Author: Adventures in Polishland

Makeup I (Almost) Never Use!

Happy Wednesday! Today I thought it would be fun if I shared with all of you the makeup products that I almost never use. I review all sorts of beauty products here at Adventures in Polishland, and I really love trying new things. However, the reality of the situation is that in my regular routine I tend to reach for the same products all the time! I’m comfortable with my daily makeup routine, and it’s rare that I step outside the box. Let me share with you the five makeup products that I almost never use!

Makeup I (Almost) Never Use!

5. Lipstick

Makeup I (Almost) Never Use!This might sound crazy because I love buying and trying new lip colors, but I rarely wear lipstick! If I’m wearing a lip product I will reach for a tinted lip balm nine times out of ten. I feel really comfortable with a sheer wash of color, but when it comes to lipsticks I shy away. Lipstick is more high maintenance to apply and touch up throughout the day, and I just feel so aware of lipstick when I’m wearing it. There are a few shades that I use regularly, but the rest of my stash sits unused!

4. Eyeshadow

Makeup I (Almost) Never Use!Despite my efforts to wear eyeshadow more often, my palettes still sit unused most days. I’d say I wear eyeshadow perhaps 1-2 days per month, and even that might be a stretch! Part of my problem is that I’m still not good at application, which can only be improved with more practice. I need to go through my stash and get rid of the shadows I never use for sure!

3. Eyeliner

Makeup I (Almost) Never Use!You can tell I keep the eye area pretty basic, because I never wear eyeliner either! I recently paired down my eyeliner collection to one liquid and one (unopened) pencil. I probably wear eyeliner 1-2 times per year – if that! I just feel that it looks so harsh and overdone with my fair complexion. I’ve tried other shades besides black, but it’s just not my cup of tea. I basically keep them for the odd occasion where I reach for the eyeliner!

2. Bronzer

Makeup I (Almost) Never Use!Next up is bronzer, a product that I’ve only tried to use a few times. I just don’t get it! I’ve watched countless YouTube tutorials, but I can’t get the hang of bronzer. Plus, I don’t mind my nice pale skin. I embrace it!

1. Contour

Finally, a makeup product that I never wear is contour! I don’t even own a contour powder to show you, so I grabbed a stock photo of this Anastasia palette. I definitely think contouring is really cool, and I love seeing how makeup artists use it to transform the face. I think one day I will give it a try, but it’s not in the near future for me.

I hope you enjoyed seeing what makeup products I almost never use! Believe it or not, but I am still very new to makeup. Besides wearing it for dance performances my entire life, I didn’t use makeup regularly until my early twenties. I’m still leaning the ins and outs of beauty products every day, and I think it’s a lot of fun! Please share with me in the comments if there are any makeup products that you rarely use! I would love to know!

Some of the products pictured in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post includes an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

How to Win an Instagram Challenge in 3 Easy Steps!

Happy Tuesday! Today I’m excited to let you all in on a few Instagram secrets. I love using Instagram, and I’ve attempted to complete a number of Instagram challenges over the past few years. Instagram challenges come in a few varieties, and today I’m going to focus on the monthly challenge. The monthly challenge is just what it sounds like – you have to post a picture every day for an entire month. I’ve tried book challenges, planner challenges, and I think even a beauty challenge at some point. It wasn’t until last month that I was finally successful. Let me share with you my three easy tips for winning an Instagram challenge!

How to Win an Instagram Challenge in 3 Easy Steps!

1. Find the Right Challenge for You

This is the most important tip that I have to share with you today! The reason I was so unsuccessful in past challenges is because I wasn’t finding the right challenge for me. I would post a few pictures, but then I wouldn’t have a photo for a certain day’s prompt. That would lead me to give up completely. Thus, what you should do is search for a challenge using a hashtag like #[month]bookchallenge, #[month]plannerchallenge, etc. Here are the results I got when I searched for #Februarybookchallenge:

How to Win an Instagram Challenge in 3 Easy Steps!As you can see, there are four different challenges that pop up just in this part of my search. Take the time to read through each challenge. If you can think of a photo you’d take for each day, that’s the challenge for you! The moral of the story is to make sure you pick a challenge that fits you the best.

2. Plan Ahead

This second step might be considered cheating, but I find it essential. I recommend planning ahead by taking your photos in advance. Every Monday I would take my photos for the coming week and edit them that same day. That way I could easily upload every day without having to worry about taking the photo. If the challenge in which you are participating requires a time sensitive photo, such as your latest book purchase or that day’s coloring page, set a reminder in your phone so you don’t forget!

