Angela Pepper

I hereby profess my love for Maddie, the lovable protagonist of Practice Cake. See Maddie isn't sure where her life is taking her, but she does know that for now baking is something she really enjoys doing. Being around all those gorgeous cakes and pastries is pure heaven. Of course, it doesn't hurt that her coworker is rather yummy himself! Never mind the fact that her current boyfriend thinks it's a waste of time. What does he know? Maddie is a teenage girl at her best and worst, all at show more the same time. She's perfectly flawed, hilariously honest, and I loved every minute of reading about her struggle to just figure herself out.

The people who drift in and out of her life really craft the person Maddie is, and I can't explain enough how fantastic it all is. You'll just have to read for yourself. Maddie and her friends are constantly bickering and joking. Their personalities shine off the page. There isn't a single character in Practice Cake who isn't given the same love and attention as Maddie herself. They are all well formed and wonderfully flawed themselves. Jealousy, pettiness, it's all there in black and white.

My favorite part overall though? The humor! Let me share with you one of my favorite quotes from the book. Jaslene and Maddie have some great conversations, but this one made me giggle out loud.

Jaslene was already twirling one of her long, dark ringlets and reading an article titled, Ten Things Your Guy Really Wants.

I pointed to the magazine, and said to Jaslene, "The answer is nine dumb girls and a double-bacon cheeseburger."

It's really the honesty in this book that allowed me to be so immersed in it. As I mentioned above, Dalya Moon gives her all her characters flaws. It makes them so much more realistic. Whether it's a hot boy, a best friend, or a popular girl turned mother, each character has their personality that shines off the page. I fell in love with each an every one of them, even as they drove me crazy with their decisions. Maddie learns a lot in this book, and it's all thanks to the author who allowed her to be so honest with the reader. Thanks for that Dalya!

So as you can plainly tell, I adored this book! One of my favorite things about discovering a particularly delicious self-published book, is that I get to scream it's praises to you, my dear followers. Practice Cake and Dalya Moon definitely fall into this category. I ate this book up. Great characters, fantastic story line, ample humor, it's all there! If you are looking for something light, sweet, but with a purpose, welcome to your next read. show less

I've enjoyed all of them, but this one? This one is the best. The foreboding atmosphere that is present from the first line of the story keeps you enthralled to the story. Nothing is what it seems, and Katie acts as an unreliable narrator as we never are sure about what's going on with her. Why so many lies? Is she really sick? Is her roommate's ghost following her? Is she possessed?

The rest of the characters are all keeping secrets, too. And we keep jumping from a theory to the next one, show more never sure if we can trust any of them. Except for Clive. You know from the very beginning that he's a really unpalatable man, but once you got a glimpse of his mind you are sure the man is a pest.

Was I surprised by the end? In a way, I was. Because the true killer was who I suspected to be, but the circumstances around the actual murder? That got me totally by surprise.

So, yes, I recommend this audiobook with all my heart.

Oh! And Marie Hoffman's narration was superb. show less

Wisteria Wrinkle by Angela Pepper and narrated by Rosemary Benson is an audible book I requested and the review is voluntary.
I really enjoy this series! It is fast, fun, full of magic, creatures, and humor. I love how the characters interact with each other and the realistic dialogue between them. The plot is full of unexpected twists and I love the journey!
This book deals with a time wrinkle and the crazy things brought on by traveling through it! We learn more secrets about the staff at show more the City Hall too!
This series is truly an amazing series for someone that wants just a little magic in their life! show less

Cousins Forever is a fun novel that I highly recommended for young adults, and a pleasant light read for discerning adult readers!

As an adult reader who enjoys young adult fiction, I sometimes have trouble believing the characters because authors have the make dubious decisions "because they're young and stupid" thus turning them into caricatures of teenagers. Author Dalya Moon doesn't fall into this trap, though: I feel like her young adults are real people verging on adulthood and I can show more see the complex motivations that lead them to make mistakes: they're worried about public image, relationships with friends and family, self-identity, etc.

Cousins Forever really showcases Dalya Moon's talent with young characters. Lainey and Tick Murphy fit into archetypes of good kid / bad kid at times, but without becoming flat stereotypes. We get to watch them grow and change as Tick and her mother move in and shake up not only Lainey's life, but that of her friends and family.

PS - I love how the author often ties some current stuff into her stories to situate them in time. I outright laughed with the throwaway mention of bronies in this one! show less