved and breathtaking world that demands an answer to a desperate question—

Who are we when no one is watching?

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Top Ten Most Anticipated Book Releases Q1/Q2 2025

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This week's topic is Top Ten Most Anticipated Book Releases Q1/Q2 2025

1. After Life by Gayle Forman
2. The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson
3. The Folklore of Forever (Moonville, # 2) by Sarah Hogle
4. Everything I Promised You by Katy Upperman
5. Rules for Ruin (The Crinoline Academy, # 1) by Mimi Matthews
6. Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, # 3) by Rebecca Yarros
7. Iron & Embers (The Ashes of Thezmarr, # 1) by Helen Scheuerer

And 3 I've already read:

8. Let's Call a Truce by Amy Buchanan
9. The Rules of Matrimony (Matchmaking Mamas, # 4) by Anneka R Walker
10. Beyond the Crescent Sky (The Balkan Legends, # 2) by AL Sowards (releases today)

Which books are you anticipating from the first half of 2025? Let me know!