3. Make it Routine

How to Win an Instagram Challenge in 3 Easy Steps!

Last but not least, make uploading your daily photo part of your routine. Pick a time every day to upload so you’ll remember to do so. For me it was first thing in the morning. I always browse my email and social media when I wake up, so I added my Instagram upload to that routine. Perhaps you want to upload on your lunch break or before you go to bed – it’s up to you and what fits your lifestyle! If you need a physical reminder, try planner stickers! Pictured above are stickers from Oh, Hello Stationery, Co. They are designed to track any habit, and uploading to Instagram can be one! Shop Oh, Hello HERE and use code POLISH15 to save 15% off your order!

That wraps up my three easy tips for winning an Instagram Challenge! I hope you found it helpful whether you are a challenge newbie or veteran. Instagram Challenges are great because you can easily find like-minded people through the challenge. I participated in the #BNRBookChallenge16 in January on my Bookstagram account HERE, and I got 45 new followers throughout the month! Plus, I was encouraged to practice my photography and think outside the box. I highly recommend trying an Instagram Challenge if you have not already!

Born Pretty Store Melodi Nail Wraps Review | Instant Nail Art

Happy Monday! Today I am excited to review a set of nail wraps from Born Pretty Store for all of you. Nail wraps are a hot and cold product in the nail polish world. I’ve found that they are either awesome or terrible, and the price of the wrap is no indicator to the wrap’s quality. I’ve had good luck with the wraps from Born Pretty Store for the most part, and I am always up for trying out a different brand and design. This time around I have a colorblock pattern from the brand Melodi. Let me show you these gorgeous nail wraps!

Born Pretty Store Melodi Nail Wraps Review | Instant Nail ArtHere is a quick look at the Melodi Nail Wraps in the packaging. As with most nail wraps, they are formulated to last up to seven days, and not smudge upon application. This set of wraps is made with real nail polish, which I can tell by the slight polish scent upon opening the package. I received the style MDS1206 to review. It retails for just $1.52 HERE.

Born Pretty Store Melodi Nail Wraps Review | Instant Nail Art

If you’ve never used nail wraps before, they essentially work like stickers that you put on your nails. I start with a clean nail, find the wrap that fits my nail, and then stick it on the nail. Then I smooth out the wrap, gently bend over the excess, and use an emory board to file off the end. I follow up with a glossy top coat to ensure the wraps stay in place, and to give more of a realistic look. Voila! Instant nail art!

Born Pretty Store Melodi Nail Wraps Review | Instant Nail ArtI am really impressed with the Melodi Nail Wraps! They applied easily, and they look just like regular nail art. Plus, they are long-wearing! I’ve found that if a nail wrap is going to be bad, it typically comes off within 24 hours. I’m on Day 3 of wearing these wraps and so far I only have light tip wear! I’ve showered and washed my hands several times over the past few days, and the wraps still look awesome. I am beyond thrilled!

Born Pretty Store | Coupon Code

All in all, I highly recommend the Melodi Nail Wraps from Born Pretty Store. Not only are they super affordable, but they are excellent quality as well. Of course, I love the cute design, too. As always you can use the code FZL91 to get an additional 10% off your Born Pretty Store order. I think you should definitely pick up these nail wraps! They are perfect for those of us who love nail art, but don’t have the skill or patience to pull it off perfectly every time. Be sure to let me know in the comments if you like nail wraps, and if you’ll be getting these from Melodi!

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. This post includes an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Trying Nail Vinyls for the First Time | Valentine’s Day Nail Art Fail

Happy Friday! As you might know, one of my New Year’s Resolutions is to try out more nail art. I originally began this blog to experiment with nail art after seeing so many great designs on Pinterest, but I quickly realized that nail art is no joke. I find it really challenging, and often have a lot of nail art fails when I’m attempting to come up with designs. Today I’m sharing one of those fails with all of you in hopes that you won’t feel as discouraged when attempting new nail art. I received a set of nail vinyls from Born Pretty Store and was super excited to put them to the test. My first time trying nail vinyls didn’t go as planned! Let me share my Valentine’s Day nail art fail with you!

