Anna K by Jenny Lee

Every happy teenage girl is the same, while every unhappy teenage girl is miserable in her own special way.

―Jenny Lee, Anna K

Cover Art Courtesy of Goodreads

I don't read a ton of retellings. That being said, I haven't read a lot of the classics that spur retellings either. But one classic I really did enjoy was Anna Karenina. I read this back in high school and was surprised at how much I liked the story, even though it was really long. When I saw that Anna K by Jenny Lee was a Book of the Month pick for February, and that it was an Anna Karenina retelling in a Gossip Girl-esque world, I had to choose it.

And that's exactly what it was. Take high society rich kids in NYC and throw in some scandal, make them jaded about life, and you get this book. Definite trigger warnings needed for drug and alcohol use and overdosing, some animal deaths, and sex scandals and sex shaming. Even though this is a YA, I would definitely recommend this for the older end of the genre.

I didn't mind Anna K and Count Vronsky, but I didn't love the characters either. I did love Anna's intense love for animals, and the role that played throughout the story. There were also a ton of side characters and stories that for the most part I just didn't care about. I did enjoy Lolly and Steven's story line, but this was the only one I had any interest in following aside from the main plot. 

Even though I was ok with the length of the original Anna Karenina, by the end of this story I just wished it would hurry up. I don't think it needed to be as long as it was. The ending was different than the ending of the original, so even if you've read the original you won't be spoiled with this plot for the most part. It definitely wasn't a bad read, but I didn't adore it either, so it's getting a solid middle of the road rating from me.

Now I want to go reread the original Anna Karenina!

If you are interested in learning more about Book of the Month, you can click here to get your first box for only $5 (and I'll get a free book too!). I've been a member for years and love that you can skip or cancel at any time. Plus it encourages me to broaden my reading spectrum!

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

All the Things We Do in the Dark by Saundra Mitchell

Cover Art Courtesy of Goodreads

This book was INTENSE. That's honestly the best word to describe All the Things We Do in the Dark by Saundra Mitchell. Intense and dark and raw. Before I even hop into this review, definitely placing a huge trigger warning on this for rape/sexual assault. One thing I absolutely loved about this book was that it had a trigger warning for this right in the very first pages, as well as resources related to this in the back. This one is a YA contemporary with a few thriller elements mixed in.

Ava experienced something as a child that no one should ever have to go through, and she even has a large scar on her face as a result. Now seventeen, she is mostly content with her life: her tattoos, her best friend, and now maybe even a love interest. But when she stumbles across a body in the woods, Ava starts to be haunted again and her life suddenly doesn't seem as solid as she thought.

Again, this book was intense. It was beautifully written, hauntingly so, which really allowed the reader to enter into Ava's thoughts and stream of consciousness. This is an own-voices novel as well, with the author using her own personal experience as the basis for this story. I loved how this addressed rape culture, and Ava many times talks about how bad experiences happen to you, you don't make them happen (referencing how many individuals wrongly blame the woman for "inviting" rape by their actions). I appreciated the LGBTQ rep in this one as well. 

There's honestly not too much more I can say about this book, other than that if you are looking for a hauntingly real read that will stay with you, pick this one up.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Thanks so much to a rep at Harper Teen for sending me an ARC of this read! All the Things We Do in the Dark by Saundra Mitchell is out now.

Bright Burning Stars by A.K. Small

Cover Art Courtesy of Goodreads

The cover of this book about ballerinas is absolutely stunning. Bright Burning Stars by A.K. Small follows two aspiring dancers, Marine and Kate, at a ballet academy in Paris. Best friends and equal competition, each girl has her eye set on The Prize, the one female slot in the corps de ballet. But what exactly are Marine and Kate willing to do to win it?

This is told in alternating perspectives of each of the two dancers. Marine dances for her deceased brother, while Kate dances to escape her life back home in the US. As they near the end of their schooling, the competition heats up, sparks fly, and friendships are tested.

