The story has a good premise and started off slow. I enjoyed the characters and how they are engaged with one another, but I was bummed with the romance angle. I felt that it didn’t build up enough the way I would have liked and then was rushed in the last few chapters. Story premise was good, but overall delivery was weak. Once the story picked up it kept my attention until the very end but I was disappointed with the ending as I felt it did not give me the closure I wanted. When reading just the intro I thought this was a stand alone book but it seems to be part of a series. I wasn’t prepared for that. All in all I will read the next book and see how that fairs.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This seemed like a book I would love. Who wouldn't want to go inside of their favorite story and meet their "book boyfriend"? I couldn't get into it. I was unable to care about the characters and to me that is the worse feeling.

Thank you so much for allowing me to read and review your titles.
I do appreciate it and continue to review books that I get the chance to read.
Thanks again!

What I love about this book, besides the book boyfriend being real, was how stories give power. Not only to the world that the author created but to us (real people) as well. Most everyone wanted to read this book because of the premise "what if your book boyfriend was real?" Those words, add to the story, and give it power. This is every readers fantasy and because we fantasize about this concept we also give it power. Books are powerful and they connect everyone and everything.

"Stories are magic. Every time one person shares a story with another, that energy grows."

And that set the tone of the book for me. The mythology that the author used from all over to create the kingdom and the banter between the characters. I also really connected with Edie as a reader because there are a lot of times and a lot of people who don't understand my love for reading. How reading brings me happiness.

"She could never understand why I loved being in a book more than I loved being with her. And I could never understand what was supposed to be so flippin' great about the real world."

Angst. I love it, give it to me. This is YA fantasy so you know that there is going to lots of it and it flows perfectly through the story. If the hand scene from the 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie is your jam than the angst in this book is right up your alley. Or even the concept from Inkheart, of being a part of the book/world you love - you become Storybound.

The start of the story was a bit everywhere. You had the real world, fantasy world, real world through fantasy world's eyes, and fantasy world through real word's eyes. Let's not forget the book series world. I did enjoy Kane's thoughts that showed up between chapters. These were just quick paragraphs though. Edie was a hit and miss character for me. Didn't like the fact that "love" showed up with very little development other than fighting together. I did enjoy the idea of the story the book just needs some fine tuning.

I was given this arc by netgalley in exchange for my honest review all opinions displayed are mine alone. I had such high hopes for this title after reading the synopsis for it and unfortunately it fell so flat for me. I dnf this title around 40 percent into reading the book sadly.

While this book wasn't *quite* what I was expecting, I did find that I enjoyed it! I loved the premise of an avid book lover getting the opportunity to meet her book boyfriend in real life (because what book lover *hasn't* dreamed of that, to be honest?) The first half of the story was really good; however, it took a little while for me to get into it. The second half was a little average (mostly because of the transition from YA contemporary magical realism to just simply YA fantasy) but I would still easily recommend this book. A must read for passionate bookworms and avid fantasy fanatics!

What book nerd wouldn’t want to fall into their favorite book and meet their book boyfriend/girlfriend. I thought this book was very cute. It took a little bit to get into but than was engaging.

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really enjoyed this book, but it was kind of just a middle ground read for me. Meaning it wasn't stellar and unforgettable, but it wasn't horrible and a DNF. I did enjoy the book and I loved the pace that Emily McKay set for the story to progress. I felt like there could have been a little bit better explanation and details that would have made the book make a little more sense, but I still thought it was a good read. I would recommend it to anyone that loves YA and fantasy. I will definitely be looking for more from Emily McKay.

When Edie literally falls into her favorite fantasy world and meets her imaginary-turned-real-life crush, things don't quite turn out as she'd hoped. It's a little hard to try to form a relationship when you are always running for your life.

Who doesn't want to meet their fictional character crush? This was a really fun concept and the current action was fairly well written, but I had a harder time following the logic in the fantasy world. Some things didn't make sense to me or were more disjointed than I would have preferred. Overall a fun idea, but not something I really loved.

I received an E pub for an honest review from Netgalley and the publisher.

