Dark Confessions of an Extraordinary, Ordinary Woman by Jenn Sadai

For young adult/coming-of-age readers, I have to say right away – this is a different kind of story. And I think it has that much more value for its realism, honesty, and personal character.
While I do like the usual fiction YA with all the high-school drama and love triangles, sometimes these books seem too sweet and refined. Predictable. They seldom touch the real problems, the hard ones, the dangerous ones; the ones that people prefer not to dwell on because of their depressing nature. This story is raw and gritty, and it’s that much more powerful because it’s based on the author’s personal experience. Of course, it’s a memoir, not a fiction, but it reads smoothly, and I never wanted to put the book down.
I think it’s important that teenagers and young adults read books like this even if they don’t have this kind of problems. It’ll give them perspective and understanding of how difficult it is to deal with something like this and how important it is to stop at any moment, no matter how much they already hate themselves for something they’ve done. It’s a reminder that there’s always someone out there who’s suffering more than you, and that there’s a way out for everyone. A way to love yourself and get inspired and forgive your mistakes so you can move on and find your confidence once again.
It’s also a book for those who are struggling with abusive relationships. I can’t say I’ve been there, but I did have an abusive boyfriend who was totally okay with verbal bullying and didn’t even notice just how awful he was. It was a much simpler situation, and I guess I needed it to remind me of self-respect and self-compassion. And still, I had some troubles letting go of the situation. I can’t even imagine how much more difficult it is with physical abuse.
Overall, I happily give this book 5 stars and recommend it to anyone who finds the subject interesting! 

Like Fine Wine: A Head-to-Toe Youth Restoring Makeover for Ladies Over Forty by Julia Black

I was given a free copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review

Like Fine Wine is a quick guide to a better look. It’s an easy read with short, simple chapters. While it’s not a detailed instruction, I think it’s very good in its own way. It’s a book that you can use to refresh your knowledge, pick up a few things, and research them further if you’re interested. That’s what I did: at first, I was just reading it; then the list of the things on my mind became too big, and I wrote them down.
This book has all those little things that many people overlook, like details of clothing that completely ruin any look, or bad makeup choices that you can only notice when someone else tells you about it. I liked how it wasn’t just about your typical beauty advice, but also about many simple details that are essential to looking top-notch.
I’ve learned a lot about beauty from my mother, who’s looked 10 years younger than she was since she was 35. From exercise to simple anti-wrinkle tricks like using ice when you wash up in the morning to keep your muscles toned, I’ve learned it all from her, even if I haven’t used some of those tactics yet. But I can definitely say that I’ve just picked up a lot more ideas for keeping my face and hair in better shape in the future.
I think this book is a must-read for every woman, and I bet you’ll find at least one thing you didn’t know about in this quick but helpful guide.

How to Get Your Boyfriend Back: From the Husband He Turned Into by Julia Black

I was given a free copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review

Have you ever wished you could go back in time to being crazy in love again? Or have you ever been afraid of serious relationship because you knew you wouldn’t be okay with boring married life? If the answer is yes, then you should read this book.
The first thing I want to say is, it’s not like many other books that keep feeding you instructions and telling you what you’re doing wrong and how hopeless your relationship is. No, this book is full of light and positivity, and it’s like a breath of fresh air. Besides, it’s short, and there’s no fact-dumping, so it’ll make for a great weekend read that will fill you with warm feelings and joy.
The second thing is, I liked how simple and real the author’s recommendations were. It’s not just some abstract, vague preaching on how things should be. It’s obvious that this book is based on real life and real experience.
If you think you’ve read it all already, this book can probably serve as a pleasant reminder of the things you’ve learned, but didn’t really get to try. I often find myself forgetting about the things I’ve just read about. We all get caught up in something, and it’s hard to remember about all the changes you want to make in your life. I think in this case, this book is perfect, because it’s not too heavy. It’s a quick guide, and it’s inspiring and relaxing at the same time. I can’t imagine anyone would ever be disappointed with this book! 

Writing Flash Fiction: How to Write Very Short Stories and Get Them Published by Carly Berg

I was given a free copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review

«Writing Flash Fiction» is for certain worth reading if you are a newcomer in this genre, because it's likely to bring out the best in you.
It's not just a book, it's a toolbox to use, to refer to over and over again. The content is well-structured into the 10 main chapters. It outlines the concept of flash fiction, provides the ideas where to gain inspiration, hints on editing and publication. The style is crisp and eloquent, easy to perceive - the author has extremely fluent pen. The best advantage for me is that the author offers not just comprehensive technical advices, but some kind of positive psychological motivation and attitude as well. I enjoyed the accumulated crystallized experience and tough practice that I saw behind it. Overall, I feel that after the patient examination of the book you'll definitely get the hang of flash fiction writing, that is supposed to be the author's intention.