This book was just okay. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. It wasn't a struggle to finish it, but I definitely wouldn't pick it up again. I didn't really like either of the characters, and didn't have reason to root for either one of them. I was happy with one part of the ending, but not the other, and almost all the guys in this book were complete jerks. 

I am a former dancer myself, so I really identified with some of the struggles these girls were going through. From your place at the barre to your body image, dancers have so many things to think about in addition to the steps, and ballet is a mental sport just as much as a physical one. To me, this book was Black Swan mixed with Center Stage.

Definite trigger warnings are needed as well for a forced miscarriage, anorexia, drug use, and suicide references. This book got very dark and intense at points, which did a good job highlighting how far these girls were willing to go to achieve their goals, as detrimental as they may be.

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

I received an ARC of this read at ALA. Bright Burning Stars is out now!

Swipe Right for Murder by Derek Milman

Cover Art Courtesy of Goodreads

Swipe Right for Murder by Derek Milman takes online dating, murder, and domestic terrorism and blends it all into one bad-ass LGBT action adventure.

Bored an alone in a fancy hotel room, Aidan turns to a dating app for a quick hookup. But he has no idea how intense things are about to get. When the guy he meets ends up dead and Aidan is mistaken for a black hat hacker, he finds himself on the run from a terrorist organization called The Swans. Battling both internal and external forces, Aidan must decide what side to take in order to save himself, his family, and tons of innocent lives.

When I first started this book, I wasn't sure I was going to like it. But that turned around really fast! It was full of action, danger, and even a little romance! The ARC I had was over 400 pages, but I flew through it as every page just builds and builds to a very dramatic ending. 

Continuously making mistakes in the hope of getting someone to love him, Aidan is borderline reckless. His brother's death left him detached from his family. And chaos seems to follow him wherever he goes. I found myself very invested in his fate and rooting for him through the trauma.

So many different pieces of this story intrigued me. The conversation about whether or not the government can use you without your consent was an interesting one.  And this book highlighted that the LGBT population still does not have the acceptance it deserves. 

Trigger warnings needed for domestic terrorism, a consenting sexual relationship with a minor, drug use, the cruel killing of a rabbit, and suicide. Yes, this book was extremely intense. But it was incredibly engaging and this story kept me hooked the entire time.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Thanks so much to Jimmy Patterson for an ARC of this read! Swipe Right for Murder just released this week, so be sure to pick up a copy!

Fake Plastic Girl by Zara Lisbon

Cover Art Courtesy of Goodreads

Vapid, glamorous, wealthy, manic pixie dream girl books are absolutely my guilty pleasure. Fake Plastic Girl by Zara Lisbon delivered. The book opens with the death of Eva-Kate Kelly, a former child star turned party girl and socialite then flashes back to the events leading up to her death. 

This story is told through the point of view of Justine, an average girl who has regular brushes with celebrities but could never call herself one. When Eva-Kate Kelly moves in across the street, Justine is swept into her circle, and all the spontaneity and WORD that comes with it. But what does Justine really know about Eva-Kate? And what does Eva-Kate know about Justine?

This book was delicious and I devoured it. I love imagining starlets driving around with the windows down wearing big sunglasses, doing whatever they want because they can. I love that there was a dog in the story named Princess Leia and Justine took her wherever she went. I loved Eva-Kate's personality and purple car. The ending really threw me for a loop and brought up so many more questions than it answered! Luckily, it appears there is a sequel already in the works!

My only real complaint with this book was the gargantuan amount of Taylor Swift references. It could have gotten the point across with about half of these...the way it stands this many were just overkill.

Was this book full of substance and intelligent thought? Absolutely not. Was it an amazing guilty pleasure read that delivered exactly what I was hoping for? Of course it did. I loved this book, not because it was particularly profound or well written, but because the plot was engaging, the characters were realistic, and the subject matter was right up my alley. If you are looking for an easy, light read with a little bit of intrigue, this book is for you.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Thanks so much to Henry Holt for an ARC of this read! Fake Plastic Girl by Zara Lisbon is out now!