Born Pretty Store Fish Scale Nail Vinyls
Born Pretty Store Fish Scale Nail Vinyls

Here is a look at the sheet of nail vinyls. I received the fish scale design in style number JV203. This sheet comes with twelve vinyls that need to be cut before use. They are designed to work just like striping tape. I thought of these like a stencil. I love that this sheet of vinyls is super affordable at just $1.99 HERE.

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Tag Ur ItMy idea for this manicure was a Valentine’s Day ombré. I began with a white base from Sally Hansen Insta-Dri and let it dry completely.

Born Pretty Store Fish Scale Nail VinylsMy first attempt at nail vinyls was a huge fail! I applied the vinyls directly on the nails and pressed them in place. I applied my polish, but when I peeled off the vinyls my nail polish came with it. I was so bummed! My base was dry, so I figured my issue was that the vinyls were just too sticky to go directly on the nails.

Born Pretty Store Fish Scale Nail VinylsFor round two I decided to place the nail vinyls on my hand before putting them on my nails. I did this twice to remove a lot of the stickiness, and then applied them to the nails. However, I didn’t press down firmly on the vinyls. That is where my problems arose this time around. The polish leaked through the vinyls because they weren’t affixed to the nails firmly. However, I can see a lot of progress with this technique!

Born Pretty Store Fish Scale Nail VinylsMy thumb nail actually came out really well during this second attempt. This is what I was trying to accomplish all along! I used a wedge sponge to apply pink nail polish to the base of the nail and a red to the top. I completed the look with a glossy top coat. This is what I hoped to share with you! Alas, it only turned out well on one nail.

Born Pretty Store | Coupon CodeAll in all, I’m so glad I finally got the chance to try out nail vinyls! I do really like this set from Born Pretty Store, and will recommend it. That being said, it’s important to remember that nail art can sometimes be frustrating, especially when trying something new. I look forward to continue trying vinyls in the future. If you have any tips and tricks when it comes to nail vinyls, let me know in the comments! As always, you can shop at Born Pretty Store using my coupon code FZL91 to save an additional 10% off any order.

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. This post includes an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Book Review | Breakable (Contours of the Heart #2) by Tammara Webber

Breakable (Contours of the Heart #2) by Tammara Webber

Published by Penguin Berkley on May 6, 2014

Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Format: Paberback

Pages: 361

Source: Purchased

Goodreads

As a child, Landon Lucas Maxfield believed his life was perfect and looked forward to a future filled with promise — until tragedy tore his family apart and made him doubt everything he ever believed.

All he wanted was to leave the past behind. When he met Jacqueline Wallace, his desire to be everything she needed came so easy…

As easy as it could be for a man who learned that the soul is breakable and that everything you hoped for could be ripped away in a heartbeat.

REVIEW

I was really excited to pick up Breakable as soon as I finished reading the first book in the Contours of the Heart series, Easy. Breakable is written in a unique dual perspective from Lucas’s point-of-view. Readers hear from Lucas when he was growing up and known as Landon, and in this way Breakable is part prequel. At the same time, the book is also Easy from Lucas’s point-of-view. I thought this dual perspective was really well done because it made the book a real page-turner, as Landon and Lucas alternate telling the story. The writing style also added a lot to the storyline, and Lucas’s character becomes extremely well developed.

In the same way, Webber does a great job writing the scenes from Easy in Lucas’s point-of-view. She speaks quickly about the major details, and really focuses on Lucas’s emotions and thought process. There are new scenes to the Lucas and Jacqueline storyline as well, ensuring that Breakable is not just a carbon copy of Easy. I really appreciated that as a reader.

Moreover, I did want to mention that Breakable is much steamier than Easy, which is not really my personal cup of tea. Perhaps this is because this book is written from a male perspective, but I would definitely take that into consideration if you don’t like heavier romances, or if you’re a parent with a teen wanting to read this book. I’d say it is for ages 17+, but, of course, that is for you to decide.

Overall, I really enjoyed Breakable and think it is a must-read for all who enjoyed Easy. I enjoyed it even better than the first book in the series, as it answers some questions I had and adds a lot to the story. It’s still a bit cheesy and does contain insta-love, but this is a romance book so I’m more willing to let it slide. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, which follows Boyce and Pearl!

