I was very much anticipating this book after how much I enjoyed book one of the Lewis Creek series, Play On.
And I wasn’t disappointed.
Eric Perry is I was very much anticipating this book after how much I enjoyed book one of the Lewis Creek series, Play On.
And I wasn’t disappointed.
Eric Perry is known around Lewis Creek as the fun guy� He can have any girl he wants and it seems get away with just about anything as the starting pitcher of the baseball team. But with a reputation as a troublemaker and a fight landing him in jail, his coach bails him out one last time with a warning� any more trouble and you’re off the team.
Bri Johnson has lived next to Eric for years and at one time they were best friends� they even shared their first kiss with each other. But Bri’s boyfriend’s jealousy has forced her to push him away and despite living next to each other, they’ve grown apart. But when Bri breaks up with her controlling ex, Eric is there to support her and Bri realizes how much she’s missed him being in her life.
First let me tell you the things that didn’t so much work for me� because there were just a few. The biggest one� I wanted more! That sounds incredibly demanding, but honestly, if you’re going to start the book with our hero hooking up in a truck with some random girl then please be prepared to give me more of him and our heroine together too. I felt like I waited so long for them to just finally kiss that I was anticipating when it would happen more than focusing on the story itself! I get it� they needed to rebuild their friendship and trust and get rid of that douche ex-boyfriend, but ugh I so wanted more.
Which leads me to the douchey ex-boyfriend. Holy crap you guys. This guy was downright scary and a bit ridiculous. That none of his friends kind of pulled him aside and said “WTF are you doing�, is crazy. (view spoiler)[ I love that Bri was finally able to count on the stinking baseball coach to step up and take care of business with this guy. (hide spoiler)] I just felt that some of his actions were a bit over the top and while could truly happen in real life, kind of took over much of the story� and I really was getting tired of him showing up as often as he did.
So I know I ragged a bit on the lack of kissing above, but that means that we get a lot of repairing of the friendship these two once had, which was really well done. Get prepared for some sweet and touching moments and reminiscing! I really liked Eric and Bri together and seeing them rebuild while doing community service really provided the perfect setting. Another plot point I liked� Bri’s pretty smart and knows what plans she has for her future, but Eric’s a bit lost in that regard. His focus right now is baseball, and he can’t see past that to figure out what he’s going to do after graduation. I kind of love how he finally figures it all out and Smith does a really good job of showing how stressful senior year can be for those who really aren’t sure where they’re going!
Can we also talk about Eric’s family? I absolutely love them and I really thought their part in this story was wonderfully done. I love that he had these incredible people behind him who were determined to help him succeed, even if it meant punishing him to make him realize that he’s done something wrong and holding him up when the small town of Lewis Creek were ready to tear him down.
Overall, a really wonderful story, and a good addition to the Lewis Creek Series. I’m kind of hoping we’ll get some more from this small town.
Fans of the ‘friends to more� trope are definitely going to love this as well as those who love a good contemporary sports YA � this one has baseball and soccer! With strong characters and a story that will keep you turning pages, make sure you grab this one on release day!
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. ...more
So let me just preface this by saying that while I enjoyed this book, I’m finding that I didn’t love it as much as some of my fellow readers. Even nowSo let me just preface this by saying that while I enjoyed this book, I’m finding that I didn’t love it as much as some of my fellow readers. Even now, only a few weeks later, I’m struggling to decide on a rating for this.
Caraval tells the story of two sisters who have lived under the ruthless thumb of their father for years, and for years, Scarlett, the older and more responsible of the two sisters has been fascinated with Caraval � part performance and part game but completely filled with magic and intrigue. When an envelope arrives just days before Scarlett’s wedding with tickets, and Tella disappears as part of the game, she has no choice but to take part in the festivities, which turn out to be more dangerous than she could have ever expected.