In Another Life by C.C. Hunter

Summary

Last year, I read and reviewed This Heart of Mine by C.C. Hunter and loved every second of it! I jumped at the chance to be a part of the blog tour for her newest book, In Another Life. 

Chloe was adopted when she was three, and after her adoptive parents divorce, Chloe and her mom move to a new town. Immediately, Chloe catches the attention of Cash, who she feels an immediate connection with. But Cash has ulterior motives. Chloe looks just like the kidnapped daughter of Cash's foster parents, and he's determined to figure out the truth. 

"Hunter deftly delivers a complicated back-and-forth point of view between Chloe and Cash, building suspense along with a steamy sense of attraction between the two teens."  --Kirkus

My Review

Cover Art Courtesy of Wednesday Books

I absolutely enjoyed reading this book. I was actually surprised at how much action it had, and how dark it got at certain points. I loved the back and forth points of view of both Chloe and Cash, their obsession with Skittles and caramels, and overall just how cute their relationship was. I thought the family dynamics were very real, even though they were hard to read at points. And the plot was definitely intriguing!

Unfortunately, this didn't quite live up to This Heart of Mine for me. This does deal with the difficult topics of adoption and being a foster child, as well as the death of a parent, a parent with cancer, and child abuse. I just didn't feel as strong of an emotional response with this one as I did by her previous book. It was still really good, but I think it might have had a little too much going on for me to really connect to it.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Author Photo Courtesy
of Wednesday Books

About the Author

C.C Hunter is a pseudonym for award-winning romance author Christie Craig. She lives in Tomball, Texas, where she's at work on her next novel. Christie's books include The Mortician's Daughter series, Shadow Fall novels, and This Heart of Mine.

Twitter // Website // Facebook

Thank you so much to Wednesday Books for an advanced digital copy of this read! In Another Life by C.C. Hunter is out today, so be sure to pick up a copy!

A Danger to Herself and Others by Alyssa Sheinmel

Cover Art Courtesy of Goodreads

I had grabbed this one from the BN Book Haul Sale not really knowing what it was about other than the fact that it addressed mental health. A Danger to Herself and Others by Alyssa Sheinmel is a YA contemporary that follows Hannah after her friend Agnes had a terrible accident. Obvious trigger warnings are needed for mental illness, including psychosis, depression, and eating disorders.

When Hannah's roommate Agnes falls from their second story window and suffers severe injuries, Hannah finds herself in a mental institution. She sees on her file that she is "a danger to herself and others," but how can she be? Agnes was her best friend. She would never do anything to hurt her. This must all be a big misunderstanding. But as days pass Hannah realizes she might be in there much longer than she anticipates. That's when Hannah gets a roommate, Lucy. And Lucy might be just the person to help her through this ordeal.

There was a pretty good twist in this, and it was a very fast read. Parts of this were incredibly intense and I was really invested in what was going to happen. I don't think Hannah was a likable character, but I don't think she was supposed to be. I also heavily disliked her parents, especially towards the end, but again they were clearly supposed to be disliked.

While I've never been in a mental institution, I don't think the one in the book was very representative of real life. The way that Hannah was isolated, was never able to get clean until she was granted privileges to do so, had to do her business in a bed pan because they hardly ever let her out to use the restroom, and was only given fresh clothes every few days screamed patient neglect. There is an authors note in the back that said the author took liberties with some of these things, but I think it's important to portray all aspects of mental health accurately, so I wasn't a fan of this.

I was also not a big fan of the ending. If it had ended a little sooner in the story, it would have been fine and I would have been satisfied. If it had gone on a little longer, it would have been fine. But where it did stop felt jarring and unfinished, like the author didn't want to let go but didn't have anything else of substance to write.

I liked this book enough, but it definitely wasn't as good as it could have been, and taking liberties with something as serious as mental health really rubbed me the wrong way.

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

Cold Day in the Sun by Sara Biren

Cover Art Courtesy of Goodreads

Pull me out of the oven...I'm done. I don't think any book will ever top the adorableness of this read. Cold Day in the Sun by Sara Biren is a YA contemporary that not only checks all the fluffy and cute love story boxes, but also focuses on sports and women's equality. 

