Number of Pages: 327

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

The Good

Overall I loved this book. 

It had great LGBTQ+ representation as well as having a diverse cast.  I really appreciated how each character's identity- be it their race, sexual orientation, or both - wasn't ever focused on any more than a stereotypical cisgender, heterosexual white character would be. Each character had a reason to be a part of the story, no matter how small their part was. 

The teenagers acted like actual teenagers and not ones that were written by adults that didn’t understand today’s younger generation which really helped the story feel more believable. There was also no over doing the few romantic moments. I don’t read romance because I find very few of them to be realistic. Mahoney did a really good job at making the few romantic pieces of this story not only believable but also serve a purpose in the plot.

The Bad

I gave this book a 4 out of five for two main reasons. The plot was a little slow to start and the ending felt as though it had been cut short. Once things started going, the pacing was great and even the parts not action packed were interesting. The first few pages set up the story so I understand not jumping right in but I feel as though there was a more captivating way to prep the reader. At the end of the story, we are given a glimpse at the aftermath of the character’s decisions but I would have loved to see a little more of it. So much of the story focused on the magical aspect of Alana and the Memory Eater that not showing the consequences of them using their abilities feels like a let down. 

 The Favorite (Quotes)

"I've learned all the ways in which this house thinks it knows what's best for you."

"Sadness sells."

"It's not her fault I'm supposed to look competent on a day I feel like microwaved death."

“Sometimes you hold the same pain for so long that all you are is sick of it. Your body, down to every cell, just wants to let it go.”

“She would betray every customer she ever had for five more minutes of sleep.” (Same)

“If we all remember who we are by the end of the week, I’m going to push their beautiful faces together.”