I couldn’t help but get a “wonderland� feel while reading this book� the fantastical elements, the magical elements, the idea the you can’t trust a single person along the way, it was all very intriguing and certainly kept me turning pages. That said, at times I was almost overwhelmed with all the crazy things going on and I think it frustrated me a bit that there was so much of it.
I also found that I didn’t really connect with any of the characters as much as I like to. I was interested in them, but I never felt invested in them either together or apart. The sister relationship is supposed to be a driving force to the story, and it all felt very surface to me and as a reader I never really witnessed the strong bond between the two, instead we’re just supposed to accept what we’re told because they are apart for the majority of the book� Julian was interesting and charismatic, but their relationship just barely had me invested in them together. I think overall I just wanted more character building along the way.
I will say that I really enjoyed the beautiful writing style and the way Garber describes everything� you can basically get lost in just imagining this amazing, beautiful and crazy world she has created. Her words brought the magic of Caraval to life in such a unique and vivid way.
The plot itself is filled with twists and turns and so much imagination that you won’t be able to put this down once you start reading. Once you think you know what is going to happen, you will be completely thrown off balance with something you never saw coming, and the ending wonderfully wrapped up this first installment.
If you’re a fan of the fantastical and magical and a vibrant story with shocking twists and turns I think you’re going to absolutely love this. I’ll definitely be checking out book 2, but will be hoping for some more character/relationship development as I continue the series.
Thank you to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. ...more
It could possibly be the last day on earth� a team of scientists are working day and night to find a solution for the asteroid that is hurtling towardIt could possibly be the last day on earth� a team of scientists are working day and night to find a solution for the asteroid that is hurtling towards earth, including Yuri, a 17 year old genius from Russia.
Yuri’s work with antimatter could win him a Nobel prize, but first he has to convince all the much older and much more experienced guys he’s working with to give his idea a try.
I can’t tell you guys how much I loved Yuri. He’s so smart, and he’s in a country where he knows no one and while he doesn’t have a warm and fuzzy relationship with his mother, if this asteroid isn’t stopped, his life will end in a place where he has no one. Enter Dovie. Dovie is a whirlwind, with hippie parents and a wheelchair bound brother, she and Yuri form a connection that’s been missing from his life.
This isn’t just an asteroid, end of the world book though. Sure you spend most of the book wondering if the efforts of the scientists will be successful, but there’s so much more to it than that. There were a lot of moments where I could barely hold my laughs in! Yuri is so awkward, but in a lovable and sweet way. Ask him anything about math and he can give you the answer, ask him anything about human nature and he’s a bit lost.
Yuri hasn’t experienced much in his seventeen years, but meeting Dovie has shown him that there is more to life than just math and science. In the few days they have together, she shows him that there is so much worth saving! While I really enjoyed the moments where Yuri was working through things in his mind, I really loved seeing him interact with Dovie and Lennon (her brother).
If you’re looking for a quirky, fun read filled with heart then look no further. Katie Kennedy has written a wonderful story that will have you laughing out loud and wondering if she’s secretly a scientist in her spare time.
Thank you to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my honest thoughts ...more
Omg so stinking good you guys!!! And Kristen Simmons be proud, you had tears welling in my eyes at that one part!!!
Full review to come but Simmons haOmg so stinking good you guys!!! And Kristen Simmons be proud, you had tears welling in my eyes at that one part!!!
Full review to come but Simmons has created an amazing and raw story of perseverance ... A story of friendship and family and fighting for what you believe in. Definitely get this on your must read list immediately!
Full Review - 9/11
Metaltown is a raw and gritty story of perseverance, a story of friendship, family and fighting for what you believe in, no matter the cost.
In Metaltown, as long as you keep your head down and do your work, you should be fine. Told from three very different perspectives, Simmons tells a story of a group of kids who are determined to fight for what is right. Ty, at fifteen, has been surviving on her own for so long she struggles to put her trust in anyone else, Colin, who convinces her that he’s worth that trust, and Lena, a girl from the other side who wants to fix the problems and change the world her family has helped create.