Holland "Dutch" Delviss is a girl player on a boys varsity hockey team. All her life, she has fought to prove herself and make it known that she deserves her spot, even though she is better than half the boys on the team. When her town is thrust into the spotlight for HockeyFest and the shot at a televised game falls on Holland's shoulders, the pressure starts to get to her more than it ever has. And it certainly doesn't help that she suddenly finds herself falling for Wes "Hot Sauce" Millard, the asshole team captain she has always despised. 

Oh how I loved every minute of this book. I was so sad to put it down when it was over. Every element of this story was fantastic. Yes, it was an adorable romance, but it was so much more than that. Holland had to face so much pressure as a woman in a man's world, and she held her own so well. Even when she got hurt, both physically and emotionally, she stuck to her guns to prove herself. 

The stereotypes in this book about women, that we are vulnerable and weak, are very alive in our world. We are not yet done trying to prove that they are wrong, that we are equal, and this book definitely shone a light on that.

Plus can we talk about Holland's and Wes' TASTE IN MUSIC!? Unbelievable. Glam bands, the Foo Fighters, Metallica, Poison. Their love of vinyl!? All of this spoke to me on so many levels. I feel the same way Holland does when I walk into a record store, and I really appreciated this element of the story. And the fact that there were playlists throughout the book? A total win.

And I loved so many other things that I could just go on forever. The family dynamic, the setting, the journalism references. But I'll just stop here and let you read it and discover all these wonderful things on your own.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Thanks so much to Amulet for an ARC of this read! Cold Day in the Sun by Sara Biren is out TODAY, March 12th, so be sure to grab a copy of this adorable yet powerful story.

The Truth About Happily Ever After by Karole Cozzo

Cover Art Courtesy of Goodreads

If there was ever a book written just for me, it's this one. I was so excited when Karole reached out to me asking if I wanted a copy of her book, The Truth About Happily Ever After, because it sounded like the perfect book for me: a fluffy contemporary filled with Disney-inspired theme park magic. And it absolutely was. I do want to put a trigger warning on this for eating disorders, however.

Alyssa plays Cinderella at the famous Enchanted Dominion theme park. She loves her job, her long-distance boyfriend is about to come down for the summer, and everything seems perfect. Until suddenly it isn't. As Alyssa's fairy tale fantasy starts crashing down around her, she has to decide what is more important: the illusion of that fairy tale, or the joy that real life can bring.

Being a former cast member, this book spoke to me on so many levels! Even though I wasn't a character performer, I had many friends that were, and I experienced so many of the things mentioned in this book. While it definitely isn't 100% accurate in terms of cast member life, privileges, etc. it was very close. And I will say that the parts about character performers being under extremely intense scrutiny for appearance, weight, etc. is absolutely true. I really identified with Alyssa. From her love for Lilly Pulitzer and her sorority sisters (proud Alpha Gamma Delta alum here!), to her unwavering optimism and desire to stop at nothing to get what she has her heart set on, I saw myself in her from the very beginning. I loved watching her grow throughout the story, and just about cried at the ending!

I do think I would classify this as New Adult rather than Young Adult, since the main character and all her friends are college students rather than in high school, and there's a decent amount of sexual innuendo. This is actually great because I don't think there are nearly enough NA books and we need more!

I just couldn't put this one down, and flew through it as fast as my schedule would allow. This book was sugary sweet, and I know I will turn to Alyssa and the Enchanted Dominion again and again when I need a fun book to get me out of a reading slump.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Thanks so much to Karole Cozzo for sending me a copy of this magical read! Be sure to pick up a copy!

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

Cover Art Courtesy of Goodreads

This YA contemporary was hugely popular about a year or so ago I think, but I never got around to reading it even though I had a copy. Lately I've been gravitating towards trying to alternate quick, fluffy reads with heavier thrillers, so I knew this one would be a good choice. What I did not know, however, is how much I would actually love this one. There is a big trigger warning on this book for suicide and suicidal thoughts that I do want to mention.

