Book: The Box In The Woods Author: Maureen Johnson Pages: 400 Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller
Thank you Harper Collins for sending me The Box In The Woods. This book is a companion to the Truly Devious series. You don’t need to read the other three books to read this one. But, personally, you should not miss the awesome trilogy (so read it :D)! You can find my review for the trilogy here>> Truly Devious Trilogy.
Stevie Bell is back at her home after solving the infamous Ellingham Case. But she receives a message from the owner of The Camp Sunny Pines formerly known as Camp Wonder Falls. In 1978, four camp counsellors were killed brutally in the woods and left in a box written SURPRISE. Jumping to the present, the owner of the camp wants Stevie to work on a true-crime podcast with him on the Box In The Woods case. Stevie comes to the camp with her friends to solve the case, but evil has returned to the town again and this time Stevie has to solve the case to make out alive…
This book blew my mind! In comparison to the other three books, this one was grittier and in-depth in the case this time. When I had almost reached the ending, I kind of guessed the killer, but the writing style definitely confused my suspicion. This is a quick read, I didn’t even realize till the end that I had consumed 400 pages of awesomeness! There is an aspect about the Nutshell Studies, which was so interesting to read. I am in awe after reading the ending, so precise didn’t leave any loose ends, it hit directly to the bull’s eye! The characters have developed and are mature. The best part is that there are chapters that talk about the past, where the murder is happening and then we jump back to the present, where Stevie is trying to solve the case. Higher risks are being taken by Stevie and her friends this time, which can also cost them their life. So many secrets are coming out about the town and the people. Things are continuously happening in this book, so it was not boring at all! I love the mysterious writing and would love to read more books in the Stevie Bell series! This book is very addictive and I highly recommend reading it!
Hello everybody! Today I will be sharing my reading story, it was the day when I realized that it is the best thing to lose myself in books!
I have been reading books since I was 10 years old. But, I wasn’t an extensive reader at that time. I enjoyed reading Sudha Murty and Roald Dahl books. I read those books but never connected with them emotionally. I still hadn’t found “The Book” that will start my reading journey!
Then it was the year 2019, where I was sick at home and didn’t go to school that day. I was resting the whole day and was bored. I remembered that my friend had recommended me a book named The Fault In Our Stars by John Green and hyped up about it. I downloaded the book and started reading it on my phone. The whole afternoon I kept reading the book and didn’t even realize getting engrossed in it. By night, I was finished with the book and I remember being in awe after reading the ending. I was shocked that a book could affect and move me. After reading the book I discovered the movie adaptation for the book. I watched the movie and loved it even more. For a week I was in the phase where all I did was fangirling about the characters. After being back to normal, I found out other books from John Green and bought Turtles All The Way Down. After reading the book I started craving for more books and my reading journey started. Till the end of 2019, I borrowed books from libraries and friends. I also discovered Booktube and saw that people were talking about my favourite books on YouTube! After watching many booktubers (HaileyInBookland, JesseTheReader, Polandbananasbooks, etc.), I made up a list of books that intrigued me and decided to buy them soon.
Jumping to March 2020, my final exams were over and by now I had ordered the books to read in my vacation. I bought 10 books and read them in one month because I knew my school will start in April. But, then the world was hit by a deadly virus and everything shut down. In the lockdown, I read many books and my love for reading kept growing. My family and friends have helped me to start my reading journey by encouraging and supporting me!
Reading books has definitely affected my blogging too as when I had started writing, I only wrote about my life experiences. After falling in love with reading and finding out about the book community, my blog shifted to writing about books. Reading books has been a path for me that has helped me grow in every aspect! Would love to read your reading stories in the comments! Happy Reading! Rabhya
Author: Maureen Johnson Books: Truly Devious, The Vanishing Stair & The Hand On The Wall
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Rating: 5 out of 5.
This Series Shook My Life!!
Summary:
This series is about a school named Ellingham Academy that was founded by a business tycoon named Albert Ellingham in the 1930’s. The Ellingham Academy is a famous school in Vermont for inventors, artists and thinkers. The school provides free education with no tuition fees. Albert made the school with twisting pathways, tunnels, useless doors and games. But, when his wife and daughter and a bright student named Dolores Epstein gets kidnapped, Albert does everything to find them. In addition to that, the school receives a threatening letter signed by a named Truly Devious. The Ellingham becomes an infamous case. The FBI and many people try to find the culprit, but it is suppressed when someone confesses that he did the crime, but everyone are aware that the person is not the killer. Fast-forwarding to the present, Stevie Bell loves to study true crime. She wants to solve the Ellingham case. Stevie’s first year at Ellingham has a plan to solve the cold case, with her new friends. Death revisits the Ellingham academy and now Stevie has to find the person behind all of this…
My Review For All The Books:
This series left me shook and gave me goosebumps! The story build-up is very solid. Maureen Johnson’s writing is addictive and it will make you read every line and every page! The characters are awesome and unique. Some chapters take us to the past where the Ellingham case is happening, and then we jump back to the present where these teens are trying to solve the mystery. I definitely could not predict anything in the story. The best part is that at the end all the dots connect and there aren’t any loose ends left. I could not believe that an author could write something like this. Normally, the sequels are a flop show (from what I have experienced), but the books get better and better in this series! This series is very addictive and now I have a desperation to study in the Ellingham Academy XD.