I’m just going to say it right now. This book is not about a potential romance� so please get that out of your mind before diving in. IS there a romance� sort of. Colin is definitely interested in Lena, but there are so many outside things happening that a true romance isn’t what this story is about and it’s such a minor part of the story that it would have felt out of place if it became a big part of the story. Are there unrequited feelings for a character? Yes. And that’s all I’m going to say about that.
I love the dark, gritty world that Simmons has created in this story, it’s scary, it’s unpredictable and I felt like I was right there next to these characters fighting for their rights. Ty is the scrappy, tough girl who isn’t going to stand on the sidelines and let people wrong her. She’s had a rough life, and it’s gotten worse more recently. Colin loves Ty� like a sister, or one of the guys. He’s struggling to help his mom make ends meet and keep his brother out of trouble and he certainly never expects to become the face of the rebellion, but he does. And Lena� she’s struggled to get her father to see her worth, to get him to see that she wants to be more than some man’s wife. When she meets Colin and Ty she sees the despicable things that are happening to those who are working for the companies her father runs and she wants to help change them.
Together these three unlikely partners are ready to ‘pressback� against the evils of the city and face the consequences that choice may bring.
If you love stories of revolution and hope this one is for you! With captivating characters and a story that you will be completely engrossed in, you won’t want to put this one down until you turn the last page.
Thank you to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. ...more
Wilamena Carlisle’s mom was an expert astrologer, so to say that stars are her thing would be an understatement. She grew4.5 stars - and I loved it!!
Wilamena Carlisle’s mom was an expert astrologer, so to say that stars are her thing would be an understatement. She grew up hearing her mom talk about how they can tell her everything she needs to know. Now she’s ready to figure out her Fifth House, the house of relationships and she only has 22 days to find ‘the one� and she’s got his astrological make-up, who he should be� and definitely who he should NOT be, now it’s just a matter of finding someone to fit the map.
I don’t want to say too much about the love interests here because I truly don’t want to give anything away, though I know that I have to warn all you anti-love triangle people out there. This has one, and it’s complicated!
Obviously I was on the “love it� end of the spectrum. I don’t dislike love-triangles (don’t get the torches) when they are done well, and this one is. Woods captures perfectly with Wil, the desire and struggle to honor her mom the things she taught her, and yet still find the person who fits her best. The two boys she finds herself connected to are completely different, and while it was at times difficult to see the ways in which she was being pulled, the growth that Wil has from beginning to end of the story is what makes the struggle worthwhile.
Woods has created a story filled with romance, love and friendship and from the very first page I found myself connected to Wil. She’s quirky and fun, and most of all she’s completely real and relatable. The relationships that are explored and shared here are absolutely wonderful. I think that I adored her relationship with her grandmother most though, and I looked forward to their interactions. The love between the two just jumped off the pages. And her friendship with Irina was the best. I don’t even know what else to say except that these two were meant to be best friends and it shows.
The boys� *sigh* I refuse to say anything other than Seth and Grant will have you swooning � And they certainly don’t make it easy for her to figure out who she is ‘meant� to be with. The romance isn’t instant even if the connections may seem that way. Woods weaves the threads of friendship and love expertly and I truly enjoyed getting to know these boys as Wil figures out just exactly who she should be with.
If you’re looking for something that you can’t put down once you start, I highly recommend Summer of Supernovas. The writing is beautiful, the relationships are complex and complicated but wonderfully leveled out with moments of humor and light hearted fun. This story isn’t so much about finding “the one� as it is finding yourself and Woods definitely has a fan in me and I can’t wait for more from her in the future! ...more
I knew going into this book that it was going to be hard to read, but I definitely love challenging myself with atypical reads. I tend to fin4.5 stars
I knew going into this book that it was going to be hard to read, but I definitely love challenging myself with atypical reads. I tend to find those challenges when I pick up books that fall into the “women’s fiction� category. Last year I read The One That Got Away by Chase and immediately fell in love with her writing style. She has a way of telling a story that will just hook you, keep you riveted and this is no exception.