BUY THE BOOK

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Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Sticks in Paranoid Purple & Bulletproof Beige | Swatches & Review

Happy Wednesday! I recently received a bunch of new products from Rimmel, and wanted to jump right in with some reviews for all of you. First up I have two shades of Scandaleyes, Rimmel’s eyeshadow sticks. The Scandaleyes line is designed to provide a 24-hour wear and is formulated to be waterproof. I will be sharing Paranoid Purple and Bulletproof Beige with you today. Let’s jump right into the shadows!

Rimmel Scandaleyes Paranoid Purple & Bulletproof Beige | Swatches & ReviewI want to begin with my thoughts on the Scandaleyes in general. Both of these eyeshadow sticks have a really nice formula that provides an opaque look. While they do smudge out a bit, they are not very blendable, which is a drawback for me. I also wish these were twist-up sticks instead of sticks that need to be sharpened. Otherwise, I think the packaging is sturdy and sleek. These shadows also remove easily with eye makeup remover, which I really appreciate!

Paranoid Purple

Rimmel Scandaleyes in Paranoid Purple
Rimmel Scandaleyes in Paranoid Purple

Paranoid Purple is a deep purple cream shadow with purple shimmer. I am really impressed with how pigmented this shadow is. It would make a beautiful eyeliner, but also a great pop of color. Paranoid Purple would work well in a smokey eye if you are looking for an alternative to black and grey. It’s outside of my comfort zone, but is definitely a beautiful shadow.

Bulletproof Beige

Rimmel Scandaleyes in Bulletproof Beige
Rimmel Scandaleyes in Bulletproof Beige

Bulletproof Beige is a gorgeous yellow gold shade with bronze and green shimmer. Just as with Paranoid Purple, Bulletproof Beige has a pigmented formula with an opaque finish. I really like that this is a neutral shade that is very wearable. It can act as a cream base, or can be applied over another eyeshadow look to add a pop of shimmer. If you are looking to try out the Scandaleyes line, I think Bulletproof Beige is a great place to start.

All in all, I think the Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Sticks are great drugstore products. They are not comparable to high end cream shadows in terms of blendability, but they are long wearing and apply smoothly. You can purchase Scandaleyes at your local drugstore or department store for $4.49 each, or online HERE. Be sure to let me know in the comments if you’ve tried any Scandaleyes, or if you plan on picking some up in your next beauty haul!

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post includes an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

5 Romantic Reads for Valentine’s Day | Blogger Collaboration

Happy Tuesday! With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite romantic books with all of you. I’m not a huge romance reader, but I’ve noticed that this past month I’ve picked up more lovey dovey books than normal. This blog post will feature five of my all-time favorite romance books, and you’ll notice I typically go for light-hearted and cutesy stories. I’ve also teamed up with bloggers Kayla, Amélie, and Colleen who are sharing their picks today, too. Their posts will be linked at the end, so please be sure to check them out!

5 Romantic Reads for Valentine's Day | Blogger Collaboration

5. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

REVIEW | GOODREADS | BUY

My first pick is a young adult contemporary, and is more of a coming-of-age story than a romance. I think this is a great book for those who may not like mushy love stories, because this book features friendship more than traditional love. We follow teen boys Aristotle and Dante as they meet one summer. Both are shy and have trouble expressing their emotions. The book follows their journey, and is a beautiful story. I highly recommend this book!

4. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

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I read Stargirl years ago and immediately fell in love with it. This young adult novel takes place in high school, and follows Leo Borlock as he begins to notice the ‘weird’ girl in school. She’s named herself Stargirl, and is often bullied because of her uniqueness. I love this book because it shows how appearances aren’t everything, and how it’s important to stay true to yourself. This is also a very quick read if you’re short on time!

3. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

REVIEW | GOODREADS | BUY

If you like romantic comedies, you need to check out The Rosie Project! This is an adult contemporary novel that follows main character Don Tillman. Don is a scientist, and has similar character traits to Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory. One day he decides to begin The Wife Project, because he wants a life partner that meets his very specific criteria. Then he meets Rosie – a woman who doesn’t check any of the boxes on his list. The book follows their journey together to find Rosie’s biological father. It’s cute, funny, and the perfect Valentine’s Day read!

2. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

REVIEW | GOODREADS | BUY

Another great adult contemporary is Attachments. This is my favorite book from Rainbow Rowell (so far), and follows Lincoln O’Neill at the turn of the 21st Century. Lincoln works in the IT department of a newspaper office, and his job is to monitor the emails of the workers. He becomes enthralled with the emails of Beth and Jennifer, and soon begins to fall for one of them despite never speaking with her in person. This book is adorable, but also deals with some deep issues, too. I think it’s perfect for millennials!