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia follows teenager Eliza Mirk. On the surface, she appears to be a regular teenage girl. She hates school, she tends to keep to herself, and she spends all her time online. But the truth is that she is secretly the creator of a hugely popular webcomic Monstrous Sea. When Eliza comes face to face with a Monstrous Sea superfan and fanfiction writer in the new boy at her school, she is faced with the decision of whether or not to tell him who she really is.

This book was so amazing! I was invested in Eliza and her life from the very beginning. I loved the concept of her webcomic and getting to see snippets of the art and story throughout the book. But more importantly, I really appreciated how this book tackled mental illness. Eliza struggled with anxiety, and later panic attacks. Another main character also had some struggles that I can't detail too much without spoilers. The book also handled the issue of how intense online communities can be, and the pressure that online creators (and even just creators in general) face. 

If you have ever been part of a fandom, you will enjoy this read. If you've ever thought your are a loner and spend too much time online (*raises hand*), you will enjoy this read. If you love YA contemporaries with adorable romances and impossible-to-not-root-for characters, you will enjoy this read. I absolutely can't wait to pick up more of Zappia's work now. And there is even a serial novel highlighted in this book, The Children of Hypnos, that Zappia wrote that can be found online. This was a fantastic book, and I can definitely see myself revisiting it!

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills

Cover Art Courtesy of Goodreads

Happy Valentine's Day, loves!

This was another OwlCrate book that just sat around for a while, but after a few intense and heavy reads, I wanted to pick up something fluffy. Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills follows Claudia, a high school student who gets roped into helping with the school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream after accidentally overhearing something she shouldn't have. Throughout the story, Claudia has to learn how to deal with change and adapt to it, learn to build new friendships, and let go of the feeling that she is not worthy of love.

This book was absolutely the light and fluffy book I was hoping for. It read extremely quickly, the plot was easy to follow but still engaging, and overall I thought the story was really cute! There was an intense part about a baby being born prematurely, so take that into consideration if that may be a trigger for you. 

This was full of nerd content (think MMORPGs), the perfect bromance, plenty of Shakespeare, unlikely friendships, boy band love, f/f romance, and so many other adorable themes. I loved every minute I spent with this delightful book. There were a few times the main characters were a little annoying or clueless, but hey, they're teenagers. It wouldn't be realistic if they weren't!

While I've seen a few of Emma Mills' books before, this is the first I ever read. It definitely won't be the last. And look at that cover! Mine is slightly different since it's the OwlCrate exclusive edition, but the covers of all her books are so beautifully detailed and textured you can't help but be drawn to them.

Did this book change my life? No. Did it deliver exactly what I wanted? Absolutely. It's not groundbreaking or super unique, but I can definitely see myself revisiting this one, and I can't say that for a lot of books. And for that, the high rating is deserved in my opinion.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich

Cover Art Courtesy of Goodreads

I haven't had the opportunity to see this musical, but have heard great things about it. Because of that, I had to pick up the novelization, but unfortunately this Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich, with Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek, and Justin Paul, fell flat for me. There need to be definite trigger warnings on this book for mental illness, depression and anxiety, and suicide.

Evan Hansen has terrible anxiety. He doesn't like social situations and prefers spending time in nature. When the school year starts, he is encouraged to put himself out there. He is also supposed to write himself notes per his therapist to maintain a positive attitude. But Evan's life turns upside down when one of these notes is found after a classmate's death. Suddenly Evan is thrust into the spotlight more than he ever wanted, but maybe it's nice to be noticed for once.

While I understand the importance of this story, I just thought it could have been done so much better. As a sufferer of anxiety myself, I had really high hopes, but it didn't resonate with me at all. I was bored the majority of the story and just couldn't get invested. There were times I found myself skimming just to get through the book faster. I thought the characters were flat, and parts seemed unrealistic. I was actually disgusted by Evan and his actions at times, anxiety or not. I also didn't like that they portrayed Evan as nothing more than his anxiety. People are more than their mental illnesses.

