V.O.L.T. Book Blitz

Book Blitz! 

V.O.L.T.

Village of Lost Things

Dawn Brazil

Genre: YA Fantasy 

Summary: 

When seventeen-year-old Samantha learns her boyfriend died, she is throttled with grief. Comatose for three months, she wakes –standing in a line, in a city called VOLT – Village of Lost Things.

Sam’s life has been a series of the universe crapping over her desires. When she learns Ryan is waiting behind the thick forest that leads to this city, she’s more than skeptical. When you have nothing left, you accept scraps. VOLT is Sam’s scraps.

Except, Ryan isn’t where he’s supposed to be. VOLT’s promise of a sweet reunion appears as likely as being tied to a hog and dragged around the moon.

Eighteen-year-old, Joe, is an egotistical, whiny Momma’s boy. He has a knack for verbally eviscerating those around him. That’s Sam’s evaluation of him when she meets him in VOLT. He lost his mother months ago and comes to VOLT often. Because of his knowledge of the city, his mother makes him Sam’s official guide to find Ryan.

Fifteen-year-old Ferris has a borderline personality disorder. Several years ago, he lost his mother also. He’s been in VOLT the longest and might be a great addition to aid them in finding Ryan. Or stop them from killing each other. He just needs to remember who he is – which seems difficult.

Finding Ryan is Sam’s last effort to reconnect to a life teetering by a string with an anvil attached. She must decide between the living and the dead, and if she were keeping tally, she’d be closer to a corpse than a teenager.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08L9HH5MH 

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54905456-volt

About the Author: 

I read words. I write words. I love words. Words have so much power, I understood this at an early age so story-telling has always been a part of my life. After college, I tried my hand at a few different careers paralegal, customer service, sales. Yeah, I shouldn't have. Now, I'm following my passion and doing what I love. I write Young Adult urban fantasy, science fiction, and romance novels. I live in Texas with my husband and three kids and my endless imagination.

Author Links:

Website: http://www.dawnbrazil.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8049152.Dawn_Brazil

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DawnBrazil

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDawnBrazil 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authordawnbrazil

Book Blitz created by: YA Bound Book Tours 

 

DNF Chronicles #2: Grown Ups by Emma Jane Unsworth

About the Book

Grown Ups by Emma Jane Unsworth

Published by Gallery/Scout Press on August 18, 2020

GoodReads Description

Fleabag meets Conversations with Friends in this brutally honest, observant, original novel about a woman going through a breakup…but really having more of a breakdown.

Jenny McLaine’s life is falling apart. Her friendships are flagging. Her body has failed her. She’s just lost her column at The Foof because she isn’t the fierce voice new feminism needs. Her ex has gotten together with another woman. And worst of all: Jenny’s mother is about to move in. Having left home at eighteen to remake herself as a self-sufficient millennial, Jenny is now in her thirties and nothing is as she thought it would be. Least of all adulthood.

Told in live-wire prose, texts, emails, script dialogue, and social media messages, Grown Ups is a neurotic dramedy of 21st-century manners for the digital age. It reckons with what it means to exist in a woman’s body: to sing and dance and work and mother and sparkle and equalize and not complain and be beautiful and love your imperfections and stay strong and show your vulnerability and bake and box…

But, despite our impossible expectations of women, Emma Jane Unsworth never lets Jenny off the hook. Jenny’s life is falling apart at her own hands and whether or not she has help from her mother or her friends, Jenny is the only one who will be able to pick up the pieces and learn how to, more or less, grow up. Or will she?

I didn't like this book because...

1. I was absolutely annoyed by the main character after the first chapter.  I found her rather dull and unintelligent.
2. I believe that there is much more to women in their thirties than this book represents.  I felt like it paints a bleak picture of what young girls have to look forward to.
3. Unsworth tries desperately to be funny.  Unfortunately, I felt like this fell short of its mark.  

To maintain complete honesty, there is a good chance that all three of my reasons for disliking this book change/improve over the course of the novel.  I was so frustrated and annoyed by Jenny, however, that I did not read past the 30th page.

In the future...

I would be interested to read other books by this author, but I will never be interested in reading this one.

Three Reasons You Should Read The Hilarious World of Depression by John Moe

About the Book

The Hilarious World of Depression by John Moe

Published on May 5, 2020 by St. Martins Press

GoodReads Description

For years John Moe, critically-acclaimed public radio personality and host of The Hilarious World of Depression podcast, struggled with depression; it plagued his family and claimed the life of his brother in 2007. As Moe came to terms with his own illness, he began to see similar patterns of behavior and coping mechanisms surfacing in conversations with others, including high-profile comedians who'd struggled with the disease. Moe saw that there was tremendous comfort and community in open dialogue about these shared experiences and that humor had a unique power. Thus was born the podcast The Hilarious World of Depression.

Inspired by the immediate success of the podcast, Moe has written a remarkable investigation of the disease, part memoir of his own journey, part treasure trove of laugh-out-loud stories and insights drawn from years of interviews with some of the most brilliant minds facing similar challenges. Throughout the course of this powerful narrative, depression's universal themes come to light, among them, struggles with identity, lack of understanding of the symptoms, the challenges of work-life, self-medicating, the fallout of the disease in the lives of our loved ones, the tragedy of suicide, and the hereditary aspects of the disease.

The Hilarious World of Depression illuminates depression in an entirely fresh and inspiring way.

Three Reasons Why...

1. When I first saw this book, I knew that I needed to read it.  It is far too easy for people to think that those who struggle with depression or other mental health issues can just "get over it" because it is "all in their heads."  This is most definitely not the case!  Moe does a terrific job not only explaining that, but giving a "typical" individual insight into the mind of a depressed individual.  This book is eye opening and enlightening.
2. More importantly, this book is here for people who DO struggle with depression.  It finally provides the necessary understanding that these people are not alone.  For many, this can mean showing a loved one what it is really like in their brain during the darkest and deepest depths of depression.
3. In addition to helping people and bridging the gaps between those who struggle with depression and those who don't, this book is a memoir.  It provides you with an inspiring story about a man who goes through some very difficult things to become a person he is proud of.  This book outlines his time in crappy jobs, awful moments, success, and happiness.  

My Rating