I want to start off and say who wouldn't want to meet their book boyfriend/girlfriend. I mean I know I would. Lets just say that this was a very interesting read. I was very excited about reading this. I did enjoy this book. I found the story interesting and fun. It was something different for me with the plot. I would add this to your TBR but just know that the world building is okay and something I feel are missed. I thought it was a decent book other than a few flaws. It's worth a try.

Jumping into a book and meeting your favorite characters is pretty much every book lover's dream! Especially if it's to meet a rather charming love interest. This books was a really fun read, especially during quarantine. Nice and imaginative. Enjoyed it!

Imagine you could jump into your favorite book world and hang out with your number one book boyfriend. That’s what happens to Edie in Emily McKay’s creative Storybound. It’s a fun premise, nicely executed and will appeal to fans of YA Fantasy.

Edie Keller has moved nine times in the past six years for her mother’s job. Her one constant is her love of books but sadly, her favorite book series - The Traveler Chronicles - is over and shockingly, the main character, Edie’s ultimate book love, Kane, dies at the end of the series. A year later, Edie is still in mourning and is at yet another new school, having all her usual problems fitting in. And now, during Tae Kwon Do class, another girl attacks her, calling her an “Untethered child of the Kingdom of Mithres” and insinuates that she, Edie, has “no hope of finding the lost Ivah” and saving the Kingdom. Edie is stunned - is this girl crazy or is something else going on? Later that day, Edie enters an old bookstore and finds herself transported to the Kingdom of Mithres, home of The Traveler Chronicles.

When Edie enters the Kingdom, she arrives about mid-way through the final book. She’s confused, to say the least, and the Curator of the Kingdom of Mithres explains that all of the stories in Edie’s world are actually happening in alternate universes and have been given to the various authors, and sometimes the stories are altered a bit during translation.

“The story threads of the universe exist independent of the one who tells them. They are all there. Written in the tapestry of the universe. Storytellers from your world weave those threads into your books, your movies, your video games. Without the thread of magic woven between the many worlds, stories would not exist in the Dark World, and magic would not exist here.”

Edie is thrown head first into the chaos happening in the Kingdom of Mithres, but pretty soon realizes she has a chance to change the ending of the final book in The Traveler Chronicles, to save Kane. Lucky for her, Kane is just around the corner.

Edie is a charming heroine - she’s a loner who has hidden talents in inspiring and leading others. She loves her fantasy world but is realistic about her place there and her role in Kane’s life - she’s there to make sure he survives but not to become romantically involved with him. The story is told from Edie’s perspective and she has a witty inner dialogue running throughout the book. Once she realizes her power and gifts, she throws herself completely into saving the Kingdom of Mithres. Kane is a flawed and lovable hero. In the books, he is portrayed as a confident rebel who always knows what to do next. Turns out the real Kane has a much deeper side and can be a real jerk (until he trusts you). Edie has to figure out who the real Kane is and what that means for her heart.

The first quarter of the story was a little slow as Ms. McKay had a good amount of background to bring us up to speed on. But once Edie gets to the Kingdom, things pick up and I found myself sneaking away to find out what happens next. As I said earlier, the story is told from Edie’s PoV, but we also get to see Kane’s thoughts as the author intersperses the story with chapters from The Traveler Chronicles which are written in Kane’s PoV and which change based on what is currently happening in the Kingdom of Mithres.

Storybound is a fun read, but if you are looking for great world-building, it might not be a book for you. We get just enough description of the Kingdom of Mithres for the story to flow, but not enough to really feel lost in it. Also, some of the details on the magic and connections between worlds are a little fuzzy and sticklers for details may be disappointed.

The author has stated that this is the first of three novels about Edie and Kane’s world. And thank goodness for that, because this story does not reach a conclusion! Readers will have to wait for the next books to see how Edie and Kane’s story ends. I’ll definitely pick up book two as book one left me hankering for more!

Buy it at: Amazon, or  shop at your local independent bookstore
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I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Storybound was a pretty interesting book. I mean if you loved a series so much what would you do if you somehow jumped into the book? Freak out? Fangirl? Shit your pants? Most likely all of the above.

