monday minis: Unclaimed Baggage, Artificial Condition, The Simple Wild

Unclaimed Baggage by Jen Doll

Source: ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review via ALA18

Doris--a lone liberal in a conservative small town--has mostly kept to herself since the terrible waterslide incident a few years ago. Nell had to leave behind her best friends, perfect life, and too-good-to-be-true boyfriend in Chicago to move to Alabama. Grant was the star quarterback and epitome of "Mr. Popular" whose drinking problem has all but destroyed his life. What do these three have in common? A summer job working in a store called Unclaimed Baggage cataloging and selling other people's lost luggage. Together they find that through friendship, they can unpack some of their own emotional baggage and move on into the future. ~ Goodreads

My thoughts: Told in the alternating pov’s of 3 teens are working at a store that sells the contents on unclaimed baggage from airlines (plus a couple of chapters of a suitcase pov…I know it’s weird but it makes sense lol).  This was a quirky YA novel that felt a little TOO quirky at first but grew on me with an utterly charming cast of characters and setting. It was so refreshing to read about teens that actually enjoy their job and support each other through the tough times.

I liked the unlikely friendships, the depth to some of the characters and how the author touched on religion, racism, addiction and more.

However, the tone was often a little uneven when going from lighter plot lines – like blossoming crushes – to the weightier topics of race and religion. At times it felt heavy handed – as in the author was trying to make specific points – rather than having a natural flow to the story.

But still – a cute summer read.


Artificial Condition (The Murderbot Diaries #2) by Martha Wells

Source: Finished copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review via ALA18

It has a dark past – one in which a number of humans were killed. A past that caused it to christen itself “Murderbot”. But it has only vague memories of the massacre that spawned that title, and it wants to know more.
Teaming up with a Research Transport vessel named ART (you don’t want to know what the “A” stands for), Murderbot heads to the mining facility where it went rogue.

What it discovers will forever change the way it thinks… ~ Goodreads

My thoughts: It took me a bit to get back into the swing of things. The first 1/3 seemed very technical and less snarky than the first Murderbot book. Murderbot almost sounded human instead of a hybrid - but things quickly took off again giving readers a big reveal and while setting up the next installment.

Murderbot is never better than when he’s passing judgement on puny humans while secretly having a soft spot for and wanting to protect them.


The Simple WIld by K.A. Tucker

Source: Purchased

Calla Fletcher wasn't even two when her mother took her and fled the Alaskan wild, unable to handle the isolation of the extreme, rural lifestyle, leaving behind Calla’s father, Wren Fletcher, in the process. Calla never looked back, and at twenty-six, a busy life in Toronto is all she knows. But when Calla learns that Wren’s days may be numbered, she knows that it’s time to make the long trip back to the remote frontier town where she was born. ~ Goodreads

My thoughts: A spoiled princess from Toronto, a physically and emotionally distant father who is dying from cancer and a sexy but gruff Alaskan pilot set against the rugged Alaska wild made for a very emotional story.

The rebuilding of Calla and her fathers relationship in his final days cut me deep as it mirrored s much of my own relationship and loss of my own dad.

The romance was less successful for me. Jonah, the grumpy pilot that works for Calla’s dad, had every right to be wary of Calla but he was infantile & controlling in the way he treated her at times. It surpassed cute pranks to…this guy worries me. He reeled it back in later in the story and I came to root pretty hardcore for them but it ruined what would have been a 5 star read for me.

A lot of messy, flawed characters and relationships in this one. A powerful story of love, forgiveness and reconciliation.