Maybe the musical just didn't convert well to a novelization? I have seen people say that this reads like bad fan fiction of the musical, so maybe I will still give it a shot if I ever have the opportunity to see it.

Overall Rating: 1 out of 5 Stars

96 Words for Love by Rachel Roy and Ava Dash

Cover Art Courtesy of Goodreads

This is definitely a book where the insides match the beauty of the cover. 96 Words for Love by Rachel Roy and Ava Dash is full of beautiful references to Indian legend while simultaneously tackling the important issues of sex trafficking and racism. 

This story follows Raya, who is full of anxiety after receiving her acceptance to UCLA and having to decide a path for her future. Then Raya's grandmother dies, and her parting words to Raya include mentioning that she hid some things for Raya and her cousin at her beloved ashram in India. Now, Raya and her cousin journey to the ashram hoping to find what their grandmother left them and reconnect with her, but they may find more than that along the way.

I really enjoyed my time spent with this story, and it was an incredibly quick read. The imagery and vivid descriptions made it easy for me to place myself in the ashram with Raya. I loved getting to learn more about Indian legend and culture, and I identified with Raya's struggle to figure out what she wanted to do with her life. 

I am glad that this addressed sex trafficking, as this is a major issue that you don't see a lot in YA fiction. I also appreciated how it addressed racism. A character in this book isn't intentionally racist, but many of the things she says are hurtful, and she has the opportunity to learn why they are wrong and offensive. I do think everything wrapped up too quickly and perfectly. I would have appreciated a more gritty ending, and think that would have been more realistic to some of the subjects at hand. 

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Thanks so much to Jimmy Patterson for a copy of this read! 96 Words for Love by Rachel Roy and Ava Dash is out on January 15th, so be sure to pick up a copy!

Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu

Cover Art Courtesy of Goodreads

This book had been on my TBR ever since I met Jennifer at the NoVa Teen Book Festival last year, but for some reason I never got around to reading it. That changed when I picked this up as my first read of 2019. I knew it had a great message about feminism, so I figured that would be a good theme to start off the year. I do want to put trigger warnings on this book for sexual harassment and attempted rape.

Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu follows Vivian, a high school student fed up with the sexist, misogynist happenings at her school. Inspired by her mom's Riot Grrrl past, Viv anonymously creates a zine called Moxie, hoping to call the girls at her to action school and inspire a change.

I absolutely adored this novel and I'm so happy I started the year off with this read! I absolutely loved Vivian and was inspired by her determination to make a difference. I loved how she tried to remain anonymous to ensure that Moxie was about ALL girls, not just her. There were so many opportunities in this book where characters were able to learn and readjust their behaviors. Even though some never changed, you saw the eyes of a few open to things they believed didn't affect them previously and saw them work to change their behaviors and beliefs. I also really enjoyed the drawings of Viv's zines throughout the book!

Even though this is a YA fiction, I believe this book is important for women of all ages, and men as well! It accurately highlights what girls and women face on a regular basis and emphasizes understanding and change, rather than sympathy, from the opposite sex. We don't want you to feel bad for us. Sympathy isn't action. Instead we want you to understand and do better, and encourage others to do the same. We want you to take our allegations seriously. We want fair punishment for those that commit these crimes against us. We want these issues brought to light.

I am so happy I read this book, and am now empowered more than ever. Moxie girls fight back!

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Cover Art Courtesy of Goodreads

Hearts Unbroken, an own voices YA contemporary by Cynthia Leitich Smith, follows Louise Wolfe, a Native teen navigating the difficult worlds of high school and racism. When her boyfriend makes some inappropriate remarks about Native people, she dumps him through email and moves on with her life. But when inclusion casting for the upcoming school musical The Wizard of Oz stirs up trouble, Louise realizes that racism and hatred go much further in the community than just her ex-boyfriend.

I really wanted to love this book. I think it brings to light a lot of issues and shows how we can all be more educated and do better regarding stereotypes and cultural appropriation (a specific instance mentioned is people dressing up like Native Americans for Halloween). I just think it could have been done better. 