1. The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith

REVIEW | GOODREADS | BUY

Last but not least, I have to recommend The Geography of You and Me, a young adult contemporary romance. This book is the epitome of cute, but is also extremely well written. It follows two teens in New York City during a blackout. They happen to meet when the power is turned off, but once the city is restored to normal, they aren’t sure how to keep their relationship going. If you’re looking for a quick read with some depth, I highly recommend this one!

That wraps up my top picks for Valentine’s Day! Please make sure to visit my fellow bloggers to see what books they have to recommend for you. You can also leave me a comment with your favorite romantic books! I’d love to know what you recommend, too.

Kayla

Kayla Blogs

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Amélie

A Wanderer’s Adventures

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Colleen

Buckeye Bliss

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This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

January PLAY! by Sephora Unboxing | My Favorite Yet?!

Happy Monday! Today I’m excited to share my January PLAY! by Sephora box with all of you. For those who are new to PLAY!, this is a $10 beauty subscription box curated by Sephora. I received my first box back in November (see that unboxing HERE), and have been overall pretty impressed with this subscription service. In December, however, I was a bit underwhelmed with the products, so I was interested to see if January’s box would be any better. I think it is my favorite box yet!

January PLAY! by Sephora Unboxing | My Favorite Yet?!January PLAY! by Sephora Unboxing | My Favorite Yet?!

This month’s theme is No Appointment Necessary, and is filled with high-performing products that let you get expert-level results from home. I was immediately excited as soon as I lifted the informational magazine out of the box and saw the first product lying on top. As always, I’ll show you each product individually and share the sample’s retail value with you.

Sephora Collection Green Tea Eye Mask

Sephora Collection Green Tea Eye Mask – $5.00

The first thing I spotted was this Green Tea Eye Mask. I’ve seen so many beauty vloggers use masks like these, and they look like a fun and easy way to treat your skin right! Sephora offers a bunch of different eye masks in this line, and the Green Tea one is designed to give a cool, fresh sensation to the eye area and provide a smoothing effect. I am so excited to try this!

Dr. Brandt Needles No More

Dr. Brandt Needles No More – $15.13

The skincare continues with a product from one of my favorite high end brands, Dr. Brandt. We did get a product from Dr. Brandt last month, but I am totally fine with another! Needles No More is a wrinkle relaxer, and is supposed to provide both instant and long-term effects. I’m really intrigued with this one!

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel – $9.60

The last skincare item in this box is a peel from Dr. Gross Skincare. I’ve always been nervous to try a peel, but there are three treatments in this box so I guess a peel is in my future! I do like that this peel is a two-step wipe process. This should be interesting!

TOCCA Isabel PerfumeTOCCA Isabel Perfume – $2.00

Next up is a perfume sample from TOCCA, which you all know I don’t like getting in this box. Sephora gives perfume samples away for free, both online and in-store. It’s ridiculous we keep getting these! Nonetheless, Isabel is a rose-scented perfume, which I cannot use because of my sensitivity to floral scents. This is my least favorite item in the box.

Living Proof Prime Style Extender Spray

Living Proof Prime Style Extender Spray – $2.94

Moving on to hair care, we got a Living Proof sample in the box! I love this brand of hair care, so I’m happy that I received this. The Prime Style Extender Spray is designed for fine hair, which I have, and is supposed to make any style last 2x longer. I don’t usually style my hair, but I’ll be glad to have this on hand for when I do!

Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight in Hefty Highlight

Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight in Hefty Highlight – $12.57

Last but not least is a makeup item from Clinique, which I am really excited to try. This is a cream highlighter in a beautiful pink shade. I think this will look beautiful with my fair skin tone. I’ve never tried a cream highlighter before, so I can’t wait to put this to use!

All in all, I am very impressed with my January PLAY! by Sephora box. I will use every item except for the perfume, and I am very much looking forward to the skincare and makeup. The retail value for this box is $47.24, which is also excellent. I’m going to continue my subscription for sure! If you are interested in subscribing, join the wait list HERE. I’ll be sure to share what I receive next month, too!