Caroline Hammond never saw it coming� the unthinkable happens and she finds that the man she’s known for most of her life� the man that she’s been married to for 10 years has had an affair. With a man. Results May Vary is the story of the aftermath of her world being turned upside down. It really explores the idea that we can really only know the things about the people in our lives that they are willing to share. As the story unravels and we learn all the ways that Adam has betrayed Caroline, I couldn’t help but cheer her on as she makes strides to understand and move forward, but also feel the urge to hug her when she experienced setbacks.
But this book is also about finding yourself and learning who you are, and I think that might have been my favorite part. Caroline and Adam had been together since she was 17 so she’s always been a ‘we� and watching her learn just who she is as an ‘I� was just amazing.
I think my only hang up with the story and this was totally personal, as that Adam for all everyone raved about him, came off as kind of smarmy to me� the indecision on his part, the way he talked to Caroline, the things he expected of her� it all just felt so disrespectful at times. The only time I truly felt how much the situation had hurt him was when he showed up at the house near the end. It may just be the woman in me, but I truly wanted to see his suffering a bit more after what he did. I know, I’m terrible LOL. I will say this� Caroline is a bigger person than I could ever be, but I love how this story wrapped up. I won’t say anything about it, but it felt honest and true and that’s all I needed.
If you're a fan of smart, complicated and sometimes messy stories that are filled with love, heartbreak, family and most of all hope and happiness you’re going to want to pick up Results May Vary when it arrives.
Thank you to the author and publisher for a review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. ...more
I have to admit that I was both incredibly intrigued and a bit unsure of how I would feel about this book when I submitted my request to be a part of I have to admit that I was both incredibly intrigued and a bit unsure of how I would feel about this book when I submitted my request to be a part of the blog tour for it. I read the summary and was immediately drawn to the premise of a gender-fluid teen struggling with knowing who they are but not being able to express it and still feel safe and secure in their life, not only at school, but at home too.
The first thing you’re going to want to know about me is: Am I a boy, or am I a girl?
I’m just going to be straight up honest here because from the very first page, I was trying to figure out what Riley’s birth gender was. It’s habit� it’s even discussed quite in depth in the story too, and I think it’s understandable to a certain point. But what Garvin does here is totally genius� he doesn’t make that a part of the story because how Riley was born isn’t important to who Riley is today.
And who is Riley? Well, first and foremost Riley’s a teen struggling with the constraints people put on gender identification. Riley’s known the name � gender-fluid, for about a year, and fluctuates between feeling female some days to male others and even somewhere in between on other days. Riley is complex and layered and interesting and witty and snarky and just all the things that I really love in a main character and I think many of you will connect with Riley because of those reasons alone.
Riley’s therapist suggests a journal of sorts to help sort out feelings and get thoughts on paper and out of Riley’s head� but Riley goes one step further and decides to set up an anonymous blog to share things that only Riley’s therapist knows. And it unexpectedly goes viral and it’s overwhelming � and a bit scary.
Scary because Riley’s dad is up for re-election to congress and while Riley’s parents suspect something, they have no clue what is really going on, and if it were to get out before Riley can gather the courage to sit them down and have a discussion it could be bad. Despite that, Riley can’t stay away from the blog� sharing and supporting the people who have reached out has quickly become the cause his therapist suggest Riley find. But some anonymous comments have Riley on edge.
I thought Garvin did a really amazing job with the relationships in this story. He certainly didn’t sugar coat the backlash someone gets for struggling with their gender identity but he also shows that there are people out there who understand, and even shows that if someone doesn’t quite understand it, they’re willing to learn and I hope that someday there will be more people willing to understand that who we are on the outside may not be who we feel we are on the inside.
I also want to mention the friendships that Garvin has created among the characters. Sure Riley is our main character but the friends, Solo and Bec specifically, are a big part of this story too. It was amazing to see Riley finally find connections and learn to trust people with this secret and it was amazing to see these two people support Riley and not turn their backs because of it.