This book tried to tackle so much: racism, cultural appropriation, slut shaming and sexism, bullying, the list goes on. I think the overall message was lost because the author tried to address so much. There were also an insane amount of side characters and subplots. The story often got confusing when the author would cut off a chapter at an awkward place then start the next chapter with something completely unrelated.

I liked the story fine, and enjoyed the main plot overall. This book read extremely quickly, which was good because I'm not sure how much longer I could have handled the awkward, jerky chapter transitions. Even though there were a lot of errors in execution, this book is an important one in the issues it addresses, which is why I'm still giving it a middle of the road rating.

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

A big thanks to Candlewick Press for an ARC of this read! Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith is out now!

You Are The Everything by Karen Rivers

Cover Art Courtesy of Goodreads

When this book was sent to me, I was excited because I thought it was something I would really enjoy. Unfortunately it just missed the mark for me. You Are The Everything by Karen Rivers is a YA contemporary that follows Elyse Schmidt, a teenage girl with a hopeless crush on a classmate named Josh Harris. But when Elyse and Josh are the only survivors of a terrible plane crash, suddenly everything falls into place. It's almost as if they were destined to end up together, and that alone is what allowed them to live while everyone else perished. 

Then Elyse starts experiencing confusion, memory loss, and other symptoms of PTSD and her life is suddenly not looking as perfect as it initially seemed. Will destiny prevail, or will everything turn out to be different than originally thought?

I just personally couldn't connect with this book. I didn't care about the characters, and nothing that happened really mattered to me. Elyse was just not likable, and even though I wanted to feel for her, I just couldn't make myself care. Everything that happened just seemed too perfect, too serendipitous, even when you factor in the twist (which I also saw coming from a mile away). It was also written in second person point of view, which while it was interesting and a nice change, got really old very quickly. The stream of consciousness was just too much.

I did really appreciate the representation of an interracial relationship here, and thought that was a great thing to address. 

Overall Rating: 2 out of 5 Stars

Thanks to Algonquin Young Readers for sending me a finished copy of this book! You Are The Everything by Karen Rivers is out now!

The Geography of Lost Things by Jessica Brody

Cover Art Courtesy of Goodreads

This is a release I have definitely been anticipating, so you can imagine my excitement when a finished copy showed up at my door! The Geography of Lost Things by Jessica Brody is a YA contemporary that follows Ali on a journey, both physical and emotional in nature.

When Ali's estranged father passes away and leaves her his most prized possession, his 1968 Firebird convertible, she wants nothing more than to get rid of it. In fact, Ali plans to sell the car and use the money to help save her house currently under foreclosure. But Ali can't drive a stick-shift, and she has to transport the car about 300 miles to its buyer.

Enter Ali's ex-boyfriend, Nico, who offers to drive the car for a small cut in the sales price. But that means Ali must spend hours trapped in the car with her ex. What happens when the two are forced together? Will Ali learn to forgive not only Nico, but her father as well, in the process? Will she be able to save her home?

This story was just too precious. I loved the characters, even though I thought Ali was a bit standoffish (though I understand why). The whole idea of "trading up" items from something worthless to something worth a lot of money is so fascinating to me, and I've always wanted to try it! I thought the overall message of this book about forgiveness and understanding was incredible, and it really hit home the idea that you shouldn't judge someone without fully knowing their situation. I thought this was fairly long for a YA contemporary, but I flew right through it. And let's be honest, this cover is just stunning.

I've never read any of Jessica Brody's other works, so now I definitely have to check out some of her other books!

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Thanks so much to Simon Pulse for a finished copy of this read! The Geography of Lost Things is out now, so be sure to pick up a copy!

The Chaos of Now by Erin Jade Lange

Cover Art Courtesy of Goodreads

I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. The Chaos of Now by Erin Jade Lange is a YA contemporary that follows Eli, a high school student obsessed with computers and coding. The book starts one year after one of Eli's classmates, Jordan Bishop, committed suicide by lighting himself on fire in the middle of the cafeteria, with bullying as the cause. There is definitely a trigger warning on this book for bullying and suicide.