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MILD’s Easy Peel Nail Polish from Born Pretty Store

Happy Friday! Today I have another nail polish review for you. Born Pretty Store sent me the MILD’s Easy Peel Nail Polish in a grey shade, and I was excited to test it out. Strippable nail polish has been quite trendy in the past year, and I have to say I like it! Of course, it has to work without damaging my nails. Let’s see if MILD’s Easy Peel Nail Polish makes the cut!

MILD's Easy Peel Nail Polish from Born Pretty Store MILD's Easy Peel Nail Polish from Born Pretty StoreI received a grey shade of this nail polish to review, and the shade number is WB171. I applied this polish without a base coat because I wanted it to peel off properly. The formula is great with this polish! I applied two thin coats and didn’t have any issues whatsoever. I was also excited to discover that this polish does peel off the nails! It comes off easily once you start peeling, and does not damage the nails at all. So awesome!

That being said, I noticed that when I went on Born Pretty Store’s website this polish is marketed as a Color Changing Thermal Polish. I didn’t experience any color-changing at all, but I still really like this polish. Keep that in mind when purchasing!

Born Pretty Store | Coupon CodeAll in all, I had a great experience with the MILD’s Easy Peel Nail Polish even though I didn’t notice any color-changing effect. This is a polish I would wear alone as well as under nail art, and feel comfortable recommending to all of you! MILD’s retails for $8.18 on the Born Pretty Store website HERE, but don’t forget to use code FZL91 to get an extra 10% off any order. Be sure to let me know what you think of this polish in the comments!

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Book Review | The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line (Veronica Mars #1) by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham

The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line (Veronica Mars #1) by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham

Published by Vintage Books

Genres: Adult, Mystery, Crime

Format: Paperback

Pages: 336

Source: Gift

Goodreads

From Rob Thomas, the creator of groundbreaking television series and movie Veronica Mars, comes the first book in a thrilling new mystery series.

Ten years after graduating from high school in Neptune, California, Veronica Mars is back in the land of sun, sand, crime, and corruption. She’s traded in her law degree for her old private investigating license, struggling to keep Mars Investigations afloat on the scant cash earned by catching cheating spouses until she can score her first big case.

Now it’s spring break, and college students descend on Neptune, transforming the beaches and boardwalks into a frenzied, week-long rave. When a girl disappears from a party, Veronica is called in to investigate. But this is not a simple missing person’s case. The house the girl vanished from belongs to a man with serious criminal ties, and soon Veronica is plunged into a dangerous underworld of drugs and organized crime. And when a major break in the investigation has a shocking connection to Veronica’s past, the case hits closer to home than she ever imagined.

REVIEW

I discovered the Veronica Mars television show thanks to Amazon Prime a couple years ago, and I was really excited to hear that the show’s creator was releasing a book series as well. This first book in the series picks up where the movie left off, but there is a quick recap of the movie’s events for those who are fuzzy on the details or, like me, haven’t seen it yet. Veronica is living in her hometown of Neptune, California and is taking over the family private investigation firm while her father is recovering from an accident. She gets hired to find a teenage girl who mysteriously disappeared during spring break.

The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line reads just like an episode of the Veronica Mars television show, which is perfect for fans. I was surprised that the book is written in the third person, as I would have expected Veronica to be a first person narrator. Nonetheless, the writing is good, and has that somewhat cheesy flair that makes Veronica Mars so lovable even when crazy things are happening in the story.

In addition, I really liked the plot of this book. It kept my attention for the entirety of the story, and there were logical twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. I also really loved the family drama in this book. I’m a sucker for a good family drama, and while that wasn’t the main focus of this novel, it certainly played a role.

My only critique of The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line besides the fact that Veronica isn’t the narrator is that many of my favorite side characters from the Veronica Mars world weren’t in the book as much as I would like. For example, because Keith is recovering from his accident, he isn’t as prevalent in this story as he typically is in an episode of the show. I’m hoping we get to see more from him, Wallace, Logan, and Mac in the next book!

Otherwise, I really enjoyed this book and loved being back with Veronica. I highly recommend this book for fans of Veronica Mars. If you are unfamiliar with the show, you can still read this book, but you might be a bit confused with the characters and the past events that are sometimes mentioned. Nonetheless, this is a great mystery novel, and one that I think is perfect for newbies to the genre. It is very character driven, and not as scary as other mysteries. I think you should give it a try!

BUY THE BOOK

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

When you buy a book through the Amazon or Book Depository links above, I earn a small commission through each website’s affiliate program. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.