I will say that I had figured out quite early who was the anonymous commenter to Riley’s blog, so that reveal for me wasn’t much of a mystery, but I liked that it added a bit of a twist to the story. Though I did feel like the resolution and who all was involved and why was a bit unfinished, especially Sierra’s involvement and story. I get that some people hate just to hate but she kept popping up in the story and in ways that I thought we’d get more of what was going on with her, as well as some growth in her character.
This is such an important book though and I hope that people will read it with an open mind and learn from it. It touches on bullying and violence toward the queer community and it does it without being preachy or disrespectful and it’s incredibly eye-opening to learn some of the statistics.
Despite the heavy feel to the story, this was actually a pretty quick read for me. I found that I was so invested in Riley’s story that I just didn’t want to put the book down until the I hit that last page, and even when I turned it, I still wanted to know what was next for Riley.
If you’re looking for an emotional read about learning to love who you are both inside and out, a story about finding the people who love you for you, a story about empowering yourself and getting past the uncertainty of who you are and who you’re supposed to be, you’ll definitely want to check this book out.
I’ll definitely be waiting for more from Jeff Garvin in the future! ...more
I’m officially a Mercy Brown fan! I loved her debut Loud is How I Love You so I was eagerly waiting for the release of the second book in the companioI’m officially a Mercy Brown fan! I loved her debut Loud is How I Love You so I was eagerly waiting for the release of the second book in the companion series.
Stay Until We Break was so much fun to read. Sonia Grant wants a career in the music industry and starting out as the tour manager of her best friend’s band seems like the best place to start. A bonus is that just maybe, her crush on bassist Cole McCormack will go somewhere, and when they connect the first night on tour, she’s planning on three weeks of fun, but that’s not exactly what happens.
Cole is ready to live up this last tour� only no one actually knows it’s going to be his last tour. His responsibilities at home are heavy on his shoulders and he’s decided it’s time to give up his dream and settle down with a responsible job with a steady income.
The story line for this installment was so much fun. Mercy Brown does an amazing job of not just focusing just on the couple but also really bringing the indie rock scene to the forefront! Stars on The Floor is on tour and you’re basically right there in the van with them. A different city each night and a new experience around each corner makes this such a fun ride!
But at the heart this is a romance and Brown really did a great job of making me connect with the two main characters. (This was something I struggled with in book 1 because the MC was so back and forth) I found that I loved Sonia and Cole together and their romance was sweet and sexy. Of course it’s not all smooth sailing for both Sonia & Cole and the band and I really enjoyed the story arc in this installment.
If you’re a fan of the rock star romances this is going to be exactly what you’re looking for and more! These books are Mercy Brown’s love letter to the Indie Rock scene and you don’t� want to miss out!
Thank you to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. ...more
I adored Emma Mills first book, First and Then, so when I found out her second book was coming I knew I had to read this one as soon as I could.
Once I adored Emma Mills first book, First and Then, so when I found out her second book was coming I knew I had to read this one as soon as I could.
Once I started this one, I honestly couldn’t put it down.
Sloane has recently moved with her family from New York to Florida� in her Senior year of high school. She wasn’t planning on making friends, especially with a group as full of drama and as intense as Vera, Gabe, Remy, Frank and Audrey, but she can’t resist the pull and her life will never be the same.
I just absolutely love the relationships that Mills has crafted here. I’m not talking just romance either! Let’s start with the one between Sloane and her father. Her dad is a popular romance author� think along the lines of Nicholas Sparks, and he’s in a bit of a writing slump and while digging around the internet one day he finds fan fiction about a popular teen werewolf television show and honestly, a lot of Sloane’s interactions with her father revolve around these fics that he shares with her. They talk plot and characters and development and I loved every second of it. Not because it was fan fiction and how odd it was that her father was so engrossed in this crazy show and the relationships, but it really opened up the dialogue for Sloane and her dad� it was just a way for them to bond a bit over something but then dig deeper into the real issues happening in their lives.