Eli himself is a victim of bulling, having most recently been beaten up in the bathroom. But immediately following his beating, Eli is left a code in a computer language very few can understand. The code leads him to some new friends and a slot in a team for a major coding competition. But when the team's competition project turns into a vehicle for revenge on Jordan's death, Eli isn't sure he wants to stay a part of it, especially when his own secrets are at stake.

I really enjoyed this read! I liked all of the characters, and thought the plot was fast paced and engaging. This was definitely focused on the harm that bullying can do, but had a great techie aspect to it as well. I did think that some parts were a little bit unrealistic, both some actions and some repercussions. I absolutely appreciated that the love interest was not at all the center of this story.

Fans of books like Warcross, and those interested in computers, technology, and coding, would definitely enjoy this read!

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Thanks so much to Bloomsbury for an advanced copy of this read! The Chaos of Now by Erin Jade Lange is out TOMORROW, Oct. 2nd, so be sure to pick up a copy!

People Kill People by Ellen Hopkins

Cover Art Courtesy of Goodreads

People Kill People by Ellen Hopkins was intense, there's no way around that. Focusing on gun violence, and touching on abusive relationships, the sexual abuse of children, white supremacy, and racism, this YA contemporary needs almost every trigger warning possible. Following six different teenagers, this book builds reasons why any one of them may pick up a gun and pull the trigger. It is clear from the beginning that someone will pull that trigger and someone will die, but who? Interspersed with poetry from the point of view of the gun itself, it places you into the shoes of each of these teenagers as you learn their hopes and their fears, and why each of them might be drawn to the weapon.

Writing an actual review of this book is difficult, because it punched me in the gut in so many ways that I don't really know what words are even appropriate. Everything from the point of view of the gun itself was chilling. Even though there were six main characters, their stories never got confusing.

The ending was incredibly sad, and an all too true reality. I've never read anything else by this author before, but it seems like she is known for hard-hitting reads. This book is incredibly important and relevant, but it's best to know going into it that it will make you disgusted, appalled, shocked, confused, and furious. One thing I didn't like was that the book made the argument that guns don't kill people, people kill people, and guns just make it easier. This is an argument typically used against strengthening gun laws. As someone who definitely advocates for stricter gun laws, that argument does not sit well with me.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Thanks to Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster for a finished copy of this haunting read. People Kill People by Ellen Hopkins is out now, so be sure to pick up a copy if hard-hitting contemporaries are your thing!

See All the Stars by Kit Frick

Cover Art Courtesy of Goodreads

There's nothing like a story with a good, unexpected twist. Pair that with a contemporary high school scene and you have a win in my book. See All the Stars by Kit Frick was just that. This part love story, part thriller follows high school student Ellory both at present in her senior year and in flashbacks to her junior year. Something clearly happened that split Ellory's friend group apart and destroyed her life, but what?

While one part of this story was incredibly predictable, the main twist came out of left field and completely took me by surprise! If you read my blog regularly, you'll know that's rare for me! I really enjoyed the characters and was especially intrigued by Ret. With characters like her, I'm always fascinated by what makes them so attractive that people can't help but want to be in their orbit. I honestly can't say I've ever met a person so charismatic in real life, so these types of characters are some of my favorites!

Overall, I enjoyed how unique and truly realistic the characters were. I appreciated that Ellory was into metalworking as an art form. I found that so unique and wish I could have seen some of her pieces. The writing in this novel was absolutely beautiful and poetic, and the story just flowed off the page. The last chapter was good closure, and I felt satisfied with the ending. And can we talk about this cover - it's gorgeous!

Fans of We Were Liars by E. Lockhart will absolutely love this read! It's one of those books that you will want to read over and over again to get your questions answered and discover more details.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Thanks so much to Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster for a finished copy of this thrilling read! See All the Stars by Kit Frick is out now, so be sure to pick up a copy!