The Fourth Installment:
Released on 15th June
Yes! There is a fourth instalment in this series! Stevie Bell is back with another case to solve! The fourth book is a companion instalment, which means that you don’t need to read the other three books to read this one! But, I suggest reading the other three cause why miss out on an awesome series?! The characters of the Truly Devious series are back in a different setting to solve the Box In The Woods case! I am currently reading the Box In The Woods and so far, I am loving it! My review for the fourth book will be coming soon, so watch out for it! Happy Reading! Rabhya.
The rollercoaster is going up steadily and it is coming to a point where it pauses. You are aware that it will be going down any minute now. The adrenaline is rising in your body and a weird feeling is coming inside your head. You are scared of that feeling. This feeling has been there before and you know that the feeling is Change. Take a Breathe. Any moment, the rollercoaster will take full speed and go down.
But will it always go down?
Weall have goals and dreams to accomplish. We wait for the right time, have high hopes and work intensively to achieve it. We also fear, what if, just like the rollercoaster, it all goes down? But in the end, we should be ready for anything. Change is not something to be afraid of, it is something to wait for. To achieve something, we need to go the hard way and in the end, the result will be satisfaction and pleasure. Life will go downhill and it will be the hardest, but one day it will come up.
The rollercoaster goes down, but it will rise at full speed. The weird feeling will be gone, you will feel fearless and nostalgic.
Take the first step, don’t hesitate to start something new. Let that door open and welcome new opportunities and responsibilities! Take that risk and be bold, nothing should stop you even once. Sometimes, you will have to do things that are out of your comfort zone, but it will be worth it!
You want to give a chance to reading, but don’t know which book to pick up that will be the breakthrough. I have curated some books in a variety of genres, that will definitely start your reading journey! If you want to get into reading then you have to find a book by exploring your interests. Here are some contemporary romances, books for teens, adventure, thriller and some mysteries sprinkled at the top! I assure you that, after reading one book from this list, you will crave more stories to eat!
We Were Liars.
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Rating: 4 out of 5.
Author: E. Lockhart Pages: 242 Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary
This book revolves around a beautiful Sinclair family. They are crazy rich and live on a huge private island. The family lives happy, but there are secrets and lies behind those smiles.
This book has hazy and mysterious writing that will grip you to the story. There is the element of friendship, which is quite interesting to read. It will make a huge impact on you after reading this story. The metaphoric representation of emotions made the story beautiful. While the unravelling of secrets and lies left me shook. After reading this book, you will crave more mysteries and thrillers!
Emergency Contact.
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Rating: 5 out of 5.
Author: Mary H.K. Choi Pages: 394 Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Humour
Penny is heading to college in Austin, Texas for a fresh start. She leaves everything behind and goes to learn to become a writer. On the other hand, Sam is emotionally and financially stuck in his life. He works at a café and sleeps there on a mattress. When these two cross paths, they exchange numbers and become Emergency Contacts for each other. They talk through chats and share their secrets and weird dreams.
I recently read this book and it became an instant love for me. I had good laughs while reading conversations of Penny and Sam through chats! The story is fast-paced, so you will not feel bored. The writing is very realistic and relatable. It was a heartwarming and funny story, worth re-reading!
Marva Sheridan wants to make a difference in the world by casting a vote. She wants to help people in casting their votes and make a difference for good. On the other hand, Duke Crenshaw is done with this election. He just wants to cast the vote and focus on his upcoming gig. But a problem arises here, he can’t cast a vote. When Marva sees this struggling voter, she bothers to help Duke. The day starts with skipping school, rushing from poll to poll, and finding Marva’s cat, the most famous kitty on the internet and other huge disasters.
I listened to the audiobook from Spotify. It was a very adventurous story and was set in one day. Everything happened on the voting day. I recommend listening to the audiobook as it is more fun. There was so much happening in one day and the disasters were very amusing to listen to. [Link to the free audiobook: https://open.spotify.com/album/5kFGIdd8zKIEGXtpMaxXfa?si=GziKq7AlTUaJuabl1Nf2Bg%5D
Any John Green Book!
Disclaimer: These Stories Will Break Your Heart and Mend It Again!
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Rating: 5 out of 5.
John Green Books: The Fault In Our Stars, Looking For Alaska, An Abundance Of Katherines, Will Grayson Will Grayson, Paper Towns & Turtles All The Way Down.
Pick up any John Green book and it will instantly make you fall in love with Reading! I say this with experience, as the first book that I ever read was The Fault In Our Stars and it made me start my reading journey. Turtles All The Way Down and Looking For Alaska were the next reads that made me fall in love with reading! His writing is very unique and realistic, which keeps you in the story the whole time. These stories have made a huge impact on me and make me think about it all the time. Don’t hesitate, just read all of his books!
The Poet X.
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Rating: 5 out of 5.
Author: Elizabeth Acevedo Pages: 361 Genre: Poetry, Young Adult, Contemporary
Xiomara feels that her voice is unheard. She pours all her feelings and frustration in her leather notebook, reciting the words as prayers. Her mother wants her to obey the rules of the church and has to live a disciplined life. When she is invited to join her school’s poetry slam club, Xiomara worries about how will she attend without letting her mother know. She dreams that people should listen to her poetry.
The whole story is written in verse and it is beautifully written. It will be a quick read and a very emotional one. Xiomara’s struggles will definitely leave you shook and will help you find your own voice. Very relatable read and worth reading this book.
I hope these books will help you start your reading journey. Explore your interests and pick up a genre that you feel is interesting. Reading is good and you should try it! Happy Reading! -Rabhya
Rab's Bookish Planet 