Next you have Vera and Sloane and their budding best friendship. These two are friendship goals for sure. Sloane has never really had friends that she could depend on to be there to support her for anything and everything � friends she would hide a body for. All her past friends were very surface and she never really let them in. But from their very first meeting at the house party, to every single one after, you see the way their friendship develops and turns into this incredibly special thing and no matter their disagreements they will be there for each other and this is the kind of relationship/friendship I love to read about in YA fiction.
Then there’s Gabe� who is somewhat of a mystery throughout this story. He’s Vera’s twin, but where she’s incredibly social and outgoing, he’s the complete opposite and he’s hard to read. Sloane can’t deny she’s attracted to him and when she finds that a beloved painting that Vera and Gabe’s dead mother painted is gone, she is determined to find it. Please note that the romance here is super slow burn and they’re both a bit unsure of each other, but eventually you’ll get there and you’re going to love it so much.
Which leads to quite a few road trips that she takes with Remy. I seriously wanted to hug Remy just about every single time he was on the page. Remy is the son of a pastor and so God is a big part of his life but something happens that shakes his beliefs and I really loved that Mills added this to the story. Now, don’t be scared, it’s not all preachy, but his part of this story really has Sloane digging deep into her beliefs and analyzing how they impact her.
Oh � I also have to mention Frank because OMG FRANK. He’s so fabulous and you’re going to love him.
So I mentioned the overarching story� Sloane is on a quest to find this missing picture that Gabe needs to have, and I really enjoyed it. The road trips, the bonding, the mystery of where it was� it really pushed the plot forward and made for some fun experiences but also added a bit of necessary drama to the story.
On the surface this is something of a light read, but when you turn the last page, you’ll realize it wasn’t just fluffy and fun even though it felt that way. There is so much substance to this story and so much depth and emotion that you’ll be stunned at how fast you got through it. Mills excels at developing her characters, and witty dialogue, and emotional moments will have you laughing at loud in places and wiping away tears in others.
This one definitely has a place on my favorites shelf next to First & Then and I can’t wait for more from Emma Mills.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an early copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. ...more
I absolutely loved this book you guys. Other than my initial qualms about the far-fetchedness (is that a word? Probably not, but I’m using it) of the I absolutely loved this book you guys. Other than my initial qualms about the far-fetchedness (is that a word? Probably not, but I’m using it) of the set-up of this story, I absolutely fell in love with everything as I turned each page.
Aubree Sadler is happy in her small town in Ohio. She isn’t leaving for college and she’s happy to spend her summer doing the same things she’s done every single year. But when Aubree’s sister Elizabeth gets in a bit of trouble the only option is for Aubree to fill in for her, taking over her summer job leading a group of senior’s through Europe.
To say that Aubree is out of her element from the moment she steps foot in the airport, would be an understatement. Issues only compound when she realizes she’s left her binder which lays out each and every stop of the tour and her personal cell phone on the plane. All this happens on her first day of travel so things can only go up from there� right?
RIGHT � because enter Sam! *sigh* I swoon hard for this boy you guys. He’s sweet and fun and the banter between him and Aubree is so stinking cute. Sam is the tour company’s representative that calls Aubree each night to check in and make sure everything is running smoothly. But something happens that has him meeting up and joining the tour in person. Aubree can’t deny the feelings that are growing between them, but Sam thinks she’s her sister and how is she supposed to tell him that she’s just not who he thinks she is and still keep him in her life?
I loved the growth that Aubree experiences from when we first meet her to the very last page. This has some incredibly fun secondary characters and it mixes international travel with all the fun of a road trip. I adored that this was a virtually drama free read, and it was so fun and light-hearted that it will absolutely make a perfect summer read! Make sure you put this one on your TBR immediately!
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. ...more
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