Enter Cupcake, who is also known as Edie or Edena. Now she just got the final book from her favorite series and she can't wait to dive into it. The one thing she wasn't expecting.. was to literally dive into the book. Now if I was her.. I have no idea what I would be doing. Knowing me.. I would probably try to change how certain things happened or ya know.. make my ships sail before they crash and burn.

That being said, Cupcake tries her best to make things go the way they did while she read it. She knows who is supposed to end up with who and what happens in each book. Yet, she can't help but start to fall for the main lead. No matter how many times she mentions she can't have feelings for Kane herself.. she does. It was obvious to everyone that they started to care for one another.. but the characters themselves knew how the series was supposed to go - which I found COMPLETELY interesting.

I wont lie, I really enjoyed this book and with that little cliffhanger ending I am wondering when the next book will be out. Or if a second one will even be made at all. I really hope there is because I need to know what is going to happen next for everyone involved.

Story bound represents a storyline that all book lovers dream about, the chance to dive into a series we love and fall for our book boyfriends. That being said, it’s not a super original idea. I have read several takes on this idea before. I did enjoy this story, especially Kane and his particular brand of snarkiness. Edie? Eh. I do t like her inconsistencies (I would never believe such a thing! Wait. I believe!!!) it was a nice read for a spring spent I quarantine, but I wouldn’t read it over and over.

Storybound by Emily McKay is the ultimate fiction lover's fantasy. Which of us hasn't wanted our favorite books to be real? With this story, you have exactly that. Narnia is out there somewhere. The Shire is out there somewhere. I just love the whole premise. Edie is getting to live it as she finds herself in the middle of her favorite book series. Kane is her favorite fictional character, and he is not quite the same as the book version she fell in love with. He just might be better... some major book boyfriend material. I absolutely loved this story. It was funny, adventurous, and a smidge romantic. I wanted to live in this story. I hope there are more books coming, because there is so much more to tell.

I liked the idea of the main character walking into a bookstore and walking into the books, but didn't enjoy the set up. She moves, yet again, to another town for her mother's job and is picked on (a little too excessively so) at her martial arts class. I didn't feel like reading more.

This is a fantasy book, but what turned me off is the typical story-line I just mentioned before.

I really enjoyed this book - it felt like a fresh take on a parallel universe, with our feisty protagonist who perhaps isn't as accomplished as others in similar books.

Edie is an avid fan of a book series, and may be slightly in love with the hero in the tale. Finding herself immersed in this not so fictional world she realises that the books were perhaps more of a fan fiction that accurate representation. Can she help fix the storylines so that they tie in with the book? Or is there a completely different ending from the one planned?

Edie, also known as Cupcake much to her dismay; steps into an alternate world through the doors of a bookshop. Luckily for her, it just so happens to be the world of her favourite book. The last book in the series has just come out with the fate of her book boyfriend; Kane the Traveller, and it’s not a happy ending. With what she knows, can she use her knowledge to save Kane and make it safely home again before her mum finds out?
I loved this book. There was something so enticing about it that I struggled to put it down. I kept wanting to be back in this world with them. Such great characters but also a little mystery leaving you wanting more.
The story would have been better for me if it built up more of the kingdom of Mithres rather than just snippets throughout the book but overall you could get an understanding of the land and it didn't make me lose interest.
There is some mention of her father possibly suffering from some sort of mental illness and that he is no longer around as he is living in an asylum, but towards the end of the book it begins to make more sense and we understand that things are not quite as they seem.
I especially enjoyed the characters and how they all interacted with Edie, an outsider. I could see myself as a teenager reading Harry Potter and imagining I was in that world with them and what I would have given for that to happen! There are some lovely characters throughout and it was nice to see Edie get somewhat starstruck when she meets Kane for the first time. It was nice to see that the ultimate book boyfriend that Kane is to Edie and how he is portrayed in the books, he is not quite that way in his world. These small differences that remind her that this is happening and it's real.
I really enjoyed this and I understand that it is due to be part of a trilogy to which I cannot wait to finish, and hopefully learn more about the Kingdom of Mithres.
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled: Teen Publishing for a copy in